Google Trends API alternative: trend data and a plain verdict per keyword
Google has no public Trends API. Swellmeter returns Google Trends interest over time for your own keywords as JSON, with a plain verdict (rising, falling, spiking, stable), change percentages, peak and latest values, rising related queries and top regions, so a script or an AI agent can use the answer without reading a chart.
US search interest, past 12 months (Swellmeter run, 30 Sep 2026)
| Keyword | Verdict | Last quarter vs first | Latest (0-100) | 12-month peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| claude code | ▲ rising | +147.4% | 23 | 100 (2026-03-29) |
| openai codex | ▲ rising | +207.5% | 4 | 100 (2026-05-24) |
| ai agents | ▲ rising | +48.5% | 23 | 100 (2026-06-07) |
| vibe coding | ▲ rising | +45.1% | 17 | 100 (2026-08-23) |
| mcp server | ■ stable | +8.0% | 17 | 100 (2026-06-14) |
| cursor ai | ■ stable | -21.3% | 10 | 100 (2026-06-14) |
Source: Google Trends (US, past 12 months, weekly), fetched by Swellmeter's own client on 2026-10-01; the latest week is partial.
Swellmeter vs the alternatives
Published prices, each checked on the date shown; prices change, so confirm on each site.
| Product | Price | Free | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swellmeter | $0.003 per keyword ($3 per 1,000) | Apify's $5 monthly free credit (about 1,600 keywords) | live |
| SerpApi (Google Trends API) | Starter $25/month for 1,000 searches; Developer $75/month for 5,000 | 250 searches/month | 2026-09-30 |
| Apify: agenscrape Google Trends Scraper | $0.025 per run start + $0.025 per result | Apify free credit | 2026-09-30 |
| Apify: khadinakbar Google Trends Scraper | $0.005 per result | Apify free credit | 2026-09-30 |
| pytrends (open-source library) | free; you run it and handle Google's 429 rate limits and IP rotation yourself | yes | 2026-09-30 |
Why teams pick Swellmeter
- A verdict, not just a chart: rising, falling, spiking or stable, with the numbers behind it, ready for a spreadsheet or an LLM.
- Pay only for keywords that worked; nothing for failed lookups, no monthly minimum.
- Monitor mode: schedule it and get back only keywords whose direction changed.
- Also available as an MCP tool, so Claude, Cursor and other agents can call it directly.
Try it in one call
curl -X POST 'https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/cybermax~google-trends/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' -H 'content-type: application/json' -d '{"keywords":["claude code","cursor ai"],"geo":"US"}'Free embeddable Google Trends charts and badges
Put a live-updating trend chart or badge on your blog, README or dashboard. Free, no key, refreshed weekly (last update 2026-10-01); each carries a small “Powered by CyberMax” link.
Chart (iframe)
<iframe src="https://cybermax.cybermax-tools.workers.dev/embed/trends/claude-code/" width="600" height="240" style="border:0;max-width:100%" title="Google Trends: claude code" loading="lazy"></iframe>Badge (Markdown or HTML)
<a href="https://cybermax.cybermax-tools.workers.dev/apis/google-trends-api/?utm_source=embed&utm_medium=badge"><img src="https://cybermax.cybermax-tools.workers.dev/embed/trends/claude-code.svg" alt="Google Trends: claude code (Swellmeter by CyberMax)"></a>Swap claude-code for any keyword below. Need your own keywords? Swellmeter checks any list for $0.003 per keyword.
FAQ
Does Google have an official Trends API?
Google announced a Trends API in alpha for a small group of testers; there is no generally available public API. Tools like Swellmeter and SerpApi fill that gap.
Why not SerpApi?
SerpApi is a broad search-results API; its entry plan is $25/month for 1,000 searches across all its engines. Swellmeter charges $0.003 per keyword with no monthly fee and adds a plain verdict and change stats per keyword.
Why not pytrends?
pytrends is free, but you run it yourself, and Google answers small IPs with 429 errors. Swellmeter handles sessions, retries and IP rotation and only charges for keywords that worked.
Can I embed a trend chart on my site?
Yes, free: see the embeddable Google Trends badges and charts below, with a 'Powered by CyberMax' link.