Now I'm expecting you to potentially say "I would pay 10$, but I refuse to have to go through the trouble of changing my default search engine twice a month", which brings me an idea:
Actually Kagi should maybe offer that option: after you're done with your monthly credit, they redirect everything to the free engine of your choice. That would provide an easy way for people to support them with the amount they are willing to pay, without having to change anything in their setup.
When we made our initial plans, we believed they were both realistic and sustainable. However, the search market has experienced dramatic changes in the past six months, far more than in the previous 16 years. Additionally, we've been confronted with an economic downturn. As a small, bootstrapped business, Kagi has had to make some difficult decisions to adapt.
We were left with two options:
- Stick to the original plan, which would result in significant financial losses and potentially lead to bankruptcy within a few months.
- Adjust our strategy to ensure the survival and growth of the business.
While we are not pleased with having to alter our plans, we have done our utmost to adapt to these new circumstances. It's important to understand that there are only three ways to fund search services - through advertisers, venture capital, and in Kagi's case, users. That is the reality we must face.
We acknowledge that the rollout of these changes could have been executed more effectively. However, as a small bootstrapped team without a dedicated communications department, we have limited resources. I personally oversee crucial business decisions, manage a fully remote team, and supervise the development of complex software products such as search, browser, and AI solutions. The other day I counted I personally made 5,000 replies to user feedback across kagifeedback.org and orionfeedback.org over the last year and a half. There is only so much one person can do.
We would love to offer unlimited searches for $5, but the reality of the search market dictates otherwise. That said, we are continuously evaluating our pricing structure, and we may update it again as some costs, such as AI, have not been as high as anticipated.
We are determined to navigate these challenging times and maintain a high level of professionalism. We appreciate your understanding and support as we work towards a sustainable future for Kagi.
On the other handm, we were forced to reassess our approach due to the situation with Bing, which led us to invest further in alternative partnerships and strengthen our own infrastructure. And despite the challenges this transition presented, it ultimately instilled a renewed sense of optimism in our team.
The most difficult aspect of this process has been receiving emails from customers who felt let down by the way we managed the change. We are committed to learning from this experience and improving our communication and execution in the future.
I'm not in the space, but that seems to me like the natural way to avoid having your company brought down on a whim by Microsoft, in the long term.
I'm actually serious. At least I think I check Marginalia more often than bing or ddg or google.
Thanks for making paid search for the masses (with funtioning filters, apparently) a reality. By the testimony of many here, your results aren't bad. I'll be giving Kagi a try.
I’m one that’s ardently against subscription culture in most cases but I have to say im quite impressed.
Im currently on the $10 plan. Not sure if im gonna moved to the unlimited but im definately on pace to hit my limit this month. I never realized how much I search. I do wish the 10 dollar plan had annual options. Even without a discount.
I’ve used ddg for a long time. But even still haven’t been a huge fan of changes and I am one that’s happy to support a project in any way that I can get behind and gain something from from. Either via contribution or in a case like this cash.
I hope you all find a path to sustainability.