Guides

Free patent search vs paid prior art report: what’s the difference?

Free tools give you the same raw data professionals use. What you pay for is time and analysis: query expansion, classification search, and comparing each reference to your features.

Free is enough if…

• You have a few hours and a simple mechanical idea
• You're comfortable reading patent claims

Paid is worth it if…

• You're about to spend on prototypes, manufacturing or filing
• You want a feature-by-feature chart to hand an attorney

Our honest limits: we search US and WO publications since 2000, not everything, and automated analysis can miss things. It's a first look.

More guides

• Is my invention already patented? How to check (2026)
• How much does a prior art search cost? 2026 price guide
• Should you do a patent search before filing? Yes — here is why
• How to do a patent search yourself: step-by-step
• Patent search before a provisional patent application
• Can I sell a product without a patent? (and the risk to check first)