What is the ALGOLIA* SEARCH API charge?

Why it shows up like this

A statement descriptor reading ALGOLIA* SEARCH API indicates a payment to Algolia, Inc., a developer platform that powers search bars and interactive catalog filters for websites and mobile applications. When companies build online stores or content directories, they connect an Algolia Search-as-a-Service API Subscription to handle real-time database queries. The billing descriptor may also appear on your card statement as ALGOLIA INC or ALGOLIA SEARCH.

Algolia charges customers on a monthly cycle based on service tier and platform consumption. While Algolia provides a free Build plan for up to 10,000 search requests each month, production apps that exceed this threshold incur pay-as-you-go charges. Algolia bills usage at $0.50 per 1,000 Search Request Units once you pass the free allotment, along with capacity fees for stored records and advanced NeuralSearch features. A sudden surge in site visitors or a background script that repeatedly queries the search index can push an account into paid tiers.

This charge often originates from a software developer, marketing team member, or IT contractor within your organization who registered an account at dashboard.algolia.com. If you run an e-commerce store on Shopify or custom web software, an installed plugin may use Algolia behind the scenes. Check with your technical staff or agency partners to find out who manages your web infrastructure and which corporate credit card they put on file.

To view the itemized breakdown, log in to dashboard.algolia.com and head to Settings, then select Billing. There you can review query volumes, active search indices, and downloadable PDF invoices. If the project is no longer in use, you can delete the active indices or downgrade the account to prevent future billing. If nobody in your company authorized the account and you suspect fraudulent card use, contact your card issuer to block the card and contest the charges.

Don’t recognize it? Common scenarios

• A website or mobile app search bar integrated Algolia InstantSearch.
• Search query volume or indexed records exceeded the free tier (10,000 search requests/month).
• Algolia NeuralSearch AI vector re-ranking features were billed.

How to locate the invoice and cancel

1. Sign in to Algolia Dashboard Go to dashboard.algolia.com and log in with your developer account.
2. Review Usage & Billing review to Settings > Billing to view search query counts, record volumes, and invoices.
3. Delete Applications or Downgrade Delete unused search indices or delete the application to prevent further usage charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dispute Rights & Fraud Prevention

If an employee or contractor put your card on an Algolia account without authorization, attempt to locate the account owner through dashboard.algolia.com before filing a bank dispute. Reversing a valid software bill through your card issuer can cause Algolia to suspend the account and disrupt live search functionality on your company website.

When you confirm that the charge is completely fraudulent, contact your bank to file a dispute under the Fair Credit Billing Act and request a replacement card. You should also notify Algolia support at support.algolia.com so their security team can terminate the unauthorized application.

Verified sources

Every claim on this page is checked against official sources — open them to confirm before you call your bank.

• Algolia Search Pricing & Plans https://www.algolia.com
• CFPB: Disputing Unrecognized Charges https://www.consumerfinance.gov