Patent Search API: Should You Build In-House or Buy Off-the-Shelf
Sooner or later, someone in the boardroom asks: Wouldn’t it be smarter to create our own patent search API instead of licensing one? On the
Derwent Innovation, a part of Clarivate, has long been a trusted name in patent search. With smart search features and expert-curated abstracts, the tool has been a popular choice among IP teams worldwide.
However, no tool is perfect for every team. Some want a faster way to learn. Others want a better interface. Many now look for AI-driven insights and flexible APIs. Cost and usability also play a role in the final choice. That often leads professionals to explore alternatives.
Today, there are several platforms pushing the boundaries of what patent intelligence can deliver. Here are six alternatives that deserve attention.
Let’s look at them one by one.
PQAI is an open-source patent search and intelligence platform built with the intent to make innovation accessible, transparent, and faster.
Unlike most tools, PQAI lets users run natural-language queries without needing any knowledge of Boolean operators or technical search syntax.
This makes it uniquely powerful for first-time inventors, researchers, and startups who want to find relevant prior art quickly. At the same time, it offers advanced tools for professionals who need deeper analysis.
Source – PQAI
PQAI gives users access to global patent records from 68 countries and more than 100 million non-patent literature publications.
Moreover, the search engine returns results that are semantically linked, so whether you are running a patentability check, an FTO search, or a validity review, you get contextually relevant results.
Not just that, Export options make it easy to share findings as PDF reports or save them for team collaboration.
PQAI is built on an AI-first philosophy that removes the complexity from patent search.
Instead of relying on rigid syntax, it expands queries intelligently and allows users to refine results in real time. To add depth, tools such as CPC/IPC lookup, similar keyword suggestor, and concept extractor aid users in bringing extra context to help adjust search and uncover prior art that simple keyword matches might miss.
The GAU Predictor adds a predictive edge by estimating the likely art unit and examiners for an invention. This gives inventors and legal teams early insight into review pathways and further strengthens the chances of a successful filing.
Beyond the web platform, PQAI delivers flexibility for teams that want to embed intelligence into their innovation workflows. The Patent Search API integrates directly into R&D and legal pipelines, making it easier to power dashboards or connect with IP tools.
Enterprises can also deploy PQAI Private Server, which ensures sensitive searches never leave an organization’s own environment. With hybrid indexing of public and internal datasets, PQAI brings confidentiality and control without compromising on depth or accuracy.
The privacy-first design makes PQAI ideal for R&D teams, legal departments, and manufacturers working on sensitive projects.
Guided by IAM Strategy 300 honoree Sam Zellner, PQAI bridges the gap between consumer-friendly usability and enterprise-grade capability. It lowers the barrier for first-time inventors while giving professionals advanced tools they can trust.
Orbit Intelligence is one of the most widely used patent analytics platforms for enterprises and IP teams worldwide.
The platform gives users access to 100 million patents, 17 million designs, and 150 million scientific documents. It also offers translation coverage for more than 97% of records, ensuring that even Asian filings are searchable in English.
Source – Questel
Moreover, a standout feature they have introduced is Sophia. Instead of manually building search strings, users can describe their query in natural language. Sophia then adds synonyms, IPC classes, and filters to create precise Boolean searches.
This feature, combined with automatic similarity search and visual analytics, makes Orbit stand out for professionals who need scale and speed without losing accuracy. The platform also offers advanced features like interactive graphing, portfolio pruning tools, and alerts that help users monitor landscapes and legal status changes over time.
PatBase is another popular patent search and analysis platform used by patent analysts and IP professionals.
The platform provides access to more than 180 million patent publications, with full-text coverage of major jurisdictions.
Source – PatBase
Moreover, PatBase has also adapted to the rise of AI. It uses natural language expansion to help uncover patents that traditional queries might miss. Its Generative AI features simplify technical and legal jargon into clear, straightforward language, making complex claims easier to understand and compare. Moreover, relevance scores guide users toward the most important results, and customizable alerts can keep teams updated on critical filings.
PatBase also offers powerful integrated analytics, including citation tools, patent valuation scoring, and visual dashboards that track competitors or highlight white spaces in technology landscapes. With multilingual support and a strong reputation for data quality, PatBase has become a reliable platform for professionals who need accurate global coverage and flexible analytics in their day-to-day patent work.
Patentcloud, developed by InQuartik, is a patent search and intelligence platform that combines search, validity analysis, and portfolio management in one place. It also offers lifecycle management features, from invention through monetization, making it useful for both corporations and law firms.
One of Patentcloud’s core features is Quality Insights, which generates patent validity reports and highlights prior art references automatically. The platform also includes Due Diligence, designed to support IP transactions by showing which assets are worth bringing forward and which are not.
Source – Patentcloud
Patentcloud also offers tools to simplify portfolio management by replacing spreadsheets with integrated dashboards and alerts.
Combined with customizable alerts and API integrations, Patentcloud offers professionals a smoother workflow for day-to-day patent intelligence tasks.
PatSeer offers a hybrid AI + expert search platform that combines Boolean logic with semantic queries. The platform gives users access to 172 million patents and 900K+ SEPs, along with comprehensive coverage of industrial designs.
Source – PatSeer
PatSeer’s built-in assistant, PatAssist, further enhances usability by letting users refine searches in natural language. For design professionals, the platform also includes AI-powered image similarity search, making it easier to compare industrial design filings.
The platform includes multiple editions tailored to different user needs. Across all versions, users benefit from interactive dashboards, configurable alerts, and collaboration features that simplify day-to-day patent intelligence work.
TotalPatent One is LexisNexis’ flagship patent search and intelligence platform.
The platform offers its users access to a database of 164 million documents, including 120 million full-text records available in multiple languages such as English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
Source – LexisNexis
The platform also includes 1.17 billion high-resolution patent images and 110 searchable fields, giving professionals a detailed way to explore the global patent landscape.
When it comes to search, users can choose between assisted query builders, CPC/IPC lookup tools, and highlighted keyword-in-context views to make analysis faster.
For pharmaceutical professionals, TotalPatent One also offers specialized Orange Book and SPC data to simplify drug-related patent searches.
Beyond its breadth of data, TotalPatent One emphasizes usability and workflow management. Users can create templates for recurring searches, organize results in personal folders, annotate documents, and export customized reports in multiple formats.
With its flexible design and modern interface, the platform is a strong choice for enterprises, law firms, and research teams that need daily updates, global coverage, and detailed search precision.
Each of the platforms we explored brings real strengths to patent search. However, most remain closed systems built for specialists and locked behind paywalls. PQAI takes a different path.
As an open-source platform, it makes patent search accessible for everyone, from first-time inventors to enterprise R&D teams. Its natural language search removes the steep learning curve, while advanced tools like CPC lookup and the GAU Predictor give professionals the depth they need.
For enterprises, PQAI also offers APIs and private deployments that integrate seamlessly into innovation workflows. With no hidden tracking and no paywalls to start, PQAI is a powerful and transparent alternative.
Try the tool here for free today and experience how simple smarter patent search can be.
Free tools can be surprisingly effective for quick searches or early-stage research. However, they may lack advanced analytics, coverage depth, and workflow features. For mission-critical searches like FTO or validity checks, professionals often combine free tools with advanced platforms.
AI has become central to patent search. It expands queries, surfaces semantically linked results, and reduces the chance of missing critical prior art. For teams short on time or resources, AI-driven search delivers speed and precision that older keyword-only systems cannot match.
Not all platforms do. Some focus purely on patents, while others integrate journals, technical papers, and standards. Since non-patent literature can often count as prior art, coverage beyond patents is valuable for comprehensive searches.
Startups often benefit from tools that combine simplicity with affordability. Open-source or free AI-powered platforms like PQAI lower the barrier to entry, while still offering features such as CPC lookup and semantic search that are typically found in paid platforms.
APIs let organizations integrate patent search directly into their R&D dashboards, IP management software, or internal workflows. This means results can be fetched, analyzed, and stored without switching platforms, saving teams significant time and reducing errors.
Yes, because even search queries can reveal innovation direction. Enterprises handling sensitive projects often prefer private or on-premise deployments. PQAI addresses this by keeping all searches fully encrypted. Queries remain anonymous and are never stored unless a user chooses to save them, giving teams peace of mind while exploring prior art.
Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information from company websites and related sources. While we strive for accuracy, some details such as coverage, features, or pricing may change over time. If you notice any discrepancies or updates, please feel free to share them with us so we can keep this content current.
At PQAI, we bring clarity to the world of patents. Through storytelling and insight, we simplify inventions so innovators, researchers, and businesses can learn from the past and build the future.
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Dear PQAI Team,
We are pleased to express our support for PQAI and its mission to revolutionize patent searching through open-source, AI-driven solutions.
At [COMPANY NAME], we recognize the importance of accessible and efficient patent tools in fostering innovation and empowering inventors from diverse backgrounds. By supporting PQAI, we aim to contribute to the development of transparent, collaborative, and impactful solutions for the intellectual property community.
We kindly request the addition of [COMPANY NAME] to the official List of Supporters of PQAI.
Sincerely,
[CEO or Equivalent Name]
[Title]
[Company Name]
[Signature]