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PQAI

projectpq.ai

From $18/mo Free plan Open source WebLinuxAPISelf-hosted
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Spec score 8.7 #2 of 24 in AI Patent Search Software

What it is

PQAI is an AI-powered patent search platform intended to help find prior art relevant to an invention. Searchers can describe an idea in natural language without special formatting or technical expertise. Its tools include semantic search, CPC Classification Prediction, Technical Concept Extraction, Patent Data Retrieval, and claim analysis. The Free plan searches across 100M+ patents and returns 20 results per query at standard speed. PQAI+ offers 500 results per query, faster search, full-text excerpts, and export. The service is available on the web and through an API, and PQAI describes it as open source. API plans include MCP server access and compatibility with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. PQAI also provides an iFrame embed with instructions for WordPress, Wix, and custom-built websites. The company says it erases each query from its servers after generating results. API requests use token-based authentication and HTTPS, alongside rate limiting and access controls. PQAI identifies individual inventors, law firms, patent examiners, enterprises, and R&D teams as users. Paid plans start at $20 a month; commercial integration into another product requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan.

Spec sheet

What it does
PQAI uses AI to search patents and technical literature for relevant prior art from plain-language invention descriptions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Purpose
PQAI provides AI-powered patent searches to help users find relevant prior art.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Audience
PQAI identifies individual inventors, law firms, patent examiners, enterprises, and R&D teams as users.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Integrations
The API plans include MCP server access and state compatibility with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Security
PQAI says API requests use token-based authentication and HTTPS, with rate limiting and access controls.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Privacy
PQAI says it does not store search queries and erases each query from its servers after generating results.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Support
Free and PQAI+ users can contact support through Help Docs and a contact form, with a stated aim to respond within one business day.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API authentication
API requests use unique token authentication and HTTPS transport.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API documentation
The public API guide documents routes, path/query parameters, authentication and example responses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · api.projectpq.ai
API limit
The PQAI+ plans include 20 API requests per month, and the page says responses stop until the next billing cycle after the limit is reached.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Browser storage
Saved or bookmarked results are stored in the user’s browser rather than uploaded to PQAI servers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Commercial API use
Commercial integration into a user's own product or platform requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Company origin
LinkedIn says AT&T initiated the PQAI project and that other groups and companies support it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company profile
LinkedIn lists PQAI as a nonprofit software-development organization headquartered in the United States with 2–10 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Concept extraction
The API and search product extract technical concepts from supplied text or patents.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Coverage expansion
A December 17, 2024 update says coverage reached patents from 68 countries and more than 100 million research papers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · search.projectpq.ai
CPC prediction
PQAI predicts Cooperative Patent Classification codes from technical text.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Export
Search results can be exported for offline review, with the paid search plan allowing up to 500 results.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Funding fact
The same IFIA report said AT&T funded the PQAI project with $2 million.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ifia.com
Independent availability claim
Founders Legal describes its PQAI collaboration as offering unlimited free searches, confidential processing and downloadable reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · founderslegal.com
Independent launch news
IFIA reported on May 13, 2021 that PQAI was an open-source nonprofit initiative launched with IFIA involvement.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ifia.com
Independent result-limit complaint
Founders Legal’s embedded PQAI tool explains that its interface intentionally presents only ten results and directs users needing broader coverage to professional services.Read 15 Oct 2026 · founderslegal.com
Licence
The public PQAI repository states that the project is open source under the MIT licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: cross-device saved results
A G2 reviewer notes that browser-stored results are inconvenient when switching devices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: interface polish
A G2 reviewer says the interface can feel basic or in need of refinement compared with premium commercial tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Local deployment
The repository points developers to wiki instructions for deploying PQAI locally for experimentation or development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
MCP integration
The paid API plans include access to an MCP server that works with Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Natural-language search
Users can describe an invention in ordinary language without special query formatting or patent-search expertise.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Non-patent literature
The search platform includes scientific and other non-patent literature alongside patents.Read 15 Oct 2026 · search.projectpq.ai
Notable update
The public updates page records an April 7, 2025 release adding country filters, NPL-only search and stability fixes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · search.projectpq.ai
Open source
PQAI describes itself as an open-source platform and invites the developer community to improve it.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Patent coverage
The free plan includes search across 100M+ patents.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Patent data retrieval
Structured patent data such as titles, abstracts, claims and citations can be retrieved through the API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Praise: API integration
G2 reviewers praise the API as straightforward, well documented and easy to connect to internal tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: natural-language usability
G2 reviewers repeatedly praise entering plain-English invention descriptions instead of constructing Boolean searches.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: relevance and speed
G2 reviewers repeatedly describe results as highly relevant and returned quickly, reducing manual prior-art work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Privacy claim
PQAI says it does not log or retain search queries and erases a query after generating results.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Rating on G2
4.9 out of 5 from 8 reviewsRead 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Search features
The platform includes CPC Classification Prediction, Technical Concept Extraction, and Patent Data Retrieval.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Search input
Users can describe an invention in natural language without special formatting or technical expertise.Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Self-hosting
Private Server is offered for on-premise or private-cloud deployment so queries remain inside the customer environment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Semantic matching
The engine ranks semantically relevant prior art rather than relying only on keyword hits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Support model
Repository support is handled through GitHub issues, while paid users receive helpdesk/email support and enterprise customers get priority assistance.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Website embedding
PQAI supplies an iframe embed URL and instructions for WordPress, Wix and custom websites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai

Plans and prices

Free Free forever (No credit card required) 100M+ patents · up to 20 results/query · standard speed · CPC prediction · concept extraction · patent data retrieval · helpdesk/email support Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Starter $20 a month $0.40 per query 50 API queries/month · US REST search · MCP server · Claude/ChatGPT/Gemini compatibility · token and documentation Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
PQAI+ Monthly $20 a month per month — cancel anytime up to 500 results/query · super-fast speed · full-text excerpts · export · 20 API requests/month · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Starter $20 a month /mon ($0.40 per query) 50 API queries/month · US patent REST API · MCP server access · works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Developer $199 a month $0.33 per query 600 API queries/month · 600-query top-up for $199 · personal/experimental use · usage dashboard · audit logs Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Developer $199 a month /mon ($0.33 per query) 600 API queries/month · top-up: $199 for 600 more queries · experimentation and personal use · usage dashboard and audit logs Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
PQAI+ Annual $216 a year billed once a year; Save 10% up to 500 results/query · super-fast speed · full-text excerpts · export · 20 API requests/month Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
API Enterprise $700 a month $0.23 per query 3,000 API queries/month · commercial-use licence · platform/product integrations · priority support · custom volume Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Enterprise $700 a month /mon ($0.23 per query) 3,000 API queries/month · commercial-use license · platform and product integrations · priority support · custom volume on request Read 7 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai
Private Server Priced on request on-premise or private-cloud deployment · full server code and setup documentation · hybrid indexing · internal-tool integration Read 15 Oct 2026 · projectpq.ai

Every PQAI plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Natural-language invention descriptions need no special format.
  • Free plan searches across 100M+ patents.
  • Includes CPC prediction and technical concept extraction.
  • API plans include MCP server access.
  • Queries are erased after results are generated, according to PQAI.

Limits

  • Free plan returns 20 results per query.
  • PQAI+ plans include 20 API requests per month.
  • Commercial product integration requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan.

Who it suits

PQAI suits individual inventors, law firms, patent examiners, enterprises, and R&D teams searching for prior art. Its API and website embedding options also suit developers adding patent search to a product or site.

Verdict

PQAI offers natural-language patent searching with named analysis tools and a free plan covering 100M+ patents. Paid plans start at $20 a month, while commercial integration requires a commercial API or Enterprise plan.

Where Specifiction places it

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