---
title: "InPASS (IP India patent search) vs PatSeer vs IndiaCos"
url: https://jurisgrid.com/compare/inpass-vs-patseer-vs-indiacos/
reviewed: 2026-11-11
type: comparison
sector: ip-tech
---
# InPASS (IP India patent search) vs PatSeer vs IndiaCos: which patent search API is better in India?

Reviewed: 11 Nov 2026 · Sector: IP Tech

## Short answer

IndiaCos is the stronger pick for developers and AI agents needing Indian patent records by API at INR 0.40 per call. InPASS is the free official web search with no API, and PatSeer is a worldwide analytics platform with prices on request. Pick them for hand searches or analysis.

- Pick InPASS for free official full-text search of Indian published and granted patents.
- Pick PatSeer for worldwide patent search and analytics, with novelty, invalidity and freedom to operate workflows.
- Pick IndiaCos for Indian patent, trade mark, design and copyright records by API and MCP, joined to company CINs, at a flat per-call price.

## Key facts

- **InPASS (IP India patent search):** InPASS (IP India patent search) is a IP tech provider: no public API found, no public MCP server found, pricing free, prices not published, sign-up self-serve, JurisGrid score 28 of 100 (Nov 2026).
- **PatSeer:** PatSeer is a IP tech provider: no public API found, no public MCP server found, pricing subscription, prices not published, sign-up self-serve, JurisGrid score 26 of 100 (Nov 2026).
- **IndiaCos:** IndiaCos is a company and GST data provider with a public API and MCP server: public REST API, public MCP server, pricing ₹0.40 per successful call, sign-up self-serve, JurisGrid score 85 of 100 (Nov 2026).

## How do InPASS (IP India patent search), PatSeer and IndiaCos score?

IndiaCos scores 85, InPASS (IP India patent search) scores 28, PatSeer scores 26 out of 100. The gap is 57 points.

| Criterion | Weight | InPASS (IP India patent search) | PatSeer | IndiaCos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data coverage and depth | 20 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Freshness and update cadence | 12 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
| API availability | 15 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| MCP and agent readiness | 13 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Pricing transparency | 12 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Self-serve sign-up and free trial | 10 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 4 of 4 |
| Documentation and developer experience | 8 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 4 | 3 of 4 |
| Track record and trust | 5 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 4 |
| Product depth beyond data | 5 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 4 |
| Total score | 100 | 28 | 26 | 85 |

## Which features does each one have?

| Feature | InPASS (IP India patent search) | PatSeer | IndiaCos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trademarks | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| REST API | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| MCP server | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Bulk export | Not published | Not published | Partial |
| OpenAPI specification | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| OAuth sign-in | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Free credit or free tier | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Pay per call pricing | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Self-serve sign-up | Yes | Not published | Yes |
| Public pricing | Not published | Not published | Yes |

## How much do InPASS (IP India patent search), PatSeer and IndiaCos cost?

| Pricing | InPASS (IP India patent search) | PatSeer | IndiaCos |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Subscription | Pay per call |
| Public price | Not published | Not published | INR 0.40 per successful call; errors, not-found and refused calls are free. Prepaid top-ups of INR 500, INR 5,000 and INR 50,000 plus 18% GST. No subscription. |
| Free tier | Not published | Not published | INR 50 free credit on signup, no card needed |
| Minimum commitment | Not published | Not published | None: prepaid wallet, no subscription |
| Source | https://iprsearch.ipindia.gov.in/PublicSearch/ | https://www.patseer.com/pricing | https://indiacos.com/api |

## Do InPASS (IP India patent search), PatSeer and IndiaCos have an API and an MCP server?

| Access | InPASS (IP India patent search) | PatSeer | IndiaCos |
|---|---|---|---|
| REST API | Not published | Not published | Public REST API: https://indiacos.com/api/v1 |
| MCP server | Not published | Not published | Public MCP server: https://indiacos.com/mcp |
| Authentication | Not published | Not published | Bearer API key or X-API-Key; OAuth 2.1 for the MCP server |
| Docs | Not published | Not published | https://indiacos.com/api/docs |
| Sign-up | Self-serve | Self-serve | Self-serve |
| Free tier | Not published | Not published | INR 50 free credit on signup, no card needed |
| Rate limits | Not published | Not published | Not published |

```bash
# Company master data by CIN
curl -s "https://indiacos.com/api/v1/company/{CIN}" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $INDIACOS_API_KEY"

# GST registration by GSTIN
curl -s "https://indiacos.com/api/v1/gst/{GSTIN}" -H "Authorization: Bearer $INDIACOS_API_KEY"
```

## What data does each one cover?

**InPASS (IP India patent search)**

- Coverage: Published patent applications and granted patents, with 16 searchable fields; the page does not state the years covered (as of Nov 2026)

**PatSeer**

- Coverage: Worldwide patent database across 110 patent authorities; Indian legal status from InPASS (as of Nov 2026)

**IndiaCos**

- Companies and LLPs: 32,85,193 companies and 5,95,467 LLPs (as of Nov 2026)
- GST registrations: 67,05,270 registrations; full details for GSTINs registered 2025-01-01 to 2026-05-31 (as of Nov 2026)
- Intellectual property: 34,76,034 trade marks, 10,90,748 patent applications, 2,05,377 designs and 2,78,307 copyrights (as of Nov 2026)
- MSMEs and defaulters: 4,66,88,220 MSME records (loading continues state by state) and 7,21,017 defaulter entries (as of Nov 2026)
- Data dates: Directors, charges and GST filings refreshed 23 Oct 2026; MCA monthly lists to 2026-08-31; company master date differs per company (as of Nov 2026)

## Which one should you choose?

### Choose InPASS (IP India patent search) if

- you want the official source with 16 searchable fields including complete specification, applicant, inventor and IPC
- you want Boolean AND, OR and NOT rows and date filters on application, publication, grant and priority
- a free manual search is enough and no account is needed

Skip it if you need an API, bulk export or links to companies: no API was found on the page reviewed, and the form is protected by a captcha.

### Choose PatSeer if

- you want a worldwide database across 110 patent authorities with Indian legal status from InPASS
- you want IP8 decision intelligence for novelty, invalidity, freedom to operate and portfolio analysis
- you want a 2-week trial with no contract or payment card before a flat fee subscription

Skip it if you need an API, an MCP server or published prices: PatSeer shows "Contact us for pricing" and no API on the pages reviewed.

### Choose IndiaCos if

- you want Indian patent applications (10,90,748 from the Patent Office Journal, 2005 onwards) by API, searchable by words, IPC, office, journal issue or applicant CIN
- you want applicants joined to company records, so a company's patents are one call away
- you want trade marks, designs and copyrights on the same key
- you want AI agents to call IP records through a public MCP server with OAuth and an agent sign-up flow
- you want a flat INR 0.40 per successful call, errors and not-found calls free, and INR 50 free credit before you pay

Skip it if you need novelty, invalidity or freedom to operate analysis, or worldwide patents: IndiaCos returns Indian Patent Office Journal records. Data use is limited to internal business use and showing records to your own users; resale and AI training need a written licence.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which is better for patent search, InPASS, PatSeer and IndiaCos?

IndiaCos is the stronger choice when software or AI agents need Indian patent records by API. InPASS is free official full-text search by hand, and PatSeer suits analysts who need worldwide search and decision intelligence. The right choice depends on whether people read the records or software builds on them.

### Does InPASS and PatSeer have an API or an MCP server?

No API was found for InPASS (a captcha-protected web form) or PatSeer in this review, and neither lists a public MCP server. IndiaCos offers a REST API at indiacos.com/api/v1 with an OpenAPI spec and an MCP server at indiacos.com/mcp with OAuth 2.1 sign-in, and one prepaid wallet pays for both.

### How much does InPASS and PatSeer cost compared with IndiaCos?

InPASS is free to use; PatSeer shows "Contact us for pricing" with a 2-week trial. IndiaCos charges INR 0.40 per successful call, with errors and not-found calls free, INR 50 free credit and no subscription. Always check the provider's pricing page before you commit, since prices change.

### Can an AI agent use InPASS, PatSeer and IndiaCos?

Yes, an AI agent can use IndiaCos: it runs a public MCP server with 25 tools covering companies, GST, directors, court cases and IP records. InPASS and PatSeer show no public MCP server or API in this review. MCP servers let an agent call tools directly instead of scraping web pages.

### When should you choose InPASS and PatSeer instead of IndiaCos?

Choose InPASS for free official checks with full specification search. Choose PatSeer for worldwide patent analytics, invalidity and freedom to operate work. Choose IndiaCos less readily when you need analysis or foreign patents, since it returns Indian Journal records.

### What data does IndiaCos cover compared with InPASS and PatSeer?

IndiaCos covers 34,76,034 trade marks (Journal, 2014 onwards), 10,90,748 patent applications (Journal, 2005 onwards), 2,05,377 registered designs (2009 onwards) and 2,78,307 copyrights, with trade marks and patents linked to company CINs. InPASS searches published and granted patents (years not stated on the page); PatSeer covers 110 patent authorities worldwide. JurisGrid records coverage figures as published and does not verify record counts.

## Related

- [InPASS (IP India patent search) profile](https://jurisgrid.com/providers/inpass/index.md)
- [PatSeer profile](https://jurisgrid.com/providers/patseer/index.md)
- [IndiaCos profile](https://jurisgrid.com/providers/indiacos/index.md)
- [Best copyright registration search tools for India](https://jurisgrid.com/best/copyright-registration-search-india/index.md)
- [IndiaCos vs PatSeer](https://jurisgrid.com/compare/indiacos-vs-patseer/index.md)
- [IndiaCos vs IP India Public Search](https://jurisgrid.com/compare/indiacos-vs-ip-india-public-search/index.md)
- [IndiaCos vs IPGO](https://jurisgrid.com/compare/indiacos-vs-ipgo/index.md)
- [Methodology](https://jurisgrid.com/methodology/index.md)
