Terms for Search by Hottub

1. These terms

In short: using hottub.tech or the API means you agree to these terms.

Search by Hottub is run by Hottub, Inc. These terms apply when you search on hottub.tech or call the API, the MCP server or the command line. Your Hottub account, which you need for a key, is also covered by Hottub’s Terms of Service, published at joinhottub.com/terms.

2. Searching

In short: anyone may search; programs should use the API, not the web pages.

Anyone may search on hottub.tech. Programs should call /v1 or the MCP server, which answer without a key at 60 searches a minute and 50 a day per address. The web pages are for people and have their own limits.

3. Keys and accounts

In short: your key is a password that spends your money; keep it secret.

You are responsible for every call made with your keys. Keep them out of public code and apps people can download. Limits belong to the account, so more keys never mean more searches. Turn off a key at any time; it stops working within a minute.

4. Keeping and showing results

In short: with a key you may store results and show them later, with links.

• With a key, you may store results and show them later, each with a link to its page.
• A result marked "storable": false came from another search provider. Show it with that answer, but don’t keep it.
• Keep provenance.attribution when you show Directory places.
• Page text belongs to its site. Quote it briefly and link to it.
• On the free plan, show “Results from Search by Hottub” with a link to https://hottub.tech wherever people see results.
• Answers without a key may be shown, but not stored.

5. What not to do

In short: don’t get around limits, resell the API itself, or break the law with it.

• Don’t get around limits, for example by spreading calls across addresses or accounts.
• Don’t resell or share access to the API itself.
• Don’t use Search for anything unlawful, or to harm the people or sites in the results.
• Don’t change, remove or hide the “Sponsored” label or a buy link’s disclosure.

6. Prices and billing

In short: you pay only for answers you received, and never past the limit you set.

Prices are on the pricing page, from price list search-api-2026-10-27.1. Stripe bills paid plans monthly for the searches used in each calendar month (UTC). Refused or failed searches are free. Your monthly limit is a hard stop: searches past it are refused, never billed. We give 30 days’ notice before prices change.

7. Sponsored rows and Commerce links

In short: labelled paid rows, never a change to results; buy links only if you turn them on.

Answers may include up to two labelled sponsored rows. Paid plans can leave them out. If you turn on Commerce links, the Commerce links terms apply too.

8. Availability and changes

In short: we work to keep Search up and tell you before changing what you rely on.

We work to keep Search available and fast, but don’t promise it will never be down. We may add features or change the API; for changes that could break your code, we give notice on this site first.

9. Ending

You may stop at any time by turning off your keys or choosing the free plan. We may turn off keys that break these terms, and will tell you why unless the law or safety stops us.

10. Hottub’s general terms

Sections 14 (Disclaimers and liability), 15 (Dispute resolution and arbitration) and 19 (General terms) of Hottub’s Terms of Service, published at joinhottub.com/terms, apply to Search as well.

11. Contact

Questions about these terms: support@hottub.tech.