Yes, Google does offer such a (paid) API, that is what Startpage uses.
Anyone know how many other semi-known search engines are using it? Also, your searches are completely anonymous using any third party Goggle search engine?
Every search engine box you see on the Internet is powered by google or bing, basically, with Yandex having a tiny piece. And part of System1's business is syndicating google/bing APIs.
Google keeps their search private, startpage uses a private API.
I don't think they would have lasted long using a private API.
It can be private but paid and supported simultaneously
They pay for it. In fact the most common deal is to show both google search ads and google results, then the results are free and you get a cut of the ad revenue.