diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/getToolDisplayMessage.test.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/getToolDisplayMessage.test.ts
index 857d43a355..670582f586 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/getToolDisplayMessage.test.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/__tests__/getToolDisplayMessage.test.ts
@@ -86,6 +86,25 @@ describe('getToolDisplayMessage', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('exa_web_search', () => {
+    it('should show the same searching-the-web message as native web_search', () => {
+      const message = getToolDisplayMessage(
+        { query: 'CRM tools' },
+        'exa_web_search',
+        false,
+      );
+
+      expect(message).toContain('Searching');
+      expect(message).toContain('CRM tools');
+    });
+
+    it('should handle missing query', () => {
+      const message = getToolDisplayMessage({}, 'exa_web_search', true);
+
+      expect(message).toContain('Searched the web');
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('learn_tools', () => {
     it('should show tool names when provided', () => {
       const message = getToolDisplayMessage(
diff --git a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/getToolDisplayMessage.ts b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/getToolDisplayMessage.ts
index df8481850b..086e8ada4d 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/getToolDisplayMessage.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-front/src/modules/ai/utils/getToolDisplayMessage.ts
@@ -86,7 +86,10 @@ export const getToolDisplayMessage = (
   const byStatus = (finished: string, inProgress: string): string =>
     isFinished ? finished : inProgress;
 
-  if (resolvedToolName === 'web_search') {
+  if (
+    resolvedToolName === 'web_search' ||
+    resolvedToolName === 'exa_web_search'
+  ) {
     const query = extractSearchQuery(resolvedInput);
 
     if (isNonEmptyString(query)) {
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/native/native-tool-binder.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/native/native-tool-binder.service.ts
index dbd2426593..f4269f1b90 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/native/native-tool-binder.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/native/native-tool-binder.service.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import { type NativeToolBinder } from 'src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/nat
 import { type ToolProviderContext } from 'src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/interfaces/tool-provider-context.type';
 
 import { ToolCategory } from 'twenty-shared/ai';
-import { WebSearchService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service';
 import { AiModelConfigService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-config.service';
 import { AiModelRegistryService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service';
 
@@ -18,7 +17,6 @@ export class NativeToolBinderService implements NativeToolBinder {
   constructor(
     private readonly aiModelConfigService: AiModelConfigService,
     private readonly aiModelRegistryService: AiModelRegistryService,
-    private readonly webSearchService: WebSearchService,
   ) {}
 
   async isAvailable(context: ToolProviderContext): Promise<boolean> {
@@ -30,13 +28,12 @@ export class NativeToolBinderService implements NativeToolBinder {
       return {};
     }
 
-    if (!this.webSearchService.shouldUseNativeSearch()) {
-      return {};
-    }
-
     const registeredModel =
       await this.aiModelRegistryService.resolveModelForAgent(context.agent);
 
+    // Enablement is driven by the agent's model configuration
+    // (modelConfiguration.webSearch.enabled). If the agent does not opt into
+    // a capability, getNativeModelTools returns an empty ToolSet.
     return this.aiModelConfigService.getNativeModelTools(
       registeredModel,
       context.agent,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/providers/action-tool.provider.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/providers/action-tool.provider.ts
index 322dbdabc5..037edb3edc 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/providers/action-tool.provider.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool-provider/providers/action-tool.provider.ts
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export class ActionToolProvider implements ToolProvider {
       ['search_help_center', this.searchHelpCenterTool],
       ['code_interpreter', this.codeInterpreterTool],
       ['navigate_app', this.navigateAppTool],
-      ['web_search', this.webSearchTool],
+      ['exa_web_search', this.webSearchTool],
     ]);
   }
 
@@ -130,7 +130,11 @@ export class ActionToolProvider implements ToolProvider {
 
     if (this.webSearchService.isEnabled()) {
       descriptors.push(
-        this.buildDescriptor('web_search', this.webSearchTool, includeSchemas),
+        this.buildDescriptor(
+          'exa_web_search',
+          this.webSearchTool,
+          includeSchemas,
+        ),
       );
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool/tools/web-search-tool/web-search-tool.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool/tools/web-search-tool/web-search-tool.ts
index 54fc478a70..112eefdbcd 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool/tools/web-search-tool/web-search-tool.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/tool/tools/web-search-tool/web-search-tool.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { WebSearchService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.
 @Injectable()
 export class WebSearchTool implements Tool {
   description =
-    'Search the web for real-time information. Returns relevant results with titles, URLs, and content snippets. Supports optional category filtering for company, people, news, and other content types.';
+    'Structured web search powered by Exa. Returns entity-aware results with category filtering (companies, people, research papers, news, and other content types). Prefer this when the query benefits from structured data or a specific category. For general real-time web browsing, prefer the native `web_search` tool when it is available.';
   inputSchema = WebSearchInputZodSchema;
 
   constructor(private readonly webSearchService: WebSearchService) {}
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/config-variables.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/config-variables.ts
index cc2ba34948..c0111afe41 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/config-variables.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/twenty-config/config-variables.ts
@@ -695,15 +695,6 @@ export class ConfigVariables {
   @ValidateIf((env) => env.WEB_SEARCH_DRIVER === WebSearchDriverType.EXA)
   EXA_API_KEY?: string;
 
-  @ConfigVariablesMetadata({
-    group: ConfigVariablesGroup.LLM,
-    description:
-      'When true, use native provider search (Anthropic/OpenAI) when available. When false, always prefer the configured driver (e.g. Exa).',
-    type: ConfigVariableType.BOOLEAN,
-  })
-  @IsOptional()
-  WEB_SEARCH_PREFER_NATIVE = false;
-
   @ConfigVariablesMetadata({
     group: ConfigVariablesGroup.ANALYTICS_CONFIG,
     description: 'Enable or disable analytics for telemetry',
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service.ts
index c2422810f6..f4b8f5cf35 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service.ts
@@ -33,13 +33,6 @@ export class WebSearchService {
     );
   }
 
-  shouldUseNativeSearch(): boolean {
-    return (
-      this.twentyConfigService.get('WEB_SEARCH_PREFER_NATIVE') ||
-      !this.isEnabled()
-    );
-  }
-
   async search(
     query: string,
     options?: WebSearchOptions,
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/chat-execution.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/chat-execution.service.ts
index dd3b7a5ab0..e317bbc7e9 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/chat-execution.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/chat-execution.service.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ import {
 } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/ai-model-registry.service';
 import { SdkProviderFactoryService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/services/sdk-provider-factory.service';
 import { type AiModelConfig } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-models/types/ai-model-config.type';
-import { WebSearchService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service';
 import { SkillService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/skill/skill.service';
 
 export type ChatExecutionOptions = {
@@ -94,7 +93,6 @@ export class ChatExecutionService {
     private readonly exceptionHandlerService: ExceptionHandlerService,
     private readonly sdkProviderFactory: SdkProviderFactoryService,
     private readonly messagePruningService: MessagePruningService,
-    private readonly webSearchService: WebSearchService,
   ) {}
 
   async streamChat({
@@ -141,12 +139,10 @@ export class ChatExecutionService {
       `Built tool catalog with ${toolCatalog.length} tools, ${skillCatalog.length} skills available`,
     );
 
-    const useNativeSearch = this.webSearchService.shouldUseNativeSearch();
-
-    const toolNamesToPreload = [
-      ...COMMON_PRELOAD_TOOLS,
-      ...(useNativeSearch ? [] : ['web_search']),
-    ];
+    // Preload Exa when the workspace has it enabled; ActionToolProvider
+    // only emits the exa_web_search descriptor when isEnabled() is true,
+    // so getToolsByName silently skips it otherwise.
+    const toolNamesToPreload = [...COMMON_PRELOAD_TOOLS, 'exa_web_search'];
 
     const preloadedTools = await this.toolRegistry.getToolsByName(
       toolNamesToPreload,
@@ -170,10 +166,11 @@ export class ChatExecutionService {
       registeredModel.modelId,
     );
 
+    // Native web_search is returned when the resolved model's SDK provider
+    // exposes it (Anthropic, OpenAI). Coexists with exa_web_search when both
+    // are available — the model picks based on tool descriptions.
     const { tools: nativeSearchTools, callableToolNames: searchToolNames } =
-      useNativeSearch
-        ? this.getNativeWebSearchTools(registeredModel)
-        : { tools: {}, callableToolNames: [] };
+      this.getNativeWebSearchTools(registeredModel);
 
     // Tools the model can call directly: preloaded registry tools (already
     // serialized by the hydrator) plus SDK-native tools (opaque, never
@@ -331,16 +328,13 @@ export class ChatExecutionService {
         userWorkspaceId,
       );
 
-      if (useNativeSearch) {
-        const nativeWebSearchCallCount =
-          countNativeWebSearchCallsFromSteps(steps);
-
-        this.aiBillingService.billNativeWebSearchUsage(
-          nativeWebSearchCallCount,
-          workspace.id,
-          userWorkspaceId,
-        );
-      }
+      // billNativeWebSearchUsage short-circuits when count <= 0, so calling
+      // unconditionally is safe regardless of whether native search fired.
+      this.aiBillingService.billNativeWebSearchUsage(
+        countNativeWebSearchCallsFromSteps(steps),
+        workspace.id,
+        userWorkspaceId,
+      );
     };
 
     const stream = streamText({
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/system-prompt-builder.service.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/system-prompt-builder.service.ts
index 9a8d251580..4ff48e4463 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/system-prompt-builder.service.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-chat/services/system-prompt-builder.service.ts
@@ -247,7 +247,6 @@ ${skillsList}`;
     preloadedTools: string[],
   ): string {
     const preloadedSet = new Set(preloadedTools);
-    const hasWebSearch = preloadedSet.has('web_search');
 
     const toolsByCategory = new Map<string, ToolIndexEntry[]>();
 
@@ -261,23 +260,19 @@ ${skillsList}`;
 
     const sections: string[] = [];
 
-    const webSearchLine = hasWebSearch
-      ? `- \`web_search\` ✓: Search the web for real-time information (ALWAYS use this for current data, news, research)`
-      : `- Web search is automatically available — the model will search the web when needed. Do NOT call \`web_search\` as a tool.`;
-
-    const otherPreloadedTools = preloadedTools.filter(
-      (name) => name !== 'web_search',
-    );
+    const preloadedList =
+      preloadedTools.length > 0
+        ? preloadedTools.map((toolName) => `- \`${toolName}\` ✓`).join('\n')
+        : '(none)';
 
     sections.push(`
 ## Available Tools
 
-You have access to ${toolCatalog.length} tools plus native web search. Some are pre-loaded and ready to use immediately.
+You have access to ${toolCatalog.length} tools. Some are pre-loaded and ready to use immediately.
 To use any other tool, first call \`${LEARN_TOOLS_TOOL_NAME}\` to learn its schema, then call \`${EXECUTE_TOOL_TOOL_NAME}\` to run it.
 
 ### Pre-loaded Tools (ready to use now)
-${webSearchLine}
-${otherPreloadedTools.length > 0 ? otherPreloadedTools.map((toolName) => `- \`${toolName}\` ✓`).join('\n') : ''}
+${preloadedList}
 
 ### Tool Catalog by Category`);
 
@@ -303,14 +298,10 @@ ${tools
   .join('\n')}`);
     }
 
-    const webSearchInstruction = hasWebSearch
-      ? `1. **Web search** (\`web_search\`): Use for ANY request requiring current/real-time information from the internet\n`
-      : '';
-
     sections.push(`
 ### How to Use Tools
-${webSearchInstruction}${hasWebSearch ? '2' : '1'}. **Pre-loaded tools** (marked with ✓): Use directly
-${hasWebSearch ? '3' : '2'}. **Other tools**: First call \`${LEARN_TOOLS_TOOL_NAME}({toolNames: ["tool_name"]})\` to learn the schema, then call \`${EXECUTE_TOOL_TOOL_NAME}({toolName: "tool_name", arguments: {...}})\` to run it`);
+1. **Pre-loaded tools** (marked with ✓): Use directly
+2. **Other tools**: First call \`${LEARN_TOOLS_TOOL_NAME}({toolNames: ["tool_name"]})\` to learn the schema, then call \`${EXECUTE_TOOL_TOOL_NAME}({toolName: "tool_name", arguments: {...}})\` to run it`);
 
     return sections.join('\n');
   }
diff --git a/packages/twenty-server/src/modules/workflow/workflow-executor/workflow-actions/ai-agent/ai-agent.workflow-action.ts b/packages/twenty-server/src/modules/workflow/workflow-executor/workflow-actions/ai-agent/ai-agent.workflow-action.ts
index 4cf5388f3f..b16453fc95 100644
--- a/packages/twenty-server/src/modules/workflow/workflow-executor/workflow-actions/ai-agent/ai-agent.workflow-action.ts
+++ b/packages/twenty-server/src/modules/workflow/workflow-executor/workflow-actions/ai-agent/ai-agent.workflow-action.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import { AgentAsyncExecutorService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-age
 import { AgentEntity } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-agent/entities/agent.entity';
 import { AiBillingService } from 'src/engine/metadata-modules/ai/ai-billing/services/ai-billing.service';
 import { UsageOperationType } from 'src/engine/core-modules/usage/enums/usage-operation-type.enum';
-import { WebSearchService } from 'src/engine/core-modules/web-search/web-search.service';
 import { AUTO_SELECT_SMART_MODEL_ID } from 'twenty-shared/constants';
 import {
   WorkflowStepExecutorException,
@@ -28,7 +27,6 @@ export class AiAgentWorkflowAction implements WorkflowAction {
   constructor(
     private readonly aiAgentExecutionService: AgentAsyncExecutorService,
     private readonly aiBillingService: AiBillingService,
-    private readonly webSearchService: WebSearchService,
     private readonly workflowExecutionContextService: WorkflowExecutionContextService,
     @InjectRepository(AgentEntity)
     private readonly agentRepository: Repository<AgentEntity>,
@@ -101,13 +99,13 @@ export class AiAgentWorkflowAction implements WorkflowAction {
       userWorkspaceId,
     );
 
-    if (this.webSearchService.shouldUseNativeSearch()) {
-      this.aiBillingService.billNativeWebSearchUsage(
-        nativeWebSearchCallCount,
-        workspaceId,
-        userWorkspaceId,
-      );
-    }
+    // billNativeWebSearchUsage short-circuits when count <= 0, so calling
+    // unconditionally is safe regardless of whether native search fired.
+    this.aiBillingService.billNativeWebSearchUsage(
+      nativeWebSearchCallCount,
+      workspaceId,
+      userWorkspaceId,
+    );
 
     return {
       result,