Alternatives to Google Search

The Google Search Problem

When it was launched in the late 1990s, Google Search was magical. Type in a query, get exactly what you were looking for. Sounds simple enough, but back then, it was a rare experience.

These days, the magic has worn off and Google is not the only game in town. But with its roughly 90% share of the global search market and the fact that “googling” has become shorthand for searching, you might not be aware of the alternatives.

That’s what this article hopes to solve – with an overview of 11 alternative search engines you can try out today.

The List

A quick breakdown of the search engines covered in this article into a few categories.

My recommendation for most people would be to start with one of the “normal” options – as these generally mimic Google’s approach and provide pretty similar results.

The “Normal” Options

So let’s look a bit closer at the four search engines that are most likely to give you the closest thing to the Google experience with their familiar look and feel, solid search results and similar features.

1. DuckDuckGo

The search engine on this list you are most likely to recognize

Index is based on: Multiple sources, incl. Bing

Other notes: The only search engine on this list that can whiff the 1% mark for global market share (as the world’s 5th most used search engine), DuckDuckGo also makes its own browser.

2. Brave Search

An intriguing option that will likely only improve

Index is based on: Own index

Other notes: Brave, better known for its privacy-focused browser, also offers a “premium” search version that eliminates all ads. In my experience, there were relatively few ads to begin with, but if you are looking to go completely ad-free, the option is there.

3. Startpage

Google results without the tracking

Index is based on: Google

Other notes: Startpage also makes its own app for searching (iOS and Android). Anonymous view feature is clearly slower than normal browsing, so best for use on pages with little to no media.

4. Qwant

A privacy-focused search engine that promises not to sell your data or track you

Index is based on: Currently mix of own index, Bing and others

Other notes: Based in France, Qwant Search is a pretty barebones search engine in terms of features. It’s main draw is the privacy aspect, but if you are looking for Google-like performance and features, you’ll likely be underwhelmed. Qwant is partnering with Ecosia (next up on this list) to further develop their own indexing technology for EU search engines.

The Niche Search Engines

This next group usually has a particular focus or purpose that makes them unique. They generally won’t be at the top of the list in terms of features or performance, but attract users primarily through shared values. This being the case, I’ll simply highlight what makes them different.

5. Ecosia

The environmentally friendly way to search

Ecosia promises to put all of its profits towards climate and environment-protecting projects. It boasts climate-neutral operations and has a high level of fiscal transparency. The company is based in Germany and curretnly uses a mix of indexing technologies, but plans to move away from Big Tech indices as soon as possible.

6. Karma

Committed to promoting biodiversity and animal welfare

Similar to Ecosia, Karma donates a portion of its revenue to biodiversity non-profit organizations. The France-based search engine uses Brave Search for its results and Bing for its ads.

7. Swisscows

A family-friendly search engine that is also committed to privacy

In addition to robust privacy features, Swisscows also does not index sexually-explicit content, making it a safer choice for younger users. While I think you can guess where this company is based, like Karma it uses Brave Search for its results and Bing for its ads.

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8. Mojeek

UK-based, privacy-focused search engine with its own search index and an early 2000s vibe

Mojeek is a blast from the past with its text-only interface. It allows users through its “Focus” feature to rerank results to their preferences, while showing its quirky side with “emotion-based searching”. The company operates on its own search index and ad program.

9. Kagi

A paid search option that eliminates ads and has a clear commitment to privacy

Based in the US, Kagi is a quickly growing search company that offers a range of features with plans starting at around USD 5/mo. There is a limited free tier, but it does require a sign up to use. One standout feature is its Privacy Pass, which allows users to search anonymously via a token-based system.

The Self-Hosted Solutions

For those with the resources (mainly time) to do so, these next two options offer much more control and the possibility of comprehensive privacy – provided you know what you’re doing.

10. SearXNG

For the technically inclined

An open-source, self-hostable search engine, SearXNG aggregates results from multiple search engines. It has robust privacy and customization options – with no ads, tracking or corporate interests.

However, search result quality can vary wildly, especially when Google & Bing are not activated. Its response/load times can be slow and practically no interactives work here (weather, driving directions). It is option overload for most users.

11. AnythingLLM

Self-hosted AI-based searching

AnythingLLM allows you to perform AI searches directly on your own PC or server. Like other AI chatbots, it can provide direct answers (often with sources) and is great for research and complex questions. The conversational interface feels natural and allows users to ask questions in normal language.

However, this is not really a traditional search engine. Due to its use of local computing resources, searches can be (much) slower than normal search results. Using large language models (LLMs) require substantial computing power and can bring your PC to a grinding halt. Like all AI chatbots, its answers can be incomplete or biased.

My Personal Use

Even though I was familiar with most of these options before preparing to write this article, the process actually led me to change my default search engine. Initially in my degoogle process, I had been using DuckDuckGo, as it was the name I was most familiar with. However, after running some side-by-side comparisons, I found I preferred Brave Search in many cases and now use it as my first option.

I am intrigued by the idea of self-hosted solutions, but searXNG was too complex and finicky for my tastes and AnythingLLM can really bog down your machine depending on which language model you choose to run. As with all AI systems, it can also be unreliable in its answers at times, so I don’t think I would ever completely rely on this type of setup, but will continue to test it.

The Bottom Line

There’s a search engine for everyone out there, it just might take some testing to find yours. The trade-offs compared to using Google are negligible in many cases, and you may prefer some of those differences in the end. Whichever search engine you choose, every single one of these options will give you greater privacy and remove one more piece of Big Tech from your life.

Next Steps

So, you’ve chosen the search engine you want to try? Great! The guide below can give you step-by-step guidance on replacing your current search engine. If you’ve already done that or know how to do it yourself, check out the Browser Privacy Guide for tips on how to further degoogle your browsing experience.