Google trashes your privacy.
Day in and day out, you feed your data to Google knowingly and unknowingly.
But instead of keeping your data safe, they sell them to third parties. Yet in this modern day and age, searching privately on the internet is one of your greatest priorities.
Even with all these privacy concerns, it still dominates the search game. As a matter of fact, Google handles over 89% of all search queries globally. On the other hand, they are also known for tracking your every online activity and storing your data for their own use.
However, there are alternative search engines that you can use besides Google to protect your privacy and meet your other search needs.
So if you are tired of using Google as your main search engine, I have put together a list of the 10 best search engines you should use besides Google for easier, faster, and private browsing.
Let’s check them out.
1. Bing
Bing tops this list as one of the best search engines besides Google because it’s the second largest engine after Google.
It was created in 2019 by Microsoft and has so many similar features to its competitor- Google.
It has an easy-to-use interface coupled with web searches, image searches, video searches, and shopping results. But what really makes it stand out is its visualization. With Bing, you’ll have beautiful daily background photos.
Bing also provides additional features like maps, news, and shopping results. The main difference between Bing and Google is the way it displays its output. Bing’s output is more visually appealing than Google’s, with larger images and more detailed information about each result.
Additionally, Bing uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide personalized recommendations based on your past searches. This means you can get tailored results for what you’re looking for without typing in specific keywords or phrases.
Being a search engine from Microsoft, you know that it’s reliable. Its web crawler constantly scours the web for new content, so you always get the most up-to-date information when you use it.
Plus, Bing rewards you with credits towards gift cards every time you do a search.
2. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that promises to protect your data from being collected by advertisers and other third parties.
It doesn’t use cookies or track IP addresses, so you can browse the web with peace of mind knowing your information is safe.
DuckDuckGo also provides reliable results thanks to its team of human editors who review results before they’re posted on the site. The search engine pulls results from over 400 sources, including its own index and crowdsourced sites like Wikipedia.
It also has an advanced algorithm that includes semantic analysis, which helps deliver more accurate results.
But that’s not all, this search engine fits in this list because, unlike Google, DuckDuckGo prioritizes your privacy. On the other hand, it’s important to mention that it partners with Bing and has its own crawler.
DuckDuckGo is perhaps one of the top private search engines. It places high importance on securing the privacy of its searchers.
Founded in 2008, this search engine doesn’t store your online activities and avoids filter bubbles. This is when you get personalized results according to your browsing habit. On top of that, DuckDuckGo doesn’t store any of your personal information or even your IP address.
3. Yandex
Yandex is a Russian search engine that has been around since 1997.
It’s the largest search engine in Russia and it also serves other countries, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Ukraine.
Yandex also offers many features similar to Google, such as web search, image search, video search, game search, maps, and more. And it dominates the search industry in Russia.
But that’s not all, it stands out from other search engines because of its unique output.
Its algorithms are designed to provide you with relevant results quickly and accurately. The search engine uses natural language processing technology to understand your queries better and deliver more accurate results.
But that’s not all, with this search engine, you will get more services than any other search engine on this list. Just to mention, some of the services that you will be exposed to include transportation, online advertisements, eCommerce, and more.
Additionally, Yandex can detect typos and misspellings and still return useful results.
Yandex also provides an array of helpful services, such as a translator and currency converter.
Finally, this search engine makes the top 5 search engines in the world in terms of market share. Not to forget that you can store your files on the Yandex cloud and look up the files through the search engine.
4. Yahoo
Undoubtedly, Yahoo is still one of the biggest search engines in the search engine world.
Even though some people might refer to it as an outdated search engine, it has an extensive database of information and can provide more detailed results.
On top of that, it’s the third-largest search engine worldwide in market share globally and is also one of the oldest search engines. Yahoo is also a great search engine to use if you’re looking for something specific.
Yahoo also offers personalized recommendations based on your past searches, so it’s easy to find what you need quickly. Additionally, Yahoo provides news updates from around the world, making it a great source for staying up-to-date with current events.
With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive search capabilities, Yahoo is one of the best search engines available today offering accurate results.
But what stands out for me is the personal assistant service feature it offers. With “Yahoo Answers” you can generally ask questions and get answers from other Yahoo users.
I find this feature really useful. Especially when I’m trying to avoid going through the millions of results provided.
While covering sports, entertainment, finance, and lifestyle content, it’s one of the best search engines other than Google that you should be using.
5. Startpage
Startpage is a search engine that provides you with the same results as Google but without any of your personal data being tracked.
It’s privacy-focused and does not store IP addresses or trackers.
Startpage also has an anonymous view feature which allows you to browse websites without leaving any trace behind. This makes it ideal if you want to remain anonymous while searching online.
Additionally, Startpage offers a variety of features such as image search, news search, and video search.
This search engine also brings search results from Google. This means that you will always have loads of information at your disposal every time you run your query on StartPage.
On top of that, anytime you run a search on this search engine, your search will go through a proxy network and you will browse the internet anonymously. You will also have hands on a custom URL generator. With this, you can simply forget about setting cookies.
Based in the Netherlands, you can be sure that this search engine is complying with the GDPR regulations.
All in all, Startpage is a great alternative to Google if you’re looking for a more secure and private way to search the web.
6. Baidu
Baidu is a Chinese search engine that has become increasingly popular in recent years.
In fact, we can say that Baidu is the alternative search engine in China because Google and its services don’t work in mainland China.
It offers many of the same features such as web and image searches, but it also provides additional services like maps, music streaming, and an encyclopedia. Additionally, its user interface is simple and easy to use, so even novice internet users can quickly find what they’re looking for.
But due to heavy regulation and censorship by the government, you will have limited information.
On top of that, if you don’t understand Mandarin, you won’t be able to use this search engine because it is in Mandarin, with no option for translation. So it’s only suitable if you are searching for Chinese content.
Baidu is similar to Google in terms of design. Also, it is monetized through advertisements. This means that you will get targeted ads throughout your search journey. Not to mention that it also has rich snippets incorporated in the search results.
All in all, if you are in china or planning on attracting a Chinese audience, then you should give Baidu a try.
7. WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha is a powerful search engine that provides answers to questions rather than just web pages.
It can be used for calculations, data analysis, and visualizations.
WolframAlpha uses natural language processing technology to understand the user’s query and provide accurate results. It also has an extensive library of knowledge about topics such as mathematics, science, engineering, finance, history, geography, and more.
With its advanced algorithms, WolframAlpha can generate detailed output in various formats including tables, graphs, images, and videos. This makes it ideal for students and professionals who need quick access to reliable information.
In simple terms, this privately owned search engine allows you to compute answers using its AI technology while focusing on your privacy.
Having said that, Wolfram doesn’t track your searches. So you can browse without having to look over your shoulder every time. For this reason, it is one of the best search engines other than Google.
You can use this search engine for free, but this will only give you limited options. On the other hand, you can opt for the pro features. With this pro subscription, you will have access to professional-grade computation. On top of that, you will also have the power to carry out an analysis of imported data. All this will cost $5.49 monthly.
8. Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine that puts the environment first.
It uses its profits to plant trees around the world, helping to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.
So with every query that you enter on this search engine, it plants 1 tree for every 50 searches. What makes it stand out is that it does all this off its profits and you are not affected in any way.
Even though it uses Bing to power its search engine, it also uses its own algorithm to provide reliable results.
What I find interesting in this search engine is the fact that it is privacy-centered and offers privacy features that Google can’t match at this time. That is, Ecosia doesn’t have a permanent search profile for its users and it deletes all your information from it.
On top of that, Ecosia doesn’t sell your data to advertisers or third parties. Also, the search engine doesn’t have any external tracking tool in its search engine. Concurrently, they have an option of switching off tracking.
Ecosia also has a commitment to privacy, so you can be sure your searches are secure. So if you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to Google, give Ecosia a try.
9. Qwant
Qwant is a search engine that focuses on privacy and security.
It does not track or store your data, and it has built-in filters to block offensive content from appearing in your results through its “safe search” feature.
Qwant also offers an AI-powered news feed that curates stories based on your interests. Additionally, its music streaming service allows you to listen to millions of songs without ads.
You can also use this search engine to find lyrics to your favorite songs.
This French-based search engine was founded in 2013 and doesn’t display any advertisements. It also has a matching, user-friendly interface with Google. Not to mention, with Qwant, you can also carry out searches of images, videos, shopping, and news.
What makes it the best search engine besides Google is the fact that it categorizes its results based on topics. So you don’t have to scan through multiple articles.
On top of that, if you want results from a specific website, you can add “&” in front of the website. This will give you only results from that specific website only.
For example, “&nabral” will give you results from my website directly from Qwant.
So if you are looking for a search engine that prioritizes your privacy and personalizes your playlist, look no further than Qwant.
10. Swisscows
Are you looking for a search engine that encrypts your searches?
Well, Swisscows is your answer.
This search engine fully encrypts your searches to protect your privacy and security.
It doesn’t track your searches or store any of your data, so you can be sure that your information remains private. This can be attested to because its servers are based in Switzerland, known for having some of the strictest privacy policies.
Swisscows also has an advanced filtering system to help keep inappropriate content away from children.
The results are accurate and relevant, making it easy to find what you’re looking for. Also to make your search easier, this search engine uses semantic information recognition. This enhances the answers to your queries.
Furthermore, with the innovative semantic map, you will be able to access relevant or the most popular queries. This exposes you to more information.
It’s important to mention that, just like other private search engines on this list, with Swisscows, your digital footprints are not tracked, your data remains your data, and no search profile is created based on your searches.
And to make sure that you are always safe on the internet, Swisscows has its own firewall.
Conclusion
Searching for information on the internet is easy when you have the right search engine.
Fortunately, when it comes to finding the best search engine for your needs, there are many options available and it can be tiring to pick the right one.
And with the giant- Google taking advantage of our privacy, it’s only right that you have more options in your arsenal which is why in this article, I have listed the 10 best search engines you should use besides Google.
Each of these search engines offers something unique that can help you find what you’re looking for quickly and easily.
Whether you need a more comprehensive search experience or one that is tailored to your specific interests, there’s sure to be a search engine in this list that meets your needs.
I hope you liked this article on search engines other than Google.
Happy searching.
