The internet is an amazingly revolutionary tech that changed our world. However, if you ask the common public about what the Internet represents, they’ll likely answer that it’s a so-called social media site, an online shopping portal, a payments app, or Google. For them, the internet is where it is applied best. And for most, the best application for the internet is the ability to search for anything online. Search engines have been synonymous with the internet for quite a while now. And true, they have made the internet accessible to the common public, but it is not without flaws. Recently, Google, best known for its search engine, has been accused of logging and selling private information like search preferences. Unfortunately, many don’t care what search engines do with their data. But the privacy-centric users find themselves asking, “Is there an alternative to the mainstream search engine that doesn’t violate privacy?” This, we decided to highlight the most private search engines that take your secrecy seriously.
Note — A search engine is a website that has indexed links to other sites. When a user searches for anything online, the search engine cross-examines its database across the network (i.e., the internet) based on an algorithm and provides the most relevant results.
What is a private search engine?
Unlike the popular incognito browsers, which the public delude themselves into thinking is a secure way of browsing the internet, private search engines are truly capable of doing so. When we speak of private browsing, we are merely thinking of incognito/private browsers, but they do not work as people believe them to.
While a search engine can disclose your data, such as employment status, political beliefs, medical conditions, and financial information, amongst others, a private one doesn’t keep track of your online activities. Thus, it has nothing to disclose. Remember, your data is a hot commodity that lets a search engine, despite offering its services for free, earn a hefty sum. Why? Because your data has many uses. From target marketing to political manipulation, your data shapes the modern world as we live and breathe. But for those who are sensitive about privacy, this data mining is not only unethical but can also lead to devastating practices. As such, they are often searching for alternates that can solve the issue of web tracking and data logging.
It is where private search engines come into play. A private search doesn’t track you online. It doesn’t keep records of your recent searches and for sure does not retrace your steps online, nor does it concern itself with your online shopping cart. It boasts of a range of methods for keeping searches secure and ensures that search results are returned securely with additional security layers.
There are two types of private search engines:
- Anonymous search engines — Also known as no-logs search engines – they do not keep any user data.
- Subscription-based engines —- They keep some records to facilitate a better user experience. However, they earn revenue from the subscription fees a user pays for their services and not by selling data.
Advantages of a private search engine
These are the pros of a private search engine:
- Protects your data —- Regular search engines aim to collect as much data as possible. Not only does this practice allow them to return very accurate search results, but also makes them a bucketload of money when they sell your comprehensive data to willing parties. Private search engines do not partake in such practices.
- No targeted ads —- Regular search engines sell your data to advertisement companies, which they use to create personalized ads. Not only is this annoying, but it can psychologically manipulate you into buying stuff you don’t need. While private searches also rely on ads, these are not personalized but rather depend on keywords.
- Unbiased search results —- Private search engines ensure that your search remains free of any outside influence. It means that the recent search won’t be influenced by what you previously searched. Thus, it will display an unbiased result for you.
- Search for a cause —- Most of the private search engines try to do something good for the community in a bid to attract more traffic. While we can’t comment on the ingenuity of their intentions, it at least feels nice to be a part of something for a good cause.
- Worry-free and encrypted search —- Most private search engines try to ensure their users with providing services that can safeguard their privacy. Some use encryption to protect search results, while some delete data after a period.
Why use a private search engine?
These are a few reasons to utilize private search engines:
No tracking
Private search engines do not track you or your search habits. Any ads you see will be impersonal, and your previous searches will not influence your subsequent results. Above all, your information will not be subject to sales to third parties because they will not log any information about you in the first place.
Peace of mind
Private search engines do not collect your data, which makes you feel safe in your online frolicking. They also reduce the risk of data breaches as there is no data to breach. One can’t share or sell your data, as there isn’t anything to sell. No one can use it against you, either.
What you search is not linked with your email
Since your search results are independent of any other online products, it will be hard for anyone to stitch together your online or digital profile. Additionally, spam and other junk won’t find their way into your email.
Empowers users
Private search engines empower users by returning control to them. They offer a choice, what to see online, how to browse online, and such. Regular search engines have long since taken this choice from the users, as their algorithms dictate our search results.
Neutral/objective search results
When using a regular search engine, the data collected allows the algorithm to calculate and guesstimate what links you are more likely to click. It results in biased results and often obviates opposing points of view on a subject. With private search engines, because they do not collect anything, results are unbiased.
No links to personal information
Google, a company almost synonymous with online searches, offers a ton of products that require users to create a profile that can then link to your search history. By using this data, prominent corporations can access your name, email, home address, gender, and search interests. Additionally, they can also sell this data to third parties for further profits. Using a private search engine prevents this from happening.
What makes a private search engine different?
A private search engine is inherently different from mainstream engines. They are also in a whole different league than incognito browsers. While private browsing caters to the fact that you can browse the internet privately locally, private search engines ensure your privacy by not tracking you online.
Mainstream search engines vs their Private alternative
| Private search engines | Regular search engines |
|---|---|
| They do not collect your data. | They collect your data to create an online profile. |
| They are not accurate on repeated searches. | They are very accurate as they use your previous data in their algorithm to figure out what you want. |
| Since there is no retention of data, private search engines do not engage in selling your information. | Since they are free, and the whole business model is dependent on advertisements and the selling of data. |
Private search engine vs Private browsing
| Private search engines | Private browsing |
|---|---|
| They do not track you online. | It stores your data with the company servers. |
| Do not create cookies. | It uses cookies but deletes them after a session ends. |
| They provide security online. | Private browsing only protects you locally. |
The most private search engines
Some of the best private search engines are fast, accurate, and above all, private. Be sure to read their privacy policies clearly before using a private search platform. Also, in the case of a paid search engine, remember to explore all the possible options before you commit. Regardless, what we consider some of the most private search engines are listed below. Do give them a quick look.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is arguably one of the popular alternatives to mainstream search engines. It has been gaining traction in the last couple of years. Built for the privacy-centric crowd, it enjoys over 10 million hits daily and is one of those rare private engines that do not even track your IP address. While it boasts to ensure your privacy, it doesn’t forget to deliver on services. As one of the fastest private engines on the market, it does not have tailored ads. DuckDuckGo also has a metasearch index that collects results from over 400 sources. Sadly, this engine falls under the US jurisdiction, a country with one of the strictest retention laws, which can turn away many potential users. It also claims to save your queries. Although it doesn’t log any PII (Personally identifiable information), this can still be a no-go for many.
Features:
- Best for No-tracking searches
- Caters to a simple UI with no ads
- Free to use
- It has its browser extension.
- Default search engine on the Tor browser
- Does not track or share user data
- Searches for queries with its crawler DuckDuckBot and through other sources.
Startpage
Startpage is a powerful search engine that works hard to avoid any tracking. It offers searching via a proxy to add a layer of security. Although it has questionable owners and falls under a Nine Eyes alliance country, the features far outweigh the few cons. It takes the search results from Google and presents them to you via a proxy. It neither tracks your online activities nor logs any data. Recently crowned as the best search engine available, it is a valid option for privacy seekers. Most importantly, its interface is fully customizable and works similarly to Google but without those trackers.
Features:
- Its “Anonymous View” feature allows users to search anything via a proxy server
- It is modded after Google and takes its results before going through a proxy and presenting them before users
- A customizable interface that allows users total control
- It doesn’t track, log, or profile users
- No filtration, thus, an unbiased result
- Best suited for un-profiled search results
Hulbee/Swisscows
Hulbee, now rebranded as Swisscows, is a family-friendly search engine. It gives intelligent results without tracking or location history. On top of that, all your searches are subject to encryption to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks or data leaks. Swisscows allows users to manually select a region for specific results and provides the option to wipe it all clean with a single click. It caters to a family audience as it never includes any explicit or unsafe content. This Switzerland-based search engine comes with the best data prevention laws and is available o the public in 8 languages. It is famous for not logging any information (your IP included), and is ads-free because it operates based on donations. However, it has limited scope and is not customizable, sometimes even presenting irrelevant results.
Features:
- Family-friendly
- Available in multiple languages
- It uses Semantic technology for relevant results
- Ads-free as it relies on donations to function
- No data retention
- You can manually employ a regional search
Gibiru
Gibiru is a search engine for those who can’t or don’t want to pay for a VPN. It offers uncensored results with complete encryption. However, it is faster than most private engines because it uses Google custom search with trackers removed. It is more like a web tool that is based on Google but comes with additional security options. It doesn’t rely on ads as it is a community initiative launched back in 2009 and remains so to date.
Features:
- Complete encryption of your query and subsequent results
- No retention of data on servers
- It promotes censored and suppressed sites by placing them on top
Disconnect Search
Disconnect Search informs the users regarding the tools they are using, whether they’re protected or not. It uses the content search assistance feature to source results from major search indexes. But at the same time, it forgoes any tracking. In short, it acts as a bridge between a user and popular search engines around the globe, making it one of your best options for a metasearch engine.
Features:
- Source results from popular search engines, minus the tracking
- Allows you to submit queries anonymously
- Display results in the same interface as the source selected
- It is a proxy search index that is best suited for meta searching
MetaGer
Based in Germany, MetaGer is operated by a non-profit. As such, it offers an anonymous search experience. Available in German as default, you can select a few different languages of use. It ensures anonymity by utilizing Ion proxy servers. Although it has its crawlers and indexers, it is primarily a metasearch engine that combines between 50 search engines as sources to provide results. There are a few ads on this engine as it does retain little information but no PII, not even your IP address. MetaGer is way similar to Swisscows as they both prioritize user privacy, but while Swisscows tries to filter out anything explicit, this one is more unabashed. It also has an onion version available for those who love Tor.
Features:
- Best for uncensored results while maintaining anonymity
- It uses an integrated proxy server to secure our searches
- Operated by a non-profit; relies on donations for its operations
- It is an open-source program
Qwant
Qwant works as a Google alternative with uncanny similarities. However, it focuses on data protection. It is a French website that forgoes the use of any online tracking. One great thing about Qwant is that it is committed to a good cause, meaning that whatever it makes, it donates to charities and environmental causes. It also has a targeted mode for kids that prevents unsafe content. Similar to other metasearch, it offers a clean UI. But unlike some, it claims to save little information. If you register with Qwant, although you can still use it for free without registration, it creates a log with your profile to provide targeted results.
Features:
- It doesn’t share data with third parties
- Provides multiple filters to accommodate a user
- It has a child safety/kids mode to protect you from explicit content
- Qwant is geared towards a good cause as it heavily contributes to charities and the environment
searX
It works almost the same as Startpage but without any ads. searX is a metasearch that sources its result from various big names but removes any trackers. The request itself is anonymous. searX boasts user’s privacy as it doesn’t retain PII or anything for that matter. It is open-source, with the code available on GitHub. This search engine also permits user-end customization, has an Android app, and runs on donations.
Features:
- It runs on open-source codes available on GitHub
- It does not retain anything
- searX offers a private experience via the aids of proxy servers
- It is fully customizable
- It is best for a decentralized internet experience
WolframAlpha
WolframAlpha is a unique search engine that prioritizes academic search queries. Frequently used by students and learners, this search engine provides solutions to mathematics, scientific, cultural, or social queries. It is more like a privacy-oriented encyclopedia. The search engine performs dynamic calculations using inbuilt algorithms and delivers expert knowledge. It also has an image search function.
Features:
- It can compute complex academic queries
- It has a mobile app and comes with image search optimization
- WolframAlpha is a knowledge-packed engine equivalent to an online encyclopedia with better privacy solutions
Ecosia
Ecosia may not be popular, but it is a search engine that positions itself as an eco-friendly alternative to the mainstream competition. It is a private search engine that uses the revenue generated to plant trees to combat CO₂ emissions.
Features:
- CO₂ neutral search engine
- Chrome integration
- It has a mobile app
- It prevents tracking and sharing of data
- Ecosia generates income from search ads and uses it to fund eco-friendly activities