Like anything on the web, most popular search engines collect your personal information and data while others track your location. Although this creates a more tailored user experience on the internet, it can be a big privacy concern.
Due to the growing concern about personal data and information being collected and tracked by search engines, many users are now preferring privacy-focused search engines.
There are plenty of private search engines you can use, namely MetaGer, Qwant, Search Encrypt and others. Though the best private search engine is DuckDuckGo which places great importance on user privacy. Neither does it track its users nor collect their data.
Benefits of using private search engines
With privacy-focused (private) search engines, you do not have to worry about your personal information and data being collected and tracked by search engines.
You also need not be concerned about the possibility of your search history being accessed and viewed by third parties such as the government or search engine employers.
For instance, private search engines do not collect user information and do not track users. Besides, they do not store the user’s search history.
These make private search engines a perfect option for users looking for more privacy and security online.
Therefore, we have researched and reviewed some of the best private search engines you can use. Keep reading to discover our top picks.
Best Private Search Engines
1. Startpage
Startpage is one of the most private search engines in the world. For instance, it delivers Google search results through proprietary data protection technology.
Its anonymous view proxy feature masks the user’s identity while browsing other websites. This feature is a simple and free way to take control of the user’s online privacy.
It also has an advanced filtration feature that allows users to search, look up, and view images and videos. You do not need to worry about your personal information being collected. It also does not track users.
Its connection is encrypted. So, the user’s IP address is removed from all Startpage’s global premise servers.
Startpage also blocks third parties from setting price trackers on users. It also blocks third parties from accessing your personal information and data. Therefore, you do not have to worry about targeted ads.
Furthermore, it does not create personal data profiles based on the user’s internet search activities. Besides, users get access to unprofiled news.
Check out the best alternatives to Startpage here.
2. MetaGer
MetaGer is a privacy-focused search engine that submits search queries anonymously to various search engines.
Its anonymous proxy server keeps users protected even when they continue surfing. It also hides the user’s IP address, which helps in protecting your privacy online.
Every link on MetaGer has an open anonymous option. If a user selects this option, MetaGer will send them a search query via an anonymous proxy. Therefore, the website will not track you.
MetaGer also protects users against censorship by combining the search results from multiple search engines. Its algorithm is available and transparent for every user to read. The source code is also free.
Furthermore, MetaGer is built and run by SUMA-EV-Association, a nonprofit organization. Therefore, you do not have to worry about intrusive adverts.
3. DuckDuckGo
Are you tired of being tracked whenever you search online? DuckDuckGo is a top private search engine that you should consider.
Generally, DuckDuckGo has a high reputation for good data and information privacy. It ensures that the user’s information and data are not collected, shared, or sold to third parties.
For instance, it is built on a simple privacy policy: “we do not collect or share any of the user’s information.”
It also blocks web trackers and assigns each site a privacy score. This provides a transparent view of everything that each site does with your personal information.
Since DuckDuckGo does not track users, it does not have access to the users’ search history. So, it does not alter your search history based on previous search results.
Furthermore, this search engine has a privacy browser app available for iOS and Android devices. The app is equipped with an encryption enforcer, tracker blocker, etc.
Explore the best alternatives to DuckDuckGo in this post.
4. Qwant
Qwant is a France-based private search engine founded on the principle: “Users’ personal information and data is their business.”
For instance, Quant is completely private and confidential. All users on Qwant are anonymous. It will not store, share, or sell your search history and personal information.
Although you can find some advertisements on Qwant that are meant to finance their model, Qwant has zero ad tracking. They do not track or keep your data while you search. For instance, the contextual ads on Qwant are the same for every user.
With Qwant, you are sure not to get stuck in the “filter bubble.” This is when you get search results based on your behavioral profile, and you will not see information that contradicts your views.
This privacy-based search engine features Qwant VIPrivacy, a tool you can install on your device and browse protected and securely on all websites.
For instance, it allows you to browse with fewer cookies and without intrusive banners. It also blocks trackers and spammers.
It also features Qwant Junior, which allows your kids to search the internet securely.
Find out similar tools to Qwant here.
5. Search Encrypt
As the name suggests, Search Encrypt is a privacy-focused search engine that encrypts and secures your internet searches. Its encryption is based on AES-256 bit with SSL (Secure Socket Layer).
It does not track users’ search history. Besides, the search results will expire after 30 minutes of inactivity.
You can also search for videos, images, and news privately. For instance, you can play videos directly in Search Encrypt with some added privacy.
Search Encrypt does not store, retain or maintain server logs that can compromise your privacy. It also does not use external tracking tools. For instance, it stops ISP from accessing and tracking your search queries and terms.
It also completely disconnects your internet searches from being tied to your online accounts or social profiles.
Besides, it uses proprietary technology to hide your search history from other users who might use your device after using it.
Also Read: Best Yandex Image Search Alternatives
6. Swisscows
Swisscows is a Switzerland-based search engine that guarantees data and information integrity with innovative technologies.
Its search results are based on semantic data and information recognition.
For instance, Swisscows has no interest in your data and information. They do not build up any search history, do not store user data and information, and guarantee users absolute anonymity.
Swisscows allows users to search with their search index. For instance, the search results are based on their index and many years of technology expertise.
This search engine is also family-friendly and safe. For instance, your children can search the internet safely and privately. For instance, sexual and pornographic search results will not be displayed or indexed.
All the Swisscows servers are located and put in a highly secured data center in Switzerland. It also uses intelligent data cloud technology, which provides search results faster from a large pool of data.
Furthermore, Swisscows does not store or track IP addresses.
Also Read: Best Dehashed Alternatives
7. Disconnect Search
Disconnect Search is another top privacy-focused search engine that you should use. It is founded and built on two basic principles;
- Users should have complete freedom to move about the internet without worrying about someone looking over their shoulders.
- Accessing and controlling personal information and data is a big business for data brokers and hackers.
Therefore, this private search engine does not collect user information, including their IP address. They only collect the information that you provide voluntarily. However, this information is retained for not more than 30 days once you request deletion.
Disconnect Search does not share or sell your personal information to third parties or advertisers.
However, Disconnect Search shares personal information only if legally required to prevent harm in an emergency. But, according to its admin, they have never received any government or legal demands for user information.
Although Disconnect Search encrypts your search queries, does not store any of your data or information, and protects users from web company tracking, it will not protect you from legal government snooping.
8. Ecosia
Ecosia is another privacy-focused search engine.
For instance, they do not create a profile of you, store data, or sell your personal information to advertisers or third parties. Ecosia is much more concerned about trees, not users’ personal information and data.
So, it is an ecological-minded privacy-focused search engine that donates 80% of its profits to tree planting organizations.
Therefore, Ecosia offers an encrypted internet search. It also does not profile users based on their searching patterns. Besides, it does not use external tracking tools.
It is also vital to note that Ecosia generates profits by displaying non-intrusive ads next to your search results.
Being a top private search engine, Ecosia currently has over 20 million users. It has also planted over 150 million trees worldwide.
Also Read: Is Brave Browser Safe & Secure?
9. Searx
Searx is an open-source private metasearch engine. It aims at protecting the users’ privacy.
For instance, it does not share your search history or IP address with the other search engine from which it fetches results.
It also blocks tracking cookies. So, Searx prevents user profiling based on search results modification.
Every search result on Searx is given as a direct link to the respective site instead of a tracked redirect link. Besides, these direct links can be accompanied by proxied or cached links. This allows viewing search result pages without needing to visit the site.
Searx also allows users to run private Searx instances on their personal computers. You can also run public Searx instances.
Furthermore, Searx does not collect personal information or data.
10. Mojeek
Mojeek is a crawler-based private search engine that does not depend on any external search engine.
Mojeek creates its website index to provide search results by crawling the internet. Therefore, Mojeek provides independent and unbiased search results without relying on external algorithms.
It was the first-ever privacy-based no-tracking search engine. It follows a strict no-tracking privacy policy that is simple. For instance, it does not track users.
Mojeek does not put cookies on your computer or device unless you agree.
It also does not record or track IP addresses. The user’s IP address is replaced with a two-digit code that indicates the user’s country of origin.
Furthermore, Mojeek requires your email address and name for communication and responding to the requests made via the contact page. However, it does not use these users’ details for any other purpose.
Also Read: Brave vs Vivaldi
11. Gibiru
Gibiru is a reliable and fast privacy-focused search engine that uses Google’s algorithm to give users search results swiftly without tracking the users.
This search engine does not set any cookies on your computer or mobile device. It also does not keep the user’s search logs.
It does not share or sell the user’s information data. Neither does it keep the web browsing history of the users.
Although Gibiru might collect your email address, it uses it only for communication purposes about Gibiru tokens distribution updates. You should be sure that your email is not used for any other purpose.
It is also vital to note that while Gibiru often monitors and audits its server logs to manage site performance and bandwidth, it does not access identifiable user information and data such as personal data and IP addresses.
The only downside of Gibiru is that it does not protect users from adware, spyware, or malware.
Check Out: Advantages & Disadvantages of Google Search Engine
12. Brave
Brave is a private search engine built with user privacy in mind. For instance, when opening this search engine, the browser aims to enhance privacy by sending the fewest requests to other search engines.
It also has a browser-native VPN (a virtual private network) and several other privacy-preserving features built into its source code.
This privacy-focused search engine blocks all creepy adverts from every site by default. So, you do not have to worry about ads appearing whenever you search the web.
Other privacy-based features of the Brave search engine are:
- Anonymized network routing in Tor mode
- Protects users against bounce tracking
- Malware and phishing protection*
- Cookies blocking
- Cross-site trackers blocking
- Invasive ads blocking
- Incognito windows
13. Lukol
Lukol is an anonymous and private search engine that serves search results from Google. However, it maintains the user’s privacy by removing traceable and trackable elements.
For instance, users can enjoy the search power of Google without worrying about being tracked or traced.
It gives users full anonymity of their searches and helps keep them safe by protecting them from inappropriate and misleading sites.
Besides, Lukol does not collect, share, or sell personally identifiable information and data. You also do not need any registration to use this anonymous search engine.
In terms of functionality, Lukol is an intuitive and simple search engine. For instance, users can select from images, news, web, and videos for their searches. However, it does not have an option to filter search results.
14. Oscobo
Oscobo is another search engine that protects users’ privacy while they search the web. By not using any third-party script or tool, your information and personal data are protected from misuse and hacking.
For instance, Oscobo is designed for users who do not want to have their personal information collected or tracked.
As its privacy policy states: “We do not mess with users’ data,” Oscobo does not store or share the user’s IP address.
Besides, Oscobo does not send users search terms to the site they clicked on. It also does not collect, store, or share the user’s search history and personal information with anyone.
Also Read: Whitepages vs Yellow Pages
15. Gigablast
Gigablast is another top privacy-oriented search engine that indexes millions of servers and websites to give users real-time information without tracking their data. It also hides users from spammers and marketers.
It provides a variety of choices for personalizing and filtering your search queries. This includes exact phrases, language, and file type.
Besides web, videos, images, and news, this privacy-focused search engine provides a comprehensive, advanced search function. It also offers a directory function.
Gigablast is built on the key principle: “Your search queries are your property.” For instance, it does not give third parties access to your search queries and history.
Third parties will also not get access to your IP address. Besides, Gigablast does not use the user’s data for anything other than returning quality search results.
Furthermore, the search logs on Gigablast are deleted regularly. This limits the chances of users being tracked.
16. Infinity Search
Infinity Search is a top search engine with a special and particular focus on users’ privacy. For instance, Infinity Search does not store what you search for on the web. They also do not have any personally identifiable information about their users.
This privacy-focused search engine fetches search results from multiple sources to speed up its search results. It also has a sidebar on its result page, allowing users to search for the same thing on many other platforms or search engines.
One of the best things about this search engine is its open source. For instance, users can discover more about it on GitLab.
It has multiple built-in integrations, such as HTML editors and stock charts.
Furthermore, Infinity Search has its indexes and does not rely exclusively on external sources for search results.
Check Out: How To Find Someone Free of Charge Online?
17. Discrete Search
Discrete Search is another privacy-focused search engine that allows users to search the web without sacrificing their search terms. It uses end-to-end and advanced SSL encryption to provide perfect forward security to keep users protected as they search the web.
You can search for anything you want on the web and be sure that your searches will remain private and discrete.
For instance, this search engine does not track users’ search history and does not use any tracking tools. It also does not keep or maintain server logs.
All your searches on Discrete Search are encrypted, preventing your ISP from reading and tracking your search terms.
Disconnect search does not link your searches to your online accounts, such as email and social media profiles, to enhance local searching privacy.
In addition, after 30 minutes of inactivity, the search results will expire and can no longer be accessed or viewed.
Furthermore, this search engine uses proprietary technology to hide one user’s search history from other users who might use the same device to browse or search the web.
Also Read: How To Reverse Image Search On Instagram?
Final Thought
Finding the best search engine that respects your searching privacy and is tailored to your browsing needs is difficult. So, there is no particular recommendation for the “best private search engine” that can apply to every user.
You will only find your ideal and best private search engine by researching and testing different privacy-focused search engines.
However, among all the search engines reviewed in this article, Startpage is the best option for un-profiled search results, while DuckDuckGo is the best non-tracking search engine.
But again, the best private search engine comes down to your personal preference and needs.
