Best private search engines that don’t track you

Google’s a bit like a digital shadow — it follows you around while you’re surfing the web. And while it’s at your every step online, it’s taking detailed, permanent notes on every random curiosity and late-night rabbit hole you explore.

That’s where private search engines step in. Not only do these alternatives to Google steer clear of your personal data, but they also provide more organic search results.

What are private search engines, and which ones are the best Google substitutes you should consider? Learn how to shake off your digital shadow in this in-depth review.

What is a private search engine?

A private search engine is a search engine that doesn’t store user data or track your browsing history. Traditional search engines like Google rely on storing personal information, search history, location, and more to create digital user profiles and launch targeted ads. Privacy-focused search engines don’t.

Instead, they aim to provide an unbiased search experience without eavesdropping on your online activities — often with tracker blocking, search encryption, or an anonymous view feature.

Private search engines can come with diverse benefits, such as:

• Dedicated apps;
• Browser plug-ins;
• A map functionality, à la Google Maps;
• A search results page that resembles Google’s;
• The ability to make it your default search engine.

Why should you use a private search engine?

There are numerous reasons why you should use privacy-focused alternative search engines to Google:

No data tracking: you can browse freely without having to worry about anyone collecting your search history, user preferences, or any other personal data;

No search history records: your past queries are never saved, ensuring your search history remains strictly your own business;

No targeted ads: without user profiles to exploit, you won’t be followed across the internet by hyper-personalized advertisements;

No IP storing: private search engines don’t log your IP address, preventing companies from mapping your physical location or network identity;

No data selling: because your information is never collected in the first place, it cannot be packaged and sold to third-party data brokers;

Proxy server: many private options fetch search results via a proxy server, completely masking your device from the websites you visit;

Anonymous browsing: you can explore the web freely without a digital shadow attached to your identity;

Ad-free experience: blocking intrusive ads lets you surf much more smoothly while minimizing your risk of exposure to malware and phishing scams;

Improved data security: a web search engine that emphasizes user privacy is a solid option for shielding vulnerable groups, like younger users who may be unaware of the dangers of sharing private info online;

Organic search results: these tools generate results that are more accurate and based solely on your search queries, not user profiles, sponsored algorithms, or filters.

11 best private search engines

Google alternative search engines, and you’ll see that the market’s filled with all sorts of private tools seemingly offering everything under the moon. Which can you trust? Here are the best private search engines out there:

1. DuckDuckGo

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Currently processing about 100 million daily searches, DuckDuckGo is one of the most popular alternative search engines to Google. It collects information from about 400 sources, but mostly Bing, to provide relevant, non-personalized search results while maintaining user privacy.

While DuckDuckGo is safe to use, it’s worth knowing that the search engine is monetized in two ways. First, it collects ad revenue through Microsoft’s advertising network. Users see ads, but they’re based on their specific search queries, not personal data. Second, it earns commissions through affiliate links. If a user clicks on an eBay or Amazon link and makes a purchase, DuckDuckGo gets a small piece of the pie.

Apart from a private search experience, DuckDuckGo also offers some nifty extras. Its bangs feature instantly gives you search results from another page — like Wikipedia — without visiting that page first. A mobile app, web extensions, and a private browser are also available.

Pros	Cons
Well-established	Ads still present
Large user base	Relies heavily on Bing
Has a custom crawler	Search results often miss obvious sources

2. Startpage

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Startpage traces its roots back to 2002, making it one of the older alternative search engines. It’s headquartered in the Netherlands, meaning it operates under stringent Dutch and EU privacy laws.

Its biggest selling point is that it allows Google searches, which is rare for a private search engine. Users can tap into Google’s algorithms while still getting anonymized search requests. As a result, the overall search experience will be similar to using Google — including search ads.

You’ll see ads, but they’ll be contextual rather than targeted, meaning you can search privately to a certain degree.

Pros	Cons
Uses anonymized Google results	Shows ads
Adheres to EU privacy laws	Fewer search features
Has an established market presence	Limited global reach

3. Ecosia

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If you want a private search engine with a positive environmental impact, Ecosia might be worth considering.

How so?

Ecosia calls itself “the search engine that plants trees,” and that’s exactly what it is. Launched in 2009 out of Berlin, Ecosia dedicates at least 80% of its profits to planting trees. As of 2024, the Ecosia organization has planted over 215 million trees worldwide — impressive for a search engine funded entirely by search ad revenue.

And what about user privacy? Ecosia does a good job here, too. Search results are primarily drawn from Microsoft Bing, but this was recently expanded to include Google in some regions. This growth has helped enhance search quality and improve the user experience, even though ads remain.

Pros	Cons
Extremely transparent	Ads are present
Eco-friendly approach	Not good for anyone who’s not a fan of Bing

4. Qwant

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Launched in France in 2013, Qwant sets itself apart from other alternative search engines by having its own indexing in place. It doesn’t rely on any other algorithm, be it Google’s or Bing’s, to store or categorize user preferences. So, if you’re unhappy with the search results Google’s bringing you, Qwant can offer a better experience.

Like many of its counterparts, Qwant relies on partnerships with advertising networks to generate revenue via non-personalized, private ads. Other features worth mentioning are Qwant Maps, based on the OpenStreetMap project, and Qwant Junior, a search engine designed specifically for young children.

Pros	Cons
Uses its own indexing	Financed by ads
Offers kid-friendly search	Some info or features are only available in French

5. Gibiru

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Gibiru is a privacy-oriented search engine founded in the USA in 2009. It markets itself as a censorship-free Google alternative, meaning you can see search results that mainstream engines typically leave out. It doesn’t track IP addresses or keep tabs on your browsing history, aiming to offer an ad-free experience by only earning revenue on a commission basis.

Gibiru also makes the Wormhole mobile app. The app lets users conduct private searches without a browser, and sites you click on are viewable within the app as well.

The downside? Gibiru might be taking their commitment to privacy a bit too seriously. Little is known about the developers, and this secrecy may make it hard for some users to trust the search engine.

Pros	Cons
Uncensored search results	Little is known about the project
Above-average speed	Not the smoothest experience

6. Swisscows

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Swisscows operates out of Switzerland and takes its neutrality seriously. Its servers are located in secure bunkers under the Alps, so its data centers are technically and physically safe. While it relies on its custom index, it’s still financed by Bing ads.

Since Swisscows interprets the meaning behind search queries, it almost acts as a computational knowledge engine. Its makers also boast that it’s a family-friendly search engine, so various kinds of adult content aren’t displayed. It doesn’t track your IP address, collect browsing history, or create user profiles.

Apart from the search engine, Swisscows offers a range of products, including private email and messaging services.

Pros	Cons
Family-friendly	Built-in filters might be too restrictive
Fast browsing	Ads from Bing are present

7. Searx

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Technically known as an open-source metasearch engine, Searx offers a different kind of private search.

What does all this mean?

Searx aggregates results from various search engines without storing or tracking users’ data. You can run Searx on your server to gain complete control over how your information is handled — if you know how.

Of course, you can run a public version if you don’t want to set anything up yourself, but performance and availability can vary.

Founded by privacy freaks, Searx promises complete customization. You can spend an eternity tinkering with the user preferences to get your results just right. It’s also possible to use specific commands to draw results from a single search engine instead of all of them.

Pros	Cons
Collects results from several sources	Public versions are of variable quality
Extensive customization options	May be too technical for casual users

8. MetaGer

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MetaGer is another open-source metasearch engine, just like Searx. Launched in Germany in 1996, MetaGer has allowed users to search privately and transparently with their English-language version since 2013.

MetaGer is run by a non-profit organization and boasts that its infrastructure is fully powered by renewable energy. Moreover, its source code is free for anyone to inspect. MetaGer is transparent about how its system ranks search results, including the criteria for removing certain pages altogether.

MetaGer is currently 100% ad-free — but not strictly out of generosity. It depended on Yahoo’s advertising networks, but in September 2024, Yahoo unilaterally terminated its contracts with MetaGer. As a result, you now need to buy a token to use MetaGer.

Pros	Cons
Green-powered	Openly removes some results
Open-source code	No longer free

9. YaCy

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YaCy delivers its own spin on private search.

It’s decentralized search software, not a website you can access in your browser. Users download and install it on their devices and then give their search queries to its peer-to-peer robot.

YaCy doesn’t rely on a central server or company to run its operations. Volunteers contribute their resources to index and search the web, so your search results come from its user community rather than a single source.

While this gives more control, it also makes YaCy less reliable than other search engines. The quality and relevance of search results can be inconsistent. In addition, the community-driven nature may make it more challenging to use and may not offer the same level of support as commercial alternatives to Google.

Pros	Cons
Community-based	Users must download an app
Easy to customize results	Not the most user-friendly

10. Mojeek

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Mojeek is a UK-based search engine popular among the environmentally conscious. It hosts its servers in Custodian, which bills itself as “one of the greenest data centers in the UK.”

And what about Mojeek’s private search?

Instead of using results from other search engines, Mojeek has a crawler that has indexed over 6 billion pages to date. It also doesn’t track your search history or store your personal data. As an added plus, Mojeek displays far more individual entries than Google search results.

The search engine offers anonymized web searches and ads based solely on your search terms. Furthermore, Mojeek is the default search engine for Privacy Browser, an Android app that offers more secure browsing than most other major browsers.

Pros	Cons
Doesn’t track user data	Shows ads
Environmentally-friendly	A relatively small search index

11. Brave Search

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As you may be able to guess from the name, Brave Search is the default search engine for the Brave browser, but you can also access it through other browsers.

Brave Search has its own indexing but uses results from other search engines to deliver the most accurate results possible. It doesn’t track search history or collect users’ IP addresses. While Brave Search deploys private usage metrics to collect basic information, this data analysis can be turned off in the settings.

If targeted ads don’t bother you, you can sign up for the Brave Rewards program, which lets users earn tokens for seeing personalized content. These tokens can be exchanged for prizes like gift cards or other currencies. While this program is popular among Brave browser fans, it may seem odd to other privacy-focused internet users.

Pros	Cons
Doesn’t store data	Shows ads
Doesn’t track online activity	Requires adjusting your settings to get maximum privacy

Pair a private search engine with advanced cybersecurity tools

A private search engine is a valuable tool for shielding your search history and limiting your exposure to intrusive ads. However, combining private search with other cybersecurity solutions is a smart choice for elevated online security.

Take the Surfshark One suite as an example. In one easy-to-use bundle, you get a private and secure experience on and off the web:

• Surfshark VPN: a cybersecurity staple that encrypts your data and hides your IP address;
• Surfshark Antivirus: 24/7 protection that defends all your files on your device from viruses, malware, and more;
• Surfshark Alternative ID: a tool that lets you generate a new online persona, email address included;
• Surfshark Alert: real-time data leak notifications for extra peace of mind.

Key takeaway: the best private search engines

Google dominates the search scene, but there are tons of alternative search engines out there for you to choose from.

Which are the best search engines?

While that decision ultimately comes down to your preferences, the best options are those that clearly separate your personal identity from your search bar, giving you unbiased results without tracking your every move.

FAQ

Does Incognito or private mode really work?

Yes, Incognito mode works by deleting the data stored on your device during your incognito/private session. However, this is only the data stored on your device. Incognito mode and other sites don’t guarantee — nor do they claim — that your searches remain private.

What search engine is the most private?

There isn’t a single “most private” search engine, as different engines protect your data in different ways. However, the gold standard options all share the same non-negotiables: they never log your search history, track your IP address, or follow you around the internet with targeted ads.

How can I search and not be tracked?

Here’s how you search without being tracked:

1. Use a private search engine.
2. Use a VPN for increased protection outside your search engine.
3. Use your browser’s Incognito mode to add another layer of privacy to your online activities.

Can you trust private search engines?

You can trust private search engines with some due diligence: check their developer, policies, and history. Many search engines state outright whether or not they use or collect user data. Look up their track record to see if they stand by their words or have been involved in any shady business. And dig into their reputation as well — find out what people say in the media, within online communities, and on social media platforms.

Is DuckDuckGo actually private?

Yes, DuckDuckGo is genuinely private for searching because it never records your search history, logs your IP address, or builds a behavioral tracking profile. Any ads you see are strictly contextual, meaning they are based solely on your current query rather than your past online activity. However, its protection stops at the search results page — once you click an external link, destination websites and your internet provider can still track you.

Is DuckDuckGo owned by Google/Amazon/China?

No, DuckDuckGo is owned by Duck Duck Go Inc., an American company.

What are the different types of search engines?

There are two main types of search engines: traditional and private.

A traditional search engine, like Google, offers personalized results by tracking your searches, preferences, and location. On the other hand, a private search engine focuses on protecting user privacy by not tracking search terms or storing personal data.