15 Best Alternative Search Engines

When it comes to search engines and SEO, the first thing that comes to mind is Google. Google may be the industry giant and a search engine that most people use for their everyday searches. With over 90% market share, there’s no doubt that Google serves good results. But we also have search engines other than Google, which are pretty good at surfacing the right information. Alternative search engines offer users much-needed features like privacy and an adless experience.

It’s no secret that Google keeps a detailed history of the sites you have visited, your search queries and tracks all your activity. If you are concerned about your privacy, or simply looking for an ad-free search engine, then here are the 15 best alternative search engines that you can use. 

Best Alternative Search Engines: Search Engines Other Than Google 

1. Bing

After Google, Microsoft’s Bing is an easy-to-use search engine that provides users with a visual experience. Here is what you can get from this search engine when you use it.

• You get amazing background images daily.
• It’s a great tool to perform video searches as the results are displayed as huge thumbnails that you can preview with sound just by hovering around them.
• It’s a versatile tool with a lot of features like translation, flight tracking, and currency conversion.
• It also comes with a rewards scheme that allows users to earn points when they search or shop using Bing. These points can be used to purchase movies or applications and are even redeemable at Windows and Microsoft stores.

2. DuckDuckGo

If you’re looking for an excellent search engine other than Google, then you must try DuckDuckGo, a great search engine if you value your privacy. Take a look at some of its advantages.

• The interface is clean with minimal ads, giving the user a nice experience.
• It’s a great search engine to use with no user tracking.
• You also have the option to keep all activity private by adding DuckDuckGo’s extension to the browser.
• The search engine also comes with bangs, another great feature that allows users to search directly while being on another website by simply typing the prefix.

3. Neeva

Neeva is a search engine that is designed to give users the best experience. Here’s what to expect from this search engine.

• An ad-free seamless experience
• Apart from the search engine, it also offers users a browser extension that helps to block any third-party tracking or ads on websites you may visit.
• You have the option of signing up for a four-month free trial to see how the search engine works and whether it’s a good investment.
• Once the free trial is over, you will be charged $4.95 a month if you plan to use the search engine.

4. Brave

Brave is an excellent browser and search engine that you need to check out if you are looking for alternative search engines. Some of its features are as follows:

• It’s said to work faster than Google Chrome and offer users an independent, private alternative.
• It blocks ads and third-party tracking, including preventing malware, which makes it a good choice.

5. WolframAlpha

WolframAlpha is another alternative search engine that comes with a lot of advantages. They are as follows:

• It is a computational intelligence engine that allows its users to compute answers using AI technology, knowledgebase, and breakthrough algorithms.
• It also offers pro features suitable for educators, individuals, and students who require analysis and professional computation help.
• The pricing for this search engine starts at around $5.49 a month.

6. Baidu

Baidu is a popular search engine in China. It comes with similar services and features to Google. However, its main focus is China, where it’s said to control most of its internet search market. Take a look at what you get from this alternative search engine.

• Though the search engine is in Mandarin, it is quite similar to Google in terms of its design.
• Rated as the sixth-largest search engine, its features include news, internet TV, maps, video, encyclopedia, and anti-virus software.  

7. Yandex

Yandex is ranked as the fifth most popular search engine world over. It is used on a large scale in native Russia, where it’s said to hold almost 60% of the market share. Here’s how the search engine works.

• Similar to Google, you can use the search engine to search for images, news, videos, websites, and a lot more.
• It also comes with other features that include maps, cloud storage, mobile applications, etc.  

8. Ask

Ask, originally called Ask Jeeves, is another popular question-and-answer-focused search engine format that makes it a user-friendly interface.

• It’s great, especially for older individuals who are not very comfortable with search engines.
• With Ask, users also get results of frequently asked questions that make it a handy resource.

9. Search Encrypt

Try Search Encrypt, a privacy-focused search engine that ensures your identity and information are not tracked. Some of the main features include.

• Giving you results that are not personalized to user history
• One of the best features is that the search engine will delete your browsing history automatically after around 15 minutes if you’re inactive.

10. Ecosia

Believe it or not, but heavy Google searches actually have an impact on CO2. If you’re concerned about the environment, then Ecosia is for you. Here are some of its main offerings.

• Powered by 200% renewable energy, the search engine dedicates 100% of the profits to climate action, with at least 80% financing tree-planting projects.
• The search engine anonymizes your searches and does not create user profiles.

11. SearX

SearX is a privacy-respecting metasearch engine that gives users a decentralized and free experience. Some of i’s advantages are:-

• It’s easily available, and you can customize and host it on your server.
• SearX comes with many settings and preferences that you cannot find on other engines.
• It’s a great search engine that is fast and precise.

12. Qwant

Qwant is a France-based search engine that takes care of your privacy. Here’s what you get when you use this search engine.

• You can rely on the search engine to not keep track of your searches or personal details.
• It’s a user-friendly interface that categorizes search results into social, web, and news.
• You even get a music section that allows you to look up new music and lyrics.
• It also comes with a quick search feature that allows users to get external results immediately.  

13. Swisscows

Swisscows is an encrypted search engine that takes care of your security and privacy. With its servers based in Switzerland, a land with the strictest privacy laws, you do not have to worry about your search queries, personal data, or IP addresses being tracked. It’s a popular search engine to use if you’re looking to give your child a safe experience.

14. Disconnect Search

Try Disconnect; if you’re worried about your privacy, then this search engine is for you. Take a look at its features.

• Disconnect is the perfect alternative search engine that allows users to conduct searches through other search engines that you prefer.
• Once you enter your search term, the query will be rerouted through the server before it is passed to your selected search engine keeping in mind your privacy.

15. Yippy

Yippy is an excellent alternative search engine that takes care of your privacy. It does not track user searches nor show any customized adverts. You can easily search for different content, including images, jobs, blogs, and websites. You get the option to filter out the results using categories such as time, topics, and source to give relevant information.  

These were 15 of the best alternative search engines if you’re looking for unbiased results, more privacy, and improved usability. There are plenty of different options available, so try them out to see which one suits your needs.  

Comparison of Popular Search Engines to Google

While Google has been the default search engine for the majority of us, there are other search engines available. Whether you want to ensure the security of your data, contribute to a good cause while browsing the web, or discover a particular kind of results, do not be afraid to try a different search engine; it may help you find what you’re searching for.