by Today, search engines are so well-known and widespread that it’s impossible to imagine our daily lives without these engines. Likewise, Google and Bing are well-known and part of everyday Internet use. These engines let you quickly access any information you want anytime and anywhere.
Do you believe using Google in private mode is enough to keep your search results private? No, not really. Whatever search engine you use, your search results are not private unless you opt for safer alternatives.
We utilize the Internet to browse the web to consume content, read articles, and research data. When we do these things, we are tracked by various websites. In addition to sites, Google tracks your movements and tracks what you are doing and doing searches. Even Google Chrome does not provide the privacy level you believe you have.
Google, Bing, Yahoo, and other search engines keep track of your history of searches and create your profile, using the data to promote their products. However, a few alternative privately-owned search engines protect your privacy. These search engines do not track your activities or queries. Therefore, they are the best method to find items.
Best Private Search Engines in 2024
It’s good that many people don’t realize that many legal alternatives in Google and Bing protect their users’ privacy. In addition, the Internet is full of search engines that can help you remain anonymous while trying to find answers to your questions.
In this post, we’ll review some of the top private search engines that one can use to browse the Internet without fear. We made this list based on the ease these search engines used and their ability to provide accurate results for every Search.
1. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is among the most effective privacy-oriented search engines that offer alternatives to Google. The user experience provided by DuckDuckGo is laudable.
DuckDuckGo is, in contrast to Google, a traditional method of advertising sponsored by affiliate commissions to help monetize the platform. The ads are secure and frequently relevant, which results in an enjoyable experience.
Of course, the DuckDuckGo search algorithm has improved over time (even if it doesn’t know who you are!). The quality of the search results is excellent, based on the results I’ve tested.
It allows you to choose a country to get the most relevant results you could be looking for. However, it could disappoint you for local search results (based on your location or country).
If you enter a query and search for a solution, the site might immediately respond (fetched by the source). This is a great feature. If you’ve enjoyed using Google, however, you may be missing a lot of features (like filtering images according to license) that you typically discover using Google.
2. Startpage
Startpage has also been a well-known search engine. It allows browsing via proxy servers to shield your personal information from being tracked. It is possible to add it to your browser as a customized search engine and enjoy an anonymous search experience in the web browser.
Startpage is an excellent idea to be a secure search engine option for Google. The UI is similar to Google’s. Therefore, this could be the right choice if you’re looking for a familiar experience with added security features. In addition, Startpage has privacy-friendly ads that you can remove by adjusting the settings.
If you don’t disable the advertisements, they could be insignificant to your Search results, which could cause an unpleasant user experience.
3. Mojeek
Mojeek is an essential and simple search engine that lets you browse any subject without impacting your privacy. Using advanced technology for Search gives you impartial and independent search results.
Mojeek indexes millions of pages from different sources covering every area there is. Additionally, your searches are not monitored as the engine does not keep any information about your IP address, search history, or other data.
4. Qwant
Qwant is a fully privacy-focused search engine that is proud not to log its users’ search queries or sell their personal information to advertisers. It was founded in France. The search engine has a simple, user-friendly interface.
The engine categorizes your Search results into three main categories: news, social, and web. It also uses AI to provide users with a separate music section to aid music enthusiasts in finding new songs and songs.
The scrolling action below the search bar will reveal an area dedicated to the latest trends. You will have instant access to all the current global events. There’s an additional Qwant Junior section dedicated to catering to children.
5. Disconnect Search
Disconnect Search is a helpful private search engine tool that uses content search from significant search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The tagline for this particular search engine says the whole story “prevent the search engine from monitoring the device you use.”
It uses the feature of content search assistance provided by industry leaders such as Bing, Yahoo, and Google. It does not monitor your online activities, IP address, or search phrases.
The privacy-friendly engine offers an advanced VPN (that costs you $50 annually) and a privacy-focused browser as part of the privacy offerings. This is certainly an unusual choice when in comparison to other engines.
6. MetaGer
When you utilize MetaGer, your inquiries are sent anonymously to multiple search engines, protecting your privacy.
Users can continue to browse thanks to the proxy server’s anonymizing capabilities securely. The user’s IP address is likewise concealed, making them less of a target for hackers.
There is always a way to browse MetaGer anonymously. MetaGer will forward your inquiry to the search engine through an intermediary server to maintain anonymity. In this way, the site will not keep tabs on your movements.
Similarly, MetaGer’s ability to aggregate results from numerous search engines shields users from censorship. Its algorithm is publicly and easily readable by all users. The software is open-source, and it costs nothing to use.
7. Search Encrypt
Search Encrypt is a privacy-focused search engine that protects and hides your online activity, as its name suggests. Everything is secure with AES-256-bit encryption and SSL (Secure Socket Layer).
Users’ search activity is not monitored. Also, after 30 minutes of inactivity, the search results will be deleted.
Videos, pictures, and articles can all be searched for discreetly. With Search Encrypt, you may watch movies privately without leaving the search results page.
No sensitive information is kept indefinitely on Search Encrypt’s servers. Further, it does not employ any third-party monitoring software. That’s because it prevents your Internet service provider (ISP) from monitoring your online activity.
Your web searches are no longer associated with your other online identities or accounts.
8. Swisscows
Search engine Swisscows uses cutting-edge methods to ensure the authenticity of its results. The system uses information recognition and semantic data to produce search results.
For example, Swisscows is not interested in you or your personal information. No search history is kept, no user data or information is stored, and complete anonymity is ensured.
Swisscows has a search index that users can use. For example, they index the web and base their search results on it with their years of experience in computer science.
There is no need to worry about using this search engine around the kids because it is completely secure. Your kids, for instance, can do secure, private internet searches. For instance, we won’t index or show sexual or pornographic search results.
In a time when security breaches have claimed businesses and lives, the demand to protect your privacy remains at an all-time level. Unfortunately, the Internet is a boon that could become an instant curse if hackers access your data.
Since popular search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo cannot do this, we should look to other search engines that respect their users’ privacy.
