Search Privacy
Your search history reveals everything about you. Learn why private search engines are essential and discover alternatives that don't track your queries.
Why Search Privacy Is Critical
Search engines are the gateway to the internet, but they're also the most powerful surveillance tools ever created. Every search query reveals your thoughts, interests, health concerns, political views, and personal life.
What Private Search Protects:
- Search Queries: Your questions stay private
- No Profiling: No user profiles or behavioral tracking
- No Tracking: No cookies, IP tracking, or data collection
- Unbiased Results: Same results for everyone, no personalization
What to Avoid:
- Mainstream Search: Google, Bing, Yahoo track all your queries
- Personalized Results: Filtered results based on your profile
- Data Collection: Comprehensive search data collection and analysis
- Ad Targeting: Search data used for advertising purposes
Search Privacy Best Practices
- Use Privacy Search: Choose search engines that don't track queries
- Disable Tracking: Clear cookies and disable tracking features
- Use VPN: Combine with VPN for additional privacy protection
- Clear History: Regularly clear search history and cookies
- Check Settings: Review and adjust privacy settings
Recommended Privacy Search Engines
Startpage
Free (ad-supported, no tracking)Startpage delivers Google search results — without the tracking. It strips identifying info from your queries and doesn't log or store any data. It even lets you open results in a private proxy view to avoid hitting the website directly.
Privacy Features:
• Google results without tracking
• Anonymous view
• No logs
Web
Visit SiteDuckDuckGo
Free (ad-supported without profiling)DuckDuckGo is the most well-known private search engine. It doesn't track your searches or create personal profiles. It also powers private browsing features in their browser and browser extension, which blocks trackers on websites.
Privacy Features:
• No search logging
• Tracker blocking
• Private browsing tools
Web, iOS, Android, Browser Extension
Visit SiteBrave Search
Free (premium version available)Brave Search is built by the makers of the Brave browser. It uses its **own independent index** (unlike DuckDuckGo, which relies on Bing) and doesn't track or profile users. It can be used inside or outside the Brave browser.
Privacy Features:
• Independent crawler
• No tracking
• Open-source query system (Goggles)
Web, Brave Browser (any OS)
Visit SiteSearxNG
Free (FOSS)SearxNG is a powerful open-source meta-search engine you can self-host or use via public instances. It aggregates results from many engines (Google, Bing, Qwant, etc.) while stripping all tracking. The ultimate DIY option for search privacy.
Privacy Features:
• Self-hostable
• Open source
• Meta search
Web, Self-hosted
Visit SiteEcosia
Free (ad-supported, profits go to tree planting)Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with its profits. It uses Bing's search results but adds privacy protections and donates 80% of its profits to tree planting projects. A great choice for environmentally conscious users who want privacy.
Privacy Features:
• Tree planting
• Privacy protection
• No personal data sold
Web, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions
Visit SiteQwant
Free (ad-supported)Qwant is a European search engine focused on privacy and user control. It doesn't track users, doesn't use cookies for profiling, and provides search results from multiple sources. Based in France with strong EU privacy protections.
Privacy Features:
• No tracking
• No profiling
• European privacy standards
Web, iOS, Android, Browser Extensions
Visit SiteReady to search privately?