Five Free Search Engines to Try Instead of Google

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Five free search engines worth trying as alternatives to Google are Bing, DuckDuckGo, Brave Search, Startpage and Mojeek. They all return web results without charging users, but differ in how they source results, personalize searches and handle privacy—so the best choice depends on what you want from search.

What to know before switching

A search engine discovers or receives information about web pages, organizes it, and presents results in response to a query. Many also show images, news, maps, shopping links or AI-generated summaries. These services can be free to use because they may earn revenue from advertising, including ads associated with search terms; “free” does not automatically mean ad-free or entirely private.

Search results are not identical across services. A provider may crawl the web itself, license or receive results from another index, or combine sources. Rankings can therefore vary, and a result missing from one engine may appear on another. Search engines also change features and partnerships over time, so descriptions of how results are sourced should be checked against each provider’s current documentation.

Privacy is another distinction, but it is not a single on/off setting. A company might limit the connection between searches and a user profile while still processing the query, using cookies, or recording technical data for a limited purpose. Read the service’s privacy policy and settings if your choice depends on a specific kind of data handling.

Five free search engines to try

Bing: Microsoft’s general-purpose search engine offers web, image, video, news and map results. It is a straightforward alternative if you want a broad set of familiar search features, though it may personalize results and show advertising. Optional AI features and their availability can vary by region and account.
DuckDuckGo: A privacy-focused search service that says it does not track users’ searches to build personal search histories. It combines results from multiple sources rather than relying exclusively on a single independent web index. It also offers features such as !bang shortcuts, which send a search directly to another site; for example, a shortcut can take a query to a retailer or reference site. Its privacy claim is not a promise that every website you visit from a result will avoid tracking you.
Brave Search: Brave provides a search engine with its own web index, alongside features intended to reduce dependence on other search providers. Its results may include optional AI-assisted summaries or other changing tools. You can use the search service separately from Brave’s browser, and should review its current settings and privacy information to understand available options.
Startpage: Startpage presents search results sourced from established providers while emphasizing privacy between the user and those providers. It can suit people who want familiar, broad results without directly using a major provider’s search page. Its approach involves processing the query to return results, so consult Startpage’s policy for details about data handling and features such as its anonymous viewing option.
Mojeek: Mojeek operates its own crawler and index, making it an option for people interested in results from an independent search index. Its coverage and ranking can differ from larger services, which may be useful for discovering different pages but can also mean that some queries return fewer or less familiar results. It is free to search and may display ads.

These are not the only free options. Ecosia, for example, is another search service that describes an environmental mission connected to its advertising revenue. It is worth comparing any provider’s current policies and funding model rather than assuming that a particular label guarantees a certain experience.

How results and privacy differ

Search engines need information about a query to return relevant pages. They may also use signals such as language, approximate location, device settings, or past activity, depending on the service and the user’s choices. Personalization can make local or familiar results more useful, but it can also make two people see different rankings for the same words.

There is an important distinction between a search engine and the websites in its results. A privacy-oriented engine may limit what it collects about your searches, but after you click a result, that destination can set cookies or collect information under its own policies. Private browsing mode mainly limits what is saved locally in a browser; it does not, by itself, make searches anonymous to the search provider or internet service.

Likewise, an independent index is not automatically more accurate or more private. It describes where a search engine gets at least some of its web listings, not a guarantee about ranking quality, data retention, or the behavior of sites you visit.

How to choose one

Try the same small set of searches on two or three engines before changing your default. Include a local query, a topic you know well, and a specific question with a clear answer. Compare whether the useful pages appear, how much advertising is shown, and whether images, maps, or news are easy to reach.

For familiar all-around search: start with Bing.
For privacy-oriented searching and shortcuts: try DuckDuckGo.
To try a search service with its own index: compare Brave Search or Mojeek.
For results sourced from established providers through a privacy-focused service: try Startpage.

You do not have to choose just one. Set a preferred engine in your browser, then keep another available for queries where results seem incomplete. Most mainstream browsers let you change the default search provider in settings; the exact menu wording depends on the browser and device.

Common drawbacks and misconceptions

A smaller or differently sourced index may not cover every page, and search ranking can be less helpful for some specialized queries. Conversely, a larger index does not guarantee that the top result is trustworthy. For health, financial, legal or current-event questions, check the date, author, source and supporting evidence rather than treating ranking as verification.

Ads are another common surprise. A no-cost engine can still show sponsored results, which should be labeled as advertising, and the amount and format vary. If you want fewer ads, check the provider’s current options rather than assuming that privacy-oriented means ad-free.

Finally, changing search engines does not change your browser, email provider, or every other online service. It is one practical choice in a broader set of privacy and convenience decisions—not a complete solution to tracking across the web.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free alternative to Google?
There is no single best choice for everyone. Bing is a broad, familiar option; DuckDuckGo emphasizes privacy; and Brave Search or Mojeek can provide results from independent indexes. Try the same queries and choose based on result quality and features.

Which search engine is most private?
Privacy depends on what data you mean and how a service handles it. DuckDuckGo and Startpage emphasize privacy, but their policies and practices differ. Review current policy details, and remember that websites you open can collect data separately.

Are these search engines really free?
Yes, you can search without paying a subscription. Some services support the product with advertising or other arrangements, so free access does not necessarily mean there are no ads or no data processing.

Can I use more than one search engine?
Yes. You can set one as your browser’s default and visit another when you want a second set of results. Comparing engines can help when a query seems to be missing useful pages.

Does private browsing hide my searches from a search engine?
No. Private browsing generally limits what the browser saves on your device after a session. It does not automatically conceal your query from the search provider or prevent a visited website from collecting information.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.