Google has transcended from being just another search engine.It has become ubiquitous, often used as a transitional verb.If you have any doubts, just Google it!
With its ever-evolving algorithms, a dominant online advertising platform, and personalized user experience, Google has amassed a global market share of 87%.
No one serves up better search results than Google.
At least that’s the common perception.but is that always the case?
Google’s easy-to-use interface and personalized user experience comes at a cost.It’s no secret the search engine giant catalogs the browsing habits of its users and shares that information with advertisers and other interested parties.If you are unwilling to trade privacy for convenience or have specific search needs, there are a number of Google alternatives that offer a better search experience.
1. Bing
As of January 2020, Microsoft sites handled a quarter of all search queries in the United States.One could argue that Bing actually outperforms Google in certain respects.For starters, Bing has a rewards program that allows one to accumulate points while searching. These points are redeemable at the Microsoft and Windows stores, which is a nice perk.In my view, the Bing image search GUI is superior to its rival’s and much more intuitive.Bing carries that same clean user experience to video, making it the go-to source for video search without a YouTube bias.
2. Yandex
Looking for a search perspective outside of the United States? Yandex is used by more than 45% of Russian Internet users.
It is also used in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Ukraine. Yandex is an overall easy-to-use search engine. As an added bonus, it offers a suite of some pretty cool tools.
3. CC Search
CC Search should be your first stop on the hunt for nearly any type of copyright-free content.
This search engine is perfect if you need music for a video, an image for a blog post, or anything else without worrying about an angry artist coming after you for ripping off their work.
The way CC Search works is simple – it draws in results from platforms such as Soundcloud, Wikimedia, and Flickr and displays results labeled as Creative Commons material.
If privacy is important to you, consider:
4. Swisscows
Swisscows is a unique option on this list, billing itself as a family-friendly semantic search engine.They also pride themselves in respecting users’ privacy, never collecting, storing or tracking data.It uses artificial intelligence to determine the context of a user’s query.Over time, Swisscows promises to answer your questions with surprising accuracy.
5. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo doesn’t collect or store any of your personal information.That means you can run your searches in peace without having to worry about the boogeyman watching you through your computer screen. DuckDuckGo is the perfect choice for those who wish to keep their browsing habits and personal information private.
6. StartPage
StartPage serves up answers from Google, making it the perfect choice for those who prefer Google’s search results, but aren’t keen on having their search history tracked and stored.It also includes a URL generator, a proxy service, and HTTPS support.The URL generator is especially useful because it eliminates the need to collect cookies.Instead, it remembers your settings in a way that promotes privacy.
7. Search Encrypt
Search Encrypt is a private search engine that uses local encryption to ensure your searches remain private.It uses a combination of encryption methods that include Secure Sockets Layer encryption and AES-256 encryption.When you input a query, Search Encrypt will pull the results from its network of search partners and deliver the requested information.
8. Gibiru
According to their website, “Gibiru is the preferred Search Engine for Patriots.” They claim their search results are sourced from a modified Google algorithm, so users are able to query the information they seek without worrying about Google’s tracking activities.Because Gibiru doesn’t install tracking cookies on your computer they purport to be faster than “NSA Search Engines.”
9. OneSearch
Verizon Media launched its privacy-focused search engine, OneSearch, in January 2020.
It promises:
- No cookie tracking, retargeting, or personal profiling.
- No sharing of personal data with advertisers.
- No storing of user search history.
- Unbiased, unfiltered search results.
- Encrypted search terms.
10. SlideShare
SlideShare allows you to search for documented slideshow presentations. You can also search for ebooks and PDFs, making it an excellent tool if you have a business presentation to prepare for. SlideShare also allows you to save slides and even download the entire slideshow for use on your local computer.
11. Internet Archive
The Wayback Machine is great for researching old websites, but it’s so much more.
As the name implies, this search engine queries a massive collection of documented material, including millions of free videos, books, music, and software.
Essentially, the Internet Archive is a vast online library where you can access just about anything you could imagine.
