5 Best Google Search Alternatives for Privacy & More in 2025

There are several alternatives to Google’s search engine that are tailored for privacy, professional use, and more. You might want to avoid data tracking, get more focused results, or simply need a search engine that’s offered where you live, and we’ve got you covered.

What are the best Google search alternatives? Google’s market share is roughly 90%, and it handles approximately 8.5 billion searches daily ¹ (SEO AI, 2024). But, that doesn’t mean Google is the best, especially when it comes to privacy. Concerns about data collection, the influence of AI on results, or the lack of specialized features, are just the start of its issues.

I’ll guide you through 5 of the best Google search alternatives, focusing on what makes each a viable replacement. Whether you prioritize advanced functionality or need a reliable tool that respects your data, these alternatives can fill the gaps where Google falls short. Plus, every search engine in our list is free just like Google.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Best Google Search Alternatives in 2025

1. Bing — Unlock Smarter, AI-Powered Search Tools for More Interactive Results

Bing offers thorough AI search results thanks to its Deep Search feature, which is powered by GPT technology. This feature lets you generate contextual summaries and responses directly on the results page, saving you from sifting through multiple links. It also allows you to summarize historical events or even draft emails, making Bing a practical choice for both personal and professional use.

It takes less than 30 seconds to get a thorough search result

With features like video previews, image search, and advanced map tools, Bing offers a rich and comprehensive search experience. Its AI Chat stands out by remembering query context, enabling you to refine searches seamlessly. The platform’s rewards program, which lets you earn points for searches redeemable for gift cards or donations, adds extra value.

However, privacy remains a notable drawback as Bing’s data collection practices are similar to Google’s, extending across related Microsoft services such as Edge and Cortana. This makes it less ideal if privacy is your priority.

2. Brave Search — Enjoy Independent, Bias-Free Search Results with Enhanced Privacy

Brave generates results using its own index, avoiding personalization based on your search history. This approach delivers reliable, unbiased results while keeping your data secure. Additionally, Brave’s Discussions feature surfaces user-driven content from platforms like Reddit directly in search results, making it easy to check real feedback.

The service also provides AI-generated summaries with citations, providing quick answers to questions without requiring you to click through multiple links. I particularly liked that the search engine lets you check sources for all AI-generated results. But if you want standard searches, there’s a Goggles feature that lets you customize how results are ranked.

You can even ask the search engine to exclude some sources

Brave is also a strong option for content creators. It offers a rewards program where you can earn tokens by engaging with ads. These tokens can be exchanged or redeemed for gift cards, donations, or other benefits.

3. DuckDuckGo — Browse Anonymously with Zero Data Collection and Full Privacy Protection

DuckDuckGo is a leading choice for privacy-focused search, offering a simple and effective way to browse the web without being tracked. Unlike Google, it doesn’t log your IP address, store personal data, or create personalized search histories. Instead, it delivers results based on aggregate data, ensuring anonymity while still providing relevant answers to your queries.

That said, its search experience mirrors Google’s in many ways, offering instant answers to common questions and a clean interface for browsing. Unique features like Bangs let you quickly search specific sites by typing commands like “!amazon” or “!wikipedia” directly into the search bar. This versatility makes it a useful tool for both general and targeted searches.

If you can't find a Bang for a specific site, you can suggest it to the developers for inclusion

Though DuckDuckGo relies on Bing for much of its data, it focuses on stripping out trackers and ads based on personal profiles. For those who value simplicity, privacy, and anonymity without sacrificing usability, DuckDuckGo is a compelling alternative to mainstream search engines.

4. Qwant — Access Localized, Unbiased Search Results with Strong European Privacy Laws

Focuses on European privacy laws, offering localized, unbiased results with strong data protection. Qwant is a French search engine that avoids storing your search history or selling your personal data. While powered by Bing for much of its content, Qwant enhances these results with its own indexing and delivers encrypted searches to safeguard your activity.

The platform provides many tools, including Qwant Junior, a kid-friendly curated content designed for children aged 6 to 13, and Qwant Maps, a tracking-free alternative for navigation. If you create an account, you can also benefit from AI-powered summaries, enhancing the search experience with concise, insightful responses.

You don't even need an account to access this feature

Though its design emphasizes privacy, some optional features require limited data sharing with partners, so it's advisable to review the privacy policy. Rooted in the European Union and compliant with GDPR standards, Qwant is a reliable alternative to mainstream search engines, offering more control over your online footprint.

5. Startpage — Get Google Results with Complete Privacy and No Tracking

Startpage’s Anonymous View feature acts like a built-in proxy, letting you visit websites anonymously by masking your identity from the sites you access. This means that you can browse privately without leaving a digital footprint.

Startpage anonymizes your queries before sending them to Google

Unlike Google, Startpage adheres to strict privacy standards under the EU’s GDPR, ensuring your data isn’t stored or sold. While it includes sponsored results to support the platform, they’re far less intrusive than Google’s advertising.

Standard features like image, video, and news searches remain intact, but map queries redirect to Google or Bing, which could be a limitation for some.

Quick Comparison Table: Google Search Alternatives

Here’s a quick comparison table highlighting key features of popular Google search alternatives:

Specialized Search Alternatives

Here’s a breakdown of specialized search alternatives for academic, technical, and region-specific needs:

Academic Search Options

• Google Scholar: Offers academic papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings. It focuses on providing scholarly content with citation tracking and access to research papers from various disciplines.
• Microsoft Academic: A powerful academic search engine that includes research papers, citations, and academic profiles. It uses AI to connect related research and help track scientific developments.
• BASE (Bielefeld Academic Search Engine): A multidisciplinary academic search engine with access to millions of documents from repositories worldwide. It focuses on open-access research.
• JSTOR: Primarily used for academic journal articles, books, and primary source materials in humanities, arts, and social sciences. It’s a subscription-based service, but many institutions offer access.

Technical Search Tools

• Stack Overflow: An excellent resource for developers looking for technical solutions. It includes coding questions and answers on a wide variety of programming topics.
• GitHub Search: GitHub’s search functionality is ideal for developers. It allows you to find code snippets, open-source projects, issues, and contributions in various programming languages.
• Semantic Scholar: Uses AI to help you discover research papers relevant to your technical and scientific interests. It focuses on technical papers, offering citation graphs and influential research articles.

Region-Specific Alternatives

• Naver (South Korea): What’s the best search engine for South Korea? Naver is the dominant search engine in South Korea, with 75% of all searches done within it (Delante, 2017)². It offers local search, blogs, forums, news, and a range of localized content and services.
• Baidu (China): Which search engine is best for China? The leading search engine in China, holding a market share of 54.36% as of November 2024, is Baidu (The Egg, 2025)³. It provides local search results, news, and content tailored for the Chinese market, including specialized services like Baidu Maps and Baidu Baike (an encyclopedia).
• Seznam (Czech Republic): A popular search engine in the Czech Republic, offering web search, news, maps, and other services tailored to local content and language.

What’s the Difference Between Free vs Paid Search Alternatives

When considering search alternatives, free and paid options, both have their advantages and limitations. Here’s a quick overview of both:

Ultimately, your choice depends on your priorities: privacy and minimal distractions (paid) versus cost-effectiveness and comprehensive search results (free).

FAQs on Google Search Alternatives

What are the top AI-powered search engines?

Outside of Google, Bing AI is a leading AI-powered search engine, offering conversational search and detailed answers using OpenAI’s models. That said, most Google search alternatives on this list provide AI-powered features that enhance your search. So, ultimately, it depends on your search preferences.

Which search engine offers the most unbiased results?

DuckDuckGo and Startpage are often considered the most unbiased search engines. DuckDuckGo doesn’t track your data, offering more neutral results by not personalizing searches. Startpage provides Google search results without tracking, offering the same high-quality results with a privacy-focused approach. Both prioritize privacy, aiming to reduce the influence of algorithms and ads on search results.

Is DuckDuckGo part of Google?

No, DuckDuckGo isn’t part of Google. It is an independent search engine focused on privacy, which means it doesn’t track your searches or store personal information. While DuckDuckGo does use some data from other search engines like Bing, it operates separately from Google.

Which search engine prioritizes safety and privacy the most?

DuckDuckGo is a solid option for prioritizing safety and privacy. It doesn’t track your searches, store personal data, or create a profile of you, making it a top choice for privacy-conscious web surfers. However, if DuckDuck doesn’t suit your standards, you can check out these privacy-focused browsers.

Are there any good Google alternatives for image search?

Yes, there are a few strong alternatives for image search. For example, Bing offers a comprehensive image search feature with filters like size, color, and layout. DuckDuckGo is another option, providing a privacy-focused image search that doesn’t track your data while offering relevant results.

Conclusion

Finding the right Google Search alternative depends on your priorities, whether it's privacy, advanced features, or regional accessibility. The options in this list offer robust alternatives to Google, tailored to a variety of needs, from privacy-conscious browsing to specialized search capabilities for professionals.

Each alternative strikes a balance between functionality and privacy, offering unique features that set them apart from Google. Whether you’re looking for tools that avoid tracking, provide advanced APIs, or cater to specific regions, Our collection of search engines was designed to effectively meet diverse requirements.

References

1. https://seo.ai/blog/how-many-people-use-google
2. https://delante.co/definitions/naver/
3. https://www.theegg.com/seo/china/most-popular-search-engines-in-china