Tyler Cross
Published on: November 17, 2024
Fact-checked by Kate Davidson
Short on time? Here’s the most private search engine in 2024:
- 🥇Mojeek: Mojeek is the best private search engine I could find. It doesn’t track identifiable data or create profiles of individual users. It’s also fully independent and doesn’t share data with other companies.
Everyone wants their search history to stay private, but that’s hard in today’s world. The world’s most popular search engines (including one that rhymes with ‘bugle’) store heaps of user information and have been accused of misrepresenting their privacy practices.
On the other hand, many that are actually private just aren’t good. When I tried them out, they did a poor job of taking me to the type of web pages I was searching for. A few were decent but full of ads. Even though they weren’t targeted at me, they were still annoying.
Luckily I was able to find a few privacy-friendly search engines that work well. I looked at privacy and logging policies and considered whether each option had any relationships with third-party companies. While none of them are perfect, every option on my list is safer than Google or Bing when it comes to privacy.
Pro Tip: The best way to stay anonymous online is to use a VPN. Even with the best search engine, your ISP, hackers, and anyone else connected to your network can still see your search history if they want to. A service like ExpressVPN will fully encrypt your data and block trackers to stop websites from collecting your info.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Most Private Search Engines
- 1. 🥇Mojeek — Best private search engine with anonymous data policies, good results, & no profiling.
- 2. 🥈Startpage — Most convenient private engine (anonymizes Google searches without logging data).
- 3. 🥉Brave Search — Great privacy policy and features + uses Brave’s proprietary search index.
- 4. MetaGer — Gives you control over which third-party search engines you want to use.
- 5. DuckDuckGo — Good data logging policies + overall privacy tools (some user tracking).
- Plus 3 more!
🥇1. Mojeek — Best Private Search Engine With Anonymous Data Policies
Mojeek is my favorite private search engine. It uses an independent index, has excellent privacy policies, and doesn’t track users. What’s more, it’s easy to use and generated the results I was looking for when I tested it out.
I really appreciate the fact that Mojeek doesn’t rely on third-party indexes, An index is the database of sites a search engine uses, and Mojeek’s developers built their index from scratch. This means it doesn’t depend on Google or other tech giants.
Why is this important? Well, it’s because any search engine that relies on a third-party alternative has to share some amount of data with the larger partner. In most cases, this means giving some of your data to Google. Now this doesn’t mean that Google gets everything, but if full privacy is your aim, it’s better to keep larger search engines entirely out of the loop. Mojeek’s insular infrastructure ensures that your searches are never shared with other companies.
Mojeek also has a stellar privacy policy. There’s no user tracking, no personal data collection, and no behavioral profiling. This means you won’t get any personalized ads based on your search history. What’s more, your results will be objective because Mojeek doesn’t tailor them based on what you’ve clicked on in the past.
I really appreciate Mojeek’s clean user interface. It’s as easy to use as Google or Bing. Just open up Mojeek and type your query to start getting results. There’s no complex setup or flood of annoying prompts. If you’ve ever used Google before, you already know how to use Mojeek.
However, it’s not perfect. Since it doesn’t have access to the vast datasets that Google and Bing use, its results may not be as precise as mainstream search engines, especially for niche or obscure queries. That said, I searched for multiple obscure websites and never had a problem finding them.
All in all, Mojeek is an excellent private search engine for anyone wishing to stay anonymous online. It’s committed to anonymity and is very easy to use. The results might not be as extensive as what you’ll see when using the most popular alternatives, but I see this as a fair tradeoff for total privacy. If you use Mojeek alongside a secure VPN, you’re practically invisible while you browse.
🥈2. Startpage — Most Convenient Private Engine (Anonymizes Google Searches Without Logging Personal Data)
Startpage is the most user-friendly option on my list. The user interface is essentially the exact same as Google’s. Available as both a browser and a search engine you can access from anywhere, Startpage is basically Google minus most of the tracking and invasive data collection.
Rather than relying on its own independent index like Mojeek, Startpage acts as a middle-man between you and Google. It operates as a proxy and anonymizes all of your data before passing it on to Google. At the same time, Startpage doesn’t store any personal data or track users. This means you get the accuracy and relevance of Google’s search algorithms without compromising your privacy.
It supports secure HTTPS connections, and the browser even has an option that lets you view all results through a proxy. It’s also easy to encrypt your data; while some users have reported having trouble connecting to Startpage while using a VPN, I was able to connect while using ExpressVPN without any problems. VPNs are far better than proxies when it comes to privacy, so I appreciate the compatibility.
However, there are some drawbacks. While Startpage does an impressive job of anonymizing searches, it still shows Google’s ads. Additionally, Startpage’s reliance on Google results means that it doesn’t offer the same level of customization or personalized results that other search engines like Mojeek or Brave Search can provide.
Overall, Startpage offers the best balance between privacy and usability. It functions exactly like Google and shows you the same results (and ads) that Google would, while anonymizing your information. It’s not the most privacy-friendly search engine out there, but it leverages Google’s strengths while keeping your searches anonymous.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
🥉3. Brave Search — Great Privacy Policy + Uses Brave’s Proprietary Search Index
Brave Search is built on a proprietary search index, meaning it operates independently from larger engines like Google or Bing. On top of that, it delivers useful results without profiling users or selling their data to other companies.
Most importantly, Brave Search doesn’t track you or your search history. All of the data that it collects is anonymized and not shared with third parties. I did see a number of ads when I tested it out, but they were fairly unobtrusive. And I like the fact that you can pay to remove them entirely. Brave even offers its own browser with additional privacy features. It’s one of the best private browsers, so I recommend checking it out.
Brave Search uses AI to compile relevant results without relying on scraping user data or using personalized info to form its responses. I took a look at the policies around the use of AI and was pleased to see that they aren’t invasive to user privacy and some can even be opted out of.
However, Brave Search has some limitations. Since it’s still relatively new and developing its own search index, Brave occasionally lacks the depth and breadth of results you might find on Mojeek or Startpage. To address this, Brave Search sometimes supplements its results with Bing, which may raise privacy concerns despite Brave’s claims of anonymizing these requests. l also encountered some reliability issues. Results could be slow to load and sometimes inconsistent.
Overall, Brave Search is an excellent and convenient option for privacy, though its smaller index may mean occasionally needing to supplement searches with other engines for comprehensive results.
4. MetaGer — Gives You Control Over Which Third-Party Search Engines You Want to Use
MetaGer is an open-source engine with a strong focus on privacy, but there’s a serious problem: MetaGer it’s no longer free. Putting that aside for a moment, I love MetaGer’s customizable approach to searching the internet. You can decide which third-party search engines you want to use to populate your search results. This setup gives you more control over where your search data goes and how your queries are processed.
Like any good private search engine, MetaGer doesn’t track your searches or log your data. It even uses SSL encryption to protect your information and masks your IP address during queries. There’s also an option to easily search through a proxy. It’s based in Germany, a country that values privacy and conforms with all of the European Union’s strict data privacy laws. Overall, MetaGer offers the most control and privacy features of any option on my list and is the most secure overall.
Regardless, most users will have a problem with the fact that MetaGer isn’t free to use. It operates on a token system where each search costs tokens. The more search engines you draw from at once, the more tokens it costs. This unfortunate recent development makes it hard to recommend over the likes of Mojeek. Still, there’s no denying that it does bring something unique to the table.
Overall, MetaGer is the best pick for privacy enthusiasts who prioritize data control and transparency, but you’ll need to invest time as well as money to learn its features.
5. DuckDuckGo — Good Data Logging Policies + Overall Privacy Tools
DuckDuckGo doesn’t store your search history or create profiles based on your activity. Instead, It relies on contextual advertising based on keywords rather than user data, allowing for relevant ads without sacrificing user privacy. It doesn’t log your IP address, cookies, or other forms of user data either.
Beyond the search engine, DuckDuckGo also provides a suite of tools, like a browser (for mobile and desktop) and a browser extension. All of these block third-party trackers and offer automatic encryption. It doesn’t have quite as many security features as Norton’s private browser, but I love that the browser lets you delete your entire history with the click of a button.
However, DuckDuckGo is not without its flaws. It uses Microsoft’s Bing infrastructure for a portion of its search results, and some data is shared with Microsoft. It’s also worth mentioning that the company is based in the US and subject to its data regulations, which aren’t as strict as those in Europe. There have been some claims that DuckDuckGo is not as private as advertised and these haven’t been fully debunked. Given that, I recommend you use DuckDuckGo (and any search engine, for that matter) alongside a top-tier VPN.
But besides a few questionable data handling policies, DuckDuckGo offers significant improvements over the most popular alternatives. I really like the browser, and even the search engine comes with a few extra privacy features.
6. Swisscows — Great Privacy Features + Based in Switzerland
Swisscows is a privacy-focused search engine based in Switzerland, a country known for its strong data protection laws. When you use Swisscows, your searches aren’t tracked in any way, and the company promises not to collect, store, or share any of your personal information.
Swisscows does rely on Bing for searches, but it anonymizes user data thoroughly before transmitting your search. It may not have Mojeek’s completely independent database, but due to its privacy policy and Swiss data regulations, it’s very secure.
Swisscows also offers unique search features. It uses a proprietary semantic search technology that interprets the context of your queries, rather than using personalized searches. You won’t see targeted ads following you around based on your search results because Swisscows doesn’t store or analyze your behavior. Swisscows is also family-friendly by default, meaning it filters out explicit content. Overall, Swisscows is a great alternative to any mainstream search engine.
7. Privacia — Simple, Reliable, and Private Search Engine
Privacia is a basic search engine that prioritizes privacy. Unlike the most popular engines, Privacia doesn’t track your searches, store personal data, or create profiles based on your behavior. It won’t log your search history or deliver personalized advertisements, in fact, it doesn’t give your data to advertisers at all.
Privacia’s interface is clean and straightforward, allowing you to find what you need quickly without any problems. It aggregates results without collecting any identifying information, so you can easily find what you’re looking for without giving up privacy. Plus, Privacia supports encrypted connections, so be sure to use it alongside a good VPN.
Privacia delivers a reliable, straightforward, and highly secure search engine without any extra bells and whistles. While it may not use independent indexing like Mojeek, it gives you what you need — search results without compromising your privacy. Privacia is a great option if you want to maintain your privacy without worrying about a small database or adapting to a new interface.
8. Qwant — Great Privacy Policies + GDPR-Adherent
Qwant is a French search engine that emphasizes privacy, plus it fully complies with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This adherence to GDPR law means that Qwant is legally obliged to protect users’ personal data. Qwant is unable to track its users or use data for profiling, plus it automatically encrypts your queries.
This means that Qwant doesn’t record your search history, browsing queries, or cookies. It relies on Bing, and while it does use some personal indexing, it’s not isolated from the big tech companies like Mojeek and Brave Search are.
I really like Qwant’s approach to advertisements. It doesn’t use personalized ads — instead, it delivers non-targeted ads based on keywords from your queries. Despite most of Qwant’s search results being powered by Bing, Qwant uses its own algorithm for advertisements. Overall, Qwant is highly secure, offers non-personalized ads, and is strictly GDPR-compliant.
Quick Comparison Table
Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria
A private search engine should keep user data private. That sounds simple but there are a number of different ways in which a user’s information can potentially be compromised. Here’s what I looked at:
- I examined the data handling policies. The most important aspect of a private engine is its data handling policies. I only picked options that don’t create personalized profiles of users which can be used to sell their data or send targeted ads.
- I considered how each search engine gets its results. A fully independent index means that your engine doesn’t need to pull from third-party sources like Google. In an ideal world, every private search engine would build its own index. Mojeek does this, but most don’t. Still, I made sure that the engines that use third-party indexes have the proper anonymizing elements in place.
- I examined the privacy features. I made sure to look at what else the search engine offers. For example, Brave Search uses the most private AI search that I’ve ever seen, meaning you get the convenience of AI-powered search results without the overwhelming privacy concerns that most AI features have.
- I tested how easy each option was to use. Your search engine can’t be too unwieldy and advanced to use, or not contain a broad enough database to actually be helpful. My picks, with some exceptions (looking at you, MetaGer), are all roughly as easy to use as Google.
Are Any Search Engines Truly Private?
In short, no — but a few come pretty close. A good engine needs to balance privacy with the ability to find relevant information. While there are several that greatly prioritize anonymity, it’s realistically impossible to prevent all forms of tracking or data sharing.
To be truly private, a search engine cannot log, track, or share any data. It would also need to have a fully insulated infrastructure that doesn’t rely on third-party processors, including data centers. Going further, a private search engine would need to have a proprietary search index that could compete with Google and Bing in terms of accessibility and reliability.
Such a search engine simply does not exist. That said, Mojeek, Startpage, and other options on my list each achieve high levels of privacy in different ways.
Mojeek goes beyond most search engines by having created its own completely insular infrastructure. It doesn’t log or track your data in any way and uses its own search index that prioritizes privacy. Since it doesn’t process information, it also doesn’t send customized ads or have personalized search preferences (which erases the risk of encountering tailored misinformation).
However, no search engine on its own is enough to be completely safe. Ultimately, the best way to stay anonymous online is to be careful with your personal information and to use a VPN. Unlike any search engine, however private, a VPN can encrypt 100% of your internet traffic and hide your IP address. Combined with regularly clearing your cache and using the most privacy-friendly search engines, this is the best way to keep your information private.
Going a step further, the best VPNs also come with tracker blockers. ExpressVPN has an airtight no-logs policy, an in-built tracker blocker, and top-notch encryption.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- Google. Google collects far too much user data to be considered private. Even its Incognito Mode still stores background data. Google also sells a ton of your personal data to third-party advertisers.
- Microsoft Bing. Similar to Google, Bing collects, stores, and sells a ton of your data as a part of its business model. Everything I just said about Google is true for Bing too, it’s just a different company behind the wheel.
- Mozilla Firefox. While significantly better than Google or Bing, Firefox still collects some telemetry data (you can opt out) and it also gives your information to some of its security partners. In short, it’s not unsafe, but its data policies are inconsistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a search engine private?
A search engine is private if it doesn’t log any of your info, track your user data, sell your search history or personal data, or use it for personalized searches. Ideally, the best search engines don’t rely on third-party indexes, as doing so might result in your information being shared.
All of this sounds great, but the reality is that it’s rare to find a search engine that meets all of those requirements and has an index that’s large enough to be helpful. Mojeek is a very private engine and it has a pretty respectable database. If you’re willing to sacrifice a little bit of privacy, Startpage is another strong option. It uses Google but anonymizes your data for extra protection.
Does Google collect my data?
Yes, Google collects quite a significant amount of data. It harvests your search queries, browsing history, location, device information, search patterns, telemetry data, and more. On top of that, it sells user data. This data is supposedly anonymized, but many people are skeptical about the extent to which Google properly strips data from individual user profiles.
What is the best private search engine?
It depends on what level of anonymity you need and how accessible you need your search engine to be. For example, Mojeek has excellent privacy policies and a fully independent search infrastructure, but it’s limited by a somewhat small database. Startpage anonymizes information before passing it on to Google, so the indirect risk is that if Google changes its policies, it could affect Startpage.
What tools make using a search engine safer?
I’d recommend using a VPN like ExpressVPN alongside your private search engine, so you can mask your IP address from websites you visit. The best ones also have built-in tracker blockers to eliminate unneeded data collection.
It’s worth pointing out that you still need a way to search privately, even with a VPN. ExpressVPN can hide your IP address, but it doesn’t prevent Google, for example, from collecting cookies, device fingerprints, and other forms of data.
