Tyler Cross
Fact-checked by Kate Davidson
Short on time? Hereโs the most private search engine in 2025:
- ๐ฅMojeek: Mojeek is the best private search engine I could find. It doesnโt track identifiable data or create profiles of individual users. Itโs also fully independent and doesnโt share data with other companies.
Everyone wants their search history to stay private, but thatโs hard in todayโs world. The worldโs most popular search engines (including one that rhymes with โbugleโ) store heaps of user information and have been accused of misrepresenting their privacy practices.
On the other hand, many that are actually private just arenโt 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 werenโt 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.
Editorsโ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick summary of the most private search engines:
๐ฅ1. Mojeek โ 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 doesnโt track users. Whatโs more, itโs easy to use and generated the results I was looking for when I tested it out.
I really appreciate the fact that Mojeek doesnโt rely on third-party indexes. An index is the database of sites a search engine uses, and Mojeekโs developers built their index from scratch. This means it doesnโt depend on Google or other tech giants.
Why is this important? Well, itโs 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 doesnโt mean that Google gets everything, but if full privacy is your aim, itโs better to keep larger search engines entirely out of the loop. Mojeekโs insular infrastructure ensures that your searches are never shared with other companies.
Mojeek also has a stellar privacy policy. Thereโs no user tracking, no personal data collection, and no behavioral profiling. This means you wonโt get any personalized ads based on your search history. Whatโs more, your results will be objective because Mojeek doesnโt tailor them based on what youโve clicked on in the past.
I really appreciate Mojeekโs clean user interface. Itโs as easy to use as Google or Bing. Just open up Mojeek and type your query to start getting results. Thereโs no complex setup or flood of annoying prompts. If youโve ever used Google before, you already know how to use Mojeek.
However, itโs not perfect. Since it doesnโt 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. Itโs committed to anonymity and is very easy to use. The results might not be as extensive as what youโll 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, youโre practically invisible while you browse.
๐ฅ2. Startpage โ 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 Googleโs. 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 doesnโt store any personal data or track users. This means you get the accuracy and relevance of Googleโs 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. Itโs 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 Googleโs ads. Additionally, Startpageโs reliance on Google results means that it doesnโt 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. Itโs not the most privacy-friendly search engine out there, but it leverages Googleโs strengths while keeping your searches anonymous.
Editorsโ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
๐ฅ3. Brave Search โ Great Privacy Policy + Uses Braveโs 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 doesnโt 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. Itโs 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 arenโt invasive to user privacy and some can even be opted out of.
However, Brave Search has some limitations. Since itโs 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 Braveโs 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 โ 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 thereโs a serious problem: MetaGer is no longer free. Putting that aside for a moment, I love MetaGerโs 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 doesnโt track your searches or log your data. It even uses SSL encryption to protect your information and masks your IP address during queries. Thereโs also an option to easily search through a proxy. Itโs based in Germany, a country that values privacy and conforms with all of the European Unionโs 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 isnโt 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, thereโs 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 youโll need to invest time as well as money to learn its features.
5. DuckDuckGo โ Good Data Logging Policies + Overall Privacy Tools
DuckDuckGo doesnโt 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 doesnโt 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 doesnโt have quite as many security features as Nortonโs 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 Microsoftโs Bing infrastructure for a portion of its search results, and some data is shared with Microsoft. Itโs also worth mentioning that the company is based in the US and subject to its data regulations, which arenโt as strict as those in Europe. There have been some claims that DuckDuckGo is not as private as advertised and these havenโt 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 โ 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 arenโt 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 Mojeekโs completely independent database, but due to its privacy policy and Swiss data regulations, itโs 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 wonโt see targeted ads following you around based on your search results because Swisscows doesnโt 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 โ Simple, Reliable & Private Search Engine
Privacia is a basic search engine that prioritizes privacy. Unlike the most popular engines, Privacia doesnโt track your searches, store personal data, or create profiles based on your behavior. It wonโt log your search history or deliver personalized advertisements, in fact, it doesnโt give your data to advertisers at all.
Privaciaโs 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 youโre 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 โ 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 โ Great Privacy Policies + GDPR-Adherent
Qwant is a French search engine that emphasizes privacy, plus it fully complies with the European Unionโs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This adherence to GDPR law means that Qwant is legally obliged to protect usersโ personal data. Qwant is unable to track its users or use data for profiling, and it automatically encrypts your queries.
This means that Qwant doesnโt record your search history, browsing queries, or cookies. It relies on Bing, and while it does use some personal indexing, itโs not isolated from the big tech companies like Mojeek and Brave Search are.
I really like Qwantโs approach to advertisements. It doesnโt use personalized ads โ instead, it delivers non-targeted ads based on keywords from your queries. Despite most of Qwantโs 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 userโs information can potentially be compromised. Hereโs 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 donโt 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 doesnโt 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 donโt. 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 Iโve 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 canโt 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 โ 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, itโs 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 doesnโt 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 doesnโt log or track your data in any way and uses its own search index that prioritizes privacy. Since it doesnโt process information, it also doesnโt 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.
Editorsโ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Top Brands That Didnโt 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, itโs 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 gives your information to some of its security partners. In short, itโs not unsafe, but its data policies are inconsistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a search engine private?
A search engine is private if it doesnโt 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 donโt 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 itโs rare to find a search engine that meets all of those requirements and has an index thatโs large enough to be helpful. Mojeek is a very private engine and has a pretty respectable database. If youโre 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 itโs 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?
Iโd 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.
Itโs worth pointing out that you still need a way to search privately, even with a VPN. ExpressVPN can hide your IP address, but it doesnโt prevent Google, for example, from collecting cookies, device fingerprints, and other forms of data.
