1. Introduction

Many people prefer to maintain their privacy online by opting for an online private search engine instead of sticking to Google or another search engine that will track your movements (ref 1).

When selecting the best private search engines, we must look at the overall reputation of the engine, its ease of use, and the amount of privacy it delivers.

With a clear idea of why you might want to use a private search engine and the controversy facing some of them, you can get a better feel for the top choices.

If you would like to jump ahead to a section please click one of the links below.

1. Introduction

2. Why private modes are not enough

3. Why people opt for private search engines

4. Things to look for in private search engines

5. The controversy surrounding some search engines

6. Reviews of private search engines

7. Summary of reviews

8. Conclusion

2. Why Private Modes Are Not Enough

Everyone who chooses to use a private search engine will have a slightly different reason for making this selection, but there is a great deal of overlap.

Using your regular search engine or browser will not be enough to protect your privacy, even if you opt for private browsing mode (ref 2). Private browsing will not stop any external network monitoring or malware, such as keyloggers or spyware.

It also cannot prevent thieves from stealing your data if you use a public network. You should also keep in mind that private browsing is only as private as you make it.

If you download something while in Incognito mode, the downloaded file will still be on your computer after, and if you buy something, it will still appear on your credit card or bank statement (ref 3).

There are also other more technical ways that your private browsing habits will not remain private, such as a DNS cache (ref 4). This cache stores domain name service (DNS) requests that occur automatically when your browser makes a connection with a website.

Someone with technical knowledge would know where to find your DNS cache and how to use the information to piece together your browsing history. Most people do not realize it, but it is even possible for your computer’s operating system to save information onto your hard drive to efficiently manage its memory.

This means that the particular vulnerability will most likely occur when your system is low on memory, but the bottom line is that your browser would not delete this information at any point in the future; it simply does not have access to do so.

Unfortunately, even private search engines cannot resolve this issue, but they can eliminate the other privacy-related concerns.

If you are unable to use one of the following private search engines at a given moment, there are some things you can do to maximize your privacy in all the major browsers (ref 5). When you want to maximize privacy, always start by opting for Incognito mode, but recognize the limitations described above.

You can also disable the ads via an adblocker, like AdBlock. If there is a website you do not trust, go ahead and manually disable JavaScript.

Do not forget to also activate an option to not track in your browser and to disable third-party cookies. However, even with all those steps in place, you will still not get the same level of privacy as one of the best private search engines.

3. Why People Opt for Private Search Engines

With a private search engine, these concerns become minimal. With a private search engine, you do not have to worry about your searches being tracked (ref 6).

This not only protects your privacy but also leads to a less intrusive browsing experience. You will not have as many ads and those that do appear will not be targeted based on your search history.

There is also no chance of Google or someone else utilizing your past search results to learn about you online. Additionally, with private search engines, there is no concern about a third-party tracking your movements, whether that is the actual search engine or the NSA.

To further improve the experience on private search engines, you will get results that are neutral and objective.

Most search engines, including Google, will display the results they think you want to see based on your past searches, or make autocomplete suggestions based on browsing history. This can hinder your exposure to opposing views or the latest information.

With a private search engine, you will get neutral search results, meaning that you always get objective matches for your search instead of what Google thinks you want to find, leading to the ability to find unbiased information with ease.

There is also the benefit that when using one of the best private search engines, your searches will not link to your accounts, like email. Google is a classic example, gathering data from your emails, searches, and online browsing in Chrome to create a customer profile.

They can then sell this information to third parties or use it to target the ads you see to increase profits. By contrast, private search engines do not collect data about you via searches, neither for their own use or to sell.

Of course, it also helps that the there is a range of distinct private search engines available, with a dozen or so engines regularly achieving high ratings in reviews and rankings.

Between the various search engines available, there is support for all browsers and the choice of an application for mobile devices, depending on the search engine you select.

4. Things to Look for in Private Search Engines

As you start to search for the best private search engines, there are a few key qualifications to keep in the back of your mind.

The most important is whether the search function is actually private and how much anonymity it provides, something which is a strong consideration in most reviews (ref 7).

It is not hard to find information about privacy for your chosen search engine as most engines will have an FAQ, About, or Privacy section on their pages.

Pay close attention to what data (if any) they collect and what they do with that data, whether they use encryption and/or proxies to hide your search results, and any other steps they take towards anonymity.

With most people used to the results from Google, which are exactly what you are looking for, with the exception of honing based on your previous search history, switching to a private search engine may provide lesser-quality search results if you are not able to find the information you want.

As such, the best private search engines must also deliver high-quality search results. Hulbee, for example, uses machine learning to help it determine the abstract context of your chosen keywords, improving the search results (ref 8).

You might also consider the user interface. The best private search engines will have advanced search options available, letting you limit the results to some extent or add phrases that must be included, just like Google does.

The actual appearance of the search engine should not matter too much if the functionality is there, but sleeker, modern engines do tend to give a better impression. Of course, you should also take the time to evaluate the reputation of the search engine you choose to use.

Look for reviews online and find pros and cons, such as those outlined below, to make an informed decision.

Remember that you do not want to use a private search engine if it does not have a strong reputation for trust (ref 9). Some private engines have controversy surrounding them which may make you think twice, and that brings us to the next point.

5. The Controversy Surrounding Some Search Engines

The world of private search engines is not without its own controversy. There is always the risk that someone will opt for private searches to hide illegal activity or some other nefarious motive, but that is unavoidable.

Most who use private search engines simply want to maintain their online privacy. There are also specific controversies about some private search engines where they are described more as malware than a useful tool.

Both SearchEncrypt and Discrete Search have some supporters, but a quick search on a non-private engine will show you more results referring to them as malware or viruses and offering removal suggestions than those praising them (ref 10, 11).

This is not a cut-and-dry issue in the world of private browsing, however, as those platforms take the time to explain what is happening in response to claims of them being malware (ref 12).

The malware-related concern arises from the fact that both SearchEncrypt and Discrete Search work by redirecting searches.

The team at SearchEncrypt explains that is how the browser extension works and you can go to the extension’s setting and disable that redirect action at any time. SearchEncrypt additionally points out that users agree to this redirection and that the search itself is private since they do not collect information about users or searches.

Although there are many blogs and articles online labeling these Discrete Search and SearchEncrypt as viruses or malware, they still appear on many lists of recommended best private search engines.

We will, however, abstain from including them in our rankings due to the mixed opinions online and controversy surrounding these two search engines.

6. Reviews of Private Search Engines

For the sake of an unbiased review of each of the top private search engines, we will look at some of the most highly-ranked options in alphabetical order. After a thorough examination of these search engines, then we can start to draw out some conclusions.

6.1 BitClave Review

BitClave is a unique option among the various best private search engines as it is the only one on the list to use blockchain technology, showing yet another application for this growing area of technology. This search engine regularly receives positive reviews, both among those who are concerned about private searches and those in the blockchain community (ref 13).

Pros:

• The team has extensive experience in security, risk management, and IT.
• Documentation and search in various languages.
• A decentralized search engine.
• Utilizes blockchain technology to provide privacy and decentralization.
• Saw significant fundraising success.
• Offers a whitepaper with more detail than the other private search engines provide (ref 14)
• Includes a specific search engine for those interested in cryptocurrencies, but that only applies to those with an interest (ref 15).
• Founded by a previous chief security officer with LG Electronics, meaning the company has plenty of experience with online privacy (ref 16)
• Also helps change the way advertisers work, benefiting both those who use search engines and advertisers via the elimination of advertising intermediaries.
• Customers receive incentives via CAT tokens to make searches that are relevant for advertisers thanks to the contract between users and advertisers.

Cons:

• Discrepancies in documentation between various languages.
• Highly focused on involvement in blockchain with most benefits for those interested in blockchain or cryptocurrency, which may make it less appealing to many users.

6.2 Disconnect Search

Disconnect Search is a U.S.-based company, which means the company will follow its privacy policy, but there may also be concerns from some about the NSA having access to what you search. It is mostly used via a browser add-on, but there are other options as well (ref 17).

Pros:

• Based in the United States, so it must follow regulations and stick to its privacy policy.
• Browser extension available for Chrome or Firefox or via an Android app.
• Browser extensions are open source.
• Also available as JavaScript web app.
• Premium services available to enhance security.
• Your choice of search engines to query, including Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.
• Can search in Incognito mode within your chosen browser.
• No outside marketing within the search engine because Disconnect promotes its premium product instead.

Cons:

• Search engine markets its online security app and premium VPN service, so the exchange does have ulterior motives for profits.
• Routes the search results instead of displaying them on its own website, which can be confusing for some.
• The results take you to the chosen search engine.
• Disconnect can log search results since they take place via its service.
• Hosted on Amazon services.

6.3 DuckDuckGo Review

DuckDuckGo is among the most highly-ranked private search engines, making appearances on nearly every list of these engines that you will find, regardless of the organization creating the rankings. DuckDuckGo is based in the United States, although there are host servers in multiple locations.

Pros:

• Available for Apple, Android, and Chrome.
• The option of a chrome extension makes it incredibly easy for anyone to use, regardless of the device they search on.
• Includes tracker blocking to enhance privacy while browsing other websites and help you realize which websites track you (ref 18)
• Provides privacy ratings for every website you visit so you can make an informed decision of where to spend time online.
• Has been making a profit since 2014 despite delivering privacy.
• Has handled increasing use well, including an approximately 50 percent increase from 2016 to 2017.
• Clean, simple, and intuitive homepage (ref 19)
• Information about privacy right on homepage and accessible by scrolling down
• Results load relatively quickly.
• Search suggestions are enabled by default.
• No prioritization of content based on your past search results.
• Offers bangs to narrow searches within a specific service or website.
• Autocomplete suggestions as you type (ref 20).
• Works seamlessly with OpenStreetMap if you enter an address.
• Can customize the page’s appearance and settings.
• Technical tasks are done in-house.
• Because of its location in the U.S., DuckDuckGo could face severe legal consequences if it violated its privacy policy.
• Available as an extension or a mobile app (ref 21).
• Fully featured.
• Offers integration with the Brave browser for extra privacy (ref 22).
• Allows you to select your country so you can localize search results without privacy considerations (ref 23).
• Can filter results by country and/or date.
• Paid ads remain separate from search results and are clearly labeled.

Cons:

• No proxy feature.
• Uses Amazon AWS for its hosting, which causes some people to worry about privacy, but encryption still plays a role.
• Did previously partner with Yahoo! Although they changed this following privacy issues concerning Yahoo!
• The location in the United States leads to some privacy concerns since it is subject to the U.S. Patriot Act and PRISM.
• Security restrictions on the extension/application can lead to certain older websites not loading properly.
• Extensive privacy policies camouflage the fact that it saves your search queries, but without any personally identifying information. Even so, that is enough for some people to want to stay away (ref 24).
• You can only filter image results by size.

6.4 Gibiru Review

When Gibiru launched in 2009, the platform marketed itself as being similar to the original version of Google, without the privacy concerns that have arisen over time (ref 25). Gibiru aims to deliver the same search results but without using cookie data or your IP address to store information or affect your search results.

Pros:

• Aims to provide comparable results to Google.
• No Google filter bubble.
• Has been around since 2012.
• Search available via the website or a Firefox plugin (ref 26)
• Its website provides detailed information on Gibiru history, including why it was created and why privacy during internet searches is a concern.
• HTTPS 128-bit encrypted search available.

Cons:

• Minimal information in the privacy policy (ref 27)
• No proxy feature included, so you must find and download it yourself.

6.5 Oscobo Review

Oscobo is newer than many of the other private search engines on this list, but it has already seen an increase in popularity. This is the first British private search engine and as such, it tends to focus on users within the UK (ref 28).

The backgrounds of the founders are transparent. Fred Cornell, for example, worked at Yahoo for more than a decade, providing him with experience related to search engines while Robert Perin used to work with Blackberry.

Pros:

• First British private search engine.
• Includes results in English from around the world despite being based in the UK
• Clean interface with the same general organization as Google.
• Search results only account for location (via IP address) and search term, not including personal data like in Google’s filter bubble.
• Ability to install an extension or set it as the browser’s default.
• Verifiable lack of third-party scripts.
• One co-founder has extensive Yahoo experience (ref 29).
• They have a deal with the ad marketplace on Yahoo to provide advertising revenue for the platform (ref 30).
• Privately funded so no corporate interests.
• Uses a simple paid search instead of selling data to make its profit.
• Available for desktop and mobile searches, with plans for expanded platform compatibility (ref 31).
• Advertising is limited to just one or two results at the top of the page.
• Plans to expand localized searches to other regions.

Cons:

• Focused on users within the UK for now, meaning that localized searches for those outside the UK require extra effort (ref 32)
• Does include results from Twitter, which can be annoying due to spam or advertisements something included in them.
• Advertisements do appear on the results page and are hard to spot since they are formatted nearly identically to regular results.
• The search results are dependent on your location.
• Uses search results from Bing/Yahoo, which are not known for as strong results as Google.

6.6 Qwant Review

Qwant was designed and is based out of Europe and focuses on privacy and neutrality. The platform also aims to deliver a panoramic search and unbiased results, like most other best private search engines.

To give you an idea of Qwant’s capabilities, the search engine took care of 2.6 billion requests in 2016 (ref 33)

Pros:

• Ability to handle billions of requests.
• Interface available in 26 languages.
• Received 18.5 million Euro in 2017 for expansion in the Europe market (ref 34)
• Media-rich design reminiscent of Google.
• Quality search results displayed in boards.
• Can look at results for web, news, social, images, video, music, and shopping.
• Works with Firefox (ref 35) and Safari.
• Founded in 2013, so it has a long history.
• Includes artist pages and is ideal for searching for media, letting it stand out from other engines.
• Has released the source code to several third parties, including the French National Data Protection Body, so users can be certain of non-tracking policies.
• Very user-friendly and visually-appealing interface.
• Ability to add notes and bookmarks to boards or follow boards (ref 36)

Cons:

• Currently focused on French and German markets.
• Some are unsure about its ability to confront Google (ref 37)

6.7 SearX Review

SearX is run by volunteers and is an open source project, making it very unique among the best private search engines (ref 38).

Amazingly enough, because it is a volunteer-run engine, there is no advertising on site nor any affiliate marketing. Individual operators can use its open-source nature to use a different finance model, but so far, all of these have been ad-free.

Pros:

• Open-source.
• Run by volunteers.
• Absolutely no ads.
• Those who prioritize privacy can set up their own SearX instance for complete privacy.
• When self-hosted, SearX can be among the most secure search engine if not the most secure.
• It is unlikely that SearX operators will log searches or be monitored by governmental authorities, but you cannot be sure.
• You can use proxy websites with SearX.
• Aggregates results combined from more than 70 search services (ref 39)

Cons:

• No way to know whether a particular operator of a public instance logs your searches or changes other factors.
• Those who are not very tech-savvy will have to use public instances instead of self-hosted ones, which can significantly reduce the privacy associated with the search engine.

6.8 StartPage Review

StartPage is owned by an independent Dutch company without any indications of venture capital or investors providing funding. From a privacy standpoint, this is a strong positive as those funders would likely want something in return.

When looking for information on StartPage, keep in mind that it used to be known as IXQuick (ref 40)

Pros:

• Clean and simple homepage (ref 41)
• User-friendly interface.
• Can be added to Firefox or Safari with ease.
• Has a proxy feature, so if you visit a website via the search results, the entire thing remains anonymous.
• Now includes OpenStreetMap integration.
• Various themes available to choose from.
• Hosting comes from StartPage’s own servers around the world, without the ability to log into the servers.
• There is the ability to only use servers that are not within the U.S. or EU if you are concerned about the privacy of those servers (ref 42).
• Has a dedicated technical team and works with other individuals.
• Does not track your IP address at all (ref 43)
• Choice of using a proxy or not when you visit webpages.
• David Bodnick founded IXQuick in 1998, making it the private search engine with the longest history.
• You can enable autocomplete suggestions.
• Fast search results for non-image searches, although slower than DuckDuckGo.
• Advanced search available and you can filter by video, web, or images.
• Ads are clearly marked and separate from search results.
• Includes a URL generator that means cookies are not necessary.

Cons:

• Slower than other engines for image search.
• Does not easily integrate with every browser, just Safari and Firefox.
• Getting the search to display maps can be somewhat finicky at times.
• Some consider it to be a bit lackluster in terms of offerings (ref 44)

6.9 Swisscows (Hulbee) Review

Swisscows is the search engine that used to be Hulbee, so you may spot it on lists of private search engines referred to with either name. Swisscows comes from Switzerland and aims to deliver innovative technologies, a search engine, and data integrity that is guaranteed (ref 45)

Pros:

• Based on semantic information for intuitive search results.
• All servers are within Switzerland so there is no concern about international companies or hackers snooping.
• Uses Intelligent Data Cloud technology to reduce search times by pulling information from data pools.
• Uses its own ad system with ads solely targeted based on the query, not even any geotargeting (ref 46)
• Includes a built-in filter for pornographic and violent content, letting it appeal to parents as well as those who want online privacy.
• 15 years of experience via Hulbee.
• No results include pornographic content, making it more child-appropriate and work-appropriate (ref 47)

Cons:

• The result of $9 million of angel funding from an unknown investor, who may or may not have an ulterior motive.

7. Summary of reviews

Bitclave

11

Languages

Disconnect Search

95+

Languages

DuckDuckGo

95+

Languages

Gibiru

1 (English)

Languages

Oscobo

1 (English)

Languages

Qwant

13

Languages

Searx

30+

Languages

StartPage

18

Languages

Swisscows (Hulbee)

8

Languages

8. Conclusion

It is hard to conclude as to which is the best private search engine since there are so many good options. Additionally, since some of the more popular engines are designed to work best in a certain part of the world, what is best for someone in North America may not be ideal for someone in the UK.

However, DuckDuckGo does the best job of providing a well-rounded and secure experience. The exchange regularly receives positive reviews with very few negative ones interspersed. It has a long history of reliable search results and a clear privacy policy.

The only significant downside of DuckDuckGo is that it is based solely within the United States. This means that while it is ideal for those in the U.S., those from other countries may need to consider another private search engine if they do not get the desired results from DuckDuckGo.

There are also the concerns related to the fact that DuckDuckGo is subject to information privacy laws within the United States, such as the Patriot Act. Even with those minor controversies, the positives related to DuckDuckGo more than make up for these negatives.

We also appreciate that DuckDuckGo has made changes when necessary, such as limiting its relationship with Yahoo following that major search engine releasing information about its data collection. Overall, the results from DuckDuckGo include what users are looking for, the private search engine is simple to use, and it takes privacy concerns seriously.

For those who find DuckDuckGo’s base in the United States to be a deal breaker, Swisscows would be an excellent choice. Its long history as Hulbee and overwhelmingly positive reviews help it stand out.

Regardless of which private search engine you select, you must be aware of the various pros and cons of your choice and weigh your options.

Select an engine that will respect your privacy and has a good reputation, and you should enjoy the anonymity you want. We simply feel that DuckDuckGo and Swisscows are standout options that deserve additional consideration.

Thanks for reading!