Although Google is the undisputed king of all search engines, this does not mean that it is the only option.
On the contrary: there are many other modern search engines that offer different features, different search results and different approaches to the user interface.
The most common reason for changing search engines is privacy. Google unfortunately tracks literally everything you do online - including, most importantly, your search history.
If you prefer to keep this data to yourself only, you can switch to a search engine that does not collect this information.
This way you can browse the Internet and search for whatever you want without worrying about your data being stored somewhere.
So let's take a look at some of the best alternatives to Google.
To remember:
- There are many search engines on the market that are good alternatives to Google.
- The most common reason for opting out of Google is privacy concerns, as Google tracks everything users do online.
- Bing, Yandex, Baidu, DuckDuckGo, Amazon, Yahoo!, StartPage and Ecosia are viable alternatives to Google.
- The choice of the best search engine rests with the user and his preferences.
Long live the (only) king - Google
Saying that Google is the most popular search engine in the world is like saying the sun is pretty bright. Technically, this is true, but does it sufficiently reflect reality?
According to various sources, Google's global market share ranges from 85,55% to more than 95%. Google has billions of users worldwide (about or more than 4 billion, depending on the source) and about 3.5 billion searches per day!
But Google is not just a search engine, it is also an advertising platform. In 2021, Google's advertising tools, along with Google Play, YouTube and the Google search engine, helped provide the this company revenue of $617 billion in the US in the US (compared to $426 billion in 2020) and 60 billion British pounds in the UK in 2020.
However, as we mentioned, Google is also a data collection tool. Many people have privacy concerns about this - how much data can Google have on them, especially since it collects information not only for its own use, but also for third-party companies?
Another issue is competition. For small companies trying to establish an online presence, it can be difficult to get noticed when you're competing with huge companies able to afford to spend millions on SEO and advertising.
But even despite all these problems, Google is still king of the Internet, and it looks like it's not going anywhere anytime soon. That doesn't mean, however, that there aren't other search engines that may be right for you.
If not Google, then... alternative search engines
While it may seem like Google is the only player in the market, there are actually many other search engines you can use. Here are some of the best alternatives to Google, each with its own unique features and advantages.
Bing
Bing is a search engine launched by Microsoft in 2009. According to this source, at the end of 2021. Bing accounted for just over 7% of the global search market, ranking second among all search engines, (although still very far behind Google).
Bing has several features that make it a sensible alternative to Google.
One of them is integration with many Microsoft products, such as Office or, more recently, ChatGPT and Copilot.
This means that if you use these products, you can search for things without leaving the app you are in.
Another Bing feature is offering rewards for using the search engine. These rewards can be exchanged for videos and apps.
Bing also doesn't collect as much data as Google; Microsoft once even stated that it doesn't collect user data for advertising purposes at all (but it's better to take this declaration with a big pinch of salt).
However, compared to Google, this means that if you are concerned about privacy, Bing may be a slightly better alternative.
Baidu
Baidu is the most popular search engine in China, with a market share of about 70%. It was launched in 2000 and since then Baidu has become one of the largest Internet companies in its home market as well as worldwide.
Baidu is very similar to Google in terms of features, design and functionality. One major difference, however, is that Baidu is heavily censored.
This is due to restrictions imposed by the Chinese government on Internet use.
As a result, many international sites and services are blocked in China, and thus Baidu complies with these restrictions by not showing these sites in its search results even outside the country.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that was launched in 2008. The main advantage of DuckDuckGo is that it does not track its users and does not collect their data.
This means you can use it without worrying that your private information will be stored or sold to third parties. There is also a special extension that you can use to make your browsing even more secure.
Another unique feature of DuckDuckGo is that it shows a small amount of ads, which, combined with its minimalist interface, provides a much cleaner search experience.
In addition, there is a feature called "bangs" that allows you to search directly on a website by typing an exclamation point followed by the name of the site, such as "!wikipedia dog."
Amazon
Well, that's right, Amazon - a store "with everything".
Although not a typical search engine, Amazon should definitely be on this list.
After all, it is the largest e-commerce search engine in the world; it accounts for more than half of of all product searches.
A9 is the name of Amazon's search engine algorithm, and its strength is, of course, products.
When you search for something on Amazon, not only results from Amazon's database are displayed; results from other sellers on the platform, as well as from the giant's partner sites, are also displayed.
What's more, Amazon makes it easy to compare prices and read reviews before making a purchase.
Of course, search results can be filtered by price, seller and other criteria. This makes this unique "everything store" a great place to find products, especially if you're looking for the best deals.
Yahoo!
Yahoo! is one of the oldest Internet companies, founded in 1994.
It used to be one of the most popular web portals, but has since lost many users, mostly to Google.
Currently, its market share is about 2-3%. Technically speaking, Yahoo! is an Internet portal, not a search engine.
It offers a search engine function, but it is worth mentioning that since 2009 it has been supported by integration with the previously mentioned Bing from Microsoft.
One of the advantages of using Yahoo! is that it offers many other services, such as Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo! Finance and Yahoo! News.
This means you can use Yahoo! as a diary providing you with the latest world news, weather, or your email messages.
StartPage
StartPage is basically Google, but without the tracking. This search engine was launched in 2009 amid a wave of subsequent controversy over Google and privacy. StartPage claims that it does not collect or share any user data.
In addition, it allows the use of proxy servers to improve online security and anonymity; you don't even have to have cookies enabled to use it.
Note, however, that StartPage still has ads - although they are not targeted and therefore not as intrusive as those seen on other portals.
The interface is also very clear and user-friendly. StartPage also allows you to personalize the appearance of the results pages, such as by enabling night mode or changing the number of results.
Ecosia
Ecosia is an environmentally friendly search engine founded in 2009 in Germany.
It describes itself as a social company that puts sustainability first, and supports transparency, privacy and CO2 neutrality.
The company donates 100% of its revenue (or 80% of its profit) to various non-profit reforestation organizations.
Ecosia reports that since 2022 it has planted more than 150 million trees.
As of 2017, search results are powered by Microsoft's Bing, but Ecosia is also working on its own algorithms.
The search engine also seeks to improve privacy: to this end, it encrypts data and does not permanently store or sell it to third parties.
Yandex
While it may not be the most sympathetic choice in light of events in Ukraine, Yandex is currently the fifth largest search engine in terms of market share.
Launched in 1997, Yandex is a Russian search engine and market leader in Russia, with about 60% market share in that country. Yandex is also present in other countries such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Armenia.
Yandex provides its users with several components similar to what Google offers, such as image and video search, a map service and email.
However...
It also has some unique features, such as Yandex.Music, which is a music streaming service, and Yandex.Navigator, an alternative to Google Maps.
This means that you can comfortably use Yandex in your daily life as your main Internet hub. In this respect, it is very similar to Google. It is also often praised for its user-friendly and clear interface.
Given that it is also being used as a propaganda tool through its built-in news service, its closed ecosystem must be very much to the liking of the authorities in Russia.
Due to problems with impartiality and lack of polarization, we do not recommend using this search engine or any related services. Unless you are in Russia and are happy with the pervasive narrative....
How to choose the right search engine for you
Now that you know all these different Google alternatives, the question is - which one should you use?
The answer to this question depends on your, as a user, needs and preferences.
The biggest problem with Google is privacy.
If you are concerned about your data being collected and stored, you may want to consider switching to a privacy-conscious search engine such as DuckDuckGo or StartPage.
And if you want to feel that you are doing something for Mother Earth, Ecosia is the best solution.
Summary
Here are some of Google's alternatives for those looking for a change. As you can see, each of these search engines has its own unique features and advantages.
Depending on your needs, you may find that one of these options is a better solution for you than Google, or may at least be a good complement to using Google.
So if you feel stuck in a rut, why not try one of these search engines?
The (search) results may surprise you!
