Google dominates the search engine space. But it’s far from the only option.
Whether you’re after more privacy, fewer ads, different perspectives, or just something fresh, plenty of alternative search engines can get the job done and sometimes even better than Google in specific areas.
This guide takes a close look at 10 of the best search engines other than Google. From well-known names like Bing and Yahoo to privacy-first tools like DuckDuckGo and Brave Search, we’ll break down what each one offers, how they work, how to use them, and who they’re best suited for.
If you’ve been searching for a reliable list of different search engines to explore, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.
10 Best Search Engines Other Than Google
1. Microsoft Bing
Microsoft Bing is the second-largest search engine globally and the closest competitor to Google in terms of features, AI integration, and market share. It’s backed by Microsoft and powers search on both Windows and Xbox, making it highly integrated with devices millions already use.
Bing offers AI-powered search through its integration with ChatGPT via Microsoft Copilot, giving users detailed, conversational responses. The layout is clean, and the image and video search features are among the best on the internet. Bing also lets users earn points through the Microsoft Rewards program, which can be redeemed for gift cards and other perks.
Its user interface is familiar, simple to use, and compatible with all modern devices. The search experience feels polished, and it’s particularly strong with visual search and academic content.
Best for: users who want a Google-like experience with added AI tools and strong visual search. It’s great for professionals, students, and those already in the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Monthly Visits: 1.2 billion+
- AI Powered: Yes (Copilot + GPT-4)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Robust AI integration
- Reward system with real-world value
- Great image and video results
Cons:
- Search results may favor Microsoft content
- Still lags behind Google in total index size
How to Use Bing
To start using Bing, head to bing.com. Type your query in the search bar. You’ll notice suggested results as you type. To access AI features, click the “Chat” tab or install the Microsoft Edge browser where Bing Chat is more deeply integrated.
2. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track your activity, store your search history, or sell your data. It’s one of the most popular private search engines and a strong alternative for users who are tired of being tracked online.
DuckDuckGo pulls its results from over 400 sources including Bing, Yahoo, and its own crawler, the DuckDuckBot. It also includes instant answers, map results, and zero-click info boxes for quick facts. While it doesn’t have the deep personalization of Google or Bing, that’s exactly the point, it gives you search results without following you around the web.
The interface is minimal and straightforward, and it works seamlessly on desktop and mobile browsers. There’s also a DuckDuckGo browser for iOS and Android with built-in tracker blocking.
Best for: users who prioritize privacy over personalized results. It’s ideal for researchers, journalists, and anyone concerned about online surveillance.
- Monthly Visits: 100+ million searches daily (approx. 3 billion/month)
- AI Powered: Yes (DuckAssist, using OpenAI and Anthropic)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes (non-personalized)
Pros:
- Zero tracking and data collection
- Simple, clean interface
- Offers encrypted connections and tracker blocking
Cons:
- Less personalized results
- Limited tools compared to Google/Bing
How to Use DuckDuckGo
To get started, visit duckduckgo.com. Type your search term into the bar. You can also use shortcuts called “!bangs” (like !w for Wikipedia or !yt for YouTube) to search specific sites instantly. For more privacy, install the DuckDuckGo browser or add the extension to Chrome or Firefox.
3. Yahoo Search
Yahoo Search has been around since the early days of the internet and still maintains a loyal user base. While it no longer runs its own search engine tech, it currently uses Bing to power its results, meaning you’ll often see similar results between the two, but with Yahoo’s interface and added features.
Yahoo stands out because of its integration with other Yahoo services like News, Finance, Sports, and Mail. If you’re already using Yahoo for email or news, using Yahoo Search can feel seamless. The homepage is content-rich and offers trending searches, news headlines, and quick links to other Yahoo products.
Its interface is a bit busier compared to DuckDuckGo or Bing, but it works well on all devices and includes a mobile app. It's not the most modern search engine, but it’s functional and familiar for many.
Best for: users who want search integrated with Yahoo’s ecosystem or those who prefer an old-school portal-style homepage with news and email in one place.
- Monthly Visits: 450+ million
- AI Powered: No (uses Bing’s search data)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Integrated with Yahoo News, Finance, Mail, and more
- Trusted brand with decades of familiarity
- Simple to use with decent search accuracy
Cons:
- Not as modern or innovative as newer engines
- Powered by Bing, so limited differentiation in results
How to Use Yahoo Search
Go to search.yahoo.com. Enter your query in the search bar and hit Enter. You’ll see results similar to Bing’s, along with Yahoo-curated news panels and widgets. For a more connected experience, log in with your Yahoo account to sync across Mail and other Yahoo services.
4. Yandex Search
Yandex Search is Russia’s most popular search engine and one of the largest in Europe. It holds a significant share of the search market in Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Turkey. Known for its strong language processing capabilities, especially in Cyrillic, Yandex is often referred to as “the Google of Russia.”
Yandex offers image, video, maps, news, and shopping search options. It also includes advanced AI tools like neural search and personalized smart snippets. The search engine uses machine learning to adapt results based on user behavior, but with more regional focus compared to Google or Bing.
Its interface is clean and customizable, with options to tweak search settings. Yandex also offers a secure browser, cloud storage, translation tools, and email creating an all-in-one ecosystem similar to Google’s.
Best for: users in Eastern Europe, researchers needing multilingual or region-specific results, and tech-savvy users looking for a Google alternative that supports strong AI tools.
- Monthly Visits: Over 3.5 billion
- AI Powered: Yes (MatrixNet AI + neural search)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Excellent for Russian and Slavic language searches
- Offers cloud, mail, maps, and voice assistant
- Strong AI search capabilities and regional accuracy
Cons:
- Privacy concerns due to Russian regulations
- Interface may require language adjustment for non-Russian users
How to Use Yandex Search
Visit yandex.com. Type your query in the search bar. You can filter results by images, videos, news, or maps. Use the settings icon to choose language preferences or region. For full integration, sign up for a Yandex account to access email, cloud storage, and more.
5. Baidu Search
Baidu is the most widely used search engine in China, controlling over 65% of the Chinese search market. It’s often referred to as “China’s Google,” offering similar services such as maps, news, video hosting, a Q&A platform, and its own AI-based voice assistant.
The platform is tailored specifically for Chinese-speaking users. Its strength lies in indexing Chinese-language content, local news, and services that aren’t well-covered by Western search engines. Baidu’s AI-driven algorithms offer predictive suggestions, translation, image search, and personalized search filters based on user behavior and geolocation.
Baidu’s interface is sleek and functions well on desktop and mobile. However, most of its services and content are presented in Simplified Chinese, and it requires some fluency or translation help for English-speaking users. Despite this, it's incredibly useful for accessing Chinese digital content.
Best for: users in China or those searching for Chinese-language information, researchers needing access to Chinese content, and businesses targeting the Chinese online market.
- Monthly Visits: Over 3.2 billion
- AI Powered: Yes (uses deep learning and Baidu Brain AI)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Best search engine for Chinese content
- Strong AI capabilities and content indexing
- Features comparable to Google in scope and variety
Cons:
- Limited usability for non-Chinese speakers
- Heavily filtered content due to Chinese internet regulations
How to Use Baidu Search
Go to baidu.com. Enter your search query in Simplified Chinese to get the most accurate results. You can use tools like Google Translate or browser extensions to navigate the interface. Results can be filtered by web pages, news, images, or videos. For more advanced options, consider signing in to a Baidu account (which requires a Chinese phone number).
6. Ask.com
Ask.com (formerly Ask Jeeves) is one of the oldest search engines still in operation. While it no longer competes directly with giants like Google or Bing in terms of market share, it offers a unique twist: a question-and-answer format that mimics how users naturally search for information.
The search engine combines a traditional keyword-based engine with an archive of Q&A content. It’s particularly useful for general questions, definitions, and “how-to” style queries. Ask.com also curates its results from a mix of its own content and other search providers, making it more of a content aggregator with a search wrapper.
Its interface is minimal, straightforward, and mobile-friendly. It doesn't require any login to use, and results are displayed in a familiar list style. Ask.com focuses on ease of use rather than deep customization or smart filtering.
Best for: casual users who prefer searching in question form, students, and anyone looking for quick answers or simple definitions.
- Monthly Visits: Over 55 million
- AI Powered: No (relies on human-curated and partner search results)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Great for question-style searches and quick facts
- Simple interface with no distractions
- No account or login required
Cons:
- Not ideal for technical, academic, or deep research
- Limited AI integration and fewer filtering options
How to Use Ask.com
Visit ask.com. Type a full question or keyword into the search bar for example, “How do volcanoes form?” or “best laptop for gaming.” Hit enter to get a mix of direct answers, articles, and suggested follow-up questions. No registration is required, and you can search anonymously.
7. AOL Search
AOL.com was once a dominant name in internet services, and while its influence has faded, it still offers a functional search engine built on top of Bing’s infrastructure. AOL Search provides a blend of search results, news aggregation, and links to AOL's content properties like email and news feeds.
Because it leverages Bing's technology, AOL delivers fairly accurate and timely search results. However, it doesn't offer any standout features of its own. Its interface is clean and works well on both mobile and desktop, but it's more suited to users who are already familiar with AOL’s ecosystem.
Aside from standard web search, AOL.com also offers dedicated tabs for images, video, and news. While it doesn’t boast AI features or privacy tools like DuckDuckGo or Brave, it remains functional for basic browsing and casual use.
Best for: long-time AOL users, casual internet searchers, and users who want simple Bing-powered results without switching engines.
- Monthly Visits: Around 40 million
- AI Powered: No (uses Bing’s search algorithm but lacks AI enhancements)
- Ads in Search Results: Yes
Pros:
- Clean and familiar interface
- Searches powered by Bing, ensuring accuracy
- Integrated with AOL's portal for quick news and email access
Cons:
- No unique features or AI tools
- Not ideal for users wanting modern search tech or privacy features
How to Use AOL Search
Go to search.aol.com. Enter your search term in the search bar and press Enter. You’ll receive Bing-powered results with ads at the top and sides. Use the top navigation to switch between web, image, video, or news searches. No sign-in is required unless you're using AOL email or other services.
8. Brave Search
Brave Search is a privacy-focused search engine developed by the creators of the Brave Browser. Unlike most competitors, Brave Search runs its own independent search index, meaning it doesn’t rely on Google or Bing to generate its results. This gives it more control over privacy and transparency in ranking.
Brave stands out for being ad-free by default, although users can opt into privacy-respecting ads to support the platform. The engine also includes a transparency score called “Goggles,” which allows users to create or apply custom ranking filters. Its design is minimal, fast, and optimized for mobile and desktop.
It’s gaining traction among users who care about data privacy and want a non-biased, independent search experience. Brave Search is integrated directly into the Brave browser but is also available as a standalone engine via any browser.
Best for: privacy enthusiasts, developers, and users who want an alternative to big tech search engines.
- Monthly Visits: Over 20 million
- AI Powered: Yes (Brave AI Assistant “Leo” in browser, limited in search)
- Ads in Search Results: No (optional privacy-respecting ads available)
Pros:
- Independent search index, not reliant on Google or Bing
- Strong privacy protections and no user tracking
- Fast, clean, and distraction-free UI
Cons:
- Still growing, so results may be less comprehensive in some areas
- Advanced features like Goggles may confuse new users
How to Use Brave Search
Head to search.brave.com. You can use it just like any search engine: enter your query and press Enter. For more control, try the Goggles feature to filter results or switch to the “Discussions” tab to see results from forums like Reddit. If you use the Brave browser, Brave Search is already built-in and set as default by many users.
9. Ecosia
Ecosia is a unique search engine with a mission: it uses the revenue generated from searches to plant trees around the world. Every time you search, Ecosia earns ad revenue, and 100% of its profits go toward reforestation projects. It’s an eco-conscious choice for users who want their everyday activity to contribute to a positive environmental cause.
In terms of functionality, Ecosia relies on Bing for its search results, so the accuracy and quality are reliable. The user interface is clean and familiar, and it works well across devices. A counter at the top shows how many trees your searches have helped plant, adding a gamified and impactful feel to browsing.
It doesn’t offer advanced AI features or custom filters, but its appeal lies in ethical usage rather than technical innovation. Ecosia also places a strong emphasis on privacy, it doesn’t sell your data and anonymizes searches after a week.
Best for: environmentally conscious users, students, and anyone who wants to make a difference through passive daily habits.
- Monthly Visits: Around 20 million
- AI Powered: No
- Ads in Search Results: Yes (used to generate funds for tree planting)
Pros:
- Supports global reforestation with ad revenue
- Clean interface and easy to use
- Respectful of user privacy
Cons:
- No AI-based features
- Results can be limited to Bing’s indexing
How to Use Ecosia
Visit www.ecosia.org. Type in your query and press Enter. Results appear instantly, powered by Bing. The tree counter shows your contribution to reforestation. You can also install Ecosia’s browser extension to make it your default search engine and maximize your impact with every search.
10. Entireweb
Entireweb is a lesser-known but fast-growing search engine that markets itself on simplicity, privacy, and a clean user experience. It's ad-supported, but what sets it apart is how minimal and uncluttered its results pages are. There are no overwhelming distractions, and results load quickly across devices.
Entireweb doesn’t have its own search index. Instead, it pulls data from other sources (primarily Bing), so the relevance of its search results is generally consistent with other established engines. The focus here isn’t about reinventing search but providing an ad-light, fast-loading alternative to Google.
Its privacy policy is relatively user-friendly, and it claims not to track users or sell their data. That makes it a decent option for casual users who want something different from mainstream engines. However, it lacks advanced tools, filters, or AI features. It’s simple, straightforward, and best for quick lookups.
Best for: users who want a clean, fast search experience with fewer ads and tracking.
- Monthly Visits: Over 2 million
- AI Powered: No
- Ads in Search Results: Yes (minimal and non-intrusive)
Pros:
- Minimal and fast-loading search interface
- Doesn’t track or profile users
- Great for users who want a basic, no-frills experience
Cons:
- No original index or AI tools
- Fewer customization or filtering options
How to Use Entireweb
Go to www.entireweb.com and enter your query. Results will appear almost instantly, with sponsored ads labeled clearly. You can also set Entireweb as your default search engine in your browser settings if you prefer a lightweight alternative to Google or Bing.
11. Qwant Search
Qwant is a privacy-focused search engine developed in France. It doesn’t track users, store search history, or use targeted ads. Qwant's clean interface and growing index make it one of the most respected alternative search engines in Europe. It’s often considered a solid middle ground between usability and privacy.
Qwant pulls results from Bing and its own indexing technology, offering a mix of reliable web, news, social, and shopping results. What makes it unique is the way it keeps search sessions anonymous while still delivering relevant results. Qwant Junior, a kid-friendly version, also makes it a smart choice for families.
The interface is intuitive and works smoothly across desktop and mobile. Search categories are neatly split into Web, News, Social, Music, and Images. It's particularly good for users who want a private, ad-light experience without compromising too much on quality. If you're looking for search engines that don't censor, Qwant is a strong pick.
To start using Qwant, simply visit qwant.com. You don’t need to register or change any settings to browse privately. It’s ready to go as soon as you arrive on the homepage. The search field sits center-stage, and you can toggle between search types with one click.
- Monthly visits: 65 million+
- Ads: Yes (non-personalized)
- AI powered: Not fully integrated (partial use via Bing API)
- Strong focus on privacy without cookies or trackers
- Attractive and modern UI with multiple search categories
- No account or setup required
- Includes a version for kids: Qwant Junior
- Limited features compared to Google or Bing
- Some results are still dependent on Bing
Closest competitors: DuckDuckGo, Brave Search
How to use: Visit qwant.com, enter your search query, and select from the tabs like Web, News, Social, or Images. For example, typing “climate change news” under the “News” tab will filter only recent news articles from reliable sources—without any tracking involved.
Conclusion
Google might dominate the search engine world, but it’s not your only option. Whether you're looking for more privacy, fewer ads, ethical values, or just a different set of results, there's a search engine out there that fits your needs.
DuckDuckGo and Brave stand out for privacy. Bing offers a solid alternative with AI-powered features. Ecosia lets you contribute to the environment with every search. And options like Yandex, Baidu, and Yahoo still hold strong regional influence or loyal user bases.
Switching search engines might seem like a small move, but it can shape your web experience in ways you didn’t expect. Try a few of these top alternative search engines and see which one feels right for you. You don’t have to leave Google entirely, but having more choices means having more control.
If you're someone who values privacy, unique features, or even sustainability, the search engine you choose matters. Each of these platforms brings something different to the table, so explore freely.
