Private search engines compared: DuckDuckGo, Brave, Startpage and Kagi
Every search you make on Google is tied to a profile of you. If that bothers you, the good news is that switching search engines is the single easiest privacy change you can make, and the alternatives are genuinely good now. Here are the main ones.
The options
- DuckDuckGo. The best-known private search engine. It does not track you or build a profile, the results are solid for everyday use, and it has handy built-in tools. The easiest switch for most people, and free.
- Brave Search. Uses its own independent index rather than borrowing Google’s, so it is less reliant on big tech. Private, free, and improving fast.
- Startpage. Gives you Google’s results without Google’s tracking, by acting as a privacy middleman. A good choice if you like Google’s results but not its data collection.
- Kagi. A paid, ad-free search engine that many people love for its clean, high-quality results and strong privacy. The catch is the subscription, but having no ads and no ad-driven incentive is the point.
A quick word on Yandex
You may see Yandex suggested as an “alternative.” I would leave it off your list. It is Russian-owned and not a privacy-respecting choice, so it does not belong in the same conversation as the ones above.
Which should you pick?
- Want the simplest free switch? DuckDuckGo.
- Want results from an independent index? Brave Search.
- Love Google’s results but not its tracking? Startpage.
- Happy to pay for ad-free, high-quality search? Kagi.
Make the switch stick: set your chosen engine as the default in your browser's settings, on your phone as well as your computer. Otherwise habit will pull you back to Google.
Pair it with a privacy-friendly browser for the biggest improvement, and see our simple guide to protecting your privacy online for the rest. More in our VPNs and privacy section.