Best search engine
Last updated: January 5, 2021
Here's the best search engine: DuckDuckGo.
Why: DuckDuckGo is a search engine that doesn't track you. As the company puts it, "We don't track you in or out of private browsing mode. Other search engines track your searches even when you're in private browsing mode. We don't track you - period."
Business model: Advertising, though without the surveillance and tracking that Google and others rely on.
Whatever you do, don't use Google for search.
• Web: duckduckgo.com
• iOS app: DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser for iPhone/iPad - this app also functions as a Web browser
• Android app: DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser for Android devices (though we suggest avoiding Android if possible)
Other options
• Mojeek, a UK-based search engine that doesn't track users. Search results come from Mojeek's own index, rather than tapping into another search engine - as detailed in Mojeek's search engine map infographic.
• StartPage.com, which promises to serve up Google search results while maintaining total user privacy.
• Ecosia, a search engine that promises to use some of its profits to plant trees. It also claims to follow strict privacy standards.
• Even more options at switching.software and ethical.net
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