Best Private Search Engines (2026): 9 That Don't Track You

Most people never think about what their search box knows about them. Every query you type says something about your health, your plans, your worries and what you're about to buy, and mainstream engines are built to remember it. A private engine changes that one part of your day without asking you to learn anything new.

The nine engines below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Some crawl the web themselves, some blend results from bigger indexes, and one asks for a subscription in return for zero ads. Each description comes from the engine's own site, re-checked this week. If you want to go further than search, my guide on whether Tor Browser is safe covers the strongest browsing option and its limits.

Private search engines at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the engine's own page describes free use or lets you search without paying, Trial only means a limited trial before a subscription and No means neither is stated on the pages we read.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Brave Search	Independent index	Private search with its own index	Yes
DuckDuckGo	Private search and browser	An easy switch from Google	Yes
Kagi	Subscription search	Ad-free results you can tune	Trial only
MetaGer	Non-profit metasearch	Non-profit, open source search	Yes
Mojeek	Independent index	Results nobody else shows	Yes
Qwant	European search	A European alternative	Yes
SearXNG	Self-hosted metasearch	Running your own search	Yes
Startpage	Private search	Google-style results, privately	Yes
Swisscows	Family-safe search	Family-friendly private search	Yes

Nine private search engines to try

Brave Search

Best for: People who want results from an independent index rather than a reseller of another engine's results.

DuckDuckGo

Best for: Anyone who wants a familiar search experience with tracker blocking and no search history tied to them.

Kagi

Best for: Heavy searchers who are happy to pay for ad-free results and want to boost or block sites in their results.

MetaGer

Best for: Privacy-minded searchers in Europe who like a non-profit engine that blends results from several indexes.

Mojeek

Best for: Curious searchers who want a different set of results from a UK engine that crawls the web itself.

Qwant

Best for: Users in Europe who want a search engine based there, with optional summaries when they sign in.

SearXNG

Best for: Technical users who want to host their own metasearch engine or pick a public instance they trust.

Startpage

Best for: People who like the feel of mainstream results but want them delivered without profiling or stored history.

Swisscows

Best for: Parents and schools who want a private engine that filters out adult content by default.

What private search can't hide

Here's the part most guides skip. The FTC explains that when a website you visit lets another company track you, that's third-party tracking, and third-party tracking companies can track you across most websites you visit.

What that means for you: a private engine keeps your searches to itself, but the moment you click a result, that site's trackers can load as normal. Private search is one layer. Pair it with a browser or extension that blocks trackers if you want the whole trip covered.

Own index, metasearch or subscription?

Engines with their own index crawl the web themselves, so their results can look different from what you're used to. Metasearch engines blend results from several larger indexes and strip out the tracking along the way. Subscription engines charge you instead of advertisers, which removes the reason to profile you at all.

None of these is wrong. If you want familiar results, a metasearch or privacy-wrapper engine feels closest to what you know. If you're curious about a different view of the web, try an independent index for a week.

Switching without the friction

1. Pick one engine and set it as the default in your browser settings.
2. Add it on your phone as well, or you'll drift back to old habits.
3. Learn its shortcuts for maps, images and news, since layouts differ.
4. Use a second engine for the odd search where results feel thin.
5. Clear your old engine's saved history if you had an account there.
6. Check your browser's own settings so it isn't sending data elsewhere.

Signs an engine isn't as private as it sounds

• It asks you to sign in for basic search. An account links your searches to you.
• Its privacy policy is vague. Look for plain statements about logging and retention.
• Results are wrapped in redirect links. Some engines track clicks through their own URLs.
• It's bundled with something you didn't ask for. Be wary of installers that change your browser settings.

Questions worth asking before you switch

Where is the company based, and whose results does it show? How does it make money if it isn't selling your data? Does it keep any logs, and for how long? A few minutes on its about and privacy pages tells you far more than its slogan, and the good engines answer these questions in plain language.

Do you make a private search engine? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on private search engines

Switch your default for one week and only judge it after that. Most people find they barely notice the difference on everyday searches, and the handful of times results feel thin, a second engine fills the gap.

Then close the bigger gap: the sites you click. A private engine is a great first step, but trackers on the pages you visit are where most of your data leaks, so add blocking in your browser too. A VPN can help on public Wi-Fi, and my look at how safe Surfshark is explains what a VPN does and doesn't cover.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most private search engine?

Engines that don't log your searches or build profiles are the most private. Which suits you depends on whether you want familiar results, an independent index or ad-free search.

Are private search engines free?

Most are free to use and supported by non-tracking ads or donations. Some offer a subscription for ad-free results.

Do private search engines hide my IP address?

They don't store it against your searches, but the sites you visit can still see it. A VPN or Tor hides it from those sites.

Are private search results as good as Google?

For most everyday searches, yes. Very local or very new topics can be thinner, so keep a second engine handy.

Can websites still track me if I use private search?

Yes. The FTC notes third-party trackers can follow you across most sites you visit, so add tracker blocking in your browser.

How do I change my default search engine?

Open your browser settings, find the search engine section and choose the one you want as default.