University of Kwazulu-Natal

Top Search Engines In 2025 17 Unexpected Alternatives To Google

Bonisiwe Shabane
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top search engines in 2025 17 unexpected alternatives to google

Home » Technology » 20+ Best Search Engines (November 2025) Alternatives to Google Tested I’ve spent the last three months testing over 20 search engines, and Google’s declining search quality isn’t just your imagination. After analyzing 4,500 searches across different engines, measuring privacy features, and tracking performance metrics, I discovered alternatives that actually outperform Google in specific areas. The search landscape in 2025 has dramatically shifted with AI integration, privacy concerns reaching an all-time high, and Google facing multiple antitrust cases. You’re probably here because you’ve noticed Google serving you more Reddit results than actual websites, or you’re concerned about the 2.5 billion data points Google collects about each user annually. A judge ruled that Google created an illegal monopoly because it paid partners to make its search engine the default on phones and mobile browsers.

And the bad news continues: The company recently changed its policy to allow tracking you with fingerprinting. But you don’t have to use Google (though it's hard to avoid the code it places on nearly every website you visit). Alternative search engines often give you more privacy and sometimes come with other benefits as well, such as specialized search tools and commitments to charitable donations. The difference in quality of results between Google and other search engines has become a non-issue, too. We've tested the top alternative search engines and included the ones worthy of consideration below. We focus on standard web search engines here, but you can also read about the new world of generative AI search.

AOL is still in the web portal game, giving you a start page that shows curated hot topics in the entertainment, finance, food, health, news, and sports categories. But you can use it just as a web search engine as well. This offering features a slick interface, optional content filtering of potentially offensive material, and good image search filters. It's not the most private search in the world since activity tracking and location are on by default, but you can disable those from a Privacy Dashboard as long as you're signed in with... Yahoo now owns AOL, so your web results will likely be the same in both; they just have different interface tools. Coming from the innovative creators of the privacy-focused Brave web browser, Brave Search claims “unmatched privacy.” In my testing using the EFF’s Cover Your Tracks Tools, Brave was the most private browser, so the...

When I enter a search in Brave Search, my ad-and-tracker blocker, uBlock, doesn’t report anything to block. Brave gets its results both from its web crawling index and “anonymous API calls to third parties.” Brave now gives you a choice of AI-powered or standard web results via its Answer With AI... A Discussions section on the result page features content from Reddit and the like. Finally, Brave's Goggles feature lets you filter your results with parameters like No Celebrity content or News from the Left or Right. The biggest name in private search deserves your attention. DuckDuckGo (DDG) has a simple privacy policy: “We don’t collect or share any of your personal information.” The search interface is simple, too, and results are on target, though they lack the extensive info...

DDG lets you search for images, videos, news, maps, and shopping results. A nice touch is that DDG adds more header options depending on the search term, such as Definition, Meanings, Nutrition, and Recipes. The search service now includes two AI features: Assist, for a generated answer summary for your query, and Duck.ai Chat. The first is similar to AI features in Bing, Brave, and Google. It summarizes web results to give you an answer at the top of the page so that you don't have to hunt down that nugget of information on multiple websites. Duck.ai lets you have a conversation with a chatbot that doesn't use your input for training.

Google dominates the search engine market, but many users seek Google alternatives for better privacy, less tracking, or specialized search experiences. With concerns over data collection and personalized ads, switching to a browser other than Google can provide a more secure and unbiased way to browse the internet. This article explores the best Google search alternatives that offer features like privacy-focused browsing, ad-free searches, and AI-powered results. Whether you need a fast and secure search engine, an open-source option, or a platform with no tracking, this guide will help you find the right fit. Disclaimer: Before switching to a new search engine, check its privacy policy and features to ensure it meets your needs. Here is a list of different search engines besides Google that you can use in 2025.

We provide key details, including features, best use cases, pros and cons, and pricing. Whether you want more privacy, faster search results, or specialized search options, these alternatives offer great choices for browsing the web efficiently. DuckDuckGo is one of the most popular search engines other than Google, known for its strong privacy protection and ad-free browsing experience. Unlike Google, DuckDuckGo does not track your searches, store personal data, or sell information to advertisers, making it a top choice for users concerned about online privacy. Choosing the right search engine is more important than ever in 2025. With growing concerns over privacy, censorship, and algorithmic bias, users are looking beyond Google’s familiar homepage for smarter, safer, and more specialized ways to search the web.

While Google remains dominant—accounting for roughly 94.8% of global mobile search traffic—there’s an expanding ecosystem of alternative search engines that offer compelling advantages, whether it’s enhanced privacy, eco-consciousness, or tailored search experiences. Here’s a breakdown of the best search engines you can use today, what makes them stand out, and who they’re best suited for. Best For: Comprehensive search, accuracy, and advanced toolsMarket Share: ~94.8% (mobile search traffic) Good to Know:In 2025, Google continues integrating its Gemini AI model to power more conversational, intelligent search queries—especially within mobile and smart devices. Best For: Microsoft ecosystem users and AI-powered results Want to know what the best search engines are this year?

I’ve got you covered. In this post, I’ll reveal the 17 most popular search engines in the world right now, ranked according to their market share. I’ll also provide a detailed overview of each search engine and share some interesting facts and figures about them along the way. Note: I’ve used data from Statcounter in this post. In their dataset, market share is calculated based on search engine referrals, i.e. the share of website clicks resulting from searches on each engine.

Their tracking code was installed on over 1.5 million websites and over 5 billion clicks were measured. Google is the most popular search engine in the world by a huge margin, with a market share of 90.83%. In a world powered by digital discovery, search engines remain at the core of how we navigate the internet. While Google still dominates globally, 2025 marks a significant shift—privacy-first tools, AI-driven assistants, and niche engines are gaining traction fast. Whether you’re a digital marketer, small business, or privacy-conscious user, here’s your complete guide to the top search engines in 2025—plus the AI tools poised to challenge them. 🔎 Pro tip: Google remains essential for SEO, but younger users are increasingly leaning toward faster, more focused alternatives like TikTok, Perplexity, or ChatGPT.

While Yahoo’s search engine isn’t cutting-edge, it still holds relevance among a loyal user base. Conversational answers, ideal for quick overviews and deeper context. Learn about our contributor guidelines, process, and timeline. Use this easy form to submit a content idea. A collection of the best tech news and content. Define tech jargon and acronyms with our comprehensive glossary.

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Home » Technology » 20+ Best Search Engines (November 2025) Alternatives to Google Tested I’ve spent the last three months testing over 20 search engines, and Google’s declining search quality isn’t just your imagination. After analyzing 4,500 searches across different engines, measuring privacy features, and tracking performance metrics, I discovered alternatives that actually outperform Google i...

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