Are you looking for alternative search engines and chatbots to use? Here’s an analysis of multiple options so you can try each one and see how it can improve your search experience.

For over two decades, Google has been the dominant search engine, widely used for everyday searches, product research, and staying updated on the latest news. Due to this market dominance, Google has also been the primary focus for SEO and marketing professionals.

However, the landscape is evolving rapidly. With the introduction of ChatGPT and Bing Chat, Google’s founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, returned to take an active role in integrating chatbot features into Google Search. In May 2023, Google introduced the chatbot Bard and the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in Google Search. As of now, Google SGE is available in Google Labs and may roll out this year.

The next few years in search engine development will undoubtedly be interesting. Despite these advancements, several alternative search engines offer distinct advantages over Google, such as enhanced privacy, specialized content, unique algorithms, and tailored user experiences.

Here are 21 of the best alternative search engines you can try:

AI-Powered Search Engines

1. Bing.com

As of December 2023, Microsoft Bing handled 7.1% of all search queries in the United States. Bing offers several advantages over Google, such as a rewards program that allows users to accumulate points redeemable at the Microsoft and Windows stores. Bing’s visual search API is superior and more intuitive than its rivals, and its clean user experience extends to video searches without a YouTube bias.

In February 2023, Bing announced an AI-powered version called “Bing Chat,” now known as Copilot. This aims to deliver better search results, more complete answers, a new chat experience, and the ability to generate content.

2. Perplexity.ai

Founded in 2022, Perplexity.ai is an innovative alternative that provides contextually rich answers and has 10 million monthly active users. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity.ai is a chatbot that directly answers questions by citing sources, with an option to ask follow-up questions. This interactive approach mimics a conversational style, making it easier for users to refine their search and get precise answers.

3. You.com

You.com, founded by Richard Socher, operates in personal and private modes. In personal mode, users can configure their source preferences, while in private mode, they enjoy a completely untraceable experience. The platform also offers a Chrome extension, AI-powered image generation, and an AI writing assistant called YouWrite. Developers are encouraged to build apps, contributing to a more open and collaborative internet.

Revenue-Sharing Search Engine

4. Yep.com

Yep.com, by Ahrefs, emphasizes user privacy by not tracking users or selling their data. It directly rewards content creators through a 90/10 revenue share business model, where 90% of all advertising revenue goes to the creators. This allows users to support their favorite content creators directly and ensures fair compensation.

Copyright-Free Search Engine

5. Openverse

Openverse stands out with its focus on a vast, searchable collection of open-source media, including images, audio, and videos. It’s perfect for finding copyright-free content for various projects without worrying about infringement.

Mainstream Search Engines

6. Yahoo.com

Yahoo.com had a search market share of 2.37% in the US as of December 2023. Yahoo offers services like email, news, and finance in addition to search, maintaining its relevance through diversification.

7. Ecosia

Ecosia uses ad revenue for environmental purposes, specifically tree planting. It partners with Microsoft’s Bing for its search index and web advertisement, and offers a browser extension for quicker access. Ecosia is a not-for-profit business, dedicating 100% of its profits to environmental initiatives.

8. AOL

AOL Search, one of the first search engines, relies on partnerships with Google and Bing for its search results. It prioritizes curated content, including news and entertainment, and tracks user data to personalize advertising, though less sophisticatedly than Google.

Privacy-Focused Search Engines

9. DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo, with a search market share of 1.77% in the US as of December 2023, is known for not collecting or storing any personal information. It provides anonymous search activity without tracking or profiling users, making it ideal for those who value privacy.

10. Startpage

Startpage is a metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple search engines, including Google and Bing. It prioritizes privacy by not tracking or storing user data. Features like a URL generator, proxy service, and HTTPS support enhance its privacy-centric approach.

11. Swisscows

Swisscows is a family-friendly semantic search engine that respects user privacy by not collecting, storing, or tracking data. It uses AI to understand the context of queries and promises accurate answers over time.

12. Gibiru

Gibiru offers “Uncensored Private Search” with no retargeting and no selling of private data. It uses a modified Google algorithm to provide search results without Google’s tracking activities.

13. Brave

Brave Search achieved full independence from other search engines in 2023, emphasizing user privacy and transparency. It features free video calls, offline playlists, and advanced security features. Brave rewards users for opting into privacy-preserving ads and claims over 65 million monthly users.

Knowledge-Based Search Engines

14. Wiki.com

Wiki.com pulls results from thousands of wikis on the net, making it perfect for those who appreciate community-led information.

Specialized Search Engines

15. WolframAlpha

WolframAlpha is a computational knowledge engine that computes answers to problems and searches through expert-level data on various subjects. It offers Pro features for individuals, students, and educators needing professional-grade computation and analysis.

16. LinkedIn

LinkedIn is increasingly used as a business-focused search engine. Its algorithm considers the uniqueness of organization names, connections, activity levels, and relevant search terms to provide tailored search results.

International Search Engines

17. Baidu

Baidu, the largest search engine in China, has a 66% market share. It offers a broad range of services, including maps, music, videos, and an app store.

18. Yandex

Yandex, used by over 69% of Russian internet users, also serves Belarus, Kazakhstan, Turkey, and Ukraine. It offers a suite of tools and is easy to use, despite concerns raised by a data leak in January 2023.

19. Sogou

Sogou, a growing Chinese search engine, has a 5% market share in China. It supports WeChat, article search, English search and translation, and more, providing a professional and accurate search experience through AI algorithms.

20. Naver

Naver, a popular search engine in South Korea with a 34% market share, offers a range of services, including blogs, news, music, and shopping. It also has a mobile app for on-the-go searches.

21. Wayback Machine

The Internet Archive, or Wayback Machine, is a vast online library that archives old websites and a wide range of documented material, including videos, books, music, and software.

The Takeaway

Google may be the most popular choice in search engines, but it may not always be the best choice depending on your needs and priorities. Alternative search engines offer a wide range of benefits, including better search experiences and higher levels of privacy. Do yourself a favor and try some of these alternatives to find the one that best suits your requirements.

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