Google alternatives that don’t sell all your data
Google is one of the best examples of “If it’s free, you’re the product.” And its employees, business decisions, stock price, biases and preferences have a big impact on what its “products” (Smile! That’s you and me!) see when we use Google Search.
When I look at Google’s ad-choked search results, antitrust woes and stalker-like approach to tracking us, I can’t really trust the results I get are fair, balanced or even just thorough. Add in search bias on political topics and large brands getting all the shine in the search algorithm, and we’ve got a problem.
I hear from a reader, viewer or listener just about every day who’s looking for ways not to use Google Search.
Google isn’t the only search game in town
Dennis in Reno, Nevada, sent me a note the other day, asking if Google had purchased the search engine DuckDuckGo. Nope, they haven’t. That’s fake news spreading online.
He also asked me for “the best product to avoid Google tracking and search manipulation (i.e., logarithm).” It’s algorithm, friend. I don’t want you to embarrass yourself in polite tech circles. The “best” product really depends on what you like. I’ve got options for ya. But first …
Follow the money
Wondering how Google’s competitors make money if they’re not shilling your info to anyone with a buck to spend? Most alternative search engines make money in three ways:
- They show ads based on your search keyword, not your browsing habits or behavior.
- They get an extra sliver of the action when you click an ad and make a purchase.
- They sell premium subscriptions for ad-free searches and their other products.
Try a privacy-first search engine
You won’t see AI tools like ChatGPT in this list since I’m sticking with traditional search engines. There are endless options, but here’s a good place to start:
- DuckDuckGo: Its entire gimmick is its lack of user tracking, as well as a company policy of no targeted ads or relevant results based on your search history. I don’t use DuckDuckGo, though; I seem to get better search results from the next option.
- StartPage: The Netherlands-based company calls itself “the world’s most private search engine.” StartPage pays Google for the use of its search algorithm but strips out the tracking and advertising that comes with it. As a result, you get a Google-like experience, along with the promise your data will never be stored, tracked or sold.
- Ecosia: It’s a traditional search engine, ads and all, but its profits go to planting trees worldwide — over 217 million to date and counting. Ecosia doesn’t sell your data, and its searches are encrypted. They collect “a small amount of data” by default; you can opt out.
- Dogpile: Google, Yahoo, Bing and all the rest have their own ways of sorting through search results. Dogpile combs through them all to help you find what you’re looking for.
How to change the default browser and search engine on Windows
Many factors, including speed, appearance, ease of use, privacy and customization options can determine your choice of search engine. Some people stick to the default search engine included with their browsers. But it would be best if you took the time to choose a search engine that works best for you.
Search engine comparison: Google vs. Startpage vs. DuckDuckGo vs. Bing
Spiders, also known as web crawlers, search the internet to find results that match your query. If you’ve ever researched the same topic on different search engines, you’ll notice the results can be drastically different.
Bad news if you use DuckDuckGo - It's not quite as private as we thought
There are plenty of browsers and search engines out there that aren’t from Google. Tap or click here for our search engine comparison. Most people know that browsers and search engines can track your online activity.
Fed up? Alternatives to Google for search, email, messaging and more
Think for a minute about what Google doesn’t know about you. Its search engine dominates the competition, and it runs apps and services that know what you’re watching, where you’re going and what you’re interested in online.
DuckDuckGo changes its RULES about what you see in search results
Your browser choice can be based on anything from customization options to cosmetic features. The most crucial factor to pay attention to is privacy, however. Some browsers track your web activity and sell it to third parties, while others don’t store any data of you or your searches.
Forget Google Translate - This language tool translates 100+ languages and protects your privacy
Polyglots don’t have this problem, but many of us yearn for the day that we can pop a device into our ears and instantly translate foreign languages. The Babel fish translator from Douglas Adams’ excellent The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy comes to mind.