Searching the internet feels like a normal part of life these days. But did you know that your searches may not be as private as you think?
Big tech companies like Google track everything you search for. They use this data to profile you and sell targeted ads. This means your personal information is being collected, shared and exploited without your knowledge.
If this concerns you, you’re not alone. More and more people are looking for conservative search engines that don’t invade their privacy.
The good news is there are alternative search engines to Google that allow you to search freely without being tracked.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the top 6 search engines that respect your privacy in 2024.
Table of Contents
- What is a Conservative Search Engine?
- 6 Best Conservative Search Engines for Privacy-Focused Web Searches
- How Conservative Search Engines Protect Your Privacy?
- Why Use a Private Search Engine?
- How to Make a Switch to Conservative Search Engines?
- FAQs About Conservative Google Alternatives
- Final Thoughts About Conservative Search Engines 2024
What is a Conservative Search Engine?
A conservative search engine is one that aims to protect user privacy and avoid tracking.
They typically have some or all of the following characteristics
- They don’t store user search histories or create personal profiles based on search behavior.
- They don’t share or sell user data to third parties like advertisers.
- They don’t place cookies or other trackers that follow users around the web.
- They offer additional privacy features like encrypted connections.
- They deliver unpersonalized search results not influenced by past searches.
In short, conservative search engines try to avoid surveillance of their users as much as possible. They prioritize PRIVACY over targeted advertising revenue.
6 Best Conservative Search Engines for Privacy-Focused Web Searches
1. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo has become synonymous with private search. While not technically conservative, it ticks all the boxes for providing anonymous web searches without tracking.
How It Works
DuckDuckGo doesn’t store your personal information or search history. Their software also blocks hidden trackers that follow you around the web.
So you get useful results, but companies and advertisers are left in the dark about your identity or browsing habits.
Another cool feature is “bangs.” These let you shortcut directly to specific sites right from the search bar.
For example, typing “!wiki coffee” would take you directly to the Wikipedia page for coffee. Pretty Simple, Right?
Key Features
- No personal data collection or tracking
- Convenient “!bangs” for shortcut searches
- Blocks ad trackers and third party cookies
- Provides encrypted connections
- Offers a mobile browser and Desktop browser extensions
Why Use DuckDuckGo?
If you want a straightforward private search option, DuckDuckGo is hard to beat. They offer robust anonymity features while still pulling high quality results from Microsoft’s Bing search engine. The bangs are a nice bonus for power users too.
Millions of people have made the switch from Google. So DuckDuckGo has the scale and resources to keep expanding their private search capabilities.
2. Swisscows
Next up is Swisscows – an appropriate name given Switzerland’s reputation for security and privacy. They market themselves as a family-friendly search engine that filters explicit content.
How It Works
Swisscows doesn’t store any user data or search history. Their results come from Bing as well, with proprietary filters to remove mature content.
You won’t have to deal with targeted ads or tracking cookies either. Swisscows pledges not to collect or share any personal information with third parties.
Their sole revenue stream is modest advertising based only on the current search keyword, with no user profiling.
Key Features
- Family-friendly content
- No collection/storage of personal data
- All searches are fully anonymous
- No targeted ads, trackers or cookies
- Intuitive interface and fast results
Why Use Swisscows?
For family-focused users, Swisscows really fits. Kids can search homework topics without stumbling onto explicit material. The strict no tracking policy also appeals to privacy advocates.
While some filters are in place, Swisscows still returns relevant results. Their semantic search capabilities help you zero in on the most useful pages.
Give Swisscows a look if you want private, squeaky clean search results. The “Swiss” branding also evokes neutrality and trust.
3. Brave Search
Brave made a name for itself by blocking intrusive ads and trackers in its privacy-centric web browser. Now they’re applying the same philosophy to search with Brave Search.
How It Works?
As you’d expect, Brave Search doesn’t store search data or build user profiles.
Their index is entirely independent too, compiled from anonymized usage data rather than relying on big tech search partners.
Brave Search is truly transparent. It does not hide how it ranks results. Users help improve results by giving anonymous feedback. They can also choose different ways to rank results.
This openness gives users control. Brave does not censor or bias results in secret. Its transparency sets a good example.
Search engines should be open and put users first, not hide things. This allows a more fair and empowering search.
Key Features
- Guaranteed anonymous searching every time
- Proprietary index separate from big tech
- Open source ranking models
- Integrated with Brave’s privacy browser
Why Use Brave Search?
Brave Search really goes the extra mile for transparency. Digging into their open source code or swapping result models gives you unmatched insight into how a search engine works.
The integration with Brave Browser is a nice touch too. It automatically blocks ads and trackers on sites you navigate to from search results.
Give Brave Search a look if you want full search independence without big tech ties or secrets. The community-powered elements are also appealing.
4. Startpage
Startpage pioneered private search over 15 years ago as an alternative to Google. They still offer anonymous searches today using Google results.
How It Works?
Startpage queries Google search in the background but strips all identifying information before displaying results to you. So Google doesn’t know who made the search.
Their anonymous view feature takes things a step further. It lets you browse any other website without revealing your IP address. This prevents sites from tracking your visits or building a profile.
Startpage runs privacy-preserving ads to generate revenue. But they never target you based on personal data or search history.
Key Features
- Anonymous Google search results
- Built-in anonymous browsing
- No search history or user profiles
- Ads aren’t personalized based on your data
- Available as a browser extension
Why Use Startpage?
Startpage sticks close to the Google search format and results users are familiar with. So the learning curve is small.
Their pioneering history and ethical privacy standards also make them a trusted choice. Startpage may appeal if you want the quality of Google results but without Google collecting or using your personal data for advertising targeting..
5. Disconnect Search
Disconnect made this list for their popular search extension. It adds a private search box to your browser while keeping your favorite search engine.
How It Works
Once installed, the Disconnect search bar lets you query Google, Bing, or any other search engine. But it routes your searches through an encrypted proxy, so they aren’t tied to your identity.
The extension also blocks online trackers and malware. So you get safer, faster browsing in addition to private searching.
Key Features
- Search privately from any major search engine
- Encrypted proxy hides your identity
- Speeds up browsing by blocking trackers
- Guards against malware and phishing scams
- Works alongside your current browser
Why Use Disconnect Search?
This extension is handy if you don’t want to give up your favorite search engine completely. It overlays private search functionality while still allowing access to Google, Bing, etc.
The anti-tracking and security benefits are nice perks too. Disconnect Search is a simple option for exploring private search without much commitment.
6. Ecosia
Ecosia is a green search engine that plants trees with its profits. Unlike other search engines, Ecosia uses its revenues to fund global reforestation programs instead of corporate profits.
How It Works
Ecosia functions like any other search engine. The difference is that it invests profits into reforestation programs instead of corporate interests. Tree planting partners are carefully vetted to ensure responsible practices. Users can track their personal tree planting impact.
Key Features
- Ecosia delivers fast, relevant search results by utilizing Microsoft’s Bing search engine.
- For every 45 searches a user makes, Ecosia has enough ad revenue to plant one tree. To date, over 194111998 trees have been planted in over 35+ countries.
- Ecosia provides full financial reports each month showing revenue and exactly how money is allocated. Over 80% goes directly into tree planting and other sustainability projects.
- Ecosia does not store user search data or share it with third parties. It also blocks trackers.
- Ecosia’s servers are 100% powered by renewable energy from its own solar facilities. This makes searches carbon-negative.
Why Choose Ecosia?
- Fight climate change through searches
- Ethical company with full transparency
- Help plant native trees and restore habitats
- Solar-powered carbon-negative searches
- Fast private search powered by Bing
With over 20 million users, Ecosia makes taking small green actions each day easy and impactful. Switching search engines costs nothing but plants trees as you browse.
How Conservative Search Engines Protect Your Privacy?
Now that you know the top 6 conservative search engine options, let’s explore how exactly they keep your search activity private.
These search engines use various techniques including,
1. Anonymizing your searches
They remove identifiable information like your IP address before sending search queries to third parties. This prevents linking searches back to you.
2. No logging or search histories
Unlike Google which saves your search history forever, conservative engines do not log or retain any search data tied to you.
3. Encrypted connections
Your connection to the search engine’s servers is encrypted end-to-end. This protects your search terms from being intercepted.
4. Proxy services
Some engines proxy your searches through an intermediate server for added anonymity before results are returned to you.
5. Independent indexes
Private search engines like Brave build their own index to avoid relying on tech giants like Google and Bing.
6. Tracker/ad blocking
Built-in blockers prevent advertisers and third party trackers from following you across the web.
7. No user profiling
Your search habits are not monitored to build an advertising profile or manipulate the results you see.
8. No selling of data
Private engines have no incentive to sell or share any data associated with you because they aren’t collecting any!
Why Use a Private Search Engine?
So why should you care about your search privacy in the first place? Here are the top reasons to use a conservative search engine
1. Stop Big Tech Surveillance
Google tracks everything you search for and uses this data to profile you for advertisers. Even searches for sensitive health or relationship topics get swept into building your digital shadow.
Private search engines break this cycle of surveillance by big tech companies profiting off your personal information. They allow you to search freely without being monitored.
2. Avoid Manipulated Results
Google personalizes your search results based on your identity, past searches, location and other factors. This introduces bias and prevents you from seeing the full spectrum of information available.
Conservative search engines show organic results based on relevance, not based on who you are. You can explore topics objectively without results skewed by algorithms.
3. Prevent Targeted Ads
When you search on Google, it uses your search terms to target you with related ads across the web. Private search engines do not allow this tracking. So you will see more generic ads instead of targeted ones based on your searches.
4. Keep Family Info Private
You may search for things related to your kids’ names, birthdays, medical conditions and more. This sensitive information can be swept up into advertising profiles. But, conservative search engines protects your family’s privacy.
5. Hide Embarrassing Searches
Let’s be honest, we all search for embarrassing stuff sometimes relating to health issues, relationships and other private topics. Conservative search engines anonymize these delicate queries.
6. Access Unfiltered Results
Google sometimes tweaks search algorithms to bury controversial content and shape narratives. But, private search returns raw, unfiltered results so you can draw your own conclusions.
How to Make a Switch to Conservative Search Engines?
If you’re ready to switch to a private search engine, it’s easy to get set up in just a few minutes. Here are some tips,
1. On desktop
Download the search engine’s browser extension or visit their website directly. You can also set it as the default search provider so it’s used automatically in the address bar.
2. On mobile
Install the search engine’s app for iOS or Android. You may need to set it as the default search app under Settings.
3. Use search browser
Brave Search is built into the Brave browser on desktop and mobile for seamless private searching.
4. Try different ones
Check out a few conservative search engines to find your favorite. They have slightly different interfaces and results, so test which you like best.
5. Make it your habit
Using a private engine may feel different at first. But over time, you’ll get used to it and not even miss Big Tech search.
FAQs About Conservative Google Alternatives
Here are some frequently asked questions about conservative search engine alternatives to Google in 2024.
They may not have as robust of an index as Google yet, but provide high quality results without tracking.
No, private search engines like DuckDuckGo and Startpage do not significantly slow down browsing or search. By blocking trackers, they may even speed it up.
Google is by far the most popular search engine worldwide, handling over 90% of searches. The next most used general search engines are Bing, Yahoo, and Yandex.
No, Google search results are personalized and biased based on your identity, past searches, location and other data they collect about you. Private search engines deliver unfiltered results.
No. DuckDuckGo is an independent company founded in 2008 that has never been owned by Google or any other entity. Their search results do not come from Google either.
Yes, even when searching Google the Disconnect browser extension blocks cross-site trackers and ads for added privacy.
Also Read:
Final Thoughts About Conservative Search Engines 2024
Your online privacy is under attack from all sides – search engines, social networks, data brokers, advertisers and even governments.
While no solution is 100% bulletproof, conservative search engines significantly reduce the amount of data collected about you.
Conservative alternatives to Google like DuckDuckGo, Startpage, and Swisscows allow you to reclaim your right to anonymously browse the web.
So don’t wait any longer to make the switch. Check out all options from our list of conservative search engines, pick one you like and take back control of your privacy. Your future self will thank you!
