List Of Search Engines Worth Using That Aren’t Google, Bing Or Yahoo

Forgive me loyal readers, I'm going to start this blog by stating something really, really obvious.

After 20 years and counting, Google rightfully earned its status as the biggest, most advanced and widely used search engine available. There are several reasons the Internet giant dominates the overwhelming majority of the market share, including its powerful algorithms, flawlessly integrated vertical search engines and its sheer age. Bing and Yahoo are also well-known(ish) amongst the average web surfer, but could never compete with Google's de facto ownership of Internet searching and are most often only used accidentally. (These are the default options set for browsers on iPhones and Android devices.)

White Google reigns supreme online (and probably will for years to come), it is far from the only platform worth investing your key strokes and time in. Other search engines may provide more specialized results and can be more accurate or comprehensive in certain areas. Using alternative search solutions can also ease some privacy concerns and prevent personalized results that are tailored based upon your search history. Lastly, diversifying your search engine sources provides a more objective and balanced view of the content you are seeking. After all, who doesn't want to be well informed?

Okay, okay. That's enough background and explanation. Read below for my list of non-Google search engines I love and use often, as well as why each is worthy of your time. Happy browsing, fam!

If you're like me and being bombarded by ads really pisses you off while searching the web, you'll love this platform. Neeva was built by the genius of former top Google executives so users can rest assured that its infrastructure is sound, but will also be noticeably different than its predecessor. (In fact, creators stated that they wanted the opportunity to create a search solution that was "uncorrupted by everything that went wrong the first time.

If you're a marketing or creative professional, you can consider OpenVerse your best friend of the world-wide-web. This search engine specializes in providing copyright-free results that are fair-game for anyone to use without worrying about anyone coming after you for infringing on their work. In plain English, this makes OpenVerse an extremely valuable tool especially when it comes to curating content for a blog post, email blast or video reel.

One alternative search engine that has gained more brand recognition as of late is DuckDuckGo, largely thanks to growing online security concerns amongst web surfers. This was one of the first platforms to put the privacy as its top priority, and doesn't collect or store any information from its users.

Even though StartPage's main selling point is the same as that of DuckDuckGo, it is worth mentioning on this list because it also features a URL generator, HTTPs support and proxy service.

Forgive me for being redundant, but the truth remains: despite being another security-focused search engine, Gibiru takes things to the next level by being a completely uncensored platform. This means that information and content flows freely and without restriction, while also adhering to strict privacy protocols and not sell data to third-parties or allow retargeting advertisements.

This platform looks old school and chances are good you've never heard of it unless you work in the tech world, but don't sleep on the Internet Archive. Also known as the Wayback Machine, this search engine is an enormous digital library offering access to millions of free digital content.

Marketing professionals and web developers are more likely to have heard of this platform, since it is a phenomenal tool for researching old versions of websites formerly indexed by Google. Personally, I use it often and have found it helpful for all types of creative projects.

With exact search results available in just a few keystrokes, it's safe to say that one could consider this search engine the ultimate Internet-based encyclopedia. Wiki.com boasts nearly 6.4 MILLION articles and user friendly filters, so finding interesting content to look through is a breeze.

Are you one of those people who absolutely live for the comments section? If you're like me and rather get actual, user-based opinions (rather than scrolling through ads), then you'll really appreciate BoardReader. This search engine was conceived with Reddit aficionados in mind, responding to search queries based on forum answers and reputable message boards rather than generic search results.

Want to know a fun, little known fact? Even Google keyword inquiries aren't exempt from leaving a carbon footprint. Believe it or not, one of the contributing factors to CO2 emissions are all the many server and IT resources used to power the every search engine in existence today.

If you're like me and have a soft spot for planet-conscious issues, then consider using Ecosia, the world's most popular environmentally friendly search engine. In addition to operating solely on servers running entirely on renewable energy, they also make it a point to give back to the Earth as well. Revenue generated from Ecosia's platform is used to plat trees and support similarly minded non-profit organizations. If you're going to be searching, your efforts may as well go towards a good cause, am I right!?