Search Engines

[Jonj1611]

Wasn't really sure where to put this.

Search engines, for years and years I have used Google but lately, well for a while now I have the results are just sites selling stuff on them, whether its review sites or whatever, a top 10 list is generally just all affiliate links to Amazon etc.

Bit fed up of it now. Any good alternative search engines to actual deliver decent results?

For example I made up a search for best 140mm quiet fan.

First few pages all "top 10" lists of fans, no reviews, just some one or two lines which is just marketing rubbish and of course the affiliated link. So so tired of it, I want to see links to genuine reviews, forums etc

Wishful thinking?

[Saracen999]

I just rely on DuckDuckGo and rarely worry about comparative results. I won't use Google if it's 1000 times better, and Bing? Well, 'nuff said.

If it takes me a bit longer to find what I want on DDG (dunno if it does or not) then so be it. So I'm not really qualified to rate engines as how good they are matters less to me than them not being big-G. Oh, Startpage from time to time, too.

[Jonj1611]

I will give it a try and see what type of results I get. Anything must be better than skewed results which I am currently getting

[AGTDenton]

Having installed Ghostery Dawn they included a number of Search Engines I was totally unaware of, so may as well list them for anyone to try out:

https://www.onesearch.com/ - aimed at privacy & encryption - operated by Yahoo and most likely using Bing as the back end, as Yahoo signed a deal with Microsoft.

https://www.ecosia.org/ - aimed at offsetting the energy used for searching by planting trees, based in Germany - results from Bing, Yahoo! & Wikipedia

https://www.ekoru.org/ - another Eco conscious search engine, this time profits go to cleaning up the oceans. Based in Malaysia. Not sure of back end technologies, but looks Googley from their results

https://www.qwant.com/ - A French search engine with privacy & sustainability in mind. Originally used Bing as the back end but now they're not telling, but they keep signing Microsoft deals so likely to be Bing + their own algorithms.

There is a fifth within the browser, Gibiru, but they have no information about who they are on their website so I've not linked to it.

Take from those what you will. Qwant appears to have a bit of investment behind them, they also offer Maps and a child friendly option so a bit more serious than the other players.


I've mainly tried Ecosia, Ekoru DDU & Bing but unfortunately in all cases found myself going back to Google for technical searches. They sadly still produce the best results for me


Likewise, I am trying to come off Gmail and planning that at some point either late this year or early next.

[spacein_vader]

Another vote for the duck.