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European search engines – search without Google profiling and filter bubbles.
Google Search: The world's largest user profiling system
Google builds a detailed user profile with every search query – linked to location, device, and behavior. This data flows into the Google advertising network. European search engines completely avoid user profiling.
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All Providers in Detail
European search engines without tracking or user profiling.
Ecosia
Berlin-based search engine with CO2-neutral infrastructure
- Over 200 million trees planted
- 80% of revenue directed to nature conservation projects
- Servers in Europe, GDPR-compliant
- B Corp-certified – social enterprise
Qwant
French search engine without user tracking
- No tracking, no filter bubble
- Own search infrastructure (in part)
- Qwant Junior for children
- Neutral search results without personalization
Startpage
Anonymized Google search via European proxy servers
- Google-quality results without Google tracking
- Anonymous view mode for websites
- No IP addresses stored
- Specialized in privacy since 2006
Swisscows
Semantic search engine with Swiss infrastructure
- Own Swiss servers – no Google or Bing in the background
- No storage of IP addresses or search queries
- Integrated child protection (family-friendly)
- Semantic search for improved results
Quick Compare
| Provider | Country | Top Feature | Alternative To | Price (From) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecosia | 🇩🇪 Germany | Over 200 million trees planted | instead of Google Search | Completely free |
| Qwant | 🇫🇷 France | No tracking, no filter bubble | instead of Google Search | Completely free |
| Startpage | 🇳🇱 Netherlands | Google-quality results without Google tracking | instead of Google Search | Completely free |
| Swisscows | 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Own Swiss servers – no Google or Bing in the background | instead of Google Search | Completely free |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Ecosia really plant trees through my searches?
Yes – Ecosia earns money through non-personalized search ads and invests 80% in tree planting projects. Over 200 million trees have been planted so far. Financial reports are published monthly.
Are search results from Qwant or Startpage as good as Google?
Startpage delivers direct Google results (without tracking), so quality is identical. Qwant has its own infrastructure and is equivalent for many searches. For very specific queries, Google might still be slightly better.
What makes Swisscows special?
Swisscows operates its own search infrastructure on Swiss servers – independent of Google and Bing. Swiss data protection law applies and the US CLOUD Act does not. Swisscows also offers an integrated family-safe filter.
How do I set one of these as my default search engine?
In every browser's settings, under "Search Engine", you'll find the option to change the default. Ecosia, Qwant, and Startpage can all be set as default – either through browser settings or via a browser extension.