Alternatives to Startpage
Google results without tracking
Startpage ranks #7 of 7 in Search engines, with an Alt Score of 24. It is proprietary, free from Free and available on Web, iOS and Android. 6 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
People who want Google-quality search results but don't want Google (or anyone else) logging their queries, IP address, or building a profile of them — privacy-conscious users, journalists, and anyone in a jurisdiction with heavy surveillance or ad-tracking concerns.
Search results sourced from Google (and Bing) with all tracking, logging, and personal identifiers stripped out before they reach you. Startpage does not record IP addresses, use tracking cookies, or store search history. An Anonymous View feature lets you open any result through Startpage's proxy so the destination site never sees your IP or browser details. As a Dutch company, it operates under GDPR and EU data protection law.
You search as you would on any engine; Startpage forwards the query to Google on your behalf, removes identifying data, and returns the results to you. To visit a result anonymously, you click its Anonymous View link and Startpage fetches the page server-side and displays it to you instead of connecting you directly.
Why people leave Startpage
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Startpage compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Search engines checklist | Startpage | Brave Search | Kagi | DuckDuckGo | Ecosia | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Paid tier value |
Every fact and feature listed for Startpage is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-10
Every search performed on Startpage is processed through our proprietary personal data protection technology.
https://www.startpage.com/en/about-us -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-10
Startpage is free to use because we show contextual ads.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
Platforms Web, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-10
The Startpage Private Browser app for iOS and Android uses Startpage as its default search engine.
https://www.startpage.com/en/privacy-policy/ -
Starts at Free verified 2026-07-10
Startpage is free to use because we show contextual ads.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
Status active verified 2026-07-10
Today, Firefox is piloting Startpage as a native private search option in select European markets—a direct response to the Mozilla Connect community, where over 1,200 of you asked for exactly this.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/ -
Independent index No verified 2026-07-10
Startpage provides search results from multiple search and content providers, including Google and Bing, without sending your identity along with the query.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
No tracking Yes verified 2026-07-10
We do not record IP addresses, record search queries, serve tracking or identifying cookies, build personal profiles, or save or sell your search history.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
AI answers Partial verified 2026-07-10
AI via a separate standalone app (Vanish), not in-SERP answers.
Does Startpage offer private AI? Yes. Startpage also offers Vanish, a standalone private AI app built around the same privacy principle as Startpage search.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
Ad-free option No verified 2026-07-10
Startpage is free to use because we show contextual ads.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks -
Self-hostable No verified 2026-07-10
Proprietary closed-source SaaS; no self-hosting.
Every search performed on Startpage is processed through our proprietary personal data protection technology.
https://www.startpage.com/en/about-us -
Paid tier value No verified 2026-07-10
No paid tier; entirely free/ad-supported.
Startpage is free to use because we show contextual ads.
https://www.startpage.com/privacy-please/featured-article/howstartpageworks
FAQ
Yes. Brave Search, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.