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20-minute read
Top 15 Search Engines in 2024: Key Features & Tracking Tools
Contents
- Criteria for evaluating search engines
- Top 15 search engines in 2024
- Bing
- Yahoo Search
- YouTube
- DuckDuckGo
- AOL Search
- Ecosia
- Qwant
- Ask.com
- Dogpile
- Yandex
- Startpage
- Swisscows
- Brave Search
- iAsk AI
- Other popular local search engines
- Tracking tools for popular search engines
- Emerging trends in search engine technologies
- FAQ about top search engines
- Final thoughts
Let’s be honest: when you need to find something online, Google is probably your go-to, right? That makes sense, considering that Google dominates the search engine market with over 90% usage. And that’s why most SEOs focus their efforts on optimizing for Google.
But Google isn’t the only player. There are plenty of alternative search engines that are constantly innovating. One notable example is Bing, which has been steadily increasing its market share. So now is the perfect time to broaden your horizons and explore what other top search engines have to offer.
So, if you're curious about what else is out there, you're in the right place. I’ve rounded up the best search engines and analyzed their performance so you can easily find Google alternatives for a more comprehensive search experience.
Here’s the top search engines list:
Criteria for evaluating search engines
I analyzed the following factors when creating this search engine list:
Relevance of search results
Relevance of search results is quite a subjective thing. However, a good search engine should have some settings and filters so that a user can tune the search and get the most relevant results possible.
For example, many search engines offer features that tailor results to certain languages, locations, and preferences. Plus, they can also remember your past searches to provide on-point results over time.
User interface and experience
A search engine's interface should be clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, making it simple for users to find what they need without any hassle.
Another important factor is how the search results are displayed. For instance, Google now offers continuous scrolling, so you can keep seeing more results without clicking through pages. On the other hand, some search engines still use paginated results, which some people might prefer for a more segmented view. The choice depends on what works best for you.
Privacy features
With increasing concerns about online security, more and more private search engines appear. They offer robust privacy features like encrypted search capabilities, strict data storage policies, and options for anonymous searching when user data is not tracked or stored.
Integration with other services
The ability of search engines to connect and search through other services can enhance productivity. For instance, Google can search through your Google Drive to find documents when you type their names into the search bar. Other integrations might include syncing with email, calendars, and even social media platforms.
Top 15 search engines in 2024
Finding the right search engine really depends on your personal needs and preferences. To help you navigate your options, I've put together a comparison table that breaks down the key features of the top 15 search engines. This should make it much easier for you to decide which one best suits you.
Note: If you are an SEO and don’t know what search engine you should optimize for, analyze your audience and understand where your audience hangs out.
Now let’s discuss the best search engines in detail:
Google is the undisputed leader in the top search engines list. And I’m almost sure that most of you found this article in Google’s SERP :)
Google is the most widely used search engine globally. It is known for its powerful algorithms, vast index of web pages, and AI capabilities. And it constantly tweaks its search algorithms to deliver relevant results.
Google Search Generative Experience 101
Key features:
- Featured snippets: These highlighted boxes at the top of the search results provide a quick answer to your query, often from a high-ranking website.
- Image and video carousels: This feature displays relevant images and videos in a horizontal carousel, making it easier to find visual content related to your query.
- AI Overviews: By using advanced AI technology, Google analyzes your search query and provides a quick, informative summary directly within the search results page.
- Local results: For searches with local intent, Google shows a map and a list of nearby businesses or services.
- Google Lens: It’s a visual search feature. By simply snapping a picture of an object or uploading an existing image, you can find similar pictures or products for shopping.
- Instant answers: Google provides immediate answers to certain types of queries, like calculations, weather, sports scores, and currency conversions, directly at the top of the search results page.
- Integrations with Google services: You can easily access and manage your Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Google Photos directly from the search results. For example, if you type the name of a document saved in your Google Drive, it can appear right in the search results, saving you the hassle of navigating to Drive manually.
- Google’s search operators: By using special symbols and combinations, users can filter search results and find specific information more efficiently. Search operators are especially useful for researchers, marketers, SEOs, and anyone who needs to sift through large volumes of information on the web.
Bing
Bing, developed by Microsoft, offers a powerful search experience with its own unique flair. Beyond the standard web search, Bing boasts Microsoft Rewards, where you earn points for searching and redeem them for gift cards and other perks.
It also excels in visual search, allowing you to find images and related information simply by uploading a picture. If you're looking for a feature-rich Google alternative with its own rewards system and intuitive visual search, Bing is a great choice.
Key features:
- Visual search: This feature allows users to search using images instead of text. Just upload a photo, and Bing will identify objects, landmarks, or even products, providing relevant information and links.
- Rewards program: Microsoft Rewards lets users earn points for searching and convert them into prizes. It's a fun way to get rewarded for your usual online activity.
- Integration with Microsoft services: Bing seamlessly integrates with products like Office, Outlook, and Cortana. This integration enhances productivity by allowing you to access and search your documents, emails, and even calendar events directly from the Bing search bar.
- Local search: It allows you to search for businesses and points of interest in your area. You can find locations, check ratings and reviews, and get directions from Bing.
- Intelligent search: Powered by AI, Bing also provides answers generated by Copilot. These features help you find the information you need quickly and efficiently.
- Safe search: Bing provides robust privacy settings, allowing users to control their search history and preferences.
Yahoo Search
Yahoo, a veteran of the search engine world, offers a familiar and convenient experience for many users. Powered by Bing since 2009, Yahoo Search offers a robust search experience with a blend of integrations. It's known for its comprehensive web directory, user-friendly interface, and integration with services such as Yahoo Mail, Finance, and News.
Key features:
- Bing-powered search results: Yahoo Search leverages Bing's powerful search technology to deliver relevant and high-quality search results. This partnership ensures that users get accurate data.
- Rich media integration: Yahoo excels in integrating multimedia content within search results. Users can easily find images, videos, and news articles related to their search queries.
- Local search: Yahoo Search provides local search features, helping users find businesses, restaurants, and services near them. It includes reviews, ratings, and detailed business information.
YouTube
Even though it’s not specifically designed to find general web content, YouTube is considered a search engine. Owned by Google, YouTube was launched in 2005 and has grown exponentially ever since. By now, the platform boasts over 2 billion monthly users.
The platform serves as a hub for various content, including music videos, educational tutorials, entertainment, vlogs, and much more. As a search engine, YouTube processes billions of search queries each month, making it the second-largest search engine globally, after Google.
YouTube SEO Guide to Ranking Your Videos
Key features:
- Video search: YouTube's primary function is to help users find videos. Its search engine is optimized to deliver relevant video content based on keywords, titles, descriptions, and tags.
- Channel and playlist search: YouTube helps users find specific channels or playlists matching their search terms.
- Personalized recommendations: The platform offers personalized video recommendations on the homepage and within search results. These recommendations are based on the user's viewing history, subscriptions, and interaction patterns.
- Multiple filtering options: YouTube provides various filters to refine search results, such as upload date, view count, rating, duration, and video type. Users can also sort results by relevance, upload date, view count, and rating.
- Voice search: YouTube supports voice search, making it easier for users to find videos using spoken queries. This feature is particularly useful for mobile users and smart TV viewers.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is among the top privacy search engines. Founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, it doesn’t track search history or personal data. It offers a clean, ad-free search experience that appeals to users concerned about their online privacy.
Key features:
- Privacy: The DuckDuckGo search engine does not track users' personal data and blocks hidden third-party trackers on websites, ensuring a private browsing experience.
- Bang search shortcuts (!bangs): The !bangs feature allows users to quickly search within a specific website directly from DuckDuckGo. For example, typing "!w cats" will take you to the Wikipedia page for cats.
- Instant answers: Similar to Google’s Knowledge Graph, the DuckDuckGo search engine provides instant answers to common queries at the top of the search results page. These answers come from trusted sources and cover a variety of topics such as calculations, weather forecasts, dictionary definitions, and more
- AI chat integration: DuckDuckGo features a private AI-powered chat that provides users with quick, relevant information. Although it’s still under development, the chat can already deliver concise answers.
AOL Search
AOL Search offers a simple and straightforward way to navigate the web. It was once a dominant force in the early Internet era. AOL has evolved over the years, and its search engine is now powered by Bing.
While it may not be as popular as some of the other major search engines, AOL Search still serves a dedicated user base and provides a combination of search results, news, and multimedia content.
Key features:
- Comprehensive news integration: AOL Search features a strong focus on news content, integrating results from AOL’s extensive news network. Users can find up-to-date news articles, trending stories, and in-depth reports directly within their search results.
- Email and web portal integration: Users can easily access their AOL Mail, check the latest news, and perform searches all from a single, cohesive platform.
- SafeSearch filter: AOL Search includes a SafeSearch filter to provide a safer browsing experience. This feature helps block inappropriate content in search results.
Ecosia
Ecosia is a search engine on a mission. It’s an eco-friendly platform founded in 2009 by Christian Kroll. How can a search engine help with environmental issues? Every search you make translates into profits that Ecosia uses to plant trees around the world. So, you can feel good about browsing the web knowing you're contributing to reforestation efforts with each search.
Key features:
- Ecosia chat: It’s a new feature that uses AI to provide quick, conversational responses to user queries. This feature enhances the search experience by offering instant, relevant answers in a chat-like interface.
- Privacy protection: Ecosia is committed to protecting user privacy. Unlike some search engines, they don't track your searches or build user profiles based on your activity.
- Choice of preferred search provider: Ecosia offers users the flexibility to choose between Bing and Google as their preferred search provider. This feature allows users to benefit from the search engine they trust while still supporting Ecosia's tree-planting mission.
- Browser extensions and mobile apps: To continue supporting Ecosia’s values, integrate this search engine into your daily browsing habits. You can do that by using extensions for Chrome, Safari, or other popular browsers, or downloading apps for iOS and Android.
Qwant
Qwant is a privacy-focused search engine hosted in Europe. It distinguishes itself by not tracking its users and by providing unbiased search results. Qwant emphasizes protecting user privacy and maintaining data security, making it an attractive option for individuals concerned about their online privacy.
Key features:
- Privacy protection: Qwant ensures user privacy by not storing personal data or using cookies to monitor browsing habits.
- Unbiased search results: This search engine provides neutral search results, free from the filter bubble effect. Unlike other search engines that personalize results based on user behavior and data, Qwant presents the same search results to all users for a given query.
- Qwant Junior: This is a child-friendly version of the search engine designed for younger users. It filters out inappropriate content and provides educational resources, ensuring a safe and informative online experience for children.
Ask.com
Ask.com, originally known as Ask Jeeves, is a question-and-answer-focused search engine. It aims to make finding information straightforward by delivering concise, accurate answers from a variety of sources, including web pages, articles, and its community of users.
Key features:
- Engaging topics of interest: The Ask.com starting page serves as a dynamic gateway to a wide array of interesting topics and categories. Upon landing on the homepage, users can look through trending questions, popular searches, and featured articles.
- Related questions: Ask.com doesn't stop at just one answer. It suggests related questions that might spark further exploration and help you delve deeper into the topic.
Dogpile
Dogpile is a metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple search engines, including Google, Bing, Yahoo, and others. This approach ensures that users receive a wide range of information, potentially uncovering results that might be missed by using a single search engine. Dogpile is known for its straightforward interface and efficiency in fetching diverse search results.
Key features:
- Categories for search: Dogpile categorizes search results into different types, including web, images, videos, and news. You can switch from one category to another using the sidebar.
- Recent searches: Dogpile keeps track of recent searches and saves them for quick access. If you want to revisit some of your past queries, you can find them on the sidebar.
Yandex
Yandex isn't just a search engine – it's a digital ecosystem for the CIS countries market. Founded in 1997, Yandex offers a wide range of services similar to those of Google, including search, maps, email, and cloud storage. It leverages advanced algorithms and machine learning technologies to provide comprehensive and accurate search experiences.
Key features:
- Search filters: Yandex offers extensive search filters that allow users to refine their search results based on date, type, region, and more.
- Advanced image search: Yandex offers an image search feature that includes options for finding similar images, identifying objects within images, and searching by image. Users can upload an image or use a URL to find visually similar pics.
- Voice search: Yandex features voice search capabilities and a virtual assistant named Alice. Users can perform searches, set reminders, and control smart home devices with natural language commands.
- Yandex Zen: It’s a personalized content feed integrated into the search engine. It uses AI to recommend articles, videos, and news based on user interests and browsing history.
- Yandex Market: This integrated shopping service allows users to compare prices, read reviews, and find products from various online retailers.
Startpage
Startpage is a privacy-focused search engine based in the Netherlands. It aims to provide users with the best of both worlds: Google’s search results and enhanced privacy protection. Startpage acts as an intermediary between users and Google, ensuring that users' personal information and search data remain private and secure.
Key features:
- Anonymous searching: The Startpage search engine allows users to search the web anonymously. It does not store any personal data, search history, or IP addresses, ensuring that users’ privacy is maintained at all times.
- Customizable settings: Startpage allows users to customize their search settings. Users can change the search language, region, and appearance to tailor the search engine to their preferences.
Swisscows
Don't let the name fool you – Swisscows is among the best search engines for privacy. In addition to a safe and private searching experience, Swisscows emphasizes family-friendly search results by filtering out inappropriate content.
Key features:
- Privacy protection: Swisscows is built with a strong emphasis on privacy. It does not track, store, or share any personal information or search queries.
- Family-friendly content: Swisscows automatically filters out explicit and inappropriate content, making it a safe search engine for families and children. This feature ensures that users of all ages can browse the internet safely.
- Privacy-focused ecosystem: Swisscows builds an ecosystem around its search engine – a single login grants access to its secure email service and encrypted messaging app, TeleGuard. This integration allows users to manage search, communication, and potentially even email storage within a Swiss-based infrastructure.
Brave Search
Brave Search is a privacy-centric search engine developed by the makers of the Brave browser. Launched in 2021, Brave Search aims to provide a secure and private alternative to mainstream search engines. It offers unbiased, independent search results. Brave Search is designed to give users control over their online experience, free from the ad targeting prevalent in other search engines.
Key features:
- Privacy protection: Brave Search ensures complete anonymity by not collecting any personal information.
- Independent index: Unlike many search engines that rely on third-party indexes, Brave Search uses its own independent index. Thus, it delivers unbiased search results, free from the influence of major search engine monopolies.
- AI-generated answers: Brave Search utilizes AI to generate instant answers to user queries directly at the top of the search results page.
- Goggles feature: It offers a unique twist on search customization. This feature allows users to personalize search results by applying custom filters and ranking rules.
- Integration with Brave ecosystem: Brave Search integrates seamlessly with the Brave browser. This integration includes features like the Brave Rewards program, which allows users to earn tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads.
iAsk AI
iAsk AI is a blend of a search engine and an AI-writing tool. It generates an AI-driven answer at the top and further provides related videos, links, and more. iAsk AI is particularly focused on understanding the intent behind user queries, making it a valuable tool for both casual and professional searches.
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Key features:
- AI-powered search: iAsk AI uses artificial intelligence to understand the context and intent of user queries and generate relevant answers.
- Voice search: This search engine offers voice search functionality. Simply speak your question and receive informative answers hands-free.
- Grammar check: This built-in feature analyzes your question and suggests improvements for grammar and clarity. Perfect for refining your search queries or getting a quick grammar boost.
- Summary feature: If you need a quick summary of any doc or web page, you can type the link and iAsk AI will do that for you.
- Docs & Images features (Paid Plan): iAsk AI offers an additional layer of functionality in its paid plan. This plan allows you to analyze docs and create basic images.
Other popular local search engines
Several local search engines have carved out significant niches in their respective regions. These platforms often cater to the unique preferences and languages of local users, providing tailored experiences that global engines may not match.
Baidu
Baidu is the top search engine in China, with a vast majority of the market share. Like Google, it offers a range of services, including maps, news, and cloud storage. Baidu is known for its robust search algorithms tailored to the Chinese language, making it the go-to choice for Chinese users.
Naver
Naver is South Korea's top search engine, known for its comprehensive suite of services that go beyond simple web search. It includes features like blogs, news, an encyclopedia, and shopping. Naver's popularity in South Korea stems from its deep integration with local culture and content, providing highly relevant results for Korean users.
Seznam
Seznam is a prominent search engine in the Czech Republic. It provides various online services, including email, news, maps, and a popular homepage that aggregates trending topics. Seznam's deep understanding of the Czech market allows it to offer highly relevant and localized search results.
Daum
Daum, another major player in South Korea, competes closely with Naver. It offers a comprehensive portal with services like news, email, maps, and a social media platform. Daum's search engine is tailored to Korean users, providing a rich user experience that aligns well with local needs.
Tracking tools for popular search engines
If you’re an SEO, you definitely need tools for optimizing your website and tracking its progress in top search engines. But obviously, you don’t need tools for all the search engines I mentioned above. Why?
Firstly, optimizing for search engines with tiny audiences is not practical, and secondly, tracking functionality might be limited with privacy-focused engines. Plus, some search engines rely on bigger players like Google and Bing. This means that the algorithms and ranking factors used by smaller search engines may not differ significantly from those of dominant players.
Here are the most popular tracking tools:
- Google Analytics provides comprehensive insights into website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Available for: Google Search
- Google Search Console offers valuable data about your website's presence in Google search results. It provides information on indexing status, search queries, and impressions. Available for: Google Search
Pro SEO tip #1
If you optimize for Google (I bet you do) and want to track your rankings in one place, you can do that in Rank Tracker. Simply connect your Google Analytics and Google Search Console Accounts, and enjoy tracking real-time data in a handy dashboard.
- Bing Webmaster Tools is an official toolkit that provides insights into your site's performance on Bing. It includes tools for submitting sitemaps, conducting keyword research, analyzing backlinks, and viewing search performance data. Available for: Bing
- Rank Tracker by SEO PowerSuite allows you to track your website's rankings for specific keywords across multiple search engines. Available for: Google Search, Bing, Yahoo Search, YouTube, DuckDuckGo, AOL Search, Yandex, Ask.com, Dogpile, and many more.
Pro SEO tip #2
If you want to track keyword rankings in various search engines in Rank Tracker, go to the Preferred Search Engines settings and add the ones you need.
Emerging trends in search engine technologies
The way we interact with search engines is constantly evolving. Here are 4 emerging trends that can make our online search even more exciting soon:
Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Search engines are improving their understanding of human language and context. With NLP, they can better interpret complex queries. This means that users will be able to ask questions in a more conversational tone, and search engines can provide relevant answers, even for long-tail queries.
Voice search
Voice search is also becoming increasingly popular as users prefer speaking their queries rather than typing them. As a result, search engines are adapting to understand and respond to spoken language. Thus, I guess, we can expect even more conversational search experiences.
Image-based search
Visual search is another emerging trend in search engine technology. Instead of relying solely on text-based queries, users can now search using images. Visual search is particularly useful for shopping, identifying objects, and finding more information about a particular image. As image recognition technology improves, visual search is likely to become more accurate and widespread.
Contextual search results
Search engines are increasingly focusing on personalized search results tailored to individual users. This includes personalized recommendations, location-based results, and content suggestions based on user interests. The development of machine learning and AI will help search engines better understand user intent and deliver more targeted information.
FAQ about top search engines
What is a search engine, and how does it work?
A search engine is a software program that helps you find information on the Internet. When you type in a query, it scans through a massive index of websites to find the most relevant information for you.
Search engines send out tiny bots called crawlers to browse the web and gather data about the content on different pages. This information is then organized in a huge database. When you search for something, the search engine uses complex algorithms to quickly sift through this database and show you the best matches.
How do search engines rank search results?
Search engines rank results based on a variety of factors to determine which pages are most relevant and useful for your query. These factors include the keywords on the page, how many other sites link to it (which indicates its popularity and authority), the quality of the content, and even the speed at which the page loads.
Which search engines are powered by AI?
Several search engines are using AI to improve their performance.
Google is the most notable one, with its AI algorithms helping it understand search queries better and provide more accurate results.
Bing also uses AI to enhance its search capabilities. Newer players like Brave Search and iAsk AI are also leveraging AI to offer smarter, more personalized search experiences.
How do you track search engine rankings?
Tracking search engine rankings involves using various tools that monitor where your website appears in search results for specific keywords.
Tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console are great for tracking your performance on Google. For Bing, you might use Bing Webmaster Tools.
If you want to track and compare rankings for several websites, Rank Tracker is your go-to option.
How do you optimize your website for search engines?
Optimizing your website involves several strategies to make your site more attractive to search engines.
- Start with keyword research to find out what terms people are searching for in your niche. Use these keywords naturally in your content, titles, and meta descriptions.
- Make sure your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
- Create high-quality, original content that provides real value to your visitors.
- And don't forget to get backlinks from other reputable websites, as this shows search engines that your site is trustworthy and authoritative.
Regularly updating your site and keeping an eye on SEO trends can also help keep your rankings high.
Final thoughts
It’s unlikely that some search engine will challenge Google from its throne any time soon. But still, there are cool Google alternatives that offer unique features and capabilities. Remember, the best search engine is defined by your individual search needs and priorities. It’s never a bad idea to explore the options and experiment with new features, after all.
Do you use different search engines? Or do you entrust your online search to Google only? We'd love to hear about your experiences in our Facebook group.
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