Six Alternative Search Engines to Discover as Google Changes
Google is poised for a significant transformation, and if you’re not fond of the AI Overviews feature, get ready for what’s coming.
During the Google I/O 2026 keynote this week, the company announced plans to overhaul Search, incorporating a conversational, AI-driven approach. They even encouraged users to leverage AI agents to automatically notify them if, for instance, their favorite band announces a tour.
“This is the most significant upgrade to our iconic search box since its launch over 25 years ago,” said Elizabeth Reid, head of the Search organization at Google.
Now, when using Google, you can opt into AI mode right from the beginning. If you decide not to activate it, you may still see search results featuring an AI Overview, which now includes a chat box for follow-up inquiries. Once you engage with the chat box, Google begins to resemble ChatGPT more than the traditional search engine we’ve known for decades.
This announcement did not receive the enthusiastic reception Google expected. Instead, many users see it as another instance of a tech company pushing AI agents and chatbots into every corner of the internet, complicating navigation without running into a chatbot. Particularly after the rocky launch of Google’s AI Overviews — remember when Google suggested people look at the sun? — users are wary of yet another change.
Image Credits: Google
On Google’s video unveiling the Search updates, a commenter noted, “this is the best advertisement for letting people know it’s time to switch to a different search engine.”
They make a valid point. The new Google Search, which Reid refers to as “AI search through and through,” may alienate some users. Beyond generative AI, many have grown tired of Google’s overwhelming dominance; in 2024, a U.S. District Court found that Google acted unlawfully to maintain a monopoly in online search.
If you’re considering alternative search engines, you’re in luck. Here are a few options to explore (or embrace chaos and see where Open Web Engine takes you).
Kagi
Before we became frustrated with Google’s AI Overview, ads were a major annoyance. Ads are vital to Google’s business model — that’s how Google Search generates revenue. But can a search engine operate without ads and still be profitable?
That’s the goal of Kagi. For $5 per month — or $10 for unlimited searches — you can access an ad-free search engine without AI overviews.
Kagi isn’t merely an ad-free clone of Google. The search engine allows users to customize their experience by filtering specific websites and refining results using “lenses.” For instance, Kagi has an academic lens for students to find journal articles rather than blog posts.
If you occasionally find Google’s AI Overviews helpful, Kagi features an AI-powered “Quick Answer” to summarize search responses and provide links to sources. However, if you want to skip these AI summaries, you have that option too.
DuckDuckGo
If you’d rather not pay for a search experience, DuckDuckGo is a free alternative that generates revenue through ads but, unlike Google, doesn’t track user data regarding search, browsing, or purchase history. Instead, DuckDuckGo identifies ads based on the subject of your search — for example, searching for concert tickets might show an ad for SeatGeek.
Similar to many other alternative search engines, DuckDuckGo has an interface reminiscent of Google — and like Google, it can present AI-generated answers in search results. If this is bothersome, DuckDuckGo allows you to fully opt out of AI features in the settings menu.
Startpage
While DuckDuckGo maintains its own separate search index, Startpage acts as a proxy for Google.
This means Startpage serves as an intermediary between you and Google. When you search through Startpage, your personal data, such as your IP address, is removed from your query, sent to Google via the cloud, and the results are returned to you. Essentially, it provides Google without Google knowing your identity. The downside is that it still relies on Google, but at least Startpage allows you to disable AI features.
&udm=14
What if you simplified Startpage? The search engine &udm=14 is named after the string of characters it adds to all your Google searches.
If you append &udm=14 to your Google queries, you’ll receive the same results from Google, just without an AI overview. However, manually adding this after each search can be tedious. That’s why &udm=14 does it automatically for you.
The developer even shared the code on GitHub so you can run your own version of &udm=14 if you’re interested.
If privacy is a concern, you might prefer Startpage over &udm=14, but both options essentially offer AI-free Google.
Brave
Brave provides a browser as well as a search engine. Its browser is built on Chromium, the same foundation as Google Chrome, allowing you to use Chrome extensions within Brave. So, if you’re looking to avoid Google Chrome but still need your LastPass plugin, Brave could be the ideal choice.
In terms of search, Brave enables users to apply various third-party “Goggles” (not Googles!) to tailor their results. Options include “News from the Right,” “News from the Left,” and niche selections like “Hacker News/1k short,” which prioritizes popular domains referenced on Y-Combinator’s Hacker News forum, while excluding the most mainstream content. Then there’s “No Pinterest,” which is straightforward—and amusing.
And yes, Brave allows you to toggle AI features on and off. There’s no reason Google can’t do the same.
Ecosia
Similar to Brave, Ecosia also offers both a browser and a search engine and is built on Chromium, meaning your Chrome plugins should work on Ecosia as well. True to its name, Ecosia’s primary appeal is its eco-friendly approach to search platforms.
Ecosia generates revenue from ads but donates about 80% of its earnings to global tree-planting initiatives. Although tree-planting can sometimes raise concerns about greenwashing, Ecosia partners with local communities involved in reforestation, provides monthly financial transparency reports, and blogs about the impact of its initiatives.
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