What is the story about?
Ever since Google pushed AI deeper into Search, users have found themselves arguing with the internet in ways nobody expected. One day, Google AI Overview confidently
struggles to spell simple words. Another day, it gives bizarre summaries or inserts AI-generated answers where users simply wanted a quick definition or link.
For years, Google Search was praised for being simple: type a question, get useful links. But the company’s growing focus on AI-overview responses has left many users frustrated with cluttered pages, unnecessary summaries and answers that occasionally feel more confusing than helpful.
That frustration is now pushing more people to look elsewhere. Some want fewer ads. Others want more privacy. And many simply want a search engine that knows when not to interrupt with AI.
The good news is there are now several alternatives that offer very different experiences from Google Search. Some remove tracking entirely, some let users disable AI features completely, while others focus on sustainability or research-friendly browsing.
Here are some search engines worth trying if Google’s AI era is not quite working for you.
Kagi is perhaps the clearest example of a search engine trying to rethink how internet search should work.
Unlike Google, Kagi operates on a subscription model. Users pay around $5 per month for limited searches or $10 for unlimited access in exchange for something Google cannot offer: an ad-free search experience.
But Kagi is not simply “Google without ads”. The platform gives users unusually deep control over their search results. You can prioritise certain websites, block others and even apply custom “lenses” for specific topics like academics or technical research.
Importantly for frustrated users, Kagi’s AI-generated summaries are optional. If you want quick AI answers, they are available. If you do not, you can ignore them entirely.
DuckDuckGo remains one of the most popular alternatives for privacy-conscious users.
The search engine still displays ads, but unlike Google, it does not track your browsing habits, purchase history or long-term search behaviour. Ads are based only on the topic you are currently searching for.
Its interface feels familiar enough for anyone used to Google, but with far less tracking behind the scenes.
DuckDuckGo also includes optional AI-generated answers, but users can disable AI features completely through settings. That flexibility appears to be resonating with users recently.
The company says app installs in the US rose sharply between May 20 and May 25, with iOS installs peaking at nearly 70 per cent growth in a single day. Interest in its dedicated “AI-free” search mode also surged significantly during the same period.
Startpage takes an interesting approach: it essentially acts as a privacy shield between you and Google.
When users search through Startpage, the platform removes identifying details such as IP addresses before sending the request to Google. The result is Google-quality search results without Google directly tracking the user.
The downside, of course, is that the engine still relies heavily on Google’s search infrastructure. Still, for users who like Google’s results but dislike Google’s data collection, Startpage offers a middle ground.
And yes, AI features can be disabled here too.
The Wayback Machine is less of a traditional search engine and more of a time machine for the internet.
Operated by the Internet Archive, it allows users to access older or deleted versions of websites dating back to 1996. Simply paste a URL and browse how a webpage looked years ago.
It has become particularly useful for journalists, researchers, fact-checkers and anyone trying to recover vanished content from the web.
The experience is also completely ad-free and tracking-free.
Brave offers both a browser and its own search engine. Built on Chromium, it still supports Chrome extensions, making it easier for users to switch without losing favourite tools.
Its standout feature is something called “Goggles”, which lets users customise how search results are ranked. You can filter results through categories like technology blogs, political perspectives or even “No Pinterest” mode for a cleaner image search experience.
Brave also gives users control over AI tools, allowing them to switch features on or off whenever they want.
Ecosia appeals to environmentally conscious users. The company claims to donate around 80 per cent of its profits towards tree-planting projects worldwide and regularly publishes transparency reports detailing where funds go.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Bing remains one of the largest alternatives to Google. It offers fast search results, image and video search tools and tight integration with Windows and Microsoft Edge. While Bing also includes AI features, some users still prefer its cleaner layout and Microsoft ecosystem support compared to Google’s increasingly AI-heavy Search experience.
For years, Google Search was praised for being simple: type a question, get useful links. But the company’s growing focus on AI-overview responses has left many users frustrated with cluttered pages, unnecessary summaries and answers that occasionally feel more confusing than helpful.
That frustration is now pushing more people to look elsewhere. Some want fewer ads. Others want more privacy. And many simply want a search engine that knows when not to interrupt with AI.
The good news is there are now several alternatives that offer very different experiences from Google Search. Some remove tracking entirely, some let users disable AI features completely, while others focus on sustainability or research-friendly browsing.
Here are some search engines worth trying if Google’s AI era is not quite working for you.
Kagi
Kagi is perhaps the clearest example of a search engine trying to rethink how internet search should work.
Unlike Google, Kagi operates on a subscription model. Users pay around $5 per month for limited searches or $10 for unlimited access in exchange for something Google cannot offer: an ad-free search experience.
But Kagi is not simply “Google without ads”. The platform gives users unusually deep control over their search results. You can prioritise certain websites, block others and even apply custom “lenses” for specific topics like academics or technical research.
Importantly for frustrated users, Kagi’s AI-generated summaries are optional. If you want quick AI answers, they are available. If you do not, you can ignore them entirely.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo remains one of the most popular alternatives for privacy-conscious users.
The search engine still displays ads, but unlike Google, it does not track your browsing habits, purchase history or long-term search behaviour. Ads are based only on the topic you are currently searching for.
Its interface feels familiar enough for anyone used to Google, but with far less tracking behind the scenes.
DuckDuckGo also includes optional AI-generated answers, but users can disable AI features completely through settings. That flexibility appears to be resonating with users recently.
The company says app installs in the US rose sharply between May 20 and May 25, with iOS installs peaking at nearly 70 per cent growth in a single day. Interest in its dedicated “AI-free” search mode also surged significantly during the same period.
Startpage
Startpage takes an interesting approach: it essentially acts as a privacy shield between you and Google.
When users search through Startpage, the platform removes identifying details such as IP addresses before sending the request to Google. The result is Google-quality search results without Google directly tracking the user.
The downside, of course, is that the engine still relies heavily on Google’s search infrastructure. Still, for users who like Google’s results but dislike Google’s data collection, Startpage offers a middle ground.
And yes, AI features can be disabled here too.
Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine is less of a traditional search engine and more of a time machine for the internet.
Operated by the Internet Archive, it allows users to access older or deleted versions of websites dating back to 1996. Simply paste a URL and browse how a webpage looked years ago.
It has become particularly useful for journalists, researchers, fact-checkers and anyone trying to recover vanished content from the web.
The experience is also completely ad-free and tracking-free.
Brave
Brave offers both a browser and its own search engine. Built on Chromium, it still supports Chrome extensions, making it easier for users to switch without losing favourite tools.
Its standout feature is something called “Goggles”, which lets users customise how search results are ranked. You can filter results through categories like technology blogs, political perspectives or even “No Pinterest” mode for a cleaner image search experience.
Brave also gives users control over AI tools, allowing them to switch features on or off whenever they want.
Ecosia and Bing
Ecosia appeals to environmentally conscious users. The company claims to donate around 80 per cent of its profits towards tree-planting projects worldwide and regularly publishes transparency reports detailing where funds go.
Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Bing remains one of the largest alternatives to Google. It offers fast search results, image and video search tools and tight integration with Windows and Microsoft Edge. While Bing also includes AI features, some users still prefer its cleaner layout and Microsoft ecosystem support compared to Google’s increasingly AI-heavy Search experience.
