Private Search Engines: Startpage vs Brave vs DuckDuckGo
Compare Startpage, Brave Search, and DuckDuckGo for private search. Learn which search engine best protects your queries from tracking.
Summary
Startpage offers Google results with privacy protection. Brave Search provides independent results with privacy. DuckDuckGo is the most popular private search engine with good privacy. All three protect your searches, but differ in results source and privacy features.
Why Private Search Matters
Search engines can track: - Your search queries - Your location - Your search history - Your interests and behavior - Your device information
This data is used for profiling, advertising, and surveillance.
Detailed Comparison
Startpage
Results Source: Google (anonymized)
Privacy Features: - No tracking - No personalization - Anonymous View (proxy browsing) - No search history - EU-based (strong privacy laws)
Privacy Policy: - Doesn’t store IP addresses - Doesn’t track searches - Doesn’t create user profiles - Complies with GDPR
Pros: - Google-quality results - Strong privacy protection - Anonymous View feature - EU jurisdiction - No tracking
Cons: - Relies on Google (indirectly) - Smaller than DuckDuckGo - Less well-known
Brave Search
Results Source: Independent (own index)
Privacy Features: - No tracking - Independent results - No personalization - Anonymous search - Built into Brave browser
Privacy Policy: - Doesn’t track users - Doesn’t store searches - Anonymous by default - Privacy-focused
Pros: - Independent results (not Google) - No tracking - Integrated with Brave browser - Growing index - Privacy-focused
Cons: - Newer, smaller index - Results may be less comprehensive - Less established
DuckDuckGo
Results Source: Multiple sources (Bing, own index)
Privacy Features: - No tracking - No personalization - Bangs (!shortcuts) - No search history - Privacy-focused
Privacy Policy: - Doesn’t track users - Doesn’t store personal information - Anonymous search - Privacy by design
Pros: - Most popular private search - Good privacy protection - Useful features (Bangs) - Established and trusted - No tracking
Cons: - Results quality varies - Some results from Bing - Less comprehensive than Google
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Startpage | Brave Search | DuckDuckGo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Results Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Privacy | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| No Tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Independent Index | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partial |
| Anonymous View | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Browser Integration | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Extension |
Privacy Analysis
What Each Service Collects
Startpage: - No IP addresses stored - No search queries stored - No user profiles - Anonymous by design
Brave Search: - No user tracking - No search history - Anonymous searches - Privacy-focused
DuckDuckGo: - No tracking - No personal information - Anonymous searches - Privacy by design
Jurisdiction
Startpage: Netherlands (EU, strong privacy laws) Brave Search: United States (varies by concern) DuckDuckGo: United States (privacy-focused company)
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Startpage If:
- You want Google-quality results
- You need Anonymous View feature
- You prefer EU jurisdiction
- You want strong privacy with good results
Choose Brave Search If:
- You use Brave browser
- You want independent results
- You prefer not using Google/Bing
- You want integrated search
Choose DuckDuckGo If:
- You want most popular private search
- You like Bangs (!shortcuts)
- You want established service
- You prefer privacy-focused company
Setting Up Private Search
Startpage
- Go to startpage.com
- Set as default search engine
- Use Anonymous View for extra privacy
- No account needed
Brave Search
- Use in Brave browser (default)
- Or visit search.brave.com
- Set as default in other browsers
- No account needed
DuckDuckGo
- Go to duckduckgo.com
- Set as default search engine
- Install browser extension (optional)
- Use Bangs for shortcuts
Best Practices
For All Search Engines:
- Set as default search engine
- Don’t create accounts (if optional)
- Use private browsing mode
- Clear search history regularly
- Use HTTPS
Additional Privacy:
- Use VPN for extra protection
- Use privacy-focused browser
- Clear cookies regularly
- Use private browsing
- Don’t log in to search engines
Alternatives
Other private search engines to consider: - SearXNG: Meta-search, self-hostable - Qwant: French privacy search - Ecosia: Privacy + tree planting - Mojeek: Independent UK search
Common Questions
Q: Are private search engines as good as Google? A: Results quality varies. Startpage uses Google results, others have independent indexes. For most searches, private engines work well.
Q: Do private search engines track me? A: Reputable ones (Startpage, Brave, DuckDuckGo) don’t track. Always check privacy policies.
Q: Can I use private search on mobile? A: Yes, all three have mobile apps and mobile websites. Set as default in browser.
Q: Which has the best results? A: Startpage (Google results) typically has best results. Brave and DuckDuckGo are good but may miss some results.
Q: Do I need to pay? A: No, all three are free to use. They make money through ads (privacy-respecting) or other means.
Conclusion
All three search engines—Startpage, Brave Search, and DuckDuckGo—offer excellent privacy protection. Startpage provides Google-quality results with privacy. Brave Search offers independent results. DuckDuckGo is the most popular private option.
For most users, DuckDuckGo offers the best balance of privacy, features, and results quality. Startpage is best if you want Google-quality results with privacy. Brave Search is excellent if you use Brave browser or want independent results.
Choose based on your priorities: results quality (Startpage), independence (Brave), or popularity/features (DuckDuckGo). All three protect your privacy better than Google.