Search engines with European values: four alternatives to Google
Google is the most used search engine, yet it collects lots of information about you. Here are four European search engine alternatives.
Published on October 16, 2025
Merien co-founded E52 in 2015 and envisioned AI in journalism, leading to Laio. He writes bold columns on hydrogen and mobility—often with a sharp edge.
Google is so dominant that "to Google" has become a verb, but the American giant collects vast amounts of information about you and may share it with the U.S. government. How can you maintain more control over your data? There are European alternatives that focus on privacy, sustainability, and digital sovereignty. These initiatives aim to reduce dependence on American big tech companies and build a European digital ecosystem where trust, privacy, and local control are central—aligning with fundamental European values such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The European Alternative
The European Alternative is a series about European tech solutions that prioritize privacy, digital sovereignty, and sustainability. Instead of relying on major American platforms, we highlight the alternatives Europe itself has to offer—transparent, secure, and aligned with European values.
Google’s Dominance
Google’s dominance in the search engine market is overwhelming. Its market share in Europe currently hovers around 90%. While there has been a slight global decline from 91.6% in February 2024 to 89.2% in September 2025, the lead remains immense. Competitors like Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia collectively represent only a small fraction of the market. European players now hold just a tiny share. These figures illustrate how deeply embedded Google is in daily internet use. Google is the default search engine in browsers and operating systems, making it extremely difficult for alternatives to grow.
Collaboration for a European Alternative
Even European alternatives to Google often rely on American data, primarily from Microsoft’s Bing. This means search results can be indirectly influenced by American interests and legislation. To offer a truly independent alternative, European search engines Qwant and Ecosia are collaborating to develop a new search index called Staan. This initiative, known as the European Search Perspective (EUSP), aims to provide a cheaper, more privacy-focused alternative built on GDPR compliance and data minimization principles, ensuring user data remains within European borders.
The goal is to have about 50% of French search queries and 33% of German search queries processed through Staan by the end of 2025, while significantly reducing costs for European AI developers.
Qwant: Privacy as a priority
Qwant is a French search engine that prioritizes privacy. Hosted in Europe, it does not sell personal data or use tracking cookies to monitor user behavior. Instead, advertisements are based solely on the keywords entered. Qwant aims to be an independent and efficient search engine that respects user rights and freedoms, ensuring search results are neutral and not influenced by commercial interests or user search history. The company believes this approach is "healthier for democracy."
Ecosia: Browse the web and plant trees
Ecosia is a search engine focused on sustainability. Operating as a non-profit, it donates 100% of its profits to climate action, primarily tree-planting projects worldwide. Thanks to its own solar farms, Ecosia produces twice as much renewable energy as needed for all search queries, making it CO2-negative. Founded in 2009, Ecosia is transparent about its finances, publishing monthly reports on income and expenditures. Its mission is legally protected, ensuring the company can never be sold and no profits can be extracted.
Mojeek: Independent and privacy-friendly
Mojeek is a British search engine distinguished by its fully independent search index, now containing over 9 billion pages. Built from the ground up, its servers run in a green data center. Mojeek was the first search engine to adopt a 'no tracking' privacy policy in 2006. The company was founded to provide a truly independent alternative to major search engines, emphasizing privacy and unbiased results, free from another company’s algorithmic filtering.
GOOD Search: Search for a Better World
GOOD Search is a German non-profit search engine that uses Brave’s independent search index and is completely ad-free. Instead of relying on advertising revenue, it is funded by a subscription model called GOOD Plus. GOOD Search supports new projects monthly that contribute to the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and operates entirely CO2-neutral. The search engine guarantees no user data is collected and no trackers are used. As a certified B Corporation, GOOD Search adheres to the highest social and ecological standards.