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How to Switch from Google Search to Privacy-Friendly Alternatives

🔍
Google Search
Ecosia
Ecosia /
Qwant
Qwant
Easy 10 minutes Updated 21 January 2026 Privacy Registry Team

Introduction

This guide will help you switch from Google Search to privacy-friendly alternatives. We’ll cover how to change your default search engine across all major browsers and introduce two excellent European options.

Why switch?

  • Google tracks every search you make
  • Search history builds detailed personal profiles
  • Creates filter bubbles based on your data
  • Shares data with advertisers
  • Contributes to surveillance capitalism

Why privacy-friendly search?

  • No tracking or profiling
  • No filter bubbles distorting results
  • Data stays in the EU
  • Support ethical business models
  • Comparable search quality

Privacy-Friendly Search Options

Ecosia (Germany)

  • Plants trees with search ad revenue
  • Uses Bing results + own crawler
  • Carbon-negative company
  • Clear privacy policy
  • ecosia.org

Qwant (France)

  • French search engine
  • Own search index for web
  • Strong privacy protection
  • Offers Qwant Junior for kids
  • qwant.com

Other options

  • DuckDuckGo: US-based but privacy-focused
  • Startpage: Uses Google results anonymously
  • Brave Search: Independent index, privacy-first

Step 1: Change default search in Chrome

  1. Open Chrome Settings (chrome://settings)
  2. Click “Search engine” in left sidebar
  3. Click “Manage search engines and site search”
  4. Under “Site search,” click “Add”
  5. Add your preferred search engine:

For Ecosia:

  • Name: Ecosia
  • Shortcut: ecosia
  • URL: https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=%s

For Qwant:

  • Name: Qwant
  • Shortcut: qwant
  • URL: https://www.qwant.com/?q=%s
  1. Click the three dots next to your new entry
  2. Select “Make default”

Tip: The shortcut lets you type “ecosia trees” in the address bar to search Ecosia.

Step 2: Change default search in Firefox

  1. Open Firefox Settings
  2. Click “Search” in left sidebar
  3. Under “Default Search Engine,” select from dropdown
  4. If your choice isn’t listed, add it:
    • Click “Find more search engines”
    • Or visit the search engine’s site
    • Look for “Add to Firefox” option

Firefox often includes Ecosia and DuckDuckGo by default.

Step 3: Change default search in Safari

  1. Open Safari > Settings (or Preferences)
  2. Click the “Search” tab
  3. Click the “Search engine” dropdown
  4. Select from available options
  5. Safari options are limited to: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia

Info: Safari doesn’t allow adding custom search engines directly, but Ecosia and DuckDuckGo are included.

Step 4: Change default search in Edge

  1. Open Edge Settings
  2. Click “Privacy, search, and services”
  3. Scroll down to “Services”
  4. Click “Address bar and search”
  5. Click “Manage search engines”
  6. Add your preferred search engine:

For Ecosia:

  • Name: Ecosia
  • URL: https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=%s
  1. Click the three dots and “Make default”

Step 5: Change search on mobile devices

iOS (Safari)

  1. Open Settings > Safari
  2. Tap “Search Engine”
  3. Select Ecosia, DuckDuckGo, or other option

Android (Chrome)

  1. Open Chrome > Settings
  2. Tap “Search engine”
  3. Select your preferred option
  4. Or add custom: Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines

Firefox Mobile

  1. Open Firefox settings
  2. Tap “Search”
  3. Tap “Default search engine”
  4. Select from list

Step 6: Install browser extensions (optional)

For easier switching and extra features:

Ecosia browser extension

  1. Visit ecosia.org
  2. Click to add the extension
  3. Extension sets Ecosia as default
  4. Shows tree counter

Privacy browser extensions

  • uBlock Origin: Block trackers
  • Privacy Badger: Learn and block trackers
  • HTTPS Everywhere: Force secure connections

Tips & Gotchas

Warning: Search results will differ from Google. This is normal - you’re seeing unfiltered results, not your personal bubble.

  • Adjustment period: Give yourself 2-3 weeks to adjust to different results
  • !bang commands: DuckDuckGo and others support !g for Google if needed
  • Image search: Some alternatives have weaker image search
  • Local results: Local business results may be less comprehensive
  • Use multiple: Set shortcuts for multiple engines
  • Try different ones: Ecosia and Qwant suit different needs

What’s Next?

After completing this guide:

  1. Give it time: Use your new search engine exclusively for 2 weeks
  2. Learn shortcuts: Use !bangs or keyword shortcuts
  3. Explore features: Each engine has unique features
  4. Tell friends: Privacy-friendly search works better with more users
  5. Support the service: Consider premium tiers if available