Google Search Ecosia is a privacy-focused search engine headquartered in Berlin, Germany, founded by Christian Kroll in 2009. What sets Ecosia apart from other search engines is its unique environmental mission: the company uses 80% of its profits to fund tree-planting projects around the world, having planted over 199 million trees to date. As a certified B Corporation since 2014 and owned by the Purpose Foundation since 2018, Ecosia operates as a not-for-profit organization where no individual, including the founder, can profit from dividends or a sale of the company.
Ecosia partners with Microsoft Bing and Google to deliver search results and advertisements. When you search, your IP address and search terms are shared with these partners to provide results and prevent fraud. Ecosia anonymizes your IP address within 7 days, while Microsoft and Google retain obfuscated data for up to 90 days. The company does not create personal profiles based on your search history and does not store your searches permanently. Advertisements are not personalized by default, though you can opt into personalization if you choose.
The privacy policy is notably transparent about third-party integrations. Beyond search partners, Ecosia works with Cloudflare for security, Didomi for consent management, Braze for communications, and various analytics tools. For mobile apps, Singular tracks install attribution. Social media platforms receive anonymous metadata about app installations for marketing optimization, but never your search data. All these integrations are disclosed and most require explicit consent under GDPR.
Ecosia is fully compliant with GDPR and all German and European data protection regulations. The company’s servers are distributed globally for performance, but EU users’ traffic typically stays within Europe. Users have complete rights to access, correct, delete, and export their personal data. The Data Protection Officer can be contacted at privacy@ecosia.org.
In 2024-2025, Ecosia partnered with French search engine Qwant to launch Staan, a European search index designed to reduce dependence on American tech giants. This represents a significant step toward European digital sovereignty in search.
For users seeking an alternative to Google that combines reasonable privacy practices with environmental impact, Ecosia offers a compelling choice backed by genuine corporate transparency and commitment to sustainability.
Key Features
- Tree Planting Mission: 80% of profits fund global reforestation projects, with over 199 million trees planted
- Privacy-Conscious Search: No personal profiles created, IP anonymized within 7 days, no search history stored
- GDPR Compliant: Full compliance with European data protection laws, Berlin-based company
- Transparent Operations: Monthly financial reports show exactly how revenue is spent
- Cross-Platform: Browser extension, mobile apps (iOS/Android), and dedicated desktop browser
- Choice of Search Provider: Option to switch between Microsoft Bing and Google results
Privacy Highlights
Ecosia implements meaningful privacy protections while being transparent about its limitations. The company retains IP addresses for a maximum of 7 days before anonymization or deletion. Search terms and IP addresses are shared with Microsoft Bing or Google to deliver results, with IPs transmitted in obfuscated form and deleted by partners within 90 days.
The privacy policy thoroughly documents all third-party integrations: Cloudflare for spam protection (anonymized IPs, most deleted within days), Didomi for consent management in the EEA, Braze for website communications, and OpenAI for the chat feature. Social media platforms receive only anonymous install attribution data, never search behavior.
By default, advertisements are not personalized. Users can opt into personalization through cookie consent, which enables Microsoft Clarity behavioral analytics or Google’s personalization cookies depending on your chosen search provider. In the EU, UK, and certain US states, no additional cookies are set without explicit consent.
All data processing adheres to GDPR requirements, with Ecosia GmbH (Berlin) serving as the responsible data controller. US data transfers are protected by EU Standard Contractual Clauses and the EU-US Data Privacy Framework certifications held by partners including Microsoft, Google, and Cloudflare.
