Google Search is not what it was.With the AI overviews, random panels, ads, SEO sludge, and more making the actual search results harder to find than ever, I was ready for a change.Looking for something modern, but more like a classic search engine, I gave Startpage a try.
Here's how it went.Why I switched to Startpage I'm certainly not alone in thinking that Google Search has deteriorated.It isn't just the addition of often useless AI summaries, but all the other cruft you have to scroll past just to get to the search results.
And even then, it frequently doesn't nail what you were searching for.There are some tips you can use to get better search results, but nobody should have to do that much work to carry out the most fundamental task on the web.Throw in the nagging concerns about the sheer volume of information Google has on me, and the alternatives start to look more appealing.
I've used DuckDuckGo on and off, but I'm not totally happy with that either.Its results come from Bing, and I often find I have to use the !g "bang" to redo the search in Google, which kind of defeats the object.And I've noticed DDG is starting to become more "interpretive," trying to guess what I meant rather than simply searching what I typed.
With the added AI, too, it doesn't feel like the stripped-back alternative it once was.So I chose Startpage, a privacy-focused search engine that gets its results from Google, Bing, and a range of other sources, but doesn't have any of the tracking.With little of the added junk that I neither want nor need, it seemed like it could be the ideal middle ground, bringing the best bits of Google wrapped in a more classic search experience.
I loaded it up on my laptop and phone to find out.How Startpage compares to Google The big difference is in the interface.While a Google search will frequently deliver an AI overview, info boxes, images, videos, forum and social media discussions, the "People Also Ask" section, and more, Startpage is mostly a few sponsored links followed by the search results.
You do get some "instant answers" for things like weather, unit converters, and zero-click answers to simple questions, but they seem more relevant rather than an attempt to give you everything you need without leaving the search page.It's much cleaner in layout, although sometimes the ads still push the results below the fold so that you have to scroll to see them.Startpage also has a neat feature called "Anonymous View" that lets you open pages through a proxy.
It's not only more private but masks your location as if you were using a VPN.Any time I wanted to view a site without being logged in, I would use it.Startpage pulls results from Google and other sources, but the experience feels closest to using Google in Incognito mode because there’s no tracking or personalization.
You don't log into an account to use it, and it feels as though you're starting from scratch with each search.I like that.On top of not adding to an ever-expanding profile, it's less likely to create an echo chamber.
It feels more neutral, although if you do search on niche topics, you might prefer the personalization.Local search is poor by default, though.You have to go into the settings to enable Startpage to use your location, either by letting your browser detect where you are or manually entering your city.
News comes from Bing.This also isn't personalized, and it only works when you search for things.There's no curated page of general news akin to Google Discover.
I don't use Images and Shopping that much, and didn't notice significant differences between them.Selecting Maps on Startpage offers you three options, including Google.It's a slight downgrade, though, because you don't get times or directions integrated into the search results.
Did it actually change my habits? My week with Startpage was mostly positive.It takes a while to get used to a new interface, and though I was pleased to not have to navigate the stuff that Google prioritizes over actual search results, there were occasions when I missed it.Searching movie screening times, for instance, is infinitely better in Google than Startpage.
In general use, the search results were barely distinguishable between the two.When I tried to compare them objectively, they were virtually the same every time.It just came without the tracking.
Switching between my phone and MacBook, it felt less like I was being followed around the web.Subscribe to the newsletter for smarter search and privacy Looking for more reporting on search engines and privacy-minded tools? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused coverage of search alternatives, hands-on comparisons like Startpage versus Google, and clear explanations of what each option offers.Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe anytime.There was one unexpected oddity with my MacBook.I use two browsers, Brave and Safari.
I was able to set Startpage as the default in Brave, but it isn't one of the supported options in Safari.I had to set it as my home page instead.So am I sticking with Startpage? It didn't take me long to get used to the classic barebones search experience, where I search for and find results myself, instead of limiting myself to whatever Google wants to show me.
It keeps the core of Google’s web search, but drops most of the personalization, clutter, and ecosystem layers.And that was mostly what I was after.I can't say I'll continue using Startpage forever, but for the time being, I am.
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