Startpage is a search engine that focuses on keeping your data protected and anonymous. While most search results from other providers are adjusted to your search profile and monetize your data through ads and other services, Startpage doesn't store any logs and uses advanced encryption techniques while still providing reliable results.
You can count on having no tracking or profiling when using Startpage, and it has a clean interface that's easy to use, as other search engines do. You won't get any targeted ads when you look through the results, since Startpage works as a middleman that sends your data to Google and then delivers it back without sharing your IP-based search history or a personal internet profile.
You should start using Startpage if you want an uncluttered experience, and you can easily define it as your start page or default search engine in your browser settings, so no installation or extensive configuration is required at all. Furthermore, you can also download browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Why should I download Startpage?
The best thing about Startpage is that using it doesn't mean you will get inferior search results from what you're used to. It uses the Google infrastructure, but without the tracking algorithms and data mining that you would usually experience when just using Google on its own.
The search results you get with Startpage will be reliable but won't include personalized links or targeted advertisements since this engine smartly removes any PII (personally identifiable information) when you send your search queries. Personally identifiable information includes things like your IP address, query history, or user-agent string.
When using Startpage, you'll notice that it brings an anonymous view that hides your device fingerprint so that you can access news, products, or various websites without having your data collected or tracked. Startpage does it by blocking scripts and isolating cookies so that the version of the page you see is more generic and not personalized to your information. This browser doesn't store any logs, and any ads you see are only adjusted to the context of your current search, not any previous queries or browsing history.
Your search queries are encrypted end-to-end with Startpage servers and go through an HTTPS connection to protect you from any snooping that could happen on public WIFIs or other shared networks. Any tracking pixels or fingerprinting methods used by most modern websites are also restricted.
With Startpage, you get a clean interface that you can customize and hide specific types of results (like videos, etc.) and choose your language or color theme. You can launch Startpage on any browser, but for additional features, there are also extensions you can download for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge. These can block any data leakage that could be passed from your browser to Google, and they also automatically redirect any searches when you type them into your browser's address bar.
There are additional services that Startpage offers, one of them being a news aggregator that focuses on privacy called Startpage News. Another one is StartMail, which provides you with an encrypted email service. To use Startpage, you don't need to set up an account or sign in, as that would be against their privacy policies and the overall focus of the service. You can also use this search engine on your mobile device's browser while keeping all the features the desktop-based service offers.
Is Startpage free?
Yes, when you start using Startpage, you get free access to all its functionalities and data protection methods. The service supports itself by showing ads based only on the search query you're currently browsing, and no personal data is sent for this purpose.
What operating systems are compatible with Startpage?
Since Startpage is a web-based service, it is, by default, compatible with any device that has an internet browser. Because of that, you can use it on Windows, macOS, and Linux computers as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.
You can also download the Startpage browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, which will make the service even more effective and bulletproof.
What are the alternatives to Startpage?
Another popular free option is DuckDuckGo, a search engine that focuses on data protection and privacy. It has its own internet crawler and combines it with results from other search engines like Yahoo or Bing, but it doesn't work with Google. With DuckDuckGo, you can set up search shortcuts (Bangs), get instant answers, and block any tracking scripts. DuckDuckGo is available as a web service and a mobile app, but you can also install it as an add-on on various browsers.
If you're just looking for a full-fledged search engine, then Microsoft Bing is a solution that offers AI-powered features on top of the most essential search functions. This search engine integrates deeply with Windows, Edge, and the Microsoft Rewards system, and you can also download its mobile app on top of using the web-based service. As with most commercial search providers, they are free to use, but they track your data and personalize results based on your device fingerprint and history of searches or visited websites. It also uses all that information to create your user profile, which is then shared between different Microsoft services.
Google is, of course, the industry leader when it comes to search engines, and many people appreciate how relevant and solid results it returns. It also supports searching with voice or images, but harvests significant amounts of data from you, including search history, location, and device information. All of this information powers targeted content and ads that are displayed as you browse through the results. Google is also integrated deeply with all the services that make up Google Workspace. You can use Google Search on virtually any system, either through its website, apps, native integration into browsers, or mobile operating systems like Android or iOS.
