Google Search as you know it is over - but there are alternatives

https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/19/google-search-as-you-know-it-is-over/

Google is making its Search more centred around AI, turning it into a conversation.

Besides being a worse experience, the websites from which it sources its information are losing all traffic and recognition.

Recommend a list of alternatives:

  • Kagi - Paid but better experience than Google
  • Ecosia - Similar experience while supporting a good cause
  • Qwant - Increasingly unique results and building a EU-first index
  • DuckDuckGo - Privacy-focused search, but quality of results may vary
30 points · 12 comments · view on lemmy.world

12 Comments

soulsource@discuss.tchncs.de · 5 pts · 100d

This LLM tech must be amazing, given companies have to shove it down people's throats to even get users for it.

eestileib@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 100d (3 replies)

I pay for kagi, I am happy enough with their search experience to keep paying.

Having a computer hit on me while I'm trying to find a bus schedule sounds super convenient.

recklessengagement@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 100d

Seconded for Kagi, was really hesitant about paying for search at first, but its been very refreshing

smh@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 100d

I like being able to modify the rankings of websites (Wikipedia shows up first, scammy website never shows up) and report AI slop pages.

soulsource@discuss.tchncs.de · 1 pts · 100d

The cool thing about Kagi is, that, while it also offers a ton of really good LLM features, those are all optional, and the user can configure them for their account.

If one just wants web search, one can set all LLM features to disabled by default - such that they are hidden behind buttons. If one wants to have certain LLM features enabled by default, that's possible too.

In other words, you get exactly the experience you want.

supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz · 5 pts · 101d (4 replies)

DuckDuckGo is clearly controlled opposition whether they realize it or not, kind of like Mozilla but for search engines.

XLE@piefed.social · 1 pts · 101d (2 replies)

How's that?

Last time I checked, Ecosia and DuckDuckGo both use the Microsoft Bing index, just one of them promises to plant trees if only if you click on ads

Lojcs@piefed.social · 2 pts · 101d (1 reply)

Last I heard like 6 months ago microsoft stopped selling Bing api access to other compaines, so I think Ecosia is just google now

XLE@piefed.social · -1 pts · 100d

You may be right. From their privacy policy:

This means that when you search through Ecosia, we work with either Microsoft Bing or Google to provide you with search results and ads.

They also have their own index.

jimmy90@lemmy.world · -5 pts · 100d

since using Brave i noticed its default search is rather good, including the AI part. it includes references in all its AI responses

another W for Brave i guess. shucks

nuko147@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 100d

Haven't used google search for almost a decade.

pewgar_seemsimandroid@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 95d

also, qwant is building it's search index with ecosia.

reddig33@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 101d
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