The internet is vast, and search engines play a key role in navigation. While Google largely dominates the market, other search engines exist, each with their own unique features. Here’s a comparison of the best search engines based on various criteria, not just market share!
1. Most used in the world: Google
Unsurprisingly, Google remains the most widely used search engine worldwide, with a market share exceeding 90%. It owes its success to the power of its algorithm, which delivers relevant results in milliseconds. Thanks to its integration with services like Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Shopping, it is ubiquitous in everyday life.
2. Most used in France: Google
In France, unsurprisingly, Google also dominates with over 87% of the market share. Bing, in second place, has only 5% of the market share. Qwant, a French search engine, is not even included in Statcounter due to its low usage.
3. Most used in China: Baidu
Due to Google’s blockade in China, Baidu dominates the local market. It is optimized for Mandarin and offers specific features such as advanced speech recognition and priority indexing of Chinese sites. Baidu is also widely used for music and video search, with integrations to local platforms such as iQIYI and Tencent Video. On StatCounter, however, there was a large decline from Baidu to Bing in December 2024: Baidu fell to 45% while Bing rose to 37%.
4. Most used in South Korea: Naver
In South Korea, Naver and Google are engaged in a fierce battle, but the former has finally managed to surpass Google. Naver, the South Korean search engine, offers a very different experience, integrating blogs, forums, and interactive pages directly into its results. It is also heavily used for academic research and local documentation, making it ideal for Korean users.
5. Most used in Russia: Yandex
In Russia, Yandex is the leading search engine, ahead of Google, with a 74% market share. As a reminder, it was sold for €4.8 billion in early 2024. It offers a multitude of services, ranging from mapping (Yandex Maps) to a cloud storage platform and even a voice assistant, not to mention Neuro, its AI product. Its algorithm is designed to better understand the Russian language and local cultural particularities, which makes it particularly effective for Russian-speaking users.
6. The most eco-friendly: Ecosia
If you want to browse while contributing to the environment, Ecosia is an excellent choice. This search engine donates a portion of its advertising revenue to plant trees around the world. Its impact is measurable: every search you make helps fund reforestation. It also uses servers powered by renewable energy, reducing its carbon footprint. Note: Ecosia doesn’t have its own index, but uses results from Bing, Google, Yahoo!, and Wikipedia.
7. Most respectful of personal data: Brave
Brave is the ideal alternative for those who want to preserve their privacy. Unlike Google, it doesn’t track browsing history or collect any personal data. It operates without targeted advertising and offers complete transparency on its algorithm. In addition, it now relies on its own search index, thus guaranteeing greater independence from web giants. In 2023, Brave launched Leo, its AI assistant, then Answer with AI, its AI search engine. The latest addition is Brave Rerank, which gives users the power to reshape search results according to their preferences.
8. Most Conversational: Perplexity
With the rise of artificial intelligence, Perplexity stands out as a conversational engine. It responds to natural language queries with detailed and contextual answers. It is particularly useful for those seeking in-depth explanations of complex topics, drawing on academic databases and verified sources.
9. The most commercial: Amazon
When it comes to product research, Amazon is a must-have. Its internal engine provides access to millions of items, ranked based on customer reviews, trends, and recommendation algorithms. It’s powered by the A9 algorithm, which analyzes search keywords, product relevance, and user purchasing behavior to deliver optimized results. This algorithm highlights products that are most likely to convert, based on criteria like price, sales, and customer satisfaction. Just like any search engine algorithm!
10. Best for podcasts: Listen Notes
Listen Notes is a search engine specializing in podcasts. It allows users to search for shows based on keywords, topics, or specific speakers. Its database contains millions of podcasts from around the world, providing a compelling solution for podcast enthusiasts looking to easily discover new content.
11. Most suitable for children: Qwant Junior
Qwant Junior is a secure, ad-free alternative for children. Developed by Qwant, it offers a controlled search environment, filtering inappropriate content while highlighting educational resources. Unlike other search engines, it does not collect any personal data, ensuring safer browsing for young users.
While Google remains the undisputed leader in terms of users and therefore market share, other search engines that cater to specific cultural uses, values, or needs also have their place in the landscape. Our list here is, of course, not exhaustive, and there are likely many very specific search engines depending on what you’re looking for!
