List of search engines
Updated: 11/4/2025, 4:35:18 PM Wikipedia source
Search engines, including web search engines, selection-based search engines, metasearch engines, desktop search tools, and web portals and vertical market websites have a search facility for online databases.
Tables
· By content/topic › General
Ask.com
Ask.com
Name
Ask.com
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Google
Baidu
Baidu
Name
Baidu
Language
Chinese
Backend ownership
Baidu
Brave Search
Brave Search
Name
Brave Search
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Brave
Dogpile
Dogpile
Name
Dogpile
Language
English
Backend ownership
Metasearch engine
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo
Name
DuckDuckGo
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Multiple
Ecosia
Ecosia
Name
Ecosia
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Google and Microsoft Bing
Elasticsearch
Elasticsearch
Name
Elasticsearch
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Elasticsearch
Exalead
Exalead
Name
Exalead
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Cloudview
Excite†
Excite†
Name
Excite†
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Gigablast
Gigablast
Name
Gigablast
Language
English
Backend ownership
Apache License 2.0
Google
Google
Name
Google
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Google
HotBot
HotBot
Name
HotBot
Language
English
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Kagi
Kagi
Name
Kagi
Language
English
Backend ownership
Metasearch engine and Kagi
Lycos
Lycos
Name
Lycos
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
MetaCrawler
MetaCrawler
Name
MetaCrawler
Language
English
Backend ownership
Metasearch engine
Microsoft Bing
Microsoft Bing
Name
Microsoft Bing
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Mojeek
Mojeek
Name
Mojeek
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Mojeek
Opensearch
Opensearch
Name
Opensearch
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Apache License 2.0 (Elasticsearch fork)
Petal
Petal
Name
Petal
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Huawei
Presearch
Presearch
Name
Presearch
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Metasearch engine
Qwant
Qwant
Name
Qwant
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
SearXNG
SearXNG
Name
SearXNG
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Metasearch engine
Sogou
Sogou
Name
Sogou
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Tencent
Startpage
Startpage
Name
Startpage
Language
English
Backend ownership
Google
Swisscows
Swisscows
Name
Swisscows
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
WebCrawler
WebCrawler
Name
WebCrawler
Language
English
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
YaCy
YaCy
Name
YaCy
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
GNU GPL-2.0-or-later
Yahoo! Search†
Yahoo! Search†
Name
Yahoo! Search†
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Yandex
Yandex
Name
Yandex
Language
Multilingual
Backend ownership
Yandex
Youdao†
Youdao†
Name
Youdao†
Language
Chinese
Backend ownership
NetEase
You.com
You.com
Name
You.com
Language
English
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
| Name | Language | Backend ownership |
| Ask.com | Multilingual | Google |
| Baidu | Chinese | Baidu |
| Brave Search | Multilingual | Brave |
| Dogpile | English | Metasearch engine |
| DuckDuckGo | Multilingual | Multiple |
| Ecosia | Multilingual | Google and Microsoft Bing |
| Elasticsearch | Multilingual | Elasticsearch |
| Exalead | Multilingual | Cloudview |
| Excite† | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| Gigablast | English | Apache License 2.0 |
| Google | Multilingual | Google |
| HotBot | English | Microsoft Bing |
| Kagi | English | Metasearch engine and Kagi |
| Lycos | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| MetaCrawler | English | Metasearch engine |
| Microsoft Bing | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| Mojeek | Multilingual | Mojeek |
| Opensearch | Multilingual | Apache License 2.0 (Elasticsearch fork) |
| Petal | Multilingual | Huawei |
| Presearch | Multilingual | Metasearch engine |
| Qwant | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| SearXNG | Multilingual | Metasearch engine |
| Sogou | Multilingual | Tencent |
| Startpage | English | Google |
| Swisscows | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| WebCrawler | English | Microsoft Bing |
| YaCy | Multilingual | GNU GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Yahoo! Search† | Multilingual | Microsoft Bing |
| Yandex | Multilingual | Yandex |
| Youdao† | Chinese | NetEase |
| You.com | English | Microsoft Bing |
· By content/topic › General
Open source
Open source
† Main website is a portal
Open source
| † Main website is a portal |
| Open source |
· By content/topic › Geographically localized
Accoona
Accoona
Name
Accoona
Language
Chinese, English
Country
China, United States
BIGLOBE
BIGLOBE
Name
BIGLOBE
Language
Japanese
Country
Japan
Daum
Daum
Name
Daum
Language
Korean
Country
Korea
Nate
Nate
Name
Nate
Language
Korean
Country
Korea
Egerin
Egerin
Name
Egerin
Language
Kurdish
Country
Sweden
Fireball
Fireball
Name
Fireball
Language
German, English
Country
Germany
Goo
Goo
Name
Goo
Language
Japanese
Country
Japan
Leit.is
Leit.is
Name
Leit.is
Language
Icelandic, English
Country
Iceland
Najdi.si
Najdi.si
Name
Najdi.si
Language
Slovenian
Country
Slovenia
Naver
Naver
Name
Naver
Language
Korean
Country
Korea
Parsijoo
Parsijoo
Name
Parsijoo
Language
Persian
Country
Iran
Pipilika (defunct)
Pipilika (defunct)
Name
Pipilika (defunct)
Language
Bengali, English
Country
Bangladesh
Rambler
Rambler
Name
Rambler
Language
Russian
Country
Russia
Rediff
Rediff
Name
Rediff
Country
India
SAPO
SAPO
Name
SAPO
Language
Portuguese
Country
Portugal
Search.ch
Search.ch
Name
Search.ch
Country
Switzerland
Sesam (defunct)
Sesam (defunct)
Name
Sesam (defunct)
Country
Norway, Sweden
Seznam
Seznam
Name
Seznam
Language
Czech
Country
Czech Republic
Walla!
Walla!
Name
Walla!
Country
Israel
Yahoo Japan
Yahoo Japan
Name
Yahoo Japan
Language
Japanese
Country
Japan (Google backend)
Yongzin
Yongzin
Name
Yongzin
Language
Tibetan
Country
China
ZipLocal
ZipLocal
Name
ZipLocal
Language
English
Country
Canada, United States
| Name | Language | Country |
| Accoona | Chinese, English | China, United States |
| BIGLOBE | Japanese | Japan |
| Daum | Korean | Korea |
| Nate | Korean | Korea |
| Egerin | Kurdish | Sweden |
| Fireball | German, English | Germany |
| Goo | Japanese | Japan |
| Leit.is | Icelandic, English | Iceland |
| Najdi.si | Slovenian | Slovenia |
| Naver | Korean | Korea |
| Parsijoo | Persian | Iran |
| Pipilika (defunct) | Bengali, English | Bangladesh |
| Rambler | Russian | Russia |
| Rediff | India | |
| SAPO | Portuguese | Portugal |
| Search.ch | Switzerland | |
| Sesam (defunct) | Norway, Sweden | |
| Seznam | Czech | Czech Republic |
| Walla! | Israel | |
| Yahoo Japan | Japanese | Japan (Google backend) |
| Yongzin | Tibetan | China |
| ZipLocal | English | Canada, United States |
· By model › Desktop search engines
HP Autonomy
HP Autonomy
Name
HP Autonomy
Platform
Windows
Remarks
IDOL Enterprise Desktop Search, HP Autonomy Universal Search.
License
Proprietary, commercial
Beagle
Beagle
Name
Beagle
Platform
Linux
Remarks
Open-source desktop search tool for Linux based on Lucene. Unmaintained since 2009.
License
A mix of the X11/MIT License and the Apache License
Copernic Desktop Search
Copernic Desktop Search
Name
Copernic Desktop Search
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Major desktop search program. The full trial version downgrades after the trial period automatically to the free version, which is (anno 2018) limited to indexing a maximum of 10.000 files.
License
Proprietary (30 day trial)
DocFetcher
DocFetcher
Name
DocFetcher
Platform
Cross-platform
Remarks
Open-source desktop search tool for Windows and Linux, based on Apache Lucene
License
Eclipse Public License
dtSearch Desktop
dtSearch Desktop
Name
dtSearch Desktop
Platform
Windows
License
Proprietary (30 day trial)
Everything
Everything
Name
Everything
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Find files and folders by name instantly on NTFS volumes
License
Freeware
Found
Found
Name
Found
Platform
MacOS
Remarks
Searches for files stored locally, and the cloud and inbox and, is summoned with a double-tap of the ctrl key. Program now discontinued.
License
Free, Proprietary
GNOME Storage
GNOME Storage
Name
GNOME Storage
Platform
Linux
Remarks
Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux
License
GPL
Google Desktop
Google Desktop
Name
Google Desktop
Platform
Linux, Mac OS X, Windows
Remarks
Integrates with the main Google search engine page. As of September 14, 2011, Google has discontinued this product.
License
Freeware
ISYS Search Software
ISYS Search Software
Name
ISYS Search Software
Platform
Windows
Remarks
ISYS:Desktop search software.
License
Proprietary (14-day trial)
KRunner
KRunner
Name
KRunner
Platform
Linux
Locate32
Locate32
Name
Locate32
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Graphical port of Unix's locate & updatedb
License
BSD License
Lookeen
Lookeen
Name
Lookeen
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Desktop search product with Outlook plugin and limited support for other formats via IFilters, uses Lucene search engine.
License
Proprietary (14-day trial)
Nepomuk
Nepomuk
Name
Nepomuk
Platform
Linux
Remarks
Open-source semantic desktop search tool for Linux. Has been replaced by Baloo in KDE Applications from release 4.13 onward.
License
License SA 3.0 and the GNU Free Documentation License 1.2
Recoll
Recoll
Name
Recoll
Platform
Linux, Unix, Windows, macOS
Remarks
Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux
License
GPL
Spotlight
Spotlight
Name
Spotlight
Platform
macOS
Remarks
Found in Apple Mac OS X "Tiger" and later OS X releases.
License
Proprietary
Strigi
Strigi
Name
Strigi
Platform
Linux, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS X and Windows
Remarks
Cross-platform open-source desktop search engine. Unmaintained since 2011-06-02.
License
LGPL v2
Terrier Search Engine
Terrier Search Engine
Name
Terrier Search Engine
Platform
Linux, Mac OS X, Unix
Remarks
Desktop search for Windows, Mac OS X (Tiger), Unix/Linux.
License
MPL v1.1
Tracker
Tracker
Name
Tracker
Platform
Linux, Unix
Remarks
Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux
License
GPL v2
Tropes Zoom
Tropes Zoom
Name
Tropes Zoom
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Semantic Search Engine (no longer available)
License
Freeware and commercial
Unity Dash
Unity Dash
Name
Unity Dash
Platform
Linux
Remarks
Was part of the Ubuntu Desktop
License
GPL v3, LGPL v2.1
Windows Search
Windows Search
Name
Windows Search
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Part of Windows Vista and later OSs. Available as Windows Desktop Search for Windows XP and Server 2003. Does not support indexing UNC paths on x64 systems.
License
Proprietary
X1 Desktop Search
X1 Desktop Search
Name
X1 Desktop Search
Platform
Windows
Remarks
Major desktop search product along with Copernic Desktop Search
License
Proprietary (14-day trial)
Wumpus
Wumpus
Name
Wumpus
Platform
Cross platform
Remarks
Desktop search focused on information retrieval research
License
GPL
| Name | Platform | Remarks | License |
| HP Autonomy | Windows | IDOL Enterprise Desktop Search, HP Autonomy Universal Search. | Proprietary, commercial |
| Beagle | Linux | Open-source desktop search tool for Linux based on Lucene. Unmaintained since 2009. | A mix of the X11/MIT License and the Apache License |
| Copernic Desktop Search | Windows | Major desktop search program. The full trial version downgrades after the trial period automatically to the free version, which is (anno 2018) limited to indexing a maximum of 10.000 files. | Proprietary (30 day trial) |
| DocFetcher | Cross-platform | Open-source desktop search tool for Windows and Linux, based on Apache Lucene | Eclipse Public License |
| dtSearch Desktop | Windows | Proprietary (30 day trial) | |
| Everything | Windows | Find files and folders by name instantly on NTFS volumes | Freeware |
| Found | MacOS | Searches for files stored locally, and the cloud and inbox and, is summoned with a double-tap of the ctrl key. Program now discontinued. | Free, Proprietary |
| GNOME Storage | Linux | Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux | GPL |
| Google Desktop | Linux, Mac OS X, Windows | Integrates with the main Google search engine page. As of September 14, 2011, Google has discontinued this product. | Freeware |
| ISYS Search Software | Windows | ISYS:Desktop search software. | Proprietary (14-day trial) |
| KRunner | Linux | ||
| Locate32 | Windows | Graphical port of Unix's locate & updatedb | BSD License |
| Lookeen | Windows | Desktop search product with Outlook plugin and limited support for other formats via IFilters, uses Lucene search engine. | Proprietary (14-day trial) |
| Nepomuk | Linux | Open-source semantic desktop search tool for Linux. Has been replaced by Baloo in KDE Applications from release 4.13 onward. | License SA 3.0 and the GNU Free Documentation License 1.2 |
| Recoll | Linux, Unix, Windows, macOS | Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux | GPL |
| Spotlight | macOS | Found in Apple Mac OS X "Tiger" and later OS X releases. | Proprietary |
| Strigi | Linux, Unix, Solaris, Mac OS X and Windows | Cross-platform open-source desktop search engine. Unmaintained since 2011-06-02. | LGPL v2 |
| Terrier Search Engine | Linux, Mac OS X, Unix | Desktop search for Windows, Mac OS X (Tiger), Unix/Linux. | MPL v1.1 |
| Tracker | Linux, Unix | Open-source desktop search tool for Unix/Linux | GPL v2 |
| Tropes Zoom | Windows | Semantic Search Engine (no longer available) | Freeware and commercial |
| Unity Dash | Linux | Was part of the Ubuntu Desktop | GPL v3, LGPL v2.1 |
| Windows Search | Windows | Part of Windows Vista and later OSs. Available as Windows Desktop Search for Windows XP and Server 2003. Does not support indexing UNC paths on x64 systems. | Proprietary |
| X1 Desktop Search | Windows | Major desktop search product along with Copernic Desktop Search | Proprietary (14-day trial) |
| Wumpus | Cross platform | Desktop search focused on information retrieval research | GPL |
· By model › Metasearch engines
Dogpile
Dogpile
Name
Dogpile
Language
English
Excite
Excite
Name
Excite
Language
English
Info.com
Info.com
Name
Info.com
Language
English
Kayak.com
Kayak.com
Name
Kayak.com
Language
Multilingual
Mamma.com
Mamma.com
Name
Mamma.com
MetaCrawler
MetaCrawler
Name
MetaCrawler
Language
English
MetaGer
MetaGer
Name
MetaGer
Language
Multilingual
Mobissimo
Mobissimo
Name
Mobissimo
Language
Multilingual
Otalo.com
Otalo.com
Name
Otalo.com
Language
English
Publisher's clearinghouse Search and Win
Publisher's clearinghouse Search and Win
Name
Publisher's clearinghouse Search and Win
Searx
Searx
Name
Searx
Language
Multilingual
SearXNG
SearXNG
Name
SearXNG
Language
Multilingual
Skyscanner
Skyscanner
Name
Skyscanner
Language
Multilingual
Wego.com
Wego.com
Name
Wego.com
Language
Multilingual
All In One
All In One
Name
All In One
Language
English
| Name | Language |
| Dogpile | English |
| Excite | English |
| Info.com | English |
| Kayak.com | Multilingual |
| Mamma.com | |
| MetaCrawler | English |
| MetaGer | Multilingual |
| Mobissimo | Multilingual |
| Otalo.com | English |
| Publisher's clearinghouse Search and Win | |
| Searx | Multilingual |
| SearXNG | Multilingual |
| Skyscanner | Multilingual |
| Wego.com | Multilingual |
| All In One | English |
· By model › P2P search engines
Seeks (open-source)
Seeks (open-source)
Name
Seeks (open-source)
Language
English
YaCy (free and fully decentralized)
YaCy (free and fully decentralized)
Name
YaCy (free and fully decentralized)
Language
Multilingual
| Name | Language |
| Seeks (open-source) | English |
| YaCy (free and fully decentralized) | Multilingual |
· By model › Semantic browsing engines
Evi
Evi
Name
Evi
Description
Specialises in knowledge base and semantic search
Speciality
answer engine
Swoogle
Swoogle
Name
Swoogle
Description
Searching over 10,000 ontologies
Speciality
Semantic web documents
Yebol
Yebol
Name
Yebol
Description
defunct
Yummly
Yummly
Name
Yummly
Description
Semantic web search for food, cooking, and recipes
Speciality
food related
| Name | Description | Speciality |
| Evi | Specialises in knowledge base and semantic search | answer engine |
| Swoogle | Searching over 10,000 ontologies | Semantic web documents |
| Yebol | defunct | |
| Yummly | Semantic web search for food, cooking, and recipes | food related |
· Defunct or acquired search engines
iWon
iWon
Name
iWon
Backend ownership
Ask.com
Demise
Shut down after AT&T merger[citation needed]
Teoma
Teoma
Name
Teoma
Backend ownership
Ask.com
Demise
Merged to Ask.com which still uses its algorithms
A9.com
A9.com
Name
A9.com
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Demise
Redirect to Amazon homepage (parent company)
AOL
AOL
Name
AOL
Backend ownership
Google until 2015, then Microsoft Bing
Demise
Merged to Yahoo!
Alexa Internet
Alexa Internet
Name
Alexa Internet
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Demise
Bought by Amazon in 1999, shut down in 2021
Ciao!
Ciao!
Name
Ciao!
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Demise
Shut down in 2018
Ms. Dewey
Ms. Dewey
Name
Ms. Dewey
Backend ownership
Microsoft Bing
Demise
January 2009
Groovle
Groovle
Name
Groovle
Backend ownership
Google
Demise
Taken over by Google after Google sued for name similarity
MySpace Search
MySpace Search
Name
MySpace Search
Backend ownership
Google
Demise
Function taken over by Google in 2006
Mystery Seeker
Mystery Seeker
Name
Mystery Seeker
Backend ownership
Google
Demise
Novelty "search"; went offline in 2017
Netscape
Netscape
Name
Netscape
Backend ownership
Google
Demise
Now redirects to AOL
Ripple
Ripple
Name
Ripple
Backend ownership
Google
Demise
as of 2017 at the latest
Ecocho
Ecocho
Name
Ecocho
Backend ownership
Google, then Yahoo!
Forestle
Forestle
Name
Forestle
Backend ownership
Google, then Yahoo!
Demise
Redirected to Ecosia in 2011
Yippy
Yippy
Name
Yippy
Backend ownership
IBM Watson
Demise
Re-branded in 2023 as Togoda.com
Grams
Grams
Name
Grams
Backend ownership
Grams (anonymous owner)
Demise
Closed in 2017
| Name | Backend ownership | Demise |
| iWon | Ask.com | Shut down after AT&T merger[citation needed] |
| Teoma | Ask.com | Merged to Ask.com which still uses its algorithms |
| A9.com | Microsoft Bing | Redirect to Amazon homepage (parent company) |
| AOL | Google until 2015, then Microsoft Bing | Merged to Yahoo! |
| Alexa Internet | Microsoft Bing | Bought by Amazon in 1999, shut down in 2021 |
| Ciao! | Microsoft Bing | Shut down in 2018 |
| Ms. Dewey | Microsoft Bing | January 2009 |
| Groovle | Google | Taken over by Google after Google sued for name similarity |
| MySpace Search | Google | Function taken over by Google in 2006 |
| Mystery Seeker | Google | Novelty "search"; went offline in 2017 |
| Netscape | Google | Now redirects to AOL |
| Ripple | Google | as of 2017 at the latest |
| Ecocho | Google, then Yahoo! | |
| Forestle | Google, then Yahoo! | Redirected to Ecosia in 2011 |
| Yippy | IBM Watson | Re-branded in 2023 as Togoda.com |
| Grams | Grams (anonymous owner) | Closed in 2017 |
References
- "Kurdish Swede creates first Kurdish search engine"https://web.archive.org/web/20140102193541/http://www.basnews.com/en/News/Details/Kurdish-Swede-creates-first-Kurdish-search-engine/9007
- "First Kurdish Search Engine, Egerin, Is Launched"http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/egerin/sbwire-421932.htm
- Vice.comhttps://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-kurdish-entrepreneur-making-a-google-for-the-kurds/
- "Goodbye Froogle, Hello Google Product Search!"https://searchengineland.com/goodbye-froogle-hello-google-product-search-11001
- "HP Universal Search"https://web.archive.org/web/20150516141232/http://www.autonomy.com/products/universal-search
- softpediahttps://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Servers/Database-Utils/Locate32.shtml
- "Lookeen 10"https://www.lookeen.com/
- According to Recollhttps://www.lesbonscomptes.com/recoll/
- "Strigi's Release Files"https://sourceforge.net/projects/strigi/files/
- According to COPYING inside version 0.5.10 tar.bz2 package.https://sourceforge.net/projects/strigi/files/strigi/0.5.10/strigi-0.5.10.tar.bz2/download
- GitHubhttps://github.com/terrier-org/terrier-core/blob/4.2/LICENSE.txt
- According to COPYING Archived 2012-07-14 at archive.today in SVN trunk.http://svn.gnome.org/viewvc/tracker/trunk/COPYING?view=markup
- "Retrieved 15 August 2015"https://web.archive.org/web/20190806185027/http://www.semantic-knowledge.com/download.htm
- GitHubhttps://github.com/ubports/unity8/blob/xenial/COPYING
- GitHubhttps://github.com/ubports/unity8/blob/xenial/COPYING.LGPL
- "X1 Search 8"https://www.x1.com/products/x1-search/
- www.linkedin.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/posts/togoda-ai-search-engine-732691266_at-togoda-we-are-revolutionizing-the-search-activity-7302778963427274752-TyfK
- Togodahttps://togoda.com/
- "Data, Data, Everywhere Data. Now a Better Way to Understand It"http://asmarterplanet.com/blog/2015/03/better-way-tap-big-data-gusher.html
- MRW.it Newshttps://news.mrw.it/dominio-volunia-it-vendita_15916.html