I really like the Librewolf browser and DuckDuckGo search engine and mobile browser. The Iceraven browser on mobile is also quite nice.
I compiled a list of search engines that use their own indexes for organic results: https://seirdy.one/2021/03/10/search-engines-with-own-indexes.html
I’ll probably post a big update to that article at some point that compares if/how some of the listed engines process structured data (RDFa, microdata, JSON-LD, microformats 1/2, open graph metadata, POSH).
I typically use a Searx/SearxNG instance that mixes Google, Bing, and Bing-derivatives (e.g. DDG) with other indexes: Petal, Mojeek, Gigablast, and Qwant (Qwant mixes its own results with Bing’s). Petal, Gigablast, and Mojeek have been quite helpful for discovering new content; however, I wouldn’t use Petal directly due to privacy concerns. Using it through a Searx proxy you trust more seems alright.
If I know a query will give me an instant answer I want to use, I’ll use DDG.
searx
Anyone using https://metager.org/ ?
I am, on Mobile.
Bounced around alot but I’ve found FF with ublock, then recently started self hosting searx. Searx is alright but I still prefer DDG from time to time.
LibreWolf using my custom Searx instance.
Hardened Firefox + Searx, along with Noscript, Ublock Origin, and cookie autodelete. Mobile is the same thing but with Mobile Firefox.
Librewolf is actually better, no need to manually make firefox better (or other firefox fork).
It takes like 5 minutes to harden Firefox and 30 minutes to build librewolf from source.
I use Gentoo, I already build everything lol. But yeah it’s true that it takes no time to use a custom user.js
I’ve been using Librewolf on Fedora, Bromite and Vanadium on mobile, and DDG for search but not super happy with that one and am looking for a replacement myself. Might use startpage, idk.
No one mentions startpage.com?
The last I used DDG the results were not so good… Plus, DDG ran a huge ad on YouTube seemingly dogging Google – This to me adds weight to a theory that they are in cahoots. Even before seeing that, it seemed likely to me that there is some kind of overlap. So I steer clear of it… Maybe if the results were good it would at least be some consideration… But I think that DDG now may exist for the purpose of ultimately driving people back to Google, and for certain specific testing
Aside from StartPage, Searx instances like monocles.de. If Qwant fixes their lite.qwant.com then that will be a goto again as well
Safari and Searx
DuckDuckGo and Firefox with the necessary add-ons. Simple as pie.
Brave Search with Brave and DuckDuckGo.
I don’t see Whoogle posted. If you really need/want to use Google search for whatever reason, Whoogle is a great alternative. I’m not sure why it’s not more heavily discussed on places like PrivacyGuides, PrivacyTools, etc.
I like Brave with DDG as it is relatively simple and doesn’t break loads of sites. I also use the uMatrix extension to block 3rd party JS, this means most sites work fine with their own JS but any other JS is blocked by default.
Firefox