Open Search is a search engine that does not store your searches on its servers
Open Search is a search engine built on open-source code — meaning anyone can see how it works and modify it. The key difference from Google or Bing is that Open Search does not keep records of what you search for. When you type a query, it processes the search and returns results, but it does not build a profile of your searches over time or link them to your account.
Open Search itself is the software. Several organizations run public search engines using this code, including Searx, SearXNG, and Whoogle. Each one operates independently, so privacy practices vary slightly depending which instance you use. Some are run by volunteers, others by small organizations focused on privacy.
The practical difference: Google stores your searches indefinitely (unless you manually delete them), ties them to your account, and uses them to build an advertising profile. Open Search instances typically do not store searches at all, or store them only temporarily and anonymously.
Key Takeaways
- Open Search is free software that any organization can run, so multiple public search engines use it — Searx and SearXNG are the most common.
- Open Search instances do not store your individual searches or tie them to a personal account, which is the main privacy difference from Google.
- Search results come from other sources (Google, Bing, Wikipedia) but the Open Search engine itself does not keep records of who searched for what.
- Open Search is slower than Google because it queries multiple sources at once instead of using a single indexed database.
- You can run your own Open Search instance on your computer if you want complete control, though most people use a public one.
How Open Search gets its results without storing your data
Open Search does not crawl the web and build its own index the way Google does. Instead, it sends your search query to other search engines (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia) and combines their results into one page. This is called metasearch.
Because Open Search is asking other engines to do the work, those other engines see the search — but Open Search itself does not store it. The query passes through and disappears. Some instances keep temporary logs for technical reasons (to fix bugs or monitor server health), but these are usually deleted after a few days and are not tied to you personally.
This approach has a trade-off: results are slower because Open Search has to wait for responses from multiple sources instead of looking up an answer in its own database. A Google search returns in milliseconds. An Open Search query might take one to three seconds.
The difference between running Open Search yourself and using a public instance
You have two ways to use Open Search: visit a public instance someone else runs (like searx.be or a Whoogle mirror), or install and run Open Search on your own computer.
A public instance is easier — you just visit the website and search. But you are trusting whoever runs that instance not to log your searches. Most are run by privacy advocates or small nonprofits, but you cannot verify their server logs yourself. Some public instances have been shut down by legal pressure or straightforward disappeared when the operator stopped maintaining them.
Running your own instance means you control the entire process. You read the Open Search code, install it on your computer or a private server, and search only against your own setup. No one else sees your queries. The downside is technical: you need to know how to install software, keep it updated, and troubleshoot problems. Most people do not do this.
Why Open Search results are different from Google
Open Search pulls results from multiple sources at once, so you see a mix. One result might come from Google's index, another from Bing, another from Wikipedia. This means you get a broader view but also sometimes redundant or less relevant results than Google alone would show.
Google ranks results using algorithms trained on billions of searches and clicks. Open Search just combines what other engines return, so it cannot personalize based on your history — which is the privacy benefit, but also why the results feel less tailored.
Some Open Search instances let you choose which sources to search (Google only, or Bing only, or Wikipedia only). This gives you more control but also means you are still trusting those underlying engines with your query.
When Open Search makes sense and when it does not
Open Search is useful if you want to reduce the amount of data Google collects about you without switching to a paid service. It costs nothing and requires no account. If you search for sensitive topics — health conditions, legal questions, financial problems — Open Search keeps those searches from being stored in a profile tied to your name.
Open Search is less useful if you need fast, highly relevant results. If you are researching something specific and Google's personalization helps you find what you need quickly, the privacy trade-off may not be worth the slower speed and less refined results.
Open Search also does not protect you from your internet service provider or your employer seeing what you search for. If you are on a work network or your ISP is logging traffic, they can still see your queries. For that level of protection, you need a VPN or Tor Browser in addition to Open Search.
How to start using Open Search
Visit a public Open Search instance in your browser. SearXNG (searxng.org) and Whoogle are the most stable. Type your search query the same way you would in Google. Results appear in a few seconds.
You can set an Open Search instance as your default search engine in most browsers. In Chrome or Firefox, right-click the search box on the Open Search website, select "Add as search engine," and then set it as default in your browser settings. After that, searches from your address bar use Open Search instead of Google.
If you want to try multiple instances, keep in mind that different instances may have slightly different privacy policies and result quality. SearXNG is transparent about its code and is run by volunteers. Whoogle is also open-source and focuses on removing Google's interface clutter. Both are free.
The limits of Open Search for privacy
Open Search protects you from one specific thing: a search engine company storing your searches and building a profile. It does not protect you from everything.
Your internet service provider can still see that you visited the Open Search website and what you searched for (though not necessarily the results). Your browser still stores your search history locally unless you use private browsing mode. Websites you visit from Open Search results can still track you the same way they track visitors from Google.
If you want stronger privacy, combine Open Search with other tools: use a VPN to hide your searches from your ISP, use private browsing mode to keep your browser from storing history, and use browser extensions like uBlock Origin to block tracking on websites themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Open Search the same as DuckDuckGo?
No. DuckDuckGo is a search engine company that does not store personal searches, but it uses its own index and business model. Open Search is free software that multiple organizations run. DuckDuckGo is one product; Open Search is the code that powers several different search engines.
Can I be tracked if I use Open Search?
Open Search itself does not track you, but other things can. Websites you visit from search results can track you. Your ISP can see you visited the Open Search site. Your browser stores your local history. Use private browsing mode and a VPN if you want stronger protection.
Why is Open Search slower than Google?
Open Search queries multiple search engines at once and waits for all of them to respond before showing results. Google searches its own pre-built index, which is much faster. The privacy benefit comes with a speed cost.
Do I need to pay for Open Search?
No. Public Open Search instances are free. Running your own instance is also free, but requires technical knowledge and a computer or server to run it on.
What happens if the Open Search instance I use shuts down?
You can switch to a different public instance. SearXNG and Whoogle are the most established, but new instances appear regularly. If you run your own instance, it stays available as long as you maintain it.