Brave Search

Overview

Brave Search is one of the few search engines with its own independent index—not relying on Google or Bing. Launched in 2021, it processes billions of queries while maintaining strict privacy.

Unlike DuckDuckGo or Startpage, Brave Search built its own web crawler and index, making it truly independent from Big Tech infrastructure.

Key Features

Independent Index

Brave Search crawls and indexes the web itself, not relying on Google or Microsoft. This makes it genuinely independent.

Goggles

A unique feature letting anyone create custom search filters. Want results only from small blogs? There’s a Goggle for that. Prefer academic sources? There’s one for that too.

AI Answers

Get AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, synthesizing information from multiple sources.

Privacy & Security

Brave Search doesn’t track users, store searches, or build profiles. Ads are based on search keywords, not user data. The optional premium tier removes ads entirely.

Getting Started

1. Visit search.brave.com
2. Set it as your default search engine
3. Explore Goggles to customize your search experience
4. Try the AI summarizer for complex queries
5. If using Brave browser, it’s already the default

Who Is It Best For?

Brave Search is ideal for users who want a truly independent alternative to Google. Perfect for those concerned about Big Tech consolidation and willing to accept a smaller index.

Final Verdict

Brave Search is the most promising independent search engine. While its index is smaller than Google’s, it’s growing rapidly and offers features like Goggles that Google doesn’t have.