Qwant
Privacy-respecting search from the EU
Overview
Qwant (France, since 2013) operates under EU GDPR. It does not store search history or build ad-targeting profiles.
Qwant Junior, Qwant Maps (OpenStreetMap-based), and Qwant Music form a privacy-respecting ecosystem. Trusted by French government bodies.
Its index mixes own crawling with Microsoft Bing—not fully independent, but EU legal protection and privacy-first design make it popular for European users leaving Google.
Scores
Google Search — comparison
Stronger EU legal protection than Google; no search profiles or personalized ads. Japanese quality trails Google (Bing-backed), but privacy and legal protection are advantages.
Pros
- ✓ Strong EU (France) data protection
- ✓ Free with no account
- ✓ Family features like Qwant Junior
- ✓ OpenStreetMap-based Maps
- ✓ Solid mobile apps
Cons & caveats
- − Partially depends on Bing index
- − Japanese search quality and coverage limited
- − Lower awareness outside the EU
- − Some non-profile-linked ads appear
Best for
- Users who prioritize EU data protection
- Families needing safe search (Qwant Junior)
- People who also want OSM-based maps
Not ideal for
- Japanese-first daily searchers
- Users who need a fully independent index
- People who need top local search precision
Specs
- Pricing
- Free — Core search is free. Qwant Maps and Junior are free. Ad-funded but no profile-linked targeting.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Data location
- France (Qwant SAS), EU GDPR. Data processed in France. Queries may also go to Microsoft Bing.
- Platforms
- Web · iOS · Android · Browser extension
Migration from Google Search
- 1 Try everyday queries at qwant.com
- 2 Set Qwant as browser default search
- 3 Install the Qwant mobile app
- 4 Configure Qwant Junior on children’s devices
Setup steps
- 1 Visit https://www.qwant.com/ and test searches
- 2 Set Qwant as default search engine in browser settings
- 3 Install Qwant Browser Extension
- 4 Bookmark Qwant Maps at map.qwant.com
Related on Amazon
Books and devices that may help your migration. Verify specs and price before buying.
- Books
Permanent Record — Edward Snowden
Essential reading on surveillance and personal privacy—the “why” behind de-Googling.
View on Amazon ↗