this post was submitted on 15 Feb 2024
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Privacy
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How about actually improving the search results? It's my default search, which means most of the time I have to do a search twice.
I had switched to DDG search and, like you, was getting more and more frustrated with their results. I then switched to SwissCows (https://swisscows.com/) and have never considered another search engine since. The results I want are always top 5. Every time. I sopped testing alternatives long ago and am extremely content using SwissCows! I would recommend checking it out!
It says they use Bing behind the scenes and deliver search ads from Bing as well.
This is not true. A 2-min look shows they are a Swiss-based, private search engine that does not serve ads (on mobile only apparently) and has its own web index, but also uses Bing’s web index.
Apparently, they do serve adds on desktop but they're based on anonymous search results and I presume having UBlock installed would resolve this.
Medium has a whole write-up here: https://medium.com/secure-words/try-swisscows-privacy-search-for-mobile-what-are-you-waiting-for-e616dd828328
I just got that from the website itself, unless I’m misreading it:
I believe you are correct. However, only on desktop. The Medium article specifically states they do not use ads on mobile so I believe ads are only on desktop. I typically use on mobile and have not seen any ads, nor on my non-mobile Firefox config when using SwissCows. Again, the ads are based on anonymous search results and in terms of relevant search results, at least in my testing, SwissCows far surpassed competitors.
are you working for swisscows?
lol. Nope, it was just the best search alternative to Google and DDG that I found worked for me. Thought I’d throw in my 2 cents. Isn’t that the point of this place?!