BRAVE SEARCH

Brave Search is a privacy-focused search engine developed by Brave Software, Inc. It was launched in June 2022 and became the default search engine for the Brave web browser in several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Brave Search was developed following the acquisition of Tailcat, a privacy-focused search engine from Cliqz, a subsidiary of Hubert Burda Media based in Germany.

Brave Search uses its own web index to generate search results, which it enhances with the aid of the WDP project. Unlike some other search engines, Brave Search does not profile users, meaning it does not collect, store, or transmit information that could be used to track or learn about individual users. This ensures that searches remain private and unbiased.

The search engine offers several unique features designed to enhance the user experience, such as an AI-powered answer engine that provides concise answers based on web search results, and the ability to filter results by images, news, or videos. Additionally, Brave Search supports a feature called “Goggles,” which allows users to create alternative ranking models to reduce biases in search results.

Users can access Brave Search directly from any browser at search.brave.com or set it as their default search engine. The service is available in nearly 160 languages and supports various settings, including light and dark modes, and the option to view results in metric or imperial units.

Brave Search is a complete, independent, private search engine, a good alternative to the big tech platforms. More info.

BRAVE SEARCH FEATURES

Brave Search has the following features:

Independent Index

Brave Search operates on a fully independent index of the web, unlike other search engines that rely on third-party indexes.

Private by Default

Brave Search does not collect personal information about users, their devices, or searches, and does not track IP addresses or search queries.

Goggles

A feature that allows users to apply their own rules and filters to search queries, enabling a collaborative approach to exploring the web.

Answer with AI

A large language model that automatically responds to some search queries, aided by content from web pages in the search results.

Discussions

A feature that shows conversations related to the search query, such as comments on websites like Reddit.

Web Discovery Project (WDP)

An opt-in feature that allows users to contribute anonymous data about searches and web page visits, helping to build the Brave Search index and ensure relevant results.

Ad-Free (currently)

As of April 2023, Brave Search is an ad-free website, although it will eventually switch to a new model with ads for non-premium users.

Premium Account

Users can opt-in for a premium account, which will provide an ad-free experience and allow for data collection (if desired).

Customizable

Brave Search allows users to customize their search experience with features like Goggles and the ability to apply their own rules and filters.

Fast and Relevant Results

Brave Search aims to deliver results that are higher in relevance, timeliness, and utility compared to other search engines.

These features demonstrate Brave Search's commitment to privacy, independence, and innovation, making it a unique alternative to traditional search engines like Google.

BUILT-IN FEATURES COMPARISON

Features

Brave

Google

DuckDuckGo

Private, anonymous search ☑ ☐ ☑ AI-powered answers ☑ ☑ ☑ Transparency in results ranking ☑ ☐ ☐ Powered by independent index ☑ ☑ ☐ Community-driven ranking options ☑ ☐ ☐ Social discussions in results page ☑ ☐ ☐