The European alternative to DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo is a real step up from Google. But it's a US company, most of its results actually come from Bing, and it now shows ads and AI summaries on top. If you switched to DDG for privacy and want to take the next step, Dazr Search is the European version: based in the EU, no ads, no AI clutter, and no Bing or Google in the data path.
Why people are switching from DuckDuckGo
If any of these apply to you, you're in the right place.
Most results actually come from Bing
DuckDuckGo doesn't have its own search index for the open web. Most results are licensed from Microsoft Bing, which means Bing still sees the query (just routed through DuckDuckGo). Dazr's search backend doesn't go through Bing or Google.
It's a US company
DuckDuckGo is based in Pennsylvania. That puts it under US laws that can compel a company to hand over user data, sometimes with secret court orders. A European search engine isn't subject to those same laws.
There are ads above results
DuckDuckGo shows sponsored results above many search pages. They call them "privacy-respecting ads" because they're not personalised, but they're still ads pushing the actual results down. Dazr Search has no ads, anywhere on the page.
AI summaries and AI chat are now on by default
DuckDuckGo added "Duck.ai" chat and AI-generated summaries that appear above results. Each summary sends the query to a third-party AI provider. Dazr doesn't ship any AI features in the search page or the browser.
The browser side is limited
DuckDuckGo's browser is mostly mobile-focused, with a desktop version that's still relatively new and missing features. Dazr is a full desktop browser with extensions, vertical tabs, custom themes, and DRM streaming support.
You want the EU jurisdiction story
For European users, an EU-based service has a different legal footing. Your data isn't subject to US courts, US warrants, or US gag orders. For European businesses dealing with GDPR, that's the safer story by default.
Dazr Search vs DuckDuckGo
Side by side, no spin.
| Feature | DuckDuckGo | Dazr Search |
|---|---|---|
| Country / jurisdiction | USA (Pennsylvania) | EU |
| Result source | Mostly Microsoft Bing | Independent indexes (no Bing, no Google) |
| Ads above results | Yes | None |
| AI summary on results | Yes (Duck.ai) | No AI shipped |
| AI chat assistant | Yes (Duck.ai) | No AI shipped |
| Logs your IP | No (per their policy) | No |
| Logs your queries | No (per their policy) | No |
| Image and video search | Yes | Yes |
| !bang shortcuts | Yes (thousands) | Browser keyword shortcuts |
| Knowledge / instant answers | Yes | Yes (Wikipedia, OMDB) |
| Bundled browser | Yes (mobile-focused) | Full desktop browser |
| Free | Yes | Yes |
What changes when you switch
No Bing, no Google in the path
The biggest difference is structural. DuckDuckGo licenses results from Bing, which means your query passes through Microsoft's index even though DuckDuckGo doesn't store it. Dazr's backend pulls from independent sources (community-maintained indexes, Wikipedia, focused topic sites), all of it European-hosted.
- No Bing license, no Google API
- EU servers from query to result
- No US-based intermediary in the data path
Just results, no clutter
Search Dazr and you get a search box and a list of results. No "sponsored" panel above. No AI summary box pushing real results down. No "trending" carousel. Just a list of links, like search used to be.
- No ads, ever
- No AI summary on top
- No promoted carousels
- Knowledge cards (when relevant) for movies, books, public figures, places
European jurisdiction, plain and simple
DuckDuckGo is based in Pennsylvania. US laws can require American companies to provide user data to government agencies, sometimes with non-public court orders. Dazr is European. We answer to European data protection authorities, not US ones.
- Incorporated in the EU, subject to European privacy law
- No US legal exposure
- Can lawfully refuse non-EU government requests
What DuckDuckGo still does that Dazr doesn't (yet)
- !bang shortcuts. DuckDuckGo's !bang prefix (like
!wto jump straight to Wikipedia) is genuinely useful. Dazr Search doesn't have an exact equivalent yet, most people end up using browser keyword shortcuts instead. - Mobile apps. DuckDuckGo has polished iOS and Android apps. Dazr's mobile is on the roadmap.
Frequently asked questions
Why leave DuckDuckGo? Isn't it already private?
DuckDuckGo is a real privacy improvement over Google. People who switch from it to Dazr usually do so for two reasons. First, DuckDuckGo is US-based, so it falls under US laws that can require companies to hand over user data. Second, most DuckDuckGo results actually come from Bing under the hood. Dazr is European, and our search backend doesn't go through Bing or Google.
Are there ads on Dazr Search?
No. DuckDuckGo shows sponsored results above some search pages (they call them "privacy-respecting ads"). Dazr Search has no ads at all.
What about !bang shortcuts?
DuckDuckGo's !bang shortcuts (like !w for Wikipedia or !yt for YouTube) are great. Dazr Search doesn't have an exact equivalent yet, but we support standard browser keyword shortcuts you can set up yourself.
Where do Dazr Search results come from?
Our backend pulls from non-Big-Tech sources (independent indexes, Wikipedia, community-maintained content sites) and runs entirely in the EU. No Bing, no Google.
Does Dazr have its own AI assistant or AI summary like DuckDuckGo's?
No. DuckDuckGo added an AI chat and AI-generated answer summaries on top of search results. Dazr does not. We removed our own AI features and don't plan to add them back. The search page just shows search results.
How do I set Dazr Search as my default?
Most browsers will detect Dazr Search automatically when you visit dazr.eu/s. In Chrome, Edge, or Firefox you can also add it manually in the search engine settings. The Dazr browser uses Dazr Search by default.
One step further than DuckDuckGo
Same simple privacy promise, plus European hosting and a search backend that skips Bing and Google entirely. Try one search.
Open Dazr Search