Qwant
BeginnerQwant is a solid Google Search alternative. French search engine, no targeted advertising. Hosted in Europe.
Information verified on July 22, 2026
Description
Qwant is a French search engine that doesn't profile you. No advertising cookies, no search history kept. Hosted in France, GDPR-compliant. Results are sometimes less relevant than Google or DuckDuckGo, but quality is improving. Qwant Junior is a filtered version for children, without violent or pornographic content.
Key features
- Own index (not Google)
- Based in France
- No tracking
- Junior version for kids
- French news highlighted
- Native GDPR
Strengths
- + French company, hosted in Europe
- + No targeted advertising
- + Dedicated version for children (Qwant Junior)
Weaknesses
- − Search results sometimes less relevant
- − Smaller index than Google or DuckDuckGo
- − CNIL warning (February 2025): user data was sent to Microsoft in pseudonymized form, not truly anonymized
Recommended for
- French-speaking users wanting a European search engine
- Families with children (Qwant Junior)
Qwant vs Google Search: the comparison
| Criterion | Qwant | Google Search |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. | Free |
| Targeted ads on your data | No | Yes (Google ad profile) |
| Source code | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Migration difficulty | Easy (1/5) | — |
Comparison
Qwant is the only French search engine, with Qwant Junior for children. DuckDuckGo is more relevant. Startpage gives Google results without tracking.
This topic is chapter 3 of my book
It answers these questions, among others:
- how do you change the default engine everywhere, phone included, without missing a device?
- what about image, shopping, translation and academic searches?
- and what do you offer a loved one who refuses to change their search habits?
Forthcoming 22/10/2026 from Éditions Eyrolles
Frequently asked questions
How much does Qwant cost?
Free.
How do you switch from Google Search to Qwant?
Estimated difficulty: Easy (1/5). Set as default search engine. Results sometimes less relevant than Google. Excellent for French news.
Who is Qwant for?
You want a European, ethical search engine. A French alternative to Google, with its own index.
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Also read
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Which French alternatives to Google are worth it?
Qwant, Vibe (Mistral), /e/OS, CryptPad, Joplin, PeerTube: what France really offers to replace Google, service by service, and what is still missing.
Brave Search or Qwant: which search engine should you choose?
Independent index versus French search engine: Brave Search and Qwant compared point by point, with real room for the sovereignty argument.