Qwant
BeginnerQwant is a solid Google Search alternative. French search engine, no targeted advertising. Hosted in Europe.
Information verified on July 7, 2026
This topic is chapter 3 of the book
Replacing Google Search
Here, the big picture. In the book: the full method and the detailed walkthrough.
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.
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.