The truly independent search engine with its own web crawler and index.
What is Mojeek?
Mojeek is a UK-based search engine that stands out for one key reason: it has its own independently built search index. While most "alternative" search engines actually get their results from Google or Bing, Mojeek crawls the web itself.
Quick Facts
Founded: 2004 (UK)
Index: Own (8+ billion pages)
AI Features: None
Tracking: None
Unique: Fully independent index
What Makes Mojeek Different
Search Engine
Index Source
Mojeek
Own independent index
DuckDuckGo
Bing
Startpage
Google
Ecosia
Bing
Qwant
Own + Bing
Brave Search
Own independent index
Why Independence Matters
When a search engine uses Google or Bing's index, several issues arise:
Dependency
If Google or Bing changes their algorithms or policies, dependent search engines are affected.
Same Biases
Results inherit the biases and filtering of the underlying index.
Data Sharing
Queries are sent to Google or Bing (even if anonymized).
Limited Control
No control over ranking algorithms or what gets indexed.
Mojeek's Approach
Mojeek solves these problems by:
Operating its own crawler - MojeekBot visits websites directly
Building its own index - Over 8 billion pages indexed
Developing its own ranking - Transparent ranking algorithm
No external dependencies - Fully self-contained
Privacy Features
No TrackingNo Profiling
What Mojeek Doesn't Collect
IP addresses
Search history
User profiles
Tracking cookies
Browser fingerprints
Any personal data
Privacy Policy Highlights
No tracking at all - Not even anonymized tracking
No data sales - Never sells user data
Minimal logging - Only aggregate statistics
UK-based - Subject to UK/EU privacy laws
Verification
Mojeek's privacy claims are verifiable - they don't set cookies and don't store IP addresses. You can check this yourself in your browser's developer tools.
Search Quality
The Trade-Off
Mojeek's independent index is both its strength and limitation:
Strengths
No filter bubbles
Unbiased results
Same for everyone
Transparent ranking
No SEO manipulation
Limitations
Smaller index than Google
May miss niche content
Less comprehensive for some queries
Fewer instant answers
When Mojeek Works Well
General searches - Everyday queries work fine
Discovering new content - Results differ from Google
Avoiding SEO spam - Less manipulation in results
Research - Find content Google might bury
When You Might Need Another Engine
Very specific technical queries
Recent news (smaller news index)
Local business searches
Image search (limited)
Unique Features
Emotion Filters
Filter results by emotional tone (informational, opinion, commercial). Unique to Mojeek.
Focus Search
Narrow results to specific topics like news, blogs, or specific site types.
No Personalization
Everyone sees the same results. No filter bubbles based on past behavior.
Transparent Ranking
Mojeek explains how their ranking works - unusual transparency for a search engine.
Summary Feature
Mojeek has an optional "Summarize" feature for search results, but it's:
Manual and opt-in (not automatic)
You click a button to request a summary
Not forced on every search like Google's AI Overview
Pros and Cons
Pros
Truly independent index
Zero tracking
No filter bubbles
Transparent operations
No AI forced on you
Unique emotion filters
UK-based (strong privacy laws)
Cons
Smaller index than Google
Some queries less comprehensive
Limited image search
Fewer advanced features
Less refined interface
How to Use Mojeek
Try It Out
Just visit mojeek.com and search. No signup needed.
Set as Default Search Engine
Use this URL:
https://www.mojeek.com/search?q=%s
Browser Instructions
Chrome: Settings → Search engine → Manage → Add
Firefox: Visit mojeek.com, click address bar, add search engine
Mojeek offers settings (saved without cookies) for:
Safe search level
Results per page
Date filtering
Region preferences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mojeek?
Mojeek is a UK-based search engine that operates its own web crawler and search index. Unlike most alternatives, it doesn't use Google or Bing for results - it's truly independent with no tracking.
Does Mojeek use Google or Bing?
No. Mojeek is one of the few search engines with a completely independent index. It crawls the web with its own bot (MojeekBot) and builds its own index of over 8 billion pages.
Is Mojeek private?
Yes. Mojeek has a strict no-tracking policy - no IP logging, no cookies, no user profiles, no data sales. It's one of the most privacy-focused search engines available.
How good is Mojeek search quality?
Mojeek works well for general searches. Its smaller index means it may miss some niche content that Google would find. Many users appreciate the unfiltered, unbiased results without personalization or SEO manipulation.
Does Mojeek have AI features?
Mojeek has an optional summarize feature, but it's manual - you click a button to request it. There are no automatic AI summaries or AI-generated content forced on your search results.