European privacy-first search with GDPR compliance and no tracking.
What is Qwant?
Qwant is a privacy-focused search engine headquartered in Paris, France. Founded in 2013, it's one of the few European search engines that aims to compete with Google while respecting user privacy.
Quick Facts
Founded: 2013 (France)
Index: Own index + Bing
AI Features: Optional only
Tracking: None
Special: Kid-safe version (Qwant Junior)
Unlike Google, Qwant doesn't create user profiles, track your searches, or personalize results based on your history. Every search is neutral and private.
Key Features
No Tracking
No cookies, no user profiles, no search history stored.
GDPR Compliant
Based in France, fully compliant with EU privacy laws.
Qwant Junior
Safe search for children with filtered content.
Qwant Maps
Privacy-respecting maps based on OpenStreetMap.
No Filter Bubbles
Everyone sees the same results - no personalization.
Own Index
Uses its own crawler supplemented by Bing.
Search Categories
Qwant organizes results into categories:
Web - Standard search results
News - Recent news articles
Images - Image search
Videos - Video results
Shopping - Product searches (in some regions)
Privacy & GDPR
GDPR CompliantEU-Based
What Qwant Doesn't Collect
Search history linked to your identity
IP addresses (anonymized immediately)
User profiles or accounts for tracking
Browsing behavior across sites
Personal data for advertising
GDPR Advantages
Being based in France gives Qwant several privacy advantages:
GDPR enforcement - Subject to strict EU data protection
No US jurisdiction - Not subject to US data requests
Right to erasure - EU users can request data deletion
Data minimization - Required to collect only necessary data
Transparency
Qwant publishes transparency reports showing government data requests. Since they don't store personal data, they have little to hand over even if legally required.
Qwant Junior for Kids
Safe Search for Children
Qwant Junior is designed for children aged 6-12 and used in French schools. It provides:
Filtered content - Blocks violence, adult content, drugs, etc.
No tracking - Same privacy as regular Qwant
No ads - No advertising targeted at children
Educational focus - Results prioritized for learning
Simple interface - Easy for kids to use
Visit: junior.qwant.com
Qwant Junior is approved by the French Ministry of Education and is widely used in French schools as a safe alternative to Google for student research.
Search Quality
How Qwant Gets Results
Qwant uses a hybrid approach:
Own index - Qwant crawls the web independently
Bing partnership - Supplements with Microsoft Bing results
No Google - Doesn't use Google's index
Result Quality
Compared to Google, Qwant's results are:
Good for general searches - Most queries work well
Excellent for European content - Strong coverage of EU sites
Weaker for US-specific content - Some gaps in American content
Improving over time - Qwant continues to grow its index
No Filter Bubbles
Because Qwant doesn't track you, everyone sees the same results. There's no "filter bubble" where you only see content that confirms your existing views.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Strong privacy protection
GDPR compliant (EU-based)
Kid-safe version available
No AI by default
Privacy-focused maps
No filter bubbles
Transparent operations
Cons
Smaller index than Google
Better for EU content than US
Relies partly on Bing
Less comprehensive for niche queries
Interface less polished than Google
How to Use Qwant
Set as Default Search Engine
Add Qwant as your default search engine using this URL:
Qwant has mobile apps for iOS and Android that include:
Private search
Built-in browser
Tracking protection
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Qwant search engine?
Qwant is a French privacy-focused search engine that doesn't track users or create profiles. It uses its own search index combined with Bing and complies with GDPR regulations.
Is Qwant better than Google for privacy?
Yes. Unlike Google, Qwant doesn't track searches, create user profiles, or serve personalized ads. It's based in France (EU jurisdiction) and must comply with strict GDPR privacy laws.
What is Qwant Junior?
Qwant Junior is a kid-safe search engine for children aged 6-12. It filters violent and adult content while maintaining full privacy protections. It's used in French schools and has no ads targeted at children.
Does Qwant have AI features?
Qwant has an optional AI assistant that only appears when you specifically request it. By default, you get traditional search results without any AI summaries or generated content.
Is Qwant as good as Google?
Qwant's search quality is good for most queries, especially European content. It's not as comprehensive as Google for niche or US-specific searches, but for everyday use it works well while protecting your privacy.