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MetaGer alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave MetaGer: free ad-supported searching has ended, and results depend on the indexes it can license. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces MetaGer, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. SearXNG currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1SearXNG logoSearXNGOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted4 of 466.5
2Startpage logoStartpageFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 459.6
3Qwant logoQwantFreeNoWeb, iOS, Android +14 of 457.2
  1. SearXNG logo

    1. SearXNGTop pick

    Best for: Self-hosters who want private search pulling from many engines at once

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from MetaGer

    Free open-source metasearch you can run yourself.

    Pros

    • Combines results from many engines in one page
    • No tracking or profiling, with optional JavaScript and cookies
    • Fully self-hostable and configurable

    Cons

    • Upstream engines sometimes block or rate-limit instances
    • Public instances vary in speed and reliability
    • Running your own takes some server know-how
    Visit SearXNG Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is SearXNG a good MetaGer alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Engines supported
    Up to 261 search services
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.searxng.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Origin
    Fork of searx (2021)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.searxng.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Container, script or manual install
    Checked Oct 25, 2026docs.searxng.org(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Startpage logo

    2. Startpage

    Best for: People who want Google-quality results without Google tracking them

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from MetaGer

    Free private search with Google-sourced results.

    Pros

    • Familiar Google-sourced results without personalisation
    • Anonymous View proxy hides your IP from the sites you open
    • Does not record your IP address or search history

    Cons

    • Fewer rich features such as maps and local listings
    • Anonymous View breaks some interactive sites
    • Ads are still shown, just not personalised
    Visit Startpage Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Startpage a good MetaGer alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Founded
    2006, the Netherlands
    Checked Oct 25, 2026startpage.com(opens source in a new tab)
    IP logging
    No
    Checked Oct 25, 2026startpage.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Proxy browsing
    Anonymous View
    Checked Oct 25, 2026startpage.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data protection
    GDPR
    Checked Oct 25, 2026startpage.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Qwant logo

    3. Qwant

    Best for: Europeans who want a privacy-respecting search engine under EU jurisdiction

    FreeWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from MetaGer

    Free European private search engine.

    Pros

    • Does not keep your search history or sell personal data
    • Hosted in Europe under EU privacy law
    • Separate Qwant Junior for kids

    Cons

    • Results still lean on Bing for much of the web
    • Some AI features need a Qwant account
    • Less polished outside French-language searches
    Visit Qwant Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Qwant a good MetaGer alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Hosting
    France / Europe
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwant.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Search history
    Not retained
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwant.com(opens source in a new tab)
    AI answers
    Flash Answers
    Checked Oct 25, 2026qwant.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Browser extensions
    Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari
    Checked Oct 25, 2026about.qwant.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best MetaGer alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

SearXNG logo

Best MetaGer alternative for most people

SearXNG

Free open-source metasearch you can run yourself.

Startpage logo

Best MetaGer alternative for a free option

Startpage

Free private search with Google-sourced results.

SearXNG logo

Best MetaGer alternative for open source

SearXNG

Free open-source metasearch you can run yourself.

SearXNG logo

Best MetaGer alternative for self-hosting

SearXNG

Free open-source metasearch you can run yourself.

Kagi logo

Best MetaGer alternative for iPhone and Android

Kagi

Paid, ad-free search with more features and its own small-web index.

Qwant logo

Best MetaGer alternative for working in the browser

Qwant

Free European private search engine.

MetaGer alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to MetaGer?

SearXNG ranks first right now. Free open-source metasearch you can run yourself. Kagi and Startpage follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to MetaGer?

Yes. SearXNG (open source), Startpage (free) and Qwant (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to MetaGer?

Yes: SearXNG. SearXNG can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from MetaGer?

The complaints we hear most: free ad-supported searching has ended; results depend on the indexes it can license; small organisation with limited resources.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces MetaGer, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.