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YaCy alternatives: 4 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave YaCy: peer-to-peer web results are slow and patchy, and needs a machine running continuously. We ranked 4 alternatives by how directly each one replaces YaCy, 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
2Marginalia Search logoMarginalia SearchFreeYesWeb4 of 462.6
3Mwmbl logoMwmblFreeYesWeb3 of 359.6
4Mojeek logoMojeekFreeNoWeb4 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 YaCy

    Easier self-hosted search that queries big engines instead of crawling.

    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 YaCy 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. Mwmbl logo

    3. Mwmbl

    Best for: Open-source supporters who want to help build a community-run search index

    FreeOpen sourceWeb

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from YaCy

    Community-built open-source index without running a node.

    Pros

    • Non-profit, ad-free and open source
    • Community can curate results directly
    • Fully independent index

    Cons

    • Very small index with limited coverage
    • Not practical as an everyday search engine yet
    • Few features beyond basic web results
    Visit Mwmbl 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 Mwmbl a good YaCy alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mwmbl.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Organisation
    Non-profit
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mwmbl.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Community indexing
    Yes, users help build the index
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mwmbl.org(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Mojeek logo

    4. Mojeek

    Best for: People who want genuinely independent results and a different view of the web

    FreeWeb

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from YaCy

    A hosted independent crawler and index with far broader coverage.

    Pros

    • Own crawler and index, not a Bing or Google reseller
    • No tracking and no personalised results
    • Web Search API available for developers

    Cons

    • Smaller index means thinner results on niche topics
    • Few rich features such as maps or shopping
    • Weak on very recent news
    Visit Mojeek 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 Mojeek a good YaCy alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Index size
    Over 9 billion pages
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mojeek.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Tracking
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mojeek.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Hosting
    UK green data centre
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mojeek.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API price
    From £2 per 1,000 requests
    Checked Oct 25, 2026mojeek.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best YaCy alternative for…

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

SearXNG logo

Best YaCy alternative for most people

SearXNG

Easier self-hosted search that queries big engines instead of crawling.

Marginalia Search logo

Best YaCy alternative for a free option

Marginalia Search

Hosted independent index if you don't want to run your own.

Mwmbl logo

Best YaCy alternative for open source

Mwmbl

Community-built open-source index without running a node.

SearXNG logo

Best YaCy alternative for self-hosting

SearXNG

Easier self-hosted search that queries big engines instead of crawling.

Mojeek logo

Best YaCy alternative for working in the browser

Mojeek

A hosted independent crawler and index with far broader coverage.

YaCy alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to YaCy?

SearXNG ranks first right now. Easier self-hosted search that queries big engines instead of crawling. Marginalia Search and Mwmbl follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to YaCy?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to YaCy?

Yes: SearXNG, Marginalia Search and Mwmbl. SearXNG can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from YaCy?

The complaints we hear most: peer-to-peer web results are slow and patchy; needs a machine running continuously; interface feels dated.

How is this list ranked?

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