Ask.com
Question-and-answer web search engine from IAC, formerly Ask Jeeves, closed in May 2026.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Web
Ask.com has been discontinued. Closed on 1 May 2026 after IAC discontinued its search business, according to the notice on ask.com.
Is Ask.com free?
Yes, free to use
Switch from Ask.com to
All 6
StartpageFree
Google SearchFree
Microsoft BingFree
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 2
About Ask.com
Ask.com was a web search engine that began in the 1990s as Ask Jeeves, built around typing questions in plain language and getting a list of answers and web results. It was owned by IAC for most of its life and over time leaned on outside search providers for its results, while also becoming known for toolbar and browser-homepage distribution deals. The service was free and supported by advertising. IAC decided to leave the search business, and Ask.com closed on 1 May 2026; the site now shows only a farewell notice, so there is nothing left to use. People who still had it set as a homepage or default search need to switch. The closest like-for-like replacements are the big ad-supported engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo, while DuckDuckGo, Startpage and Brave Search suit anyone who wants less tracking, and Perplexity covers the ask-a-question style with AI-written answers.
Best for: Nobody new; former users looking for a replacement default search engine.
Pros and cons
What works
- Plain-language question style was easy for casual users
- Free to use with no account needed
Why people leave
- Shut down on 1 May 2026; the site no longer offers search
- Was ad-heavy and often bundled through toolbars and homepage changes
Ask.com vs Startpage, Google Search and Microsoft Bing
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Ask.com | Startpage | Google Search | Microsoft Bing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Verified price | — | — | — | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | Free app | Free app |
| Open source | No | No | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No | No | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
Top Ask.com alternatives
See all 6- 1Startpage70.9
Google-quality results through a privacy proxy, for users who want results without profiling.
- 2Google Search68.8
The default choice for most former Ask users, with the largest index and quick answer boxes.
- 3Microsoft Bing64.8
Microsoft's engine, a close like-for-like swap with answers, images and Copilot chat built in.
- 4
Yahoo Search61.8Another long-running portal-style search that feels familiar to Ask's older audience.
- 5
DuckDuckGo59.4Free and simple like Ask was, but without tracking or personalised ads.
Why people left Ask.com
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Ask.com, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers
Write a review of Ask.com
Ask.com: common questions
What is Ask.com?
Ask.com: Question-and-answer web search engine from IAC, formerly Ask Jeeves, closed in May 2026. Best for nobody new; former users looking for a replacement default search engine. Available for Web.
Is Ask.com free?
Yes, Ask.com is free to use.
Is Ask.com open source?
No, Ask.com is not open source.
What platforms does Ask.com run on?
Ask.com is available for Web.
What are the best alternatives to Ask.com?
The highest-ranked Ask.com alternatives right now are Startpage, Google Search and Microsoft Bing. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Ask.com vs Startpage: what's the difference?
Both Ask.com and Startpage are free to use. Only Startpage runs on iOS, Android and Browser extension.