Ecosia

Berlin-based search engine that puts its profits into tree planting and climate projects.

Verified facts: 3 of 3
Alternatives ranked: 5
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Ecosia

Ecosia is a search engine that uses its ad revenue to fund climate action, mainly tree planting with local partners. It works like a normal search engine: results come from large search partners, and Ecosia earns money when people click the ads beside them, which are delivered through Google and Microsoft's ad networks. The company is steward-owned and publishes regular financial reports showing where the money goes. It is also working with Qwant on a shared European search index to reduce reliance on US providers. Ecosia is free and runs in any browser, with its own browser and apps for iOS and Android. It suits people who want everyday search to do some good with little change in habit. Privacy is better than Google's by default but it is not designed as a privacy tool, and results have the same strengths and gaps as its partners.

Best for: People who want their everyday searches to fund climate projects.

What works

Profits go to tree planting and climate projects
Publishes financial reports on revenue and spending
Familiar results with no change in search habits

Why people leave

Depends on Google and Bing for results and ads
Not as privacy-focused as dedicated private engines
Impact depends on people clicking ads

Top Ecosia alternatives

See all 5

1
Qwant
Ecosia's European index partner, with a stronger privacy stance.
66.5
2
DuckDuckGo
Similar everyday results with a clearer no-tracking promise.
62.6
3
Google Search
Richer local, maps and shopping results if those matter more.
59.6
4
Mojeek
Independent UK index hosted in a green data centre, with no tracking.
57.2
5
Microsoft Bing
The same family of results with Microsoft Rewards points for searching.
55.3

Why people left Ecosia

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 Ecosia, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of Ecosia

Your rating of Ecosia

Name

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

Title

Your review

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

Did you switch from another app?

Why did you leave it?

How can we verify you use it? (optional)

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

I received money, credit or a gift for writing this review. (Incentivized reviews are shown but don't count toward rankings.)

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

Ecosia: common questions

Is Ecosia free?

Yes, Ecosia is free to use.

Is Ecosia open source?

No, Ecosia is not open source.

What platforms does Ecosia run on?

Ecosia is available for Web, iOS, Android and Browser extension.

What are the best alternatives to Ecosia?

The highest-ranked Ecosia alternatives right now are Qwant, DuckDuckGo and Google Search. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Ecosia alternatives

Ecosia facts

3 of 3 verified

Use of profits: 100% to climate action; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.ecosia.org(opens source in a new tab); “This means we generate income through a sustainable business model and dedicate 100% of our profits into climate action, primarily by planting trees where they are needed most.”
Ad partners: Google AdSense and Microsoft Advertising; Checked Oct 25, 2026support.ecosia.org(opens source in a new tab); “Ads on Ecosia are delivered through our partnerships with Google AdSense and the Microsoft Advertising network.”
European index: Built jointly with Qwant; Checked Oct 25, 2026blog.ecosia.org(opens source in a new tab); “teaming up with Qwant to build a European search index”