Kagi is a better search engine than Google — but it costs $10 a month | The Verge

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Kagi vs. Google: A Paid Search Engine Alternative

This article reviews Kagi, a paid search engine, comparing it to Google. The author, a long-time Google user, switched to Kagi two years ago and hasn't looked back. Kagi offers a $10/month subscription for ad-free, data-private searching, with advanced features.

Key Advantages of Kagi

  • Superior Search Results: Kagi provides cleaner, more relevant search results than Google, often delivering the desired links directly. Its curated index focuses on quality over quantity, reducing SEO clutter.
  • Privacy: Kagi prioritizes user privacy, minimizing data collection, unlike Google's extensive tracking practices. While some third-party integrations collect data, Kagi itself doesn't store search history.
  • Customization: Kagi offers extensive customization features, allowing users to control the search engine's behavior. 'Lenses' enable filtering results by source type or preferred domains, offering a personalized search experience.

Kagi's Shortcomings

  • Cost: The $10/month subscription is a significant barrier for many users.
  • Maps and Esoteric Searches: Google still excels in maps and highly specific, obscure searches due to its massive index size.

Overall Assessment

The author concludes that despite the cost, Kagi's superior search quality, strong privacy features, and high degree of customization make it a worthwhile alternative for those who value control over their search experience and prioritize privacy. The author views Kagi as a way to reclaim agency over their online experience amidst increasing algorithm-driven control.

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