Photo credit: www.theverge.com
I can’t recall the exact moment I started using Google; it has simply become a part of my everyday life. The name itself has morphed into a verb synonymous with internet searching, holding a commanding market share that dwarfs all competitors combined. Google drives an enormous portion of web traffic globally.
Nearly two years ago, however, I decided to venture away from the Google ecosystem and signed up for a search engine called Kagi. For a monthly fee of $10, Kagi promises users enhanced search results without advertisements or data collection, alongside a variety of advanced features. Having explored many alternative search engines over the years and always returning to Google due to its superior results, my experience with Kagi has been refreshingly different. This time, I have not felt any regret or dissatisfaction in opting for Kagi.
Now, every time I open Google, it feels foreign and cluttered. As the platform has shifted toward a more visually-driven and chaotic interface, Kagi maintains a clean and straightforward presentation. It offers a simple, organized page filled with relevant links—usually just what I need.
Kagi has been around for approximately three years but was established in 2018, founded by Vladomir Prelovac. He initiated the project after selling a previous startup to GoDaddy, motivated by his concerns regarding the pervasive nature of Google. He pondered the implications of having his children exposed to relentless ads and constant data tracking. After enjoying ad-free content through YouTube Premium, he questioned why a similar search experience wasn’t available. Prelovac concluded that a paid search engine could enhance the search experience, eliminating the pressure to prioritize engagement over quality. “You pay for information; you get information,” he shares.
Using Kagi evokes a nostalgic sense, reminiscent of Google’s interface from a decade ago—but in an advantageous way. Entering a query brings up a page of links without the clutter typically associated with modern search engines. Kagi features image and video searches, maps, news, and a useful podcast-specific tab. For topical searches, it provides a series of links accompanied by a scrolling carousel of relevant news. When looking for personal information about someone, Kagi often begins with a brief excerpt from their Wikipedia page, enhancing the overall search experience.
In fairness, evaluating search engines quantitatively can be challenging, which is why I hesitated to share my thoughts on Kagi until I was confident in its capability. I’ve found no drop in quality, which I attribute partly to Kagi’s unique search index. While the platform builds its own database for searches and news, it also utilizes results from Google, Bing, WolframAlpha, and Wikipedia, among other sources. This multifaceted approach allows Kagi to offer a more comprehensive and thoughtfully curated search experience compared to many non-Google alternatives that rely solely on Bing results.
Prelovac emphasizes that Kagi prioritizes quality over sheer quantity. Unlike Google, which indiscriminately crawls vast quantities of web content, Kagi endeavors to discern what constitutes reliable information. As a result, Kagi tends to be less inundated with SEO-manipulated content. Despite its somewhat basic default search settings—favoring sources like Allrecipes for cooking and ESPN for sports—this focus on quality leads to a more satisfying user experience overall.
For instance, consider the experience of searching for new headphones suitable for running. On Google, the results bombard me with a plethora of sponsored content, ads, and a hodgepodge of unrelated links. Kagi, however, offers a direct list of links to quality buying guides, providing context instead of overwhelming me with advertisements. While I still rely on Google for specific applications, such as local maps and niche queries, Kagi excels in nearly every other area.
The true strength of Kagi emerges through its robust customization tools. Users can modify their search results by managing preferences for specific domains and implementing personal filters or “Lenses,” which curate search results from selected content types or websites. This level of control establishes a highly personalized browsing experience. Users can even use custom CSS to redesign the interface according to their tastes. Prelovac emphasizes that the aim is to make Kagi adaptable to users’ preferences, justifying the monthly fee.
Privacy also plays a significant role in Kagi’s appeal. The company clearly states it does not track user search history or clicks. While certain third-party integrations may still gather some user data, Kagi’s foundational commitment to user privacy offers a better experience compared to many traditional search engines.
For searches, Kagi provides an option for “Quick Answers,” akin to Google’s AI Overviews, presenting a concise response to your query alongside related links. Users subscribed to the premium tier gain access to the Kagi Assistant, an interactive tool that facilitates deeper engagement with search results. This combination of innovative thinking and the integration of AI services positions Kagi as a potentially transformative search platform.
Transitioning to Kagi is straightforward, especially through its browser extension that can also set it as the default search engine. Users can explore Kagi’s offerings through a free trial for 100 searches. While investing in a search engine might seem a daunting prospect at $10 per month, considering the search experience’s central role in our online lives, allocating resources to Kagi feels appropriate. As major players like Google shift toward AI-centric and marketing-driven search models, many users, including myself, have begun to feel disenchanted with these changes. This shift prompts a longing for a search experience that prioritizes user agency, fostering authentic exploration of the internet.
Ultimately, Kagi represents a search engine model that grants users control over their online discoveries. For my $10 monthly fee, I gain access to a curated search experience that aligns with my preferences—making it a worthy investment.
Source
www.theverge.com