Overview

Qwant is a French search engine that builds its own index while respecting user privacy. Launched in 2013 and based in Paris, it operates under strict French and EU privacy laws.

Qwant is particularly popular in Europe and has partnerships with several EU governments for privacy-respecting search.

Key Features

European Privacy

Based in France and operating under GDPR, Qwant offers some of the strongest legal privacy protections available for a search engine.

Independent Index

Like Brave Search, Qwant builds its own web index rather than relying on Google or Bing, though it does supplement with Bing results for comprehensive coverage.

Qwant Junior

A unique feature for families—a filtered search engine designed specifically for children that removes inappropriate content.

Privacy & Security

Qwant doesn’t use tracking cookies, doesn’t store search history, and doesn’t build user profiles. They’ve been audited by AFNOR and comply with CNIL (French data protection authority) requirements.

Getting Started

Visit qwant.com
Set it as your default search engine
Try Qwant Maps for privacy-friendly navigation
Set up Qwant Junior for children’s devices
Install the mobile apps for on-the-go privacy

Who Is It Best For?

Qwant is ideal for European users who want a local alternative to American tech giants. Perfect for families with the Junior search feature and those who value EU privacy standards.

Final Verdict

Qwant is a solid choice for privacy-conscious Europeans. While its index isn’t as comprehensive as Google’s, the combination of EU privacy laws and independent infrastructure makes it trustworthy.

Pros & Cons

Pros

EU-based with GDPR protection
Builds own search index
Qwant Junior for kids
No tracking or profiling
Clean, modern interface

Cons

Results less comprehensive than Google
Primarily focused on European content
Smaller index than major engines

Qwant