what are some search engines I have never heard of?

There are many lesser-known search engines that you might not have heard of. Here are a few:

**DuckDuckGo** - While gaining popularity, this search engine emphasizes user privacy and avoids tracking searches.

**Startpage** - This search engine uses Google's results but protects user privacy by not storing personal information.

**Qwant** - A European search engine that focuses on not tracking users and delivering non-biased search results.

**Ecosia** - An eco-friendly search engine that uses ad revenue to plant trees around the world.

**Yandex** - A Russian search engine that offers a wide range of services including maps, news, and even a translation tool.

**Bing** - Although it’s well-known, it often gets overshadowed by Google. It offers unique features like image search and rewards.

**Searx** - An open-source metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple search engines while maintaining user privacy.

**Wolfram Alpha** - A computational knowledge engine that answers factual queries directly by computing answers from structured data.

**Dogpile** - A metasearch engine that pulls results from various search engines and aggregates them for users.

**MetaGer** - A privacy-focused metasearch engine based in Germany, which offers anonymous search capabilities.

**Infinity Search** - Focused on user privacy and ad-free searching, Infinity Search is a newer entry that aims to provide a clean user experience.

**BoardReader** - A search engine specifically designed to find forums and message boards, which can be useful for niche topics.

**Yippy** - A clustering search engine that organizes results into categories, making it easier to navigate through topics.

**Swagbucks Search** - This search engine allows you to earn rewards and gift cards for conducting searches, essentially gamifying the search experience.

Each of these search engines has its own unique features and focuses, catering to different user preferences and needs.

Update (2025-08-15):
Here are some lesser-known search engines that you may not have heard of:

**DuckDuckGo** - While it has gained popularity for its focus on privacy, some might still be unaware of its unique features, such as not tracking users.

**Qwant** - A privacy-focused search engine based in Europe that does not track users and offers a different perspective on search results.

**Startpage** - Combines Google search results with privacy protection, removing any personal identifiers from the search process.

**Gigablast** - An open-source search engine with a focus on speed and a large index of web pages.

**Ecosia** - A search engine that uses its profits to plant trees and support environmental initiatives.

**Yippy** - A meta-search engine that organizes results into categories to help users find relevant information more easily.

**Searx** - An open-source metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple search engines while preserving user privacy.

**MetaGer** - A German-based metasearch engine that emphasizes privacy and offers anonymized searches.

**Mojeek** - A search engine that provides completely independent results, with its own web crawler and index.

**Dogpile** - An older metasearch engine that aggregates results from several major search engines.

These options often prioritize user privacy, specialized searches, or unique features that distinguish them from mainstream search engines like Google and Bing.

Update (2025-08-15):
Here are some lesser-known search engines that you may not be familiar with:

**DuckDuckGo**: While gaining popularity for its privacy-focused approach, it may not be as well-known as Google. It doesn't track users or filter search results based on personal data.

**Qwant**: A French search engine that emphasizes user privacy and data protection. It does not track users and provides neutral search results.

**Startpage**: This search engine uses Google’s search results but does not track users or store personal information, providing a more private search experience.

**Yandex**: The leading search engine in Russia, offering a wide array of services similar to Google, including maps, cloud storage, and email.

**Bing**: While more recognized than others on this list, it's still often overshadowed by Google. It offers unique features like rewards for using the platform.

**Ecosia**: This environmentally-friendly search engine uses its ad revenue to plant trees, giving users the opportunity to contribute to environmental efforts with their searches.

**CC Search**: Created by Creative Commons, this search engine helps users find openly licensed and public domain content.

**Searx**: An open-source metasearch engine that aggregates results from multiple sources while respecting user privacy.

**Mojeek**: A British search engine that is built on its own crawler and index, and it prioritizes not tracking its users.

**Search Encrypt**: Focuses on privacy by using encryption and avoiding tracking, offering a straightforward search experience.

**Gigablast**: An open-source search engine that allows users to crawl the web and build their own search engine.

**Boardreader**: A search engine specifically for forums and message boards, helping users find discussions and conversations across the web.

These search engines offer unique features or focus areas that may cater to specific needs, such as privacy, environmental consciousness, or niche content searching.