What Is Startpage? The Short Answer
Startpage is a privacy-focused search engine run by a Dutch company. Its defining feature: it fetches results from major search engines such as Google through a proxy, after stripping identifying information like your IP address. That makes it one of the few options that combine Google-grade search quality with search privacy.
Its official privacy policy states that it does not record IP addresses, does not store search history, and does not build user profiles. This article covers how it works, how it differs from DuckDuckGo, how trustworthy it is, and how to set it up. For a comparison of the whole category, see our guide to the best privacy search engines.
How It Works: Google-Grade Results with Privacy
Normally, when you search on Google, your query reaches Google tied to your IP address and account. Startpage inserts itself as an intermediary.
- When it receives your query, it removes identifying information such as your IP address before querying its search providers
- Results come back through Startpage's servers, so the search provider never sees your IP address
- The results are licensed commercially; according to the company's public materials, it uses results from Google and Microsoft
- With "Anonymous View" you can open result pages themselves through a proxy, so the destination site does not directly receive your IP address or browser fingerprint signals
The operator, Surfboard Holding B.V., is based in The Hague, the Netherlands, and therefore operates under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Its predecessor, the metasearch engine Ixquick, launched in 1998 and merged into Startpage in 2016, making it one of the oldest services in this space. The company states it has not recorded users' IP addresses since January 2009.
Startpage vs. DuckDuckGo
Startpage and DuckDuckGo, the two mainstays of private search, share the same core stance - no stored history, no user profiles - but they have quite different personalities.
| Aspect | Startpage | DuckDuckGo |
|---|---|---|
| Result sources | Google and others (licensed) | Largely Bing plus its own crawler (DuckDuckBot) |
| Base / jurisdiction | Netherlands (EU, GDPR) | United States |
| Signature features | Anonymous View (proxy browsing of results) | !bang shortcuts, dedicated browser apps |
| Browser integration | Often needs manual setup or an extension | Included in major browsers' default choices |
| Revenue | Non-personalized keyword ads | Non-personalized keyword ads |
The rule of thumb is simple: choose Startpage if you are used to Google's results and do not want to compromise on quality; choose DuckDuckGo if you want a one-click switch inside your browser settings or features like !bangs. Either way, you achieve the main goal of keeping your history away from the search engine.
Trustworthiness, the Company, and the System1 Acquisition
One episode worth knowing when judging Startpage's trustworthiness is the 2019 change in ownership.
- In October 2019, Privacy One Group, owned by the U.S. ad-tech company System1, acquired a majority stake in Startpage
- The move drew concern in the privacy community, and some recommendation sites temporarily delisted Startpage
- Startpage explained that its founders retain the power to veto any technical change that could harm user privacy, and major recommendation sites restored their listing in 2020
Startpage also earned a third-party privacy certification (the European Privacy Seal) in 2011. Still, for any service, its privacy rests on the promises in its policy - so it pays to read the policy including its exceptions. We explain how in the policy-reading section of our comparison article.
How to Set It Up in Your Browser
You can simply use startpage.com as is, but for daily use it is more convenient to make it your default search engine. It is often missing from browsers' built-in choices, so use one of these routes.
- Chrome: Settings → Search engine → "Manage search engines and site search" → "Add", register Startpage's search URL, then set it as default. After searching once on startpage.com it may also appear automatically as a recently used engine
- Firefox: install the official Startpage extension, or open startpage.com and add it from the address bar's search engine option
- Smartphones: iOS Safari does not list it as a built-in choice, so add startpage.com to your home screen or use a privacy browser alongside. In Chrome for Android it can appear as a recently visited search engine
Mind what stays hidden after the switch: even if the search engine gets no history, your ISP still sees the domains you connect to and destination sites still see your IP address. For which tool hides what, see how to search anonymously. You can always check what IP address you present on the IP Check-san top page.
Limitations and Caveats
- Features tied to a Google account (saved routes in Maps, shopping lists, and so on) naturally do not work; using Google directly just for those cases is a realistic compromise
- Anonymous View is proxy browsing, so video playback and login-required sites may not work properly through it
- Because results travel through an intermediary server, perceived speed can be slightly slower than using Google directly
- Switching search engines does not stop cookie- or fingerprint-based tracking by browsers and sites - treat it as one layer, as with the tracking a VPN cannot stop
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Startpage really keep no search history?
Its official privacy policy states that it does not record IP addresses or store search history, and the company says it has not recorded IP addresses since January 2009. Limited exceptions, such as defenses against automated bulk access, are also spelled out in the policy, so reading the original text gives extra confidence.
Should I choose Startpage or DuckDuckGo?
Choose by result quality preference. If you are used to Google's results, Startpage fits; if you want an easy switch from your browser's built-in options, DuckDuckGo fits. Their core privacy stance - no stored history, no profiling - is the same.
Is Startpage free? How does it make money?
It is free to use. Revenue comes from ads shown with search results, but these are stated to be non-personalized ads tied only to the keyword you just searched, not to a behavioral profile.
What is Anonymous View?
A feature available from the "mask" icon next to each search result that opens the linked page through Startpage's proxy. The destination site does not directly receive your IP address, though login-required or highly dynamic sites may not work through it.
Summary: Google-Grade Results Without the History
Startpage is the leading option for people who do not want to sacrifice search quality but also do not want to hand over their search history. On top of its Dutch base, GDPR jurisdiction, and no-IP-logging stance, it adds the unique Anonymous View feature. Try it as your default engine for a week, then layer on a VPN or the other levels of anonymous search as needed.