Qwant is a search engine you can use as an alternative to Google. It can search the web from its website or, when your browser supports it, from the address bar. Its privacy choices deserve a closer look: Qwant’s current policy describes both a default search experience and optional account features with consent-based advertising.
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Is Qwant private?
Qwant’s privacy policy, updated August 20, 2026, says its default experience does not use targeted advertising or retain a personal search history. The same policy describes technical data processing, statistics, service partners and limited retention. That is different from saying no data is collected or shared.
For account features offered in some territories, users can consent to advertising, analytics or personalization cookies. The policy says this can include personalized ads through Microsoft. Review the cookie choices when they appear, and refuse optional purposes you do not want. Do not assume that every account or region has the same options.
Where do Qwant’s results come from?
Qwant’s explanation of its search results describes its own crawling and indexing alongside third-party services, including Microsoft Bing. It is not accurate to call every result completely independent of Bing.
Ads may appear among the results. Check labels such as “Advertisement” or “Partnership” before clicking. An advertising label tells you the link has a commercial role; it does not tell you whether that result is the best answer to your question.
How to try Qwant before switching
- Open Qwant’s website in your usual browser.
- Try a few searches you know well: a product manual, a local service and a question you recently searched on Google.
- Open the useful results and compare their relevance. For time-sensitive facts, check the source page’s date.
- Review the privacy or cookie controls you are offered. You can try the search website before deciding whether you want extra account features.
- If it suits you, make it your default search engine using the browser’s search settings.
This small trial helps you judge the results for your own needs. There is no need to move every search at once. Keep another search engine available for questions where the first set of results is weak.
How to make Qwant your default search engine
| Desktop browser | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Chrome | Open Settings > Search engine > Change. Choose Qwant if it is offered. |
| Firefox | Open Settings > Search, then check the Default Search Engine list. |
| Another browser | Look for its search-provider settings. The available list can depend on the browser and region. |
If Qwant is missing, follow the browser’s own instructions for adding a provider. Chrome’s guide explains custom site searches and the results-page URL they need. Mozilla’s guide explains Firefox‘s search controls. You do not need an unknown “search helper” extension just to try the Qwant website.
A homepage opens when you use the Home button; a default search engine handles address-bar searches. These are separate settings. Our guide to homepage, startup and search settings explains the difference. If you are also choosing a Firefox edition, see Firefox versus Firefox ESR.
What Qwant does not protect
Changing a search engine does not turn your browser into a VPN, hide everything from your internet provider or control the sites you open. Once you click a result, that website has its own privacy rules. Your browser may also keep local history.
Use Qwant as a search choice, then review your browser and account settings separately. A useful test is whether you understand the choices you made and can change them later, rather than relying on a broad promise of complete anonymity.