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Best AI search engines: chat-first, smarter search


AI search engines are a type of software that uses artificial intelligence to respond to user queries. Recent studies show that this way of finding information is gaining popularity, with the US leading the shift from googling information to chatting with AI.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise. I often refer to ChatGPT or Google AI Mode myself, knowing I will get a more complete answer. I also appreciate their citations, the ability to track AI’s multi-step reasoning, summaries, and easy follow-ups through chatting.

The team at Cybernews and I have tested multiple solutions to create the following list of the 8 best AI search engines. See the detailed analysis below.

8 best AI search engines – shortlist

What is an AI search engine?

An AI search engine is a tool that utilizes large language models (LLMs) to search the web and provide more complex answers along with sources.

Suppose a regular search engine is like a telephone book, where you look at lists of contacts from a given category to find the service you need. In that case, an AI-powered search engine is your personal research assistant who gathers relevant data and returns with a report. You can review the findings, ask questions for clarification, and follow the references.

With a regular search engine, you type in a few keywords or phrases in Google or Bing, and in response, you receive a list of links. With AI search engines, you typically input a question or a more detailed query, and the output usually includes a summary, accompanied by images, videos, and a selection of links for further reading.

Most AI search engines offer both paid and free versions, with the free versions typically imposing limitations on the number of uses or the effectiveness of the search. For example, the Perplexity Pro subscription unlocks access to advanced AI models, as well as image and video generation.

AI search engine types

There are different categories of AI search engines:

  • Answer-first engines. These tools are built specifically to provide answers to user queries, and you can typically access them through a web browser. They use LLMs to analyze and interpret user queries, gather information from the internet, and provide comprehensive answers that often include tables, images, sources, and useful links. Examples include Perplexity AI and You.com chat.
  • AI layers in traditional search engines. In this case, the AI component acts as an add-on to the classic search engine. It typically appears as a summary that occupies a portion of the screen. Some search engines, such as Google, have this feature activated automatically, while others need the user to enable it while browsing (e.g., DuckDuckGo).
  • Niche/vertical AI search. While popular AI search engines cater to a wide variety of needs, vertical AIs provide more specialized, industry-specific knowledge. They are designed with a specific user in mind, such as lawyers, scientists, or programmers. A good example is Phind, which is used for coding and highly technical subjects. In the niche category, it’s also worth mentioning privacy-first AI search engines, like Brave Search or Kagi.

It’s worth highlighting the two ways in which AIs access data. With real-time browsing, the tool accesses the most up-to-date information straight from the live internet. Conversely, the tools that apply index-only search retrieve data from a periodically updated, pre-indexed database. I organized a more detailed comparison for you in the table below:

Real-time browsingIndex-only search
Data freshnessRecent, often not yet indexed.How recent the data is depends on the time it was crawled or indexed.
Relevance/useBetter for recent contexts, when new data matters, e.g., current weather, prices, flights.Consistent for static information that does not change often, e.g., historical data, glossaries.
Data accuracyRecent data, but may be acquired from unverified or low-quality sources.Higher chance of using verified information, but it may be outdated when compared to real-time browsing.

None of the solutions I researched for this article uses purely real-time or index-only search. To provide the most comprehensive answers possible, the best AI search engines, including Perplexity AI and Microsoft Copilot, utilize a hybrid approach.

There are several advantages to using an AI search engine. First, you’ll no longer have chaos in your tabs with dozens of websites open and bits of information scattered throughout the browser. All of the data is synthesized in a single tab, and you open a new one only if you want to follow one of the links provided in the answer.

Often, you don’t even need to switch tabs. A brief follow-up chat with AI is enough to complete the answer. It’s also a more effective way to acquire information about complex issues, as you provide more input than just a few keywords and can always clarify if the search goes in the wrong direction.

AIs now provide references to the sources from which they get the information. This makes it a lot easier to verify the data. Much of my early criticism regarding AI answers focused on the lack of citations, which made it difficult and time-consuming to evaluate the accuracy of the results.

However, there are disadvantages to AI search engines that you should be aware of. Despite becoming increasingly advanced, they are still prone to hallucinations, which means the data retrieved can seem believable but in fact be misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate. You should verify the sources, especially when investigating medical, financial, or legal subjects.

Although AI models continue to learn from your input and data for free, more advanced versions often require a subscription fee. There are also other negative aspects, such as regional restrictions or ads.

Features of AI search engines

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the main characteristics of these new tools when compared to regular search engines.

Regular search enginesAI search engines
Citation quality and source controlsMostly links to indexed websites, easy to verify, high probability of accuracyMore encyclopedic or conversation-like answer; higher risk of incorrect answers (hallucinations)
Real-time web browsing vs static indexWeb crawlers/spiders periodically scan the web and update indexes; how fresh the data is depends on the latest crawlMost AI search engines now use a hybrid approach
Chat refinements and memoryThere is no chat in a regular search engine; each new search is made without previous context, with no button to retrieve your previous search historyYou can ask additional questions, expand your queries, and request clarification; your chat history is recorded and easily accessible
Multimodal inputs (image/voice)Some support image and voice input for searching purposes (e.g., to find a matching or similar image)Many support image and audio input, which can be used for more than just searching; e.g., AI can modify the image or provide a description
File/document Q&ASearch engines may have special commands for file or document search, e.g., Google’s filetype:pdf; custom, business-oriented search engines may have additional functionalitiesSome can analyze uploaded documents in various ways, e.g., count the number of words, answer specific questions, and correct errors
Personalization and profilesDifferent search options, e.g., the option to specify the time frame, location, or language; often, there are a lot of personalization options after creating an account, e.g., custom themes, search history, and languageMany customization options, sometimes even without account creation; e.g., every chat window can be profiled and set for different contexts; chat history is saved along with its context and any other conditions
Privacy controls (logging, opt-outs)They collect user data to fuel ads; usually, multiple privacy options, e.g., Chrome features SafeSearch to control mature content, limiting possible search resultsCompanies typically utilize user data to train their AI model, but some tools highlight their increased privacy options
Speed and uptimeGenerally, very high uptime with well-developed, stable infrastructure; low latency translates to overall good performance and quick answers to search queriesThe search time varies between queries and can depend on the overall load at the time; uptime can be chaotic
Integrations (extensions, mobile apps, APIs)Numerous integrations and extensions are available for the most popular search engines, expanding their functionalities; mobile apps are often built-in or available in app stores; documented search APIsIntegrations and extensions available, e.g., Perplexity Lens for new search functionalities; mobile apps and APIs for LLMs

How we tested the best AI search engines

The team at Cybernews and I have conducted tests of the top AI search engines. From the list, we picked the 8 best options and tested them in greater detail, based on the criteria below. You can find our full testing methodology on our how we test AI tools page:

  1. Accuracy and hallucination rate (25%). I verified the answers to the same queries across different AI search engines, checked the sources, and noted the instances of hallucinations.
  2. Citation quality (20%). I reviewed the cited sources in terms of their reputation, diversity, and recency.
  3. Freshness/recency (15%). I investigated whether the tool accesses the most recent information, such as the latest news about current events.
  4. Speed (10%). I took several performance parameters into account, including the time to first answer.
  5. Privacy/security (10%). I wanted to check whether search data is logged in any way and whether you need an account to fully utilize the tool.
  6. Cost/value (5%). I analyzed the pricing and benefits or limitations of different tiers, comparing them to the free versions where available.
  7. Depth and follow-up handling (5%). In this context, I wanted to see how well the tool handled follow-up inquiries and whether the answers provided real value to the user.
  8. Ads and transparency (5%). I investigated whether ads or sponsored content dominated the search results and whether there was information that clearly indicated which links were sponsored.
  9. Platform coverage (5%). I checked the availability and performance of the tool in various versions, including web browsers, as an app, and as a browser extension.

As for the type of prompts I used to test the effectiveness of the browsers, here are a few examples:

  • Tech explainer:Give me a step-by-step guide on how to add an SEO optimized image to an article in a blog based on WordPress.”
  • Product comparison: “Provide a comparison between the RX 7900 XT and RTX 5070ti. Include performance comparisons in 5 popular games. Include the most up-to-date prices for five vendors in the US, including Amazon and Newegg.”
  • Code help:How to write Hello World in C++ and Python. Provide me links to relevant guides, and create a small table showcasing the two options side-by-side.”
  • Academic topic: “I need statistics on the death rate caused by obesity, with division into different countries from around the world. The data shouldn’t be older than 30 years. Provide links to relevant articles. Include links from ResearchGate.”
  • Breaking news: “I saw this image online and know it's from a news piece from today. Give me an outline of the news this image refers to and a link to the article from which the photo was taken.”

Best AI search engines in 2026: our top picks

With the help of our research team, I narrowed down the list of best AI search engines to the eight brands listed below. In the following sections, you will find descriptions, unique features, pros and cons of each, pricing plans, best use cases, and any personal impressions I had when using the tools.

1. Perplexity AI – the best all-round AI search engine with a free option

Perplexity banner
Notable features:The Discover section
Best for:General browsing, shoppers, specialized needs
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox

Perplexity AI is at the top of my list of the best AI search engines. It achieved the best results in testing and can be effectively used in both everyday tasks and more specialized cases.

What it offers

I can find everything I need from an AI search engine in Perplexity AI. It accepts different file types as input and provides various modes depending on the type of search I need. With this tool, you receive a thorough answer to your queries, with previews of some of the source links. The complete source list is easily accessible through a separate tab, and you can also follow the app’s reasoning step by step.

Not only can you ask follow-up questions on your own, but you also get the Related section with a few other prompt propositions created on the basis of your query to continue the topic. It’s enough to click either of these for the app to do a follow-up, and by doing so, you may receive more information you didn’t know you needed.

Perplexity ai dashboard in dark mode.
The dark dashboard of Perplexity AI is easy to read and features tabs that allow you to switch between the answer and sources

Unique features

What I found particularly interesting is the Discover section. It features recently published articles and allows you to ask follow-up questions within a similar window used for your search queries. This changes the way you consume information from news sources from a passive approach to an active one, where you can interact with the source.

Pricing tiers

Perplexity AI already offers a lot in its free form. Paid versions have separate plans for private, educational, and business use. They remove limitations regarding file uploads and add new functionalities, such as improved AI models, additional sources in answers, and priority support access, among others. The current prices for the paid version are as follows:

  • Personal Pro: $20.00/month, or $16.67/month when billed annually
  • Personal Max: $200.00/month
  • Education Pro: free trial, followed by $4.99/month
  • Enterprise Pro: $40.00/per seat each month, or $33.33/per seat each month when billed annually
  • Enterprise Max: $325.00/per seat each month, or $270.83/per seat each month when billed annually

Best use cases

After experimenting for several months, I am confident that Perplexity AI can become the go-to AI search engine for both general browsing and more specialized needs. With its deep search capabilities supported by credible links, professionals, scientists, and shoppers alike will find it easy to verify the accuracy of the results.

2. Microsoft Copilot (Bing) – a standalone search engine that shines through integrations

Microsoft Copilot Studio Banner
Notable features:Great voice assistant
Best for:General browsing and as an add-on to other Microsoft tools
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, various app integrations (e.g., Xbox, MS Word), Chrome, Firefox

Microsoft Copilot is a good solution for general browsing and for those who use Microsoft products on a regular basis. Its voice assistant can become an excellent companion in everyday search tasks.

What if offers

Aside from the chat window, you can use Copilot’s discovery feature to access recent news with source links. You can use its library to save the generated research reports, images, pages, and podcasts. As an official Microsoft solution, Copilot integrates well with other products of the company.

It accepts both image and voice input and can generate images quite well, as it uses DALL-E for this task. I have a Midjourney subscription, so I decided to organize a quick image generation test. The results for Microsoft Copilot were quite impressive. However, it is essential to note that the latter is a subscription-based tool designed explicitly for image creation. This fact puts the free version of Copilot in a positive light.

The dark dashboard of Microsoft Copilot
The dashboard of Microsoft Copilot. You can see previous enquiries on the left side of the screen.

Unique features

I was particularly impressed by Copilot's voice assistant. My interaction with the tool was as close to a real-life conversation with a specialist as possible. I asked the AI about the specifications for a US warplane, the A-10 Warthog, and followed up with questions about its air-to-air capabilities and the expected time of its removal from service.

Copilot responded nearly without pause, using a natural voice with lively intonation. Honestly, if this had been a phone conversation, I wouldn’t have been able to tell the difference between Copilot and a real person. The information was accurate, and I found myself thanking the AI for its help. The feature works really well.

Pricing tiers

Copilot is available in both free and paid versions. The paid versions are a part of the Microsoft 365 package, and some have a free trial. When you invest in Copilot, you receive the Microsoft 365 environment, including its Office suite and other apps, as well as enhanced Copilot features. The paid versions start at:

  • $9.99/month for the Individual plans
  • $30.00/user/month, paid yearly, for the Business plans
  • $30.00/user/month, paid yearly, for the Enterprise plans
  • Pay-as-you-go for the Copilot Studio plans

Best use cases

Copilot is good as a day-to-day assistant and an excellent addition if you use Microsoft products in your work. The integration with other apps and DALL-E makes it a very versatile tool, even if it can sometimes struggle with the most recent data.

3. You.com – a great tool supporting in-depth research

You.com banner
Notable features:30 agents that help with context-specific searches and tasks
Best for:Academic professionals, business specialists, and developers
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, iOS, Android, Chrome

You.com surprised me with its agents who help users in context-specific searches. This feature makes it an excellent choice for those who need assistance with gathering information for professional, specialized purposes.

What if offers

My first impression of You.com was similar to that of Perplexity, except that the latter uses dark mode by default. Every search query returns a summary of the AI’s workflow, followed by the answer, which is enriched by sources, images, videos, and news. These are all easily accessible through individual tabs on the right side of the screen. You can ask follow-up questions, and the tool gives you hints on what to ask.

The dashboard of You.com chat.
The dashboard of You.com chat. Note the suggestion of different agents below the chat box.

Unique features

At the time of writing, the tool features 30 agents designed to assist with specific tasks and contexts. For example, for the test that involved the question on an academic topic mentioned earlier in this article, I chose the research agent to assist me in getting a more accurate answer.

The results were impressive. I received a detailed report with precise data supported by citations with links to sources. The agent informed me that it had read a total of 60 sources to provide the report, and I was able to review every single one. The sources also included ResearchGate, which I specified in the input.

There are agents for other, non-academic tasks that make You.com a very versatile tool. Some examples include Strategic Report Generator, Company Profiler, and SEO Content Crafter.

Pricing tiers

You.com is available for free, but it also offers monthly and yearly plans for its AI chat. The fees for yearly plans are as follows:

  • Pro: $15.00/month, billed annually
  • Max: $175.00/month, billed annually
  • Enterprise: custom pricing

Best use cases

You.com is an excellent choice for academic professionals and business specialists, thanks to its AI agents who can perform a variety of tasks. It can also be of help to developers who use SQL and Python, as there are currently three agents available to assist in these areas.

Google AI Mode banner
Notable features:Clear and intuitive, with good accuracy
Best for:General browsing
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, iOS, Android, and other platforms that support Google Search

Google AI Mode expands on basic Google Search capabilities by enabling users to ask detailed questions, rather than using keywords. The dashboard focuses on simplicity. The solution is a good choice for daily browsing.

What it offers

Google AI Mode aims to provide a simplified AI chat experience. The dashboard is free of noise, with the main focus on the chat window, inviting you to ask any question. You can easily check your previous queries using the panel on the left side. The app accepts image, file, and voice input.

The output consists of text with links to sources. You receive suggestions for follow-up queries at the bottom of the page. Google AI Mode can also generate images.

Google AI mode dashboard.
The dashboard of Google AI Mode

Unique features

The strength of Google AI Mode is in its simplicity. The dashboard is clear, allowing you to focus on asking questions without thinking about different options or customizations.

Pricing tiers

Google AI Mode features a free plan and two subscription plans. The paid options give you access to improved AI models, deep research, and video generation. You also receive cloud storage and access to several other Google products. The pricing is as follows:

  • Google AI Pro: free for the first month, $19.99/month after the first month
  • Google AI Ultra: $124.99 for the first 3 months, $249.99 after the first 3 months

Best use cases

Google AI Mode is an excellent tool for your everyday browsing. However, the lack of search profiling will make it less capable of meeting academic or specialized needs compared to some of the other solutions on this list.

5. Phind - a great solution that supports developers

Phind banner
Notable features:Strong support for coding and resolving technical issues
Best for:Developers and those who need help with technical subjects
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, VS Code

With its focus on coding and technical data research, Phind is one of the best tools to support developers with their daily work. It’s also a good choice for anyone who is looking for help regarding technical matters.

What it offers

Phind is a specialized tool designed to support developers and answer technical questions. It is capable of returning entire pages of code, making it much faster to design and create applications or websites. It provides explanations for its reasoning, suggestions for further development of the coded part, and additional questions for a deeper dive.

As with all major AI search engines, you can continue the conversation by adding further queries in the same chat window. Although its strength lies in providing technical answers, the tool also works very well for everyday browsing needs, offering links to its sources.

The dashboard of Phind with colorful lines of code.
The dashboard of Phind, with an ongoing task. The colorful lines of code have additional comments and explanations.

Unique features

The most significant advantage of Phind is its strong support for coding and resolving technical issues. I’ve done a bit of programming in my life, and I appreciate the clear formatting, with a division into lines, indentations, and colors. The comments provided both inside and outside the code perform well as explanations and suggestions for further work. I wouldn’t be surprised if Phind became a coder’s favorite assistant.

Pricing tiers

Phind offers both a free plan and paid options. It’s worth noting that the paid models have the option of not using the data you input to train their AI algorithms, which is a privacy feature some may appreciate. Here are the three available plans:

  • Free Plan
  • Phind Pro: $20.00/month, or $17.00/month if billed yearly
  • Phind Business Plan: $40.00/month per user, monthly billing only

Best use cases

Phind can be a good go-to AI search engine for developers and those seeking answers on technical issues.

6. Kagi – an AI search engine that protects user privacy

Kagi banner
Notable features:Individual website summaries, source ranking
Best for:Those who value privacy and personalization
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, Android, iOS

Kagi’s focus on privacy and personalization features, combined with an interesting ranking system for sources, makes it a good choice for users who want to browse the internet their own way.

What it offers

While other solutions may aim to incorporate additional functionalities to complement web search, the primary focus of Kagi is on the privacy of its users and strong personalization. Browsing is enhanced by the optional addition of an AI-generated summary, similar to the one provided by Google Overviews. The search returns not only a list of websites, but also separate tabs with images, videos, news, podcasts, and maps.

Kagi dashboard
Kagi’s dashboard is clear, noise-free, and is easy on your eyes with the dark theme switched on by default

Unique features

One of the most exciting options is the ability to summarize individual websites from the results page. You can pick an entry in the results and ask the app to summarize the information on the website for you. The text is generated just below the link, and you can investigate further by asking questions in a separate chat box.

You can rank the results you receive. For example, if you consider a source as credible, you can rate it and obtain more results from the website in future searches. Kagi also provides information on the number of ads included in every link that appears in your search results. It also lists basic statistics for each source, including website speed and popularity.

Overall, the number of personalization features is Kagi’s strong suit. The customization options allow you to exclude specific websites from future search results, toggle Safe Search, or switch between light and dark modes. Kagi also boasts no tracking and no ads, being fully supported by its users.

Pricing tiers

With Kagi’s free trial, you receive a limited number of searches. Different plans provide higher thresholds and advanced functionalities:

  • Individual Starter: $5.00/month, or $4.50/month if billed yearly
  • Individual Professional: $10.00/month, or $9.00/month if billed yearly
  • Individual Ultimate: $25.00/month, or $22.50/month if billed yearly
  • Duo: $14.00/month, or $12.60/month if billed yearly
  • Family: $20.00/month, or $18.00/month if billed yearly
  • Team Professional: $10.00/user/month
  • Team Ultimate: $25.00/user/month

Best use cases

Kagi is a good solution for all those who highly value privacy and personalization features. It offers a more comfortable user experience for everyday browsing, without a particular focus on any specific area. Its enhanced privacy and collaborative features are a convincing proposition for business organizations.

7. Brave Search – a solution that doesn’t collect your search data

Brave Search banner
Notable features:Independent index, privacy-oriented
Best for:Privacy, general browsing
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, extensions, Firefox

Brave Search is known for its focus on privacy. It’s a good choice for everyday browsing if you value software that doesn’t collect your data.

What it offers

Brave Search is another AI search engine solution for users who prioritize privacy. It boasts its own independent index, providing more accurate results than more popular search engines, which are heavily influenced by SEO. It also doesn’t collect user data or profile user searches.

Brave combines a classic search results page with an AI-generated summary that can be further investigated by asking additional questions in the chat box.

Brave Search dashboard
Brave’s minimalistic dashboard design translates to a more comfortable and focused experience

Unique features

Brave’s most significant advantage is its focus on privacy, with no tracking and reliance on its own index, which helps avoid SEO-influenced search results. Paid versions remove ads from search results.

Pricing tiers

There is just one paid plan called Brave Premium Search, which costs $3.00/month or $29.99/year.

Best use cases

Brave Search is a suitable solution for individual users who prioritize their privacy and use the internet for general browsing purposes.

8. DuckDuckGo AI Chat – an AI search engine that enables anonymous use of AI models

Duckduckgo banner
Notable features:Access AI models anonymously
Best for:Privacy, general browsing
Supported platforms:Web browser, Windows, Chrome, integrated in the browser app for iOS and Android

All of DuckDuckGo services have been heavily focused on privacy since the company’s foundation. DuckDuckGo AI Chat is no exception and is best suited for everyday browsing if you value personal data security.

What it offers

DuckDuckGo AI Chat is a privacy-first chat service that complements the search engine. It enables you to interact with various AI models without concern that your queries will be used to train algorithms. Every chat is anonymized. You can use several AI models for free, with the more advanced versions available in the paid version.

Duckduckgo AI Chat dashboard
The DuckDuckGo AI Chat dashboard offers several personalization options, including language, font, and light/dark mode preferences

Unique features

What makes DuckDuckGo AI Chat stand out is the number of AI models you can access anonymously. At the time of writing this article, using the free version, I could choose from six different options. Each came with a description of the best use case. Four other advanced models were available in the paid version. Additionally, the anonymous access to AI makes DuckDuckGo the ideal choice for those who want to use AI technology without compromising their privacy.

Pricing tiers

If you are interested in the paid version, here is the pricing for DuckDuckGo four-in-one combined services, which include AI Chat:

  • $9.99/month
  • $99.99/year

Best use cases

DuckDuckGo services are renowned for their emphasis on privacy, and their AI Chat is no exception. The tool is a good choice for anonymous everyday browsing, with some AI models offering more advanced reasoning functionalities. It may not be the best choice for shoppers or specialists looking for more task-specific solutions.

Comparing the top AI search engines

The table below presents the most critical features of each of the eight AI search engines.

PriceBrowsing typeCitation qualityPrivacy stanceAdsBest forPlatforms
Perplexity AIFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based Very goodLimited use doesn’t require an account; collects some data; uses user data to train AI; doesn’t sell data to third partiesNoGeneral browsing, researchWeb browser, Windows, iOS, macOS, Android,
Microsoft CopilotFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodLimited use doesn’t require an account; unless you provide consent, Microsoft doesn’t share your data with third parties or use it to train Copilot or its AI featuresNoGeneral browsing, users of other Microsoft solutionsWeb browser, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, various app integrations (e.g., Xbox, MS Word), Chrome, Firefox
You.comFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodLimited use doesn’t require an account; uses your data for marketing purposes, to train its AI, and may share it with third partiesYesResearchWeb browser, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome
Google AI ModeFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodDoesn’t require an account; Google uses your data to improve its services and provide personalized ads and contentYesGeneral browsingWeb browser, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and other platforms that support Google Search
PhindFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based Very goodLimited use doesn’t require an account; will use your data to train its AI, but you can opt out if you set up an accountNoDevelopers, technical researchWeb browser, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, VS Code, Chrome
KagiFree trial and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodRequires an account; stores information necessary for keeping an account; doesn’t track or sell user dataNoPrivacyWeb browser, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
Brave SearchFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodDoesn’t require an account; doesn’t profile you, collect, store, share, or sell your dataNo ads for Premium usersPrivacyWeb browser, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Firefox
DuckDuckGo AI ChatFree and paid optionsReal-time and index-based GoodDoesn’t require an account; anonymizes your prompts; doesn’t train AI using your data; doesn’t track, share, or sell dataNoPrivacyWeb browser, Windows, macOS, Chrome, integrated in the browser app for iOS and Android

Who would need to use an AI search engine?

An AI search engine can be used for many purposes and serve different people in different ways.

Researchers and journalists

Researchers and journalists can acquire information from multiple sources and receive citations quickly. For example, during my testing, You.com provided me with an excellent overview of various academic topics, such as the one on obesity mentioned at the beginning of this article. The report included references to high-quality sources, including ResearchGate and ScienceDirect.

Students

Similar to their mentors, students can acquire brief summaries of complex topics along with references for further reading. This can prove invaluable in an environment where you need to study a great deal in a short amount of time.

Developers

Having a tool that can check your code, provide advice, or assist with debugging is a significant advantage. Phind has been created with these tasks in mind and has already proven its worth to developers.

Shoppers

Shoppers can easily compare product specifications and receive information on pricing and availability. However, I advise caution when using these tools to gather information on prices, as some AI search engines may fail to retrieve the most up-to-date shopping data.

Marketers

Marketers can receive insights into trends and obtain quick, source-backed overviews. For example, Perplexity AI provided me with a price history of the RX 7900 XT graphics card. It provided a chart showing how prices changed over the years, including after the release of its successor, the RX 9070 XT.

Conclusion

AI search engines are changing the way we look for information on the internet. We are transitioning from browsing a list of potentially useful links to a chat-first, interactive experience.

In my study of the subject, Perplexity AI stood out as the most competent, accurate, and feature-rich solution, suitable for both everyday use and more focused, specialized needs. The tool provides substantial capabilities even with its free version, making it the number one on my list of the best AI search engines.

FAQ