Qwant search private
This fact-check may be outdated. Consider refreshing it to get the most current information.
Executive summary
Qwant positions itself as a privacy-first French search engine that “does not store your search data, does not sell your personal data and is hosted in Europe” and is widely listed among top private search engines [1] [2]. Independent reviewers and guides confirm Qwant’s privacy claims but note it has historically relied on Microsoft/Bing for search results and advertising — a dependency regulators have scrutinized, and independent guides say means some data can flow to big-tech partners [3] [4] [5].
1. Qwant’s public claim: privacy by design
Qwant’s own website and app repeatedly claim the service does not collect or sell personal search data and that users’ search histories “stay private and belong to you” [1] [6] [7]. Major consumer guides and aggregator lists routinely include Qwant among the leading private search engines on that basis, and many reviews praise its Europe‑based hosting and GDPR compliance as privacy advantages [2] [8] [9].
2. The Microsoft/Bing link: practical dependency, regulatory attention
Multiple sources report that Qwant historically used Bing results for a substantial portion of its index and relied on Microsoft for ads or parts of search indexing; that reliance is why some reviewers and privacy guides warn that “some data still flows through a big tech partner” [3] [9] [4]. That relationship drew formal scrutiny: France’s CNIL issued a legal reminder in February 2025 saying data processed by Qwant to Microsoft were personal rather than anonymous — a regulatory finding that directly challenges the practical limits of Qwant’s data separation claims in that context [5].
3. Independent reviewers: supportive but cautious
Tech press and security blogs present competing takes. TechRadar and PCMag describe Qwant as a solid choice for privacy-minded users while noting interface and feature caveats; privacy industry roundups place Qwant among top private engines but highlight that it “may not be the most private” if certain tracking or location features are enabled by default [10] [11] [3]. SafetyDetectives and NordVPN guides emphasize GDPR compliance and non‑personalized ads but repeat the practical point that Bing/Ecosia partnerships mean third‑party involvement [9] [12].
4. Business moves and attempts at independence
Reporting shows Qwant has been trying to reduce third‑party dependence: recent moves include partnerships and efforts to build a more Europe‑centric index — for example, a 2024 move to partner with Ecosia to create a new France‑based company called European Search Perspective — indicating a strategic attempt to internalize indexing and cut reliance on non‑European providers [4]. Available sources do not mention Qwant’s complete technical separation from Microsoft/Bing as of the latest reports; regulators and reviewers still flag the prior dependencies [3] [5].
5. What “private” practically means for users
Across guides and reviews, “private” typically means not logging searches to build personalized advertising profiles, not selling data, and hosting under strict EU rules; Qwant meets many of these criteria on paper and in policy [1] [9] [8]. But practical privacy also depends on data flows to partners, default browser or app settings (some trackers or location features can be on by default), and whether a user signs into an account — features like Qwant’s AI functions require login and may change data handling [11] [4].
6. Conflicting signals and where to be skeptical
There are mixed signals: promotional materials and many privacy guides present Qwant positively [1] [2], while regulatory action and technical reporting call attention to data transfers to Microsoft and the classification of those transfers as processing of personal data [5] [3]. That regulatory note is concrete: CNIL’s legal reminder states the data processed to Microsoft were personal rather than anonymous, undermining any claim that such flows are harmless or fully anonymized [5].
7. Practical recommendation for users seeking privacy
If you want a Europe‑hosted, GDPR‑oriented alternative to big U.S. engines, Qwant is a defensible choice and is regularly recommended in 2025 roundups [9] [2]. If your top priority is minimizing any third‑party exposure, consider that available reporting documents historical Microsoft/Bing dependencies and CNIL concerns — follow Qwant’s technical updates about its European index and check defaults (tracking/location) in the app or browser before trusting full anonymity [3] [5] [11].
Limitations: this analysis cites available reporting and reviews listed above; available sources do not mention Qwant’s technical architecture after the most recent partnership and CNIL action beyond the items cited [4] [5].