Sustainable Substitutes for Bing

Bing is a search-engine developed by Microsoft.

bing logo

Reasons to avoid Bing

Avoid Bing due to privacy concerns and unethical practices to enforce its use. Microsoft also lacks transparency in its data policies.

Opt for privacy-focused, eco-friendly alternatives instead.

Sustainable Alternatives

Here are some sustainable alternatives for Bing

Ecosia

Ecosia is a German search engine with a focus on sustainability, donating all of its surplus revenue.

Ecosia is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Ecosia produces and uses renewable energy to power its servers, reducing its carbon footprint.
Ecosia works anonymously. But users can create an account in order to track their implicit contributions to climate projects.
Ecosia donates all of its surplus revenue to conservation projects, supporting reforestation and climate action.
Ecosia doesn't cost anything. Although one could argue that users pay with their personal data since IP address and search queries are shared with Big Tech.
Website

GOOD

GOOD is a non-profit search engine from Germany. All of its revenue is donated to charity.

GOOD claims to be climate positive. It uses carbon-neutral data centres but calculate emissions as if the data-centres wouldn't be. These calculated emissions are then offset by investing in environment friendly projects. Source: Our Contribution to Climate Protection [German]
GOOD is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
GOOD does not track users or display personalised ads, ensuring a private search experience. Source: HOW GOOD WORKS
GOOD provides a completely ad-free search experience, focusing on user needs rather than advertising revenue.Source: HOW GOOD WORKS
GOOD is supported by voluntary donations, encouraging users to contribute to its mission to support projects that meet UN's Sustainable Development Goals.Source: Your Impact
Website

Qwant

Qwant is a French privacy-first search engine that does not track users.

Qwant is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong privacy laws.
Qwant does not track users or resell personal data. For now, it forwards personal information to Bing though.
Qwant’s browser extension and some privacy tools are open-source, allowing for public review and transparency.
Qwant doesn't cost anything. Although one could argue that users pay with their personal data since IP address and search queries are shared with Big Tech.
Website

Mojeek

Mojeek is a UK-based independent search engine with strict privacy policies.

Mojeek is based in the UK, ensuring compliance with European privacy regulations.
Mojeek does not track users or store personal data, ensuring a private search experience through its independent non-third-party search index.
Mojeek provides open-source tools and APIs for developers.
Mojeek does not load or store any third-party resources. It does integrate external LLMs for its summaries though.
Website

The 6 main issues with Bing

Monopoly - Market dominance that stifles competition and limits user choice.

Bing is developed by Microsoft, which offers the most-used operating system for desktop PCs. Microsoft utilises it's market position to force Bing on its users through searches within Windows or as the default search engine of its Browser Edge. Source: The Verge: The EU will finally free Windows users from Bing (2024)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Microsoft lacks transparency in its data collection and usage practices, as highlighted by ongoing concerns over AI features and user data handling.Source: ARC Technica: Microsoft tries to head off the “novel security risks” of Windows 11 AI agents (2025)

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Microsoft is one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation.

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

Microsoft will link your search-history to your windows account if it is able to, and it most probably is able to. Source: The Verge: Microsoft will automatically keep you signed in to your account starting in February (2025)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Bing is financing Donald Trumps plans to create a new ballroom in the white house, hoping to benefit from upcoming laws. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella donated $1 Million to Trumps inauguration fund.Sources: OpenSecrets: Trump ballroom donors poised to benefit from AI plan they helped shape (2026), The Verge: Tech’s shift to Trump: all the companies and execs kissing the ring (2025)

Tax Avoidance - Aggressive strategies are being deployed to avoid paying taxes.

Microsoft is known for using aggressive tax avoidance schemes and has been fined for it. Source: The Guardian: This article is more than 11 years old US tech giants launch fierce fightback against global tax avoidance crackdown (2015)