Searching for search
January 31, 2025 8:36 PM Subscribe
Google me this. Actually, no, please don’t.
Trying to find an alternative to google. Used DuckDuckGo a while ago and didn’t really like it. Kagi seems cool and I’m willing to pay for it but it seems like there’s a lot of problems when using on ios, which is all i have. Has anyone had a good experience with Kagi on iphone? Maybe Brave search? AI isn’t a plus for me. It’s the one thing that I have no qualms proclaiming my hatred for and ignorance of.
Trying to find an alternative to google. Used DuckDuckGo a while ago and didn’t really like it. Kagi seems cool and I’m willing to pay for it but it seems like there’s a lot of problems when using on ios, which is all i have. Has anyone had a good experience with Kagi on iphone? Maybe Brave search? AI isn’t a plus for me. It’s the one thing that I have no qualms proclaiming my hatred for and ignorance of.
Best answer: heavy HEAVY Kagi on iOS user here. I use Safari on iOS and use the Kagi app and “Kagi Search for Safari” browser extension. The Kagi app+browser extension works by auto-replacing your default search engine with Kagi, basically redirecting every time you search. I use Yahoo as my default search engine to replace. It works perfectly 99.7% of the time and the other 0.3% of the time it gives me Yahoo search results as the failure mode, which I am always able to fix by closing Safari and re-opening it and redoing the search.
I do remember when I first tried to use Kagi on my iphone it was a little janky and I also for some reason still have an older app and disabled extension installed called “Kagi for Safari” which is NOT the one that works for me now, I think that might be an older version, and my theory is that a lot of problems got fixed with the newer setup. at least on safari anyway.
i think you should try it, it’s so worth it!
posted by crime online at 8:54 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]
I do remember when I first tried to use Kagi on my iphone it was a little janky and I also for some reason still have an older app and disabled extension installed called “Kagi for Safari” which is NOT the one that works for me now, I think that might be an older version, and my theory is that a lot of problems got fixed with the newer setup. at least on safari anyway.
i think you should try it, it’s so worth it!
posted by crime online at 8:54 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Over the last 20 years, the Wikipedia entry for many searches has risen to the top hit even cases like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McCartney before https://www.paulmccartney.com/. I cut out the middle-google and virtuously lower my carbon by searching Wikipedia whenever it seems appropriate. Not great for library opening hours or finding a plumber but adequate for general I wonders.
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:34 AM on February 1 [5 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:34 AM on February 1 [5 favorites]
I love Brave search but have also been using Presearch for a while now with good results (pun intended).
posted by mezzanayne at 12:50 AM on February 1
posted by mezzanayne at 12:50 AM on February 1
One way to get better search is to use different tools for different searches. Or not use a search engine at all.
Checkout Curlie.org, an old-fashioned web directory in the style of dmoz.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:11 AM on February 1
Checkout Curlie.org, an old-fashioned web directory in the style of dmoz.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:11 AM on February 1
Seconding Kagi working great on iPhone 99.9% of the time. I set my default search as DuckDuckGo so if Kagi does fail to fire, at least it’s not going to one of the “bad” sites.
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posted by tubedogg at 8:45 AM on February 1
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posted by tubedogg at 8:45 AM on February 1
I love Kagi, but the experience on iOS is suboptimal. The browser extension didn't really help me like it better. What I have found more helpful is creating a Shortcut with an icon that I can use to feed text into a Kagi search. Here are the steps of the Shortcut:
1. Text (Ask Each Time)
2. Replace [space] with [+] in [Text]
3. Copy [Text] to clipboard
4. Link https://kagi.com/search?q=[Text]
5. Open [URL]
When I tap the icon I saved in my dock, it opens a text box for me to put in the search term. Then when I tap "Done", it parses the text and opens it as a Kagi search in Safari (my default browser). It handles spaces by adding the + sign between the terms (such as if I want to search "cats and dogs"). The box will let me type line breaks, but doesn't have handling for that so I just don't hit "return" when using the box. It's not perfect, but it makes it much easier for me to use Kagi as my primary search on my phone.
posted by past unusual at 1:36 PM on February 1
1. Text (Ask Each Time)
2. Replace [space] with [+] in [Text]
3. Copy [Text] to clipboard
4. Link https://kagi.com/search?q=[Text]
5. Open [URL]
When I tap the icon I saved in my dock, it opens a text box for me to put in the search term. Then when I tap "Done", it parses the text and opens it as a Kagi search in Safari (my default browser). It handles spaces by adding the + sign between the terms (such as if I want to search "cats and dogs"). The box will let me type line breaks, but doesn't have handling for that so I just don't hit "return" when using the box. It's not perfect, but it makes it much easier for me to use Kagi as my primary search on my phone.
posted by past unusual at 1:36 PM on February 1
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posted by Mizu at 8:51 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]