Most people don't really think much further than Google when it comes to search engines. After all, there's a reason that everyone uses the verb "to Google" when they want to look something up.

But is Google the best search engine, objectively speaking?

In terms of search results, the answer is yes, and also in terms of user satisfaction.

But in terms of data protection, Google has some serious problems.

The best search engine when it comes to privacy and results on par with Google is Startpage, a Dutch company that also scores well when its apps are considered. The data protection regulations are much better, and the engine has many of Google's best features as well.

Startpage allows users to choose language and region manually just like Google. The results are essentially the same, because the company uses the same technology as Google – the only difference being that it doesn't use trackers to store your data.

During test runs, Startpage was also able to deal with typos and vague search terms just as well as the US tech giant. – dpa