10 Best AI Search Engines in 2026

How We Tested

Our team spent 120+ hours testing over 20 AI search engines across multiple criteria. Following our proven jilo.ai methodology, we evaluated each tool based on:

• Answer Accuracy: Factual correctness and reliability across diverse topics

• Source Quality: Citation transparency, link quality, and verification

• Search Speed: Time to comprehensive answer delivery

• Privacy: Data collection practices and tracking policies

• Feature Depth: Follow-ups, multimedia search, and research tools

Each engine was tested with 200 identical queries spanning current events, technical questions, shopping research, local information, and academic topics.

Best AI Search Engines at a Glance

RankToolBest ForPricingRating |------|------|----------|---------|--------| 1Perplexity AIResearch with citationsFree / $20/month9.4/10 2Google (AI Overviews)General search with AI summariesFree9.2/10 3Microsoft Bing (Copilot)Integrated AI chat + searchFree8.8/10 4You.comPrivacy-focused AI searchFree / $15/month8.5/10 5Brave Search (Leo AI)Maximum privacyFree8.3/10 6KagiAd-free premium search$5/month8.2/10 7Arc SearchMobile-first AI searchFree8.0/10 8PhindDeveloper-focused searchFree / $15/month7.8/10 9ExaAPI-first semantic searchFree tier / usage-based7.5/10 10AndiConversational web searchFree7.3/10

Detailed Reviews

1. Perplexity AI — Best Overall AI Search Engine

Rating: 9.4/10 Pricing: Free version / $20/month Pro Best for: Deep research with verifiable sources

Key features:

• Inline citations for every claim

• Pro Search with multi-step reasoning

• Focus modes (Academic, Writing, Math, Video)

• Collections for organizing research

• Multi-model selection (GPT-4, Claude, etc.)

Pros:

• Best-in-class source citation system

• Pro Search breaks complex questions into sub-queries

• Excellent for academic and professional research

• Clean, distraction-free interface

• Follow-up questions feel natural and productive

Cons:

• Free tier limited to basic model

• Source quality varies on obscure topics

• Can be slower than traditional search for simple queries

• Not ideal for quick navigational searches

Our verdict: Perplexity AI has redefined what search should be. The citation-first approach means you can trust and verify every answer. For anyone who values accuracy in their research, it's the clear leader.

2. Google AI Overviews — Best for General Search

Rating: 9.2/10 Pricing: Free Best for: Everyday search queries enhanced with AI summaries

Key features:

• AI-generated summaries above traditional results

• Deep integration with Google's knowledge graph

• Multi-modal understanding (text, image, video)

• Follow-up question capability

• Local and shopping integration

Pros:

• Largest and most comprehensive search index

• AI summaries don't sacrifice traditional link results

• Excellent for local, shopping, and navigational queries

• Familiar interface with AI enhancement

• Free with no restrictions

Cons:

• AI overviews occasionally contain errors

• Not all queries trigger AI summaries

• Google's data collection is extensive

• AI answers can be superficial on complex topics

Our verdict: Google's AI Overviews combine the world's best search index with AI summaries. For general everyday search, it's still the most reliable and comprehensive option, though Perplexity beats it for focused research.

3. Microsoft Bing (Copilot) — Best Integrated AI Chat + Search

Rating: 8.8/10 Pricing: Free / $20/month Copilot Pro Best for: Conversational search with creative capabilities

Key features:

• Full AI chatbot integrated into search

• Image generation with DALL·E

• Document analysis and summarization

• Multiple conversation styles (Creative, Balanced, Precise)

• Integration with Microsoft Edge

Pros:

• Powerful AI chat alongside traditional search

• Image generation built into search experience

• Good for creative and exploratory queries

• Free access to GPT-4 powered responses

• Strong Edge browser integration

Cons:

• Chat quality inconsistent compared to ChatGPT

• Interface can be cluttered

• Copilot sometimes overrides useful link results

• Microsoft account required for full features

Our verdict: Bing's AI integration is the most feature-rich free AI search experience. The combination of chat, image generation, and traditional search in one interface is genuinely useful for exploratory research.

4. You.com — Best Privacy-Focused AI Search

Rating: 8.5/10 Pricing: Free tier / $15/month YouPro Best for: Private AI search without tracking

Key features:

• Privacy-first with no ad tracking

• Multiple search modes (Chat, Search, Create, Imagine)

• AI model selection (GPT-4, Claude)

• Custom AI agents

• Source citations on AI answers

Pros:

• Strong privacy stance and transparent practices

• Versatile multi-mode interface

• Good AI answer quality with citations

• Affordable pro tier

• Ad-free experience

Cons:

• Smaller search index than Google or Bing

• Some queries return thin results

• Custom agents feature still maturing

• Less brand recognition and trust signals

Our verdict: You.com is the best choice for users who want AI-enhanced search without sacrificing privacy. The multi-mode interface is clever, and the privacy guarantees are genuine.

5. Brave Search (Leo AI) — Best for Maximum Privacy

Rating: 8.3/10 Pricing: Free / Brave Premium $3/month Best for: Users who prioritize complete privacy and independence

Key features:

• Independent search index (not relying on Google/Bing)

• Leo AI assistant for conversational answers

• No tracking, no profiling, no ads by default

• Goggles for custom ranking filters

• Open-source commitment

Pros:

• Truly independent search index

• Zero tracking or user profiling

• Leo AI provides helpful AI summaries

• Goggles feature is uniquely powerful

• Free with no compromises

Cons:

• Search quality below Google for niche queries

• AI features less sophisticated than Perplexity

• Smaller index means occasional gaps

• Leo AI accuracy can be hit-or-miss

Our verdict: Brave Search is the gold standard for privacy in search. The independent index means your queries never touch Google or Bing servers. Leo AI adds useful AI assistance without compromising privacy principles.

6. Kagi — Best Ad-Free Premium Search

Rating: 8.2/10 Pricing: $5/month Starter / $10/month Professional Best for: Users willing to pay for a superior, ad-free search experience

Key features:

• Zero ads, zero tracking

• AI Quick Answer summaries

• Site personalization (boost or block domains)

• Universal Summarizer for any URL

• Lenses for topic-focused search

Pros:

• Cleanest search experience available

• Site blocking/boosting customization is excellent

• AI summaries are concise and accurate

• Universal Summarizer works on any webpage

• Respects user attention and time

Cons:

• Requires paid subscription

• Smaller user base means less community content

• AI features less powerful than Perplexity

• Limited free trial to evaluate

Our verdict: Kagi proves that paid search can be worth it. The ad-free experience, combined with site personalization and AI summaries, delivers a noticeably better daily search experience. It's the search engine for people who value their time.

7. Arc Search — Best Mobile AI Search

Rating: 8.0/10 Pricing: Free Best for: Quick AI-powered search on mobile devices

Key features:

• "Browse for Me" AI-generated page summaries

• Clean, mobile-first design

• Tab management and organization

• Reader mode with AI summaries

• Quick look cards for instant answers

Pros:

• Beautiful, intuitive mobile interface

• "Browse for Me" saves time on research

• Excellent tab and space management

• Fast and lightweight

• Completely free

Cons:

• Mobile-only (no desktop version)

• Limited customization options

• AI summaries occasionally miss key details

• No source citations on AI answers

Our verdict: Arc Search reimagines mobile search with an AI-first approach. The "Browse for Me" feature is genuinely useful for quick research on the go, though serious research still needs a desktop tool.

8. Phind — Best for Developers

Rating: 7.8/10 Pricing: Free / $15/month Pro Best for: Programming questions and technical documentation search

Key features:

• Code-aware AI answers with examples

• Technical documentation focus

• Follow-up questions with context retention

• Code generation and debugging

• VS Code extension

Pros:

• Excellent for programming and technical queries

• AI answers include working code examples

• Good at understanding technical context

• VS Code integration for in-editor search

• Generous free tier

Cons:

• Limited value outside technical topics

• Source quality varies for newer technologies

• Occasional code errors in suggestions

• Smaller community than Stack Overflow

Our verdict: Phind is the best search engine for developers. It understands technical context, provides working code examples, and searches documentation more effectively than general search engines.

9. Exa — Best for Semantic Search API

Rating: 7.5/10 Pricing: Free tier / usage-based pricing Best for: Developers building search-powered applications

Key features:

• Neural search that understands meaning, not just keywords

• API-first design for integration

• Content extraction and summarization

• Similarity search for finding related content

• Structured data retrieval

Pros:

• Powerful semantic understanding

• Clean API for developers

• Excellent at finding conceptually similar content

• Good for building research tools

• Fair usage-based pricing

Cons:

• Not a consumer search engine

• Requires development skills to use

• Limited coverage for non-English content

• Documentation could be more comprehensive

Our verdict: Exa is the search engine for builders. If you're creating a product that needs intelligent search capabilities, Exa's semantic understanding is the most powerful API available.

10. Andi — Best Conversational Search

Rating: 7.3/10 Pricing: Free Best for: Users who prefer chatting with a search engine

Key features:

• Conversational AI search interface

• Ad-free and privacy-respecting

• Visual source previews

• Summarized answers with links

• Reader mode for clean article viewing

Pros:

• Friendly, conversational interface

• Privacy-focused approach

• Clean visual design

• Good for simple informational queries

• Completely free

Cons:

• AI quality below Perplexity and Google

• Limited for complex research

• Smaller index and coverage

• Feature set still basic

Our verdict: Andi is a promising conversational search engine for users who want a friendlier search experience. It's not powerful enough for serious research, but pleasant for everyday questions.

How to Choose the Right AI Search Engine

By User Type

General Users: Google AI Overviews for everyday search, Perplexity for when you need depth.

Researchers: Perplexity AI Pro is the clear winner for sourced, verifiable research.

Privacy Advocates: Brave Search for maximum independence, You.com or Kagi for balanced privacy/quality.

Developers: Phind for coding questions, Exa for building search features.

Mobile Users: Arc Search for the best mobile AI search experience.

Power Users: Kagi for customizable, ad-free daily search with AI assistance.

Key Decision Factors

• Accuracy priority: Perplexity AI or Google

• Privacy priority: Brave Search or You.com

• Free priority: Google, Brave, or Bing (all fully free)

• Customization: Kagi

• Mobile experience: Arc Search

• Technical queries: Phind

FAQ

Is Perplexity AI better than Google?

For research and complex questions, yes — Perplexity provides better-sourced, more comprehensive answers. For everyday search (local businesses, navigation, shopping), Google remains superior due to its massive index and specialized features. Many users benefit from using both.

Are AI search engines accurate?

AI search engines have improved dramatically but still occasionally produce errors. Perplexity's citation system helps you verify claims, while Google's AI Overviews leverage the world's largest knowledge graph. Always verify critical information, especially for medical, legal, or financial queries.

Do AI search engines track my data?

It varies widely. Google and Bing collect extensive data. Brave Search collects nothing. Perplexity, You.com, and Kagi offer varying degrees of privacy protection. Check each engine's privacy policy for specifics. Using Brave Search with a VPN provides the maximum privacy combination.

Can I use AI search engines for academic research?

Perplexity AI with Academic focus mode is excellent for finding scholarly sources. However, always verify citations against original papers. Google Scholar remains essential for comprehensive academic search. The best approach combines AI search for discovery with traditional databases for verification.

Will AI search engines replace traditional search?

They're complementing rather than replacing traditional search. AI excels at synthesizing answers to complex questions, while traditional search is better for navigational queries, shopping, and local results. The trend is toward hybrid experiences — like Google's AI Overviews — that combine both approaches.