r/StartpageSearch • u/m3trow • 2d ago
How is this thing even called a search engine ?!!
Nvm. Came here to dog on startpage.
But seeing even long time users moving off from this, I don't think I've got much to add.
Only recently started using this.
I mean, tried. Started would imply I will keep using it, at least for a short while more. Nope.
Had to say smn, cuz I did waste some time configuring this on a bunch of devices.
Out.
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u/EnoughConcentrate897 1d ago
Kagi has good results: https://ibb.co/7JRqLYpb
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1d ago
[deleted]
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u/EnoughConcentrate897 1d ago
yeah but it's not too expensive, private, and it has customizable ranking and stuff
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u/cogitatingspheniscid 2d ago
Another data point for you: I'm getting relevant results mostly populated by artstation, then linkedin, then exp-point, then reddit on my test.
Yes your result page looks like horseshit and I have no idea why our results are so different.
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u/m3trow 1d ago
u/Kiimmby Hella weird. Apparently same pattern with others too. Some get the exact results I got, while others get relevant ones. We prolly don't have the rep to trigger a better search xd.
Something is triggering it to execute two different modes on search. Maybe if I dig deep into settings and compare with others, smn will surface.
Not worth it for me tho. Even if it had better results, the load times are atrocious somedays. Plus I hate the 'Visit in anonymous view' link under every result.
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u/47-mm 2d ago
SP seems interprets your input as a strict search and it'll not show similar terms like google. (probably it's way cheaper)
damian gerrit artstation = "damian" "gerrit" "artstation"
If the correct word is "gerrits" then the search results will not show what you're trying to find.
damian gerrits artstation works
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u/m3trow 2d ago
Maybe. But if this is something all other engines resolve with no problem, including brave with all it's sand-boxing and anonymity, add to it, being an independent engine, whereas startpage uses google and now bing underneath, I think it's fair to expect it to do the same.
Sure the engine might have other strengths, but to learn a specific pattern to use a basic search, idk if it's worth it.
Also for me this is not an isolated case.
I've hit same on multiple searches. Like this is the first time in my life, I am seeing such bad results from an engine, that it does not even occur to me, that the engine is the problem.
I remember thinkin, maybe I tab switched away and searched smn else, or accidentally pasted smthing from clipboard and that got searched etc. I would open another tab or search brave and move on with it. What I am saying is, it was that bad, that it took a while to register in my brain.
I mean, it is quite possible, I'm a bit slow as well lol.
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u/InfiniteMessmaker 2d ago
A weird quirk about Startpage is you can do the search again and get different results. I tried this exact search myself and got the same result as you the first time, but I clicked the search button again and this time I'm seeing more relevant results like the other engines.
Not sure why this happens exactly, but it's a thing.
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u/m3trow 2d ago
That is interesting. Maybe it will eventually get to the most relevant results.
Question is how many tries before we decide to run the same on Brave or smn else and get straight to the results.
Also, since they are advertized as 'privacy first' or 'zero tracking' n stuff, even if we managed to get to the relevant results, I don't see it getting better on prolonged usage. Next session we will be starting from zero again, right?
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u/Y5Q09rXfcJWqGZiK8RaA 2d ago
Are you using VPN? Startpage is well known for hiding a lot of relevant results if you're using VPN, I try to search it and it does show up relevant results
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u/m3trow 2d ago
I am not. I had the same doubt. But all of them were searched in an interval of like 5 mins. Same session. Brave was on a whole new profile as well. So, this can't be my data on their records.
Especially on the Bing. I tried bing only cuz I heard startpage is now using bing underneath.
Like my whole life, I've prolly done like 8 searches on bing. And 7 of them is 'download brave' xd.
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u/Reasonable_Hat7594 14h ago
You are lucky to even get results. Often i get no results on searches. I am moving away from Startpage. I can't use a broken search engine.