Search Engines Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Search Engines. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Search Engines, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Search Engines. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Search Engines prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Search Engines Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Search Engines Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. SEO Resource Center	Search Engine Relevancy Report Editors of SEO Resource Center July 2006		Aimed at investors who'd like to predict the market share of search engines over the next year or two, this review compares seven of the major search engines on the basis of nearly 4,000 searches, rating more than 25,000 pages of search engine results for relevance (based on specific tasks like "find the Dallas restaurant serving Italian food that you intend to visit." An accompanying article details how the researchers determine relevance.) Rating search engines by the relevance of the top ten sites listed plus the exact number of matches on the first page, MSN gets top ranking, followed by Yahoo and Info.com. Ask.com ranks slightly ahead of Google, while Exalead.com trails and the worst results are found at Look.com.
2. Information Today >> Details/Subscribe	Jeeves Gone, Google Next? Mick O'Leary May 2006		Aimed at reference librarians and other research professionals, this review compares Google with Ask.com (a revision of Ask Jeeves), testing each search engine for relevant content by conducting dozens of searches on a variety of subjects. For each search, the top ten sites listed are rated on the basis of usefulness, significance and information-richness. The review concludes that in most cases, results overlap a lot, with both search engines listing from two to six of the same sites per search. Neither Google nor Ask do a better job, but Ask.com does offer some advantages for basic reference use, since it's "programmed to rank a page from a prominent web reference source" first, and also provides a set of cross-referencing terms that are often helpful.
3. UC Berkeley Library	The Best Search Engines Editors of UC Berkeley Library Updated July 2006		This review includes a chart comparing the features of three major search engines recommended by the UC Berkeley Library, currently Google, Yahoo and Ask.com. The editors recommend against using metasearch or clustering tools, warning that their indexes rely too much on paid inclusions, but do make some exception for Clusty and Dogpile. The way Clusty clusters results can be useful, and Dogpile has features useful for some research as well.
4. Search Engine Watch	Survey: Google, Yahoo Still Favorites in North America Chris Sherman Jan. 2006		This article summarizes a large-scale winter 2005 Keynote Systems study comparing the five top search engines used in North America: AOL, Ask Jeeves, Google, MSN Search and Yahoo. Based on detailed tests using over 2,000 people performing searches, the study measures and analyzes 250 factors to compare the search engines not only for general web searches, but also for local, product, news and image search. The study finds little difference in the relevance of results provided; much of a search engine's appeal is based simply on familiarity. However, users clearly give Google top rating, primarily for its ease of use and perceived speed. Yahoo ranks second, especially for local search and image search, followed by Ask Jeeves (now Ask.com), which shows the biggest improvement in search quality, having reduced its sponsored listings. The study notes that AOL would share third rank with Ask Jeeves if it were available without paid subscription (as is now true). MSN Search ranks last.

Search Engines Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Search Engines Ratings Comments on Reviews

5. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	The 100 Best Products of the Year Editors of PC World July 2006		Based on reviews and comparisons of all kinds of digital technology, PC World editors rank the top 100 products and services of 2006. Each listing links to a full review, often in context with competing products. Google is listed as the best search engine, followed by Kosmix. Windows Live Local is listed as the best online mapping service, and the Amazon A9 Search Toolbar is recommended too -- though based on a review before A9 switched from Google to MSN for basic web-search results.
6. NetSquared.org	Search, Databases and Libraries: Surveying the Landscape with Gary Price Marshall Kirkpatrick and Gary Price Jan. 2006		This article summarizes an interview with librarian and ResourceShelf editor Gary Price, who recommends using online databases (often available free via public-library passwords) and several search engines in addition to Google. Clusty is one of the search engines recommended, along with Rollyo, which searches only sites you've already selected. He describes Ask.com as "one of the most under appreciated resources on the web," and also praises Vivisimo and Museseek. The article includes links to quite a few other recommended directories and resources.
7. Search Engine Watch	Google Tops Search Loyalty Study, Though Many Searchers Aren't That Loyal Danny Sullivan Feb. 2006		This article summarizes a study by Compete (with a link to the full study, available free with registration), comparing the top ten search engines for user loyalty during the month of December, 2005. It's an interesting contrast with the interview above, since information professionals urge using several sources for research, while search engines do all they can to keep you at their own site. Google leads, but only 71% of Google fans use only Google and no other search engine; Yahoo follows, with 48.1% of its users loyal. At the other extreme, over 10% of Clusty users are loyal, followed by 6.4% for A9 and 5.8% for Lycos.
8. ZDNet.com	Searching beyond Google and Yahoo: nine online search engines compared Ben Patterson May 2005		Nine web search engines are compared here, not for the relevance of their results, but for their features and ease of use. Google gets the highest rating, followed closely by Yahoo, which gets praise for audio and image search. A9 gets third rank; editors praise its customization and saving of search results. LookSmart gets the lowest rating, though it's still judged useful for finding articles.
9. Consumer Web Watch.org	Still in Search of Disclosure Jorgen J. Wouters June 2005		This study analyzes how well specific search engines disclose which search results are really paid listings, noting whether or not disclosure has changed for the better or worse since the previous year's report. Google and Overture keep their good ratings here. Yahoo Search, Ask Jeeves (now Ask.com), Alta Vista, Infospace and Netscape are criticized for making paid placements harder to identify, while MSN Search has improved, especially by ending content promotion and paid inclusion programs.
10. Search Engine Watch	5th Annual Search Engine Awards Danny Sullivan, Editor Apr. 2005		Based on Search Engine Watch editors' opinions as well as a poll of over 700 subscribers (who are mostly interested in Internet marketing and search-engine optimization rather than ordinary users), this annual contest moves Yahoo into first place for overall searches, although users chose Google most often. Despite reservations about Yahoo's poor disclosure of paid inclusions, the editors penalize Google more in 2004 for delays in updating Google Images, while Yahoo kept images fresh and added Yahoo Local. Google retains first place for news, and Jux2 gets top ranking as the best metasearch engine. Users, however, prefer Dogpile and its twin, MetaCrawler. Clusty is recognized for offering the best search feature, clustering results into subtopics.

Search Engines Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Search Engines Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. Working Faster: Sitelines	Evaluating Search Engines Rita Vine Dec. 2004		Rita Vine, an information specialist who trains people to search efficiently, recommends evaluating search engines and other search tools more by the quality of search results than by their features and ease of use. Like other professional researchers, she warns against metasearch engines that use results from search engines that incorporate paid results without clearly labeling them as such. One study compares two metasearch engines, Clusty and Donbusca, concluding that Clusty organizes the clusters better, while Donbusca incorporates more paid listings.
12. ZDNet.com	Search and enjoy: 7 search toolbars reviewed Ben Patterson Nov. 2004		This review compares seven toolbars designed to make Internet searching more convenient—not only comparing them for features, but testing them in use as well. Each toolbar is reviewed in depth and rated on a ten-point scale, with brief summaries and a comparison chart for quick reference. Two toolbars share top rating: Google and Yahoo, with the reviewer preferring Yahoo for its anti-spyware feature. Google, on the other hand, provided the most relevant results in the performance tests. We'd like to see updated coverage in this area.
13. SEOChat.com	Is Ask the Next Big Search Engine? Akinola Akintomide July 24, 2006		This in-depth review of UK-based Ask.com (formerly Ask Jeeves) recommends it over Google for students and researchers, saying that although search results are similar for the two search engines, Google emphasizes business sites more, while Ask.com emphasizes expert, authoritative sites. In 2001 Ask.com bought Teoma, a search engine libraries have recommended for research; now Teoma technology is incorporated into Ask.com. This technology includes searches of online communities and social networks. Ask.com also bought Bloglines, and offers blog and RSS feed search as well as general Internet searches.
14. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	Microsoft Adds Tools to Latest Search Service Dennis O'Reilly June 2006		This brief review covers the new Windows Live Search, still in testing, which puts all the search results on one scrollable page. The review finds the scrolling a bit jerky, but still better than having to click from one page to the next. You can use a slider to control the amount of descriptive text you see for each result, but there are only three settings. The slider that controls thumbnail sizes for image search is more useful, with six settings. Based on informal testing, the review finds the actual search results distinct from those found at Google, but just as relevant and satisfying.
15. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Ask.Com's New Look Scores Big Points Against Search Rivals Walter S. Mossberg Mar. 30, 2006		This review recommends the new Ask.com (overhauled from the old Ask Jeeves), after tests comparing it with Google. Though Mossberg previously ranked Ask Jeeves low because of the number of ads and the way ads were easily confused with unpaid search results, he concludes that the new Ask.com search results are at least as relevant as Google results, and better organized, with greater priority to real results instead of paid ads. The right sidebar display helps for refining a search, where Google displays paid ads. You can save images, bookmarks or any search results to a customized page, where you can organize them into folders.
16. Download.com	Search Tools Editors and Contributors to Download.com As of Sept. 2006		Free search toolbars get ratings and reviews from both editors and users here, and you can sort the list by average rating. Both editors and users give top ranking to the Yahoo Toolbar with AntiSpy 6.2, though users note that you need at least one additional anti-spyware program as well. Editors like Advance Searchbar 3.27, but several users have found malware and spyware in it. Similarly, editors give a high rating to 550 Access Toolbar 3.2.01, but users give it very mixed reviews; some like it, but several users experience serious problems.
17. Developer Shed.com	PreFound Offers "Get Paid to Search" Model Editors of SEO Chat Feb. 2006		This review covers a new search engine that, like Del.ici.ous, depends on links contributed by users, rather than on an algorithm to rank sites a robot finds by crawling the web. Unlike Del.ici.ous, however, PreFound pays contributors based on Google AdSense revenue from search results pages. You can import links from Del.ici.ous or similar sites. You don't need to be a contributor to search the site, and if you don't like the results, you can search Google right from there. Informal tests show that PreFound can indeed turn up some useful sites hard to find elsewhere.
18. Research Buzz.org	ExactSeek Launches New Search Engine Beta Tara Calishain July 11, 2006		This review of a new search engine still in beta, ExactSeek, finds it a little confusing but worth watching. The most interesting feature is an option to find only pages with forms -- subscription forms, etc. The results page for such searches often shows the actual forms. An Articles tab leads to results provided by GoArticles.com, while blog search results are provided by a number of outside sources. This is just one article in a site devoted to online research, including news and reviews of search engine features as they evolve. Like other information professionals, the author urges researchers to "use Google but also try Yahoo and MSN. And while you're at it try Ask Jeeves, Gigablast, Vivisimo, and one of the many useful specialized search engines out there like Feedster."
19. Chicago Sun Times	Watson search tool improves in ability to mix with others Howard Wolinsky, Business Reporter July 11, 2006		This review of the revised Intellext Watson search engine notes that the free version, which displays ads, now offers the same features as the ad-free professional version. Watson enhances other search tools, working with Windows Desktop Search as well as with any Internet search engine. Blog search now draws results from Icerocket and Sphere as well as from Technorati, but perhaps the best new Watson feature is its ability to search social networking sites such as MySpace, Friendster, Linkedin and others. The review notes that this makes Watson a valuable networking tool.
20. Battelle Media.com	Snap Rethinks Search John Battelle and Contributors May 15, 2006		This review of the new version of the Snap search engine notes that it's now aimed at broadband users, with listings that include large thumbnail views of pages. Just about every feature search engines have tried is now incorporated, plus a new way to minimize spam listings. The main drawback is that search results include paid inclusion, sure to draw criticism. A user mentions that now results are drawn from Ask.com; another notes that Snap places fewer listings on each page, and that they're slow to load even using broadband.
21. Compu-KISS Research and Information	Google Toolbar Sandy Berger Mar. 31, 2006		This in-depth review praises both the Google Toolbar for its useful features and the Google search engine for producing relevant results. There's a Google Toolbar version for Firefox users, but not for Mac computers (though the Safari browser has a Google search box built in). The review notes that you can use the Google Toolbar's search window to search the entire web or to search inside the site you're already visiting.
22. ZDNet.com	Windows Live Search Review Richard MacManus Mar. 9, 2006		This review of the new Windows Live Search praises its "whizzy new image search" and overall interface, including putting up to 1,000 results on one scrollable page (no more "next" clicks). A slider bar controls the size of thumbnails for image search, and hovering the mouse over a thumbnail displays information such as file size and image dimensions. Adding RSS news feeds is easy, and there are tabs for News and Local search. You can not only create your own macro for saving customized searches, but also pick from a gallery of search macros already created. The review concludes that Windows Live is a "vast improvement over MSN Search" in terms of features and ease of use. The only drawback is that some users have found performance problems with the scrollable page of search results.
23. Search Engine Watch	Microsoft Launches Windows Live Search Beta Chris Sherman Mar. 8, 2006		This review covers an updated version of the Windows Live Toolbar and Windows Live Search (at Live.com), noting that the search technology is the same as that used by MSN Search. A main feature of the update is the listing of all search results on a single page for scrolling. (Other search engines provide about ten listings per page.) You can also create "macros" to customize, save and share searches -- even specifying the sites to search, thus creating your own vertical search engine. Image search now offers a "filmstrip" view of thumbnails at the left, with full-size images on the main screen. The toolbar adds tabbed browsing, phishing protection, pop-up blocking and RSS detection and aggregation. OnFolio is included free, for saving, organizing and sharing snippets or full web pages. You can now install the toolbar by itself, without having to install Windows Desktop Search, though that's still an option.
24. Lifehacker.com	Seek and Ye Shall Find: Top Ten Alternative Search Engines Wendy Boswell Dec. 2005		This review doesn't test or compare search engines, but does recommend several as worth using in addition to Google. Ranked at the top is Clusty, a metasearch engine that draws results from several main search engines, clustering the results by sub-type. Ditto is recommended for image search, Daypop for blog search and Blinkx TV for audio and video search as well as podcast content -- searching inside the files, not just the file names or comments.

Search Engines Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Search Engines Ratings Comments on Reviews

25. Epinions >> Details/Subscribe	Search Engines Contributors to Epinions As of Sept. 2006		Quite a few search engines get reviews and ratings from users here, but the ratings aren't very helpful since they don't necessarily reflect the current situation. Northern Light, for example, hasn't been a free public search engine for several years, and the latest review of it here is dated 2001, but it gets the same 4.5 (out of a possible 5) average rating as Google. You can sort the reviews by date or by rating, however, which helps. Reviews of most search engines here are several years old; Google has the most recent reviews, with an average 4.5 rating; Yahoo has a lower average rating of 3.5, with a recent complaint of dead links and another of irrelevant results. MSN has an even lower rating, but all the reviews are old.

Search Engines Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Search Engines Ratings Comments on Reviews

26. About.com	Search Engines Editors of About.com and PC World Various Dates		About.com pulls from PC World in it's coverage of search engines. However, PC World offers more news coverage than reviews.