About Mojeek

Mojeek, founded in 2004 by Marc Smith, started as a personal project with the aim of creating an independent and privacy-focused search engine. Unlike many other search engines that aggregate results or rely on third-party indexes, Mojeek developed its own web crawler and index. The company, based in the UK, has grown slowly but steadily, maintaining a strong focus on privacy and independence from the big tech giants.

Mojeek uses its own proprietary crawler and search index to provide completely independent search results. It does not track users, profile them, or collect personal data, positioning itself as a privacy-first search engine. Mojeek’s index spans billions of pages, and it prides itself on offering unfiltered and unbiased search results. The engine provides a simple, straightforward user interface with no ads or trackers.

Mojeek remains a niche search engine with a growing user base, particularly among privacy-conscious individuals. While it lacks the resources and market share of larger competitors, its commitment to independence and privacy has earned it a loyal following. Mojeek continues to expand its search index and promote itself as a transparent alternative to mainstream engines like Google and Bing.

Mojeek Timeline

• 2004: Mojeek was founded by Marc Smith in the UK. It started as a personal project aimed at building a completely independent search engine with its own web crawler and index, rather than relying on other search engines.
• 2006: Mojeek gained attention for its emphasis on user privacy, becoming one of the first search engines to adopt a no-tracking policy. This approach positioned it as a niche alternative to larger search engines like Google.
• 2011: Mojeek continued to expand its index size, focusing on providing a genuinely independent search experience. While other search engines often used combined indexes or licensed data, Mojeek remained committed to maintaining its own index of web pages.
• 2018: Mojeek reached the milestone of indexing over 2 billion web pages. It focused on being a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream search engines, appealing to users who valued data independence and privacy.
• 2023: Mojeek continued to grow, with an emphasis on transparency about its crawling methods and ethical search practices. Despite its smaller scale compared to major competitors, it attracted a loyal user base looking for a truly independent search option.
• Legacy: Mojeek is known as a rare example of a fully independent search engine that does not rely on third-party indexes. Its focus on privacy and data independence has made it a standout in the niche market of ethical search alternatives.

Why stop here? Discover this fascinating search engine’s timeline. OpenSearch: The Evolution of Open Source Search Solutions.