Is Ecosia a Good Search Engine? 7 Reasons Why It’s the Eco-Friendly Choice

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, many are looking for simple ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One such way is by switching to an eco-friendly search engine like Ecosia. Since its launch in 2009, Ecosia has been known for using its profits to plant trees and help fight climate change. But the question remains, is Ecosia a good search engine?

In this post, we will explore seven reasons why Ecosia is not only a functional search engine but also an excellent choice for eco-conscious users.

How Does Ecosia’s Eco-Friendly Search Engine Work?

Ecosia operates similarly to other search engines by generating revenue from ads. Every time a user clicks on an ad in the search results, Ecosia earns money. What makes Ecosia unique is that it donates a significant portion of its profits to reforestation projects around the world. In fact, for roughly every 45 searches made, one tree is planted.

To date, Ecosia has planted over 200 million trees, helping to restore forests in places like Brazil, Indonesia, and Burkina Faso. 

Although Ecosia’s search results are powered by Bing, the search engine also applies its own algorithms to prioritize environmentally friendly content. Users can see a tally of the number of trees they’ve contributed to planting by simply using Ecosia. 

How Ecosia Helps the Environment and Fights Climate Change

Ecosia’s environmental impact goes beyond tree planting. The search engine is committed to being carbon-negative, meaning it removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits. Ecosia has built its own solar power stations to ensure that its servers run entirely on renewable energy. This reduces the carbon footprint of each search, making it a more eco-friendly option than Google or Bing. 

The environmental benefits of using Ecosia are significant. By planting trees, the search engine helps combat deforestation, protect wildlife, and support local communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods. Additionally, these trees act as natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Why Ecosia Is a Privacy-Focused and Ethical Search Engine

One of the major concerns people have when using search engines is privacy. Unlike Google, which collects and sells vast amounts of user data, Ecosia takes a different approach. It doesn’t store your searches permanently, doesn’t sell your data to advertisers, and doesn’t create personal profiles based on your browsing habits. 

Moreover, Ecosia is a certified B Corporation, meaning it adheres to strict social and environmental performance standards. This ethical approach extends to every aspect of its business, from its privacy policy to its transparency in financial reporting. 

Ecosia vs. Google: Comparing User Experience and Features

When it comes to user experience, Ecosia might not be as feature-rich as Google, but it still holds its own. The interface is simple and intuitive, much like Google’s, with blue links, green URLs, and short page descriptions. However, the search results are powered by Bing, which means they may not be as comprehensive or refined as Google’s. 

One area where Ecosia lags behind is in its rich search features. For example, it doesn’t have the same level of advanced tools like Google’s Knowledge Graph, real-time sports updates, or shopping search packs. Additionally, Ecosia’s search results pages can be more ad-heavy compared to Google’s, which might affect the overall user experience. 

When deciding between two options like Ecosia and Google, it’s important to consider their key differences:

User Experience

• Google: Google is known for its fast, highly refined search experience. It uses a complex algorithm that delivers highly accurate search results, often with rich features like the Knowledge Graph, detailed maps, and instant answers (e.g., weather updates, sports scores). Google’s interface is straightforward, and many people find it intuitive​​.

• Ecosia: Ecosia’s user experience is similar but simpler. Its interface is clean and user-friendly, with results powered by Bing. This means the search results might not be as detailed or feature-rich as Google’s. However, Ecosia’s interface includes a unique feature—a tree counter that tracks how many trees a user has helped plant through their searches

Privacy

• Google: Google’s business model relies heavily on data collection to personalize ads and improve user experiences. It collects a vast amount of user data, which allows it to deliver very personalized search results but raises concerns about privacy.

• Ecosia: Ecosia takes a different approach, focusing on user privacy. It does not sell user data to third-party advertisers and does not create personal profiles based on search history. Ecosia anonymizes user data after a week, which can appeal to users who are more privacy-conscious​

Environmental Impact

• Google: Google has invested in renewable energy and aims to reduce its carbon footprint through initiatives like its Google Green program. However, these efforts are not directly tied to user searches​.

• Ecosia: Ecosia is specifically designed to combat climate change. It uses its profits to plant trees—on average, one tree is planted for every 45 searches. It also runs on 100% renewable energy, making it a carbon-negative search engine​. This mission appeals to users who want their daily browsing to contribute to environmental sustainability.

Features and Search Results

• Google: Offers advanced features like real-time sports updates, flight tracking, Google Maps integration, and the Knowledge Graph, which provides detailed information on topics directly within search results. It’s ideal for users looking for comprehensive search capabilities​.

• Ecosia: Ecosia lacks some of these advanced search features, as it primarily relies on Bing for its search results. While you can still find web, image, and video searches, tools like Google’s real-time data or rich snippets are more limited on Ecosia. However, it does highlight environmentally friendly businesses with a green leaf icon in search results

Speed and Reliability

• Google: Google is known for its speed and the reliability of its search infrastructure. It offers fast load times and is rarely down, which contributes to its dominance in the search engine market​.

• Ecosia: While Ecosia is generally reliable, it may not always match Google’s speed due to its reliance on Bing’s search infrastructure. It serves everyday search needs well, but it may lag slightly when compared to Google’s seamless performance

Summary: Which Should You Choose?

• Choose Google: If you prioritize comprehensive search results, advanced features, and highly personalized search experiences.

• Choose Ecosia: If you want to make a positive environmental impact with every search, care about privacy, and don’t mind a simpler feature set. It’s a solid choice for users who value sustainability and want to contribute to reforestation efforts with their browsing

How Ecosia Supports Green and Eco-Friendly Businesses

Another great feature of Ecosia is that it supports environmentally friendly businesses. Specifically, search results often highlight companies with sustainable practices using a green leaf icon​.

In contrast, companies involved in environmentally harmful activities, such as fossil fuel extraction, are flagged with a fossil fuel icon. Consequently, Ecosia helps users make informed decisions and align their shopping habits with their environmental values.

Ecosia’s Global Tree-Planting Community and Environmental Efforts

Ecosia has cultivated a large global community of users who are committed to making the world a greener place. As a result, Ecosia has planted over 200 million trees across the globe​.

Moreover, the search engine focuses on biodiversity, working with local communities in reforestation projects that help create long-term ecological balance. Thus, Ecosia users can feel confident that their searches contribute to a meaningful cause.

Why You Should Switch to Ecosia: A Green Search Engine 

Ultimately, the decision to switch to Ecosia depends on your priorities. If you value advanced search features, Google may still be your go-to. However, if protecting the planet and your privacy is more important to you, Ecosia is an excellent choice. By switching, you can reduce your environmental impact while still performing everyday tasks online.

Therefore, Ecosia offers not just a search engine, but a platform for positive change.

How to Install Ecosia As Your Default Search Engine

Installing Ecosia on your device is quick and easy. Here’s a step-by-step guide for the most popular browsers:

For Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. Go to the menu ︙.
3. Find ‘Extensions’ and click ‘Manage Extensions’ or ‘Visit Chrome Web Store’.
4. Search ‘Ecosia‘.
   
5. Click on ‘Add to Chrome’ button.
   
6. In the pop-up, click on ‘Add extension’.
   
7. Ecosia will now be your default search engine in Chrome.

For Safari (MacBook):

1. Open a new tab or window in Safari.
2. Click the magnifying glass.
3. Select Ecosia.

For mobile (iOS and Android):

1. Download the Ecosia app from the App Store or Google Play
2. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to set Ecosia as your default browser.

Conclusion: More Than Just a Search Engine 

Ecosia is more than just a tool for finding information online—it’s a search engine with a mission to make the world a better place. In addition to planting trees, it offers a privacy-conscious and ethically driven alternative to major search engines like Google. If you’re ready to contribute to reforestation and reduce your carbon footprint, Ecosia is worth trying. In the end, small actions like switching your search engine can lead to significant environmental benefits.

Reference

• Action Net Zero. (2024, October 1). Planting change one search at a time.  
• Dev Problems. (2023, January 16). Ecosia vs Google: which one to choose?
• Digital For Good. (2021, September 10). We Speak with Ecosia, the Tree-Planting Search Engine. 
• Ecosia. (2024, June 21). Use Ecosia on desktop – Ecosia Help Center (helpscoutdocs.com)
• Mongabay. (2021, May 18). Q&A with Ecosia’s Pieter van Midwood 
• Search Engine Watch. (2018, June 8). How useful is Ecosia in a world dominated by Google? 
• Osman, A. I., Fawzy, S., Lichtfouse, E., & Rooney, D. W. (2023). Planting trees to combat global warming. Environmental Chemistry Letters. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-023-01598-y
• Palos-Sanchez, P., & Saura, J. R. (2018). The effect of internet searches on afforestation: The case of a green search engine. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9020051