Updated October 14, 2026 · ShieldCue Editorial Team
Privacy Badger vs Qwant
Privacy Badger
Qwant
Higher score in this comparison
Where Privacy Badger and Qwant differ
| Compare | Privacy BadgerReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | QwantReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan limits | No usage limits and no paid tiers; free for all users, funded by donations | Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account |
| Platforms | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, Firefox for Android, Edge for Android | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, Edge extension, Firefox extension, Safari extension |
| Logging policy | No browsing data collected or shared; data is only sent if the user chooses to file a broken site report | By default does not store search history or personal data; no advertising trackers or pixels |
| Jurisdiction | US | FR |
| Open source | YesHas it | No |
| Privacy tool type | Ad blocker, Browser | Search |
Same on both: Free plan (Yes).
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Key differences
- Qwant scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Platforms: only Privacy Badger offers Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge.
- Platforms: only Qwant offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Support channels: only Qwant offers Phone.
- Open source: only Privacy Badger.
- Founded is lower at Qwant: 2011 vs 2014.
- Privacy tool type: only Privacy Badger offers Ad blocker, Browser.
- Privacy tool type: only Qwant offers Search.
Our verdict on each
Privacy Badger
Privacy Badger is a browser extension created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation. It algorithmically blocks trackers, receives periodic learning updates from Badger Sett by default, can replace blocked social or media widgets with click-to-activate placeholders and sends the Global Privacy Control signal.
Qwant
Qwant suits readers who want a private search engine with no cost attached, since a free plan is included. It is the fit for people who put no stored search history above open source code, while the typical starting price in the site's private-search field is €6.93.
Score breakdown
| Area | Privacy Badger | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1 | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.6Higher |
| Privacy | 9.1Higher | 8.8 |
Pick Privacy Badger if, pick Qwant if
Pick Privacy Badger if privacy and open source matter most.
Pick Qwant if offer matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Privacy Badger | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy tools | 74 of 281 | 62 of 281 |
| Private browsers and search engines | 15 of 55 | 11 of 55 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Privacy Badger | Qwant |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Legal entity | Electronic Frontier Foundation | QWANT, SAS (RCS Paris B 532 867 256) |
| Headquarters | United States | France |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Pros and cons
Privacy Badger
Pros
- Privacy Badger uses an algorithmic tracker-blocking approach.
- It can replace blocked widgets with click-to-activate placeholders and sends a Global Privacy Control signal.
Cons
- Periodic tracker-learning updates from Badger Sett are enabled by default.
Qwant
Pros
- A free plan is included, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
- Search history and personal data are not stored by default, and no advertising trackers or pixels are run.
- It runs on web, iOS and Android and support covers email, phone and help centre.
Cons
- Open source: no, so the code behind the engine is not published for outside review.
- The unlimited free tier depends on signing up: Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account.
Who each suits
Privacy Badger
Who it suits
- Users seeking a browser extension with tracker controls and Global Privacy Control signaling.
Qwant
Who it suits
- Readers who want a search engine that keeps no search history or personal data by default.
- People in the Apple ecosystem, who can pair a Qwant account with Apple Hide My Email for aliasing.
- Anyone who wants one account across web, iOS and Android.
Who should look elsewhere
- EasyOptOuts, for readers whose main task is opting out of data brokers rather than searching; it has no free plan.
- Apple Hide My Email, for email aliases: its aliases are free with an Apple Account, which is a different job from private search.
Questions about each
Qwant
Is Qwant really free?+
Yes. A free plan is included and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account, so the search stays free once an account exists. The only model listed is free, so there is no paid tier priced against it.
What does Qwant cost, and what happens at renewal?+
Qwant's free plan covers the search, and Free and unlimited once you create a Qwant account. There is no introductory deal to time and no renewal step for a paid plan, since free is the only model listed. For scale, the typical yearly price across tools on the site is €65.76.
Does Qwant store what I search for?+
Its logging policy says search history and personal data are not stored by default, and it runs no advertising trackers or pixels. The privacy type listed is search, so this is a search engine profile rather than a VPN or ad blocker.
Is Qwant open source?+
No. Open source is listed as no, so the code behind the engine is not published for outside review. That is a limit for readers who want to audit a privacy tool, and closed engines are common here, with 52.5% of the private-browser-search tools also closed.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Privacy Badger
Qwant