Customize Search Engine

Name: Customize Search Engine
Rating: 4.5 (63 reviews)
Author: Cizzuk Shihu

By: Cizzuk Shihu

Search Smarter, Explore Deeper

Features & Capabilities

Customize Search Engine is a Safari extension that gives you control over how you search. Use your preferred search engines, switch engines in Private Browsing, and adjust settings like language or AI Overviews to fit your workflow.

With Quick Search, Emoji Search, and focus-based engine switches, you can tailor your browsing for work, study, or personal use. Examples show how to search Brave, Wikipedia, YouTube, or Emojipedia with a single keyword or emoji, and to temporarily disable or re-enable engines as needed.

User Growth & Download Statistics

App GenAI AI Privacy & Security Developer Tools Content

By:

Cizzuk Shihu

Rating:

4.50

(63) 3 new ratings

Version:

4.19 Last updated: 2026-06-09

Version code:

886717703

Creation date:

2023-02-24

Compatible devices:

Works as Safari extension:

Size:

20.29MB

URLs:

Full description:

Source:

Apple Apps Store

Data ingested on:

2026-06-24

Compare stats and ranking:

Ranking

# 182,237 ▲ 1,650

Other rankings

#19 in default search keyword 39 ▲ 1#33 in search box keyword 17 ▲ 2#62 in autocomplete keyword 10 ▲ 2#71 in searchable keyword 4 ▼ 4#83 in chrome extension keyword 87 ▲ 1

For Developers

Monetize with App Pass Boost with Extension Booster

Contact the developer

Chrome-Stats does not own this Apple app. Please use these information below to contact the Apple app developer.

Developed by:

Cizzuk Shihu

Apple Apps Store

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/customize-search-engine/id6445840140

User Reviews

Users praise the app for replacing Google AI summaries with real web results, using multiple alternative search engines, and working across Safari in private mode. The UDM14 option is frequently cited as a key feature. The app is free and generally easy once set up. However, several reviews note downsides: Google-related captchas/banners, a fiddly initial setup, and occasional bugs or non-functionality that can hinder use.

Pros

Removes Google AI summaries/overviews and shows real web results instead
Supports a wide range of alternative search engines (DuckDuckGo, Brave, StartPage, Kagi, Grok, etc.) for flexibility
Works across Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, including private mode
UDM14 mode effectively disables Google's AI results and is highly valued
Free to use and generally straightforward after setup

Cons

Google-related issues like redirects and captchas when using Google searches (anti-bot behavior)
Intrusive banners such as 'Open in the Google app' that are hard to remove for some users
Initial setup can be fiddly or confusing for non-technical users
Occasional non-functionality or bugs (inability to search, blank search window, or searches cycling between All/Web)
Reliability may vary depending on engine/Safari compatibility

Recent reviews

It causes rapid redirecting with google, causing google to *always* declare I am a robot and have to go through a captcha. This is extremely annoying.

by se*****, 2026-05-08

I can finally use startpage as my main search engine in safari on my phone, Mac & iPad! I hate google so much

by Ca*****, 2026-04-08

I rarely take the time to write app reviews, but I was so impressed with CSE and how effectively it took care of one of iOS’s biggest headaches: the search engine. AND it works in private mode too! As an active Kagi user, I could never find a great solution that was seamless with iOS Safari but this app is super easy to configure whatever custom search engine you want and it worked instantly. Super, super impressed.