Reviews of Customize Search Engine

By: Cizzuk Shihu

List of user reviews and ratings for Customize Search Engine

Total ratings

4.50 (Rating count: 59)

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Review summary

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

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User Reviews

Recent rating average: 3.80

All time rating average: 4.50

Upgrade to see all 31 reviews

3% (1)

Date	Author	Comment
2026-05-08	se*****	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.
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.
2026-04-08	Ca*****	I can finally use startpage as my main search engine in safari on my phone, Mac & iPad! I hate google so much
I can finally use startpage as my main search engine in safari on my phone, Mac & iPad! I hate google so much
2026-03-18	0x*****	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.
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.
2026-03-15	Li*****	First of all, I just want to say I love this app. I changed it to add &udm=14 to my Google searches to get rid of the AI overviews, I have tons of shortcuts like adding wbm before my url’s to open them in the Wayback Machine, etc. Amazing tool. However, I’ve recently been having a problem with my Google searches, where it basically searches ten times in a row as it keeps switching back and forth between All and Web. Because of this, I have to answer captchas every time I want to look something up, which gets annoying. Still a great extension though.
First of all, I just want to say I love this app. I changed it to add &udm=14 to my Google searches to get rid of the AI overviews, I have tons of shortcuts like adding wbm before my url’s to open them in the Wayback Machine, etc. Amazing tool. However, I’ve recently been having a problem with my Google searches, where it basically searches ten times in a row as it keeps switching back and forth between All and Web. Because of this, I have to answer captchas every time I want to look something up, which gets annoying. Still a great extension though.
2026-03-15	Co*****	Title This app lets me block those awful ai overviews just fine. Most apps are garbage, spam you with ads, or beg for money. This one doesn’t
Title This app lets me block those awful ai overviews just fine. Most apps are garbage, spam you with ads, or beg for money. This one doesn’t
2026-02-03	20*****	I can't search anything on it please tell me how
I can't search anything on it please tell me how
2026-01-10	Gi*****	Installation is a little fiddly, but it is well worth the time and effort. If you find Apple’s list of search engines too limited give this a try. There is no fee or link to donate-I would gladly pay for this functionality.
Installation is a little fiddly, but it is well worth the time and effort. If you find Apple’s list of search engines too limited give this a try. There is no fee or link to donate-I would gladly pay for this functionality.
2025-12-23	cl*****	doesnt work
doesnt work
2025-12-21	er*****	I installed this app specifically for the UDM14 Google search functionality. Although it “works”, there’s a big issue and dealbreaker for me where every new Google search I conducted, I now had an annoying, unremovable banner at the top of every Google search that said “Open in the (official) Google (search) app”. Once I disabled this extension, the unremovable “open in the Google app” banner completely disappeared, which is how it operated before. I even have Wipr 2 installed which gets rid of all ads including Google search ads and sponsored results. I thought this banner issue was perhaps out of the developer’s control, but that is incorrect! I just installed the “udm14 for Safari” extension, and after enabling it properly for Google.com, I now was able to get both the udm14 functionality working and the “open in the Google app” banner did not appear at all! Please fix this!
I installed this app specifically for the UDM14 Google search functionality. Although it “works”, there’s a big issue and dealbreaker for me where every new Google search I conducted, I now had an annoying, unremovable banner at the top of every Google search that said “Open in the (official) Google (search) app”. Once I disabled this extension, the unremovable “open in the Google app” banner completely disappeared, which is how it operated before. I even have Wipr 2 installed which gets rid of all ads including Google search ads and sponsored results. I thought this banner issue was perhaps out of the developer’s control, but that is incorrect! I just installed the “udm14 for Safari” extension, and after enabling it properly for Google.com, I now was able to get both the udm14 functionality working and the “open in the Google app” banner did not appear at all! Please fix this!
2025-11-21	bl*****	I got this app to avoid google Gemini ai results. When I open a tab, I get a blank search window, but when I perform the search, I get redirected through google regular search: a bunch of ads, Gemini results, idiots also ask, yadda yadda yadda. I just found a udm14 browser extension for chrome on Mac, and it is fabulous. Maybe this is really a problem with Safari?
I got this app to avoid google Gemini ai results. When I open a tab, I get a blank search window, but when I perform the search, I get redirected through google regular search: a bunch of ads, Gemini results, idiots also ask, yadda yadda yadda. I just found a udm14 browser extension for chrome on Mac, and it is fabulous. Maybe this is really a problem with Safari?