# Startpage

> This extension protects users from being tracked while allowing them to search the web in complete private mode.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-private-search](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-private-search)

## Overview

- **ID:** `startpage-private-search`
- **Platform:** Firefox
- **Type:** Firefox add-on
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Startpage
- **Category:** privacy-security,search-tools
- **Daily users:** 202,511
- **Weekly downloads:** 897
- **Rating:** 4.36 / 5 (744 ratings)
- **Version:** 2.1.1
- **Last updated:** 2026-04-29
- **First published:** 2017-12-07
- **Size:** 22 KB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-12
- **Store listing:** [Firefox Add-ons Store](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/startpage-private-search/)
- **Website:** [https://support.startpage.com](https://support.startpage.com/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/startpage-private-search/privacy/](https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/startpage-private-search/privacy/)

## Description

**Startpage** is a powerful Chrome extension that safeguards your online searches by eliminating tracking, storing, or selling of your search data. It enables users to search the internet completely privately, ensuring unprofiled, unbiased search results identical for everyone worldwide. The extension supports browsing search results through an "Anonymous View" proxy feature, protecting your identity and enhancing privacy.

Compliant with the stringent European and Dutch privacy laws including GDPR and CCPA, Startpage offers robust protection against third-party trackers and cookies that are common in other search engines. To enjoy seamless privacy, you can search directly from your URL bar with this extension, ensuring "always-on" search privacy. For more details, visit their official websites on privacy policies and anonymous browsing options.

## Rankings

- #83 — Overall
- #21 — Search Tools
- #42 — Privacy & Security
- #1 — live start page
- #1 — start page
- #4 — web page

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `search`
- `storage`
- `webRequest`
- `webRequestBlocking`
- `https://*.startpage.com/*`

### Content script matches

- `*.startpage.com`

## Safety

- **Risk impact:** High risk impact
- **Risk likelihood:** Low risk likelihood

### Analysis details

- Allows the extension to observe and analyze traffic in flight for the selected hosts.
- This extension was updated more than 6 months ago. Older versions are more likely to be stable and safe.

> Some risk analysis details are omitted from this free response. [Upgrade to view the full analysis](https://chrome-stats.com/pricing).

## Review summary

Startpage for Firefox is valued for its privacy-first approach and generally usable search, with some users preferring it to DuckDuckGo. However, multiple reviews note reliability problems: frequent no-results, older-page bias, and inconsistent search modifiers. Trust concerns about installation practices also appear. Overall, it’s seen as a privacy-conscious alternative with decent functionality, but its search quality and trust signals can be problematic in real-world use.

### Pros

- Strong privacy focus and independence from Google/advertisers, with praise for not tracking users.
- Functional and usable search results that are considered a workable alternative to Google in Firefox.
- In some reviews, it is viewed as better than DuckDuckGo and preferred by users seeking privacy-friendly search.

### Cons

- Frequent no-results or search failures (no results, server not found) reported across multiple reviews.
- Search results often lag behind Google, with older pages dominating and technical queries performing poorly; modifiers can be inconsistent.
- Privacy/trust concerns about Startpage’s installation practices and company behavior (surreptitious extension installation and related trust issues).

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Startpage Privacy Protection](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-privacy-protection) — 30,262 users, 4.48 / 5
- [Privoogle — Private Search Engine](https://chrome-stats.com/d/privoogle-private-search) — 1 users, 3.00 / 5
- [StartPOZI Search](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpozi-search) — 2 users
- [EU Startpage Search (Unofficial)](https://chrome-stats.com/d/eu-startpage-search) — 153 users, 3.40 / 5
- [StartPage - Best New Tab Startpage](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-new-tab-homepage) — 1 users, 4.00 / 5
- [Startpage Search — Dark Theme](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-search-dark-theme) — 572 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Quick Proxy for Startpage](https://chrome-stats.com/d/quick-proxy-for-startpage) — 1 users
- [Safe Browsing](https://chrome-stats.com/d/safe-browsing-addon) — 2,139 users, 3.80 / 5
- [AstianGO Private Search](https://chrome-stats.com/d/astiango-search) — 5 users, 1.00 / 5
- [Startpage - No Perms](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-no-perms)
- [Startpage Search — Night Theme](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-search-night-theme) — 14 users, 5.00 / 5
- [Startpage - POST](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-post) — 12 users, 4.86 / 5

---

Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/startpage-private-search)