The best AI search engine: A comprehensive guide for 2026

What is an AI search engine?

Before we get into the details, let’s briefly clarify what an AI search engine actually is. Unlike traditional search engines, AI search engines use advanced technologies such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning and semantic analysis. These tools enable search engines to understand complex queries, capture context and deliver relevant results that go beyond simple keyword matches.

Top AI search engines in 2026

1. perplexity AI

Perplexity AI has quickly established itself as one of the best AI search engines. With over 10 million active users per month and more than 500 million monthly visits, Perplexity offers an intuitive user interface that allows users to ask detailed questions and get precise answers.

Main features:

• Real-time web access: Perplexity searches the Internet in real time to provide up-to-date and relevant information.
• References: Each answer contains links to the sources used, which makes it easier to check the information.
• Multimodal search: Users can submit both text and image queries.
• Summaries of research papers: Particularly useful for academic users.
• Price: Free with optional Pro plan for $20/month, which offers additional features such as Copilot and advanced model access.

Advantages:

• Easy to use
• Fast and precise answers
• Transparent references

Disadvantages

• Limited functions in the free version
• Sometimes general answers to complex queries

 

2. google gemini

Google Gemini (formerly known as Google Bard) is Google’s answer to the growing demand for AI-powered search experiences. Gemini integrates seamlessly into the Google ecosystem and offers both text-based and visual answers.

Main features:

• Integration with Google services: Link with Gmail, Google Drive and other Google apps.
• Multimodal input: Supports text, speech and images.
• Real-time information: Uses Google search for up-to-date results.
• Support for multiple languages: Ideal for global users.
• Price: Free with a premium version for $19.99/month that offers advanced features.

Advantages:

• Strong integration with Google services
• Support for multiple input methods
• Regular updates and improvements

Disadvantages:

• Dependent on the Google ecosystem
• Limited functions in certain regions

3. Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft Copilot, formerly known as Bing Chat, uses the power of OpenAI’s GPT-4 model to enable intelligent search. It integrates deeply into Microsoft products such as Edge and Office.

Main features:

• Real-time web access: Uses Bing search results for up-to-date information.
• Integration with Microsoft 365: Link with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more.
• Multimodal capabilities: Support for text, speech and images.
• Customizable workspaces: Organization of search queries and results in projects.
• Price: Free with a Pro version for $20/month that offers additional features.

Advantages:

• Strong integration with Microsoft products
• Powerful AI models
• Flexible for different applications

Disadvantages:

• Dependent on the Microsoft ecosystem
• Sometimes slow response times

4. ChatGPT Search

OpenAI has introduced a new dimension in AI search with ChatGPT Search. Based on the popular ChatGPT model, this search engine offers a conversational user experience.

Main features:

• Conversational search: Users can ask follow-up questions and refine the search.
• Real-time web access: Searches the Internet for up-to-date information.
• Customizable results: Results can be summarized in short, medium or long.
• Topic filter: Groups results based on the user’s interests.
• Price: Free with a Plus version for $20/month that offers advanced features and faster responses.

Advantages:

• Natural, dialog-based interaction
• Fast and relevant answers
• Flexible for different information needs

Disadvantages:

• Limited functions in the free version
• Still in the development phase

5. andi

Andi is an emerging AI search engine that focuses on providing a clean, ad-free search experience. It uses advanced AI models to deliver accurate and relevant results.

Main features:

• Ad-free results: No distractions from ads.
• Real-time web access: Searches the Internet for up-to-date information.
• Visual summaries: Presents results in clear, easy-to-understand formats.
• Anonymous search: No tracking or storage of user data.
• Price: Free with a Pro version for $15/month that offers additional features.

Advantages:

• Clean and intuitive user interface
• Fast and relevant results
• Strong focus on data protection

Disadvantages:

• Limited functions compared to larger platforms
• Still in the growth phase

6. you.com

You.com offers a personalized search experience where users have control over the sources and results. It supports multiple modes, including general search, academic search and code search.

Main features:

• Personalized search results: Users can adjust the priority of sources.
• Multimodal capabilities: Support for text, speech and images.
• Integrated apps: access to tools such as translators, calculators and more.
• Data tagging: Users can decide whether their data should be used to improve AI.
• Price: Free with a Pro version for $15/month that offers additional features.

Advantages:

• High adaptability
• Versatile search modes
• Strong focus on data protection

Disadvantages:

• Personalization requires a setup
• Sometimes inconsistent results for complex queries

Functions in comparison

Search engine	Real-time web access	Source information	Multimodal search
Perplexity AI	Yes	Yes	Yes
Google Gemini	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Copilot	Yes	Yes	Yes
ChatGPT Search	Yes	Yes	Yes
Andi	Yes	Yes	Yes
You.com	Yes	Yes	Yes

Conclusion: Which AI search engine is the best?

Choosing the best AI search engine depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for an ad-free, privacy-focused search engine, Andi could be the right choice for you. For users who are deeply integrated into the Google or Microsoft ecosystem, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot offer seamless experiences. Perplexity AI and ChatGPT Search are ideal for those who prefer a conversational, intuitive search experience.

Ultimately, each of these search engines offers unique advantages. It’s worth trying out several options to find out which one best suits your needs. The future of search is here – and it’s powered by AI.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

1. which AI search engine is the most accurate?

Perplexity AI is often praised for its accuracy, especially when answering complex questions. However, it is important to note that accuracy can vary depending on the type of search query and the use case.

2. are there free AI search engines?

Yes, all of the AI search engines mentioned above offer free versions with basic functions. For advanced features and higher usage limits, they offer paid Pro plans.

3. which AI search engine is the best for research?

Perplexity AI and You.com are excellent options for research purposes. They offer features such as academic search modes and research summaries that make it easier to access academic papers and articles.

4 How do AI search engines differ from traditional search engines?

AI search engines use advanced technologies such as NLP and machine learning to understand the context and intent behind search queries. Unlike traditional search engines that rely on simple keyword matches, AI search engines provide more precise, contextual and personalized results.

5. can I use AI search engines on mobile devices?

Yes, most AI search engines are accessible via mobile browsers, and some also offer dedicated mobile apps for Android and iOS.

6 Which AI search engine offers the best data protection functions?

Andi and You.com attach great importance to data protection and anonymity. They do not track or store any user data and offer an ad-free search experience.

7 How much do AI search engines cost?

Pricing models vary, but most AI search engines offer Pro plans that cost between $15 and $20 per month. These plans offer additional features and higher usage limits.

8. which AI search engine is best suited for general use?

For general use, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot are excellent options. They offer a wide range of features, seamless integration with popular ecosystems and support for different input methods.

9 How do AI search engines work?

AI search engines use technologies such as NLP, semantic analysis and machine learning to interpret search queries, understand the context and deliver relevant results. They can also draw on large language models such as GPT-4 to generate answers.

10. which AI search engine should I choose?

The best AI search engine depends on your specific needs. If you value privacy, Andi or You.com are a good choice. For strong integration into existing platforms, Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot are ideal. For conversational and intuitive experiences, Perplexity AI and ChatGPT Search are recommended.

Further resources & AI search engines

• Perplexity AI
• Google Gemini
• Microsoft Copilot
• ChatGPT Search
• Andi
• You.com

The world of AI search engines is evolving rapidly. By staying informed and trying out different options, you can get the most out of these powerful tools.

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How to create an AI search engine: A step-by-step guide

Creating an AI-powered search engine can be an exciting and rewarding project, whether for academic purposes, corporate intranets or specialized databases. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to create your own AI search engine from scratch.

1. Define your use case: Before you start building, determine the purpose of your search engine. Common use cases include:
   1. Academic research assistance
   2. Company or team intranet search
   3. Product search for e-commerce
   4. Specialized document collections (e.g. legal, medical)
2. Prepare your data source(s)
3. Decide which data your search engine will index:
   1. Web pages: Use crawlers to index web pages.
   2. Documents: PDF, Word, text files.
   3. Databases: Structured data from SQL/NoSQL databases.
   4. APIs: Data from external APIs. Make sure that you have the necessary authorizations to use the data, especially for public deployments.
4. Data processing and indexing
   1. Parse: Extract text from documents or web pages.
   2. Cleanup: Remove irrelevant information, HTML tags or formatting.
   3. Tokenization: Break down the text into words or sentences.
   4. Storage: Use a search engine such as Elasticsearch, Apache Solr or Whoosh (Python) to index the data for an efficient search.
5. Integrate AI/NLP for intelligent understanding
   1. To make your search engine “intelligent”, integrate AI models:
   2. Semantic search: Use embedding models (e.g. Word2Vec, BERT, Sentence Transformers) to convert text into vectors. Calculate similarities between search queries and documents to find relevant results.
   3. Question-answer functionality: Integrate pre-trained models such as BERT, T5 or specialized QA models. Use frameworks such as Hugging Face Transformers to make these models easy to use.
   4. Ranking and relevance: Train custom models to prioritize search results based on relevance, click-through rate or user feedback.
6. Develop the backend logic:
   1. Create the server logic to process search queries:
   2. Receive the user request.
   3. Process the query with NLP (e.g. lemmatization, stop word removal).
   4. Carry out the search in your indexed database.
   5. Use AI models to evaluate and sort the results.
   6. Return the results to the front end.
   7. Technologies: Programming languages: Python, Node.js, Java; Frameworks: Flask, Django, Express.js; Search indexing: Elasticsearch, Solr
7. Create the front end:
   1. Search bar: Allow users to enter questions in natural language.
   2. Results page: Display relevant documents, snippets or direct answers.
   3. Additional functions: Filter, sorting, preview.
   4. Technologies: Web: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Angular, Vue.js; Mobile: React Native, Flutter
8. Implement feedback and learning mechanisms:
   1. Allow users to rate search results.
   2. Collect user interactions to improve your models over time