However, I do have to say that, when I was looking for a very specific post, I spent around twenty minutes on Google and DDG and they came back with trash, whereas Kagi found it right away. In that one instance it was, indeed, fantastic.
The quality of all free search is just bad. Kagi, even when it fails, is basically the difference between me looking for something or just giving up and deciding it's not worthwhile. Kagi's not magic-tier like early Google was - it's basically just the only modern web search engine.
It’s one of those tools where I have to say, “it doesn’t fit me but you’re doing something good in the world so keep going.”
I don’t do the kind of searches where Kagi is a lot better than Google (I bet folks here do).
On the searches I do want to do, i.e steaming movies, local business and map related, Kagi is not yet strong at. I kept having to !g.
So I’m back to Google which I find fits me better.
But I’m glad Kagi exists.
I use SearXNG by the way. Kagi is better but I like the way I can configure SearXNG.
I just tried it on Kagi and it suggested a Yelp link for restaurants in McKinney TX which is nowhere near where I am.
Google uses what it knows about you as context — which arguably many folks here are against— but it does get me the right results in one go.
Kagi does let you opt-in your location to improve searches. So there is a way and the user is in full control.
I love the service, but poor local results is definitely one of its weak points and basically the only reason I ever fall back to Google anymore.
Kagi is REALLY good at giving you the ability to filter out the type of results you never want to see.
Google never shows you anything any more from sites that aren't in the top 100 sites by traffic, and many of my searches don't fit that pattern.
Kagi does better, but there isn't a "downrank all the low quality spam" option.
I did the same search on Kagi. Not that Kagi has a strong maps feature or anything but turns out there are at least 4 carpet repair shops in my area, which Kagi showed as top results. Called one, looks good, went and dropped it off. It was 4 minutes away from my location.
I'm surprised it worked for something I have gotten so used taking Google's word for.