In the digital age, search engines form the backbone of how users worldwide discover information, products, services and content. For businesses, content creators and SEO professionals, understanding which search engines dominate globally and locally (for example in India) is key to shaping strategy. In this article we explore the top 10 search engines in the world, their user reach (approximate), their global popularity ranking, their rank in India, and the tools commonly used by these search engines for website or URL submission. Here are the list of Top 10 Search Engines Worldwide.
1. Google
Google was founded on September 4, 1998, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, two Ph.D. students at Stanford University in California. They developed a revolutionary search algorithm called PageRank, which ranked web pages based on relevance and link structure—transforming the way people searched for information online. Over the years, Google evolved from a simple search engine into a global technology leader offering services like Gmail, YouTube, Android, and Google Maps. As of today, Sundar Pichai serves as the CEO of Google, leading both Google and its parent company, Alphabet Inc.
Google remains the undisputed global leader in search. With roughly 90 % global market share as of 2025, it processes billions of searches every day. In India, Google holds about 97 % or more of the market share. Because of this dominance, optimizing for Google is critical for SEO in India and globally. For Google, you verify your site and submit a sitemap or request indexing of specific URLs. The older public “submit URL” direct entry tool has been discontinued.
2. Bing
Bing, Microsoft’s web search engine, was officially launched on June 3, 2009, as a successor to MSN Search and Live Search. It was developed by Microsoft’s search division under the leadership of then-CEO Steve Ballmer, aiming to provide smarter and more relevant search results. While Bing itself doesn’t have a separate CEO, it currently operates under the Microsoft AI division, led by Mustafa Suleyman, the Executive Vice President and CEO of Microsoft AI. Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, now oversees Bing along with other consumer AI products at Microsoft. Bing (from Microsoft) holds around 3.7-4 % globally. It ranks second by usage globally. In India, Bing is a distant second with ~1.1-1.4 % share. Although small, Bing still provides an extra channel for visibility and should not be ignored in diversified SEO strategy. For Bing, you verify your site and use its console for submitting sitemaps and requesting URL indexing.
3. Yandex
Yandex, often called the “Google of Russia,” was founded in 1997 by Arkady Volozh and Ilya Segalovich. It started as a search engine designed to index Russian-language web pages and has since evolved into a major technology company offering products in AI, mapping, e-commerce, and more. While Yandex was originally based in Russia, its corporate structure has shifted, with its international operations now managed by Yandex N.V., headquartered in the Netherlands. As of 2025, the CEO of Yandex is Artem Savinovsky, who oversees the company’s global technology and AI initiatives following its corporate restructuring.
Yandex (Russia) holds ~2.5 % globally, and dominates the Russian search market (≈70+ % there).
In India Yandex has negligible share; it's mostly region-specific.
4. Yahoo!
Yahoo! was founded in January 1994 by Jerry Yang and David Filo, two Stanford University graduate students who created a directory of websites that quickly evolved into one of the internet’s earliest and most popular web portals. Over the years, Yahoo! expanded into email, news, search, and digital advertising, becoming a pioneer in shaping the early web. As of 2025, Jim Lanzone serves as the CEO of Yahoo!, leading the company’s efforts to strengthen its media, technology, and advertising businesses under the ownership of Apollo Global Management. Yahoo! comes in around ~1.3-1.5 % global share. In India, Yahoo’s share is minimal and it is powered via Bing’s backend in many markets. A relatively new API/protocol supported by several search engines (including Bing, Yandex etc) that allows site-owners to notify search engines about new, changed or removed URLs so they can recrawl.
5. Baidu
Baidu, often referred to as the “Google of China,” was founded on January 1, 2000, by Robin Li and Eric Xu. Established in Beijing, Baidu quickly became China’s leading search engine by focusing on Mandarin-language search and local internet needs. The company has since expanded into artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, and cloud computing. As of 2025, Robin Li continues to serve as the CEO of Baidu, guiding the company’s vision toward AI innovation and intelligent technology development across multiple sectors. Baidu is China’s dominant search engine, but globally its share is small (~0.6-0.9 %). It is not significant in India for web search.
6. DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo was founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, an entrepreneur and MIT graduate, with the mission to provide a privacy-focused alternative to traditional search engines. Unlike others, DuckDuckGo does not track users’ search history or personal data, making privacy its core feature. Headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, the company has grown steadily by appealing to users concerned about online tracking and targeted advertising. As of 2025, Gabriel Weinberg remains the CEO of DuckDuckGo, continuing to lead the company’s efforts to promote user privacy and transparent search practices. DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine, with ~0.6-0.9 % global share. In India usage is low (<1 %). But for privacy-conscious audiences it may have relevance.
7. Naver
Naver, South Korea’s leading search engine, was founded in June 1999 by a team of former Samsung employees led by Lee Hae-jin. It was the first Korean web portal to develop its own search engine, tailored specifically to Korean language and culture. Over time, Naver expanded into diverse services such as news, blogs, webtoons, and e-commerce, becoming a major internet ecosystem in South Korea. As of 2025, Choi Soo-yeon serves as the CEO of Naver Corporation, steering the company’s global expansion and advancements in AI-driven technology and digital platforms. Naver is South Korea’s main search engine/portal, ~0.3 % global share. Not relevant for Indian market share at this scale.
8. Ecosia
Ecosia, the eco-friendly search engine that plants trees with its ad revenue, was founded in December 2009 by Christian Kroll in Berlin, Germany. The platform was created to make a positive environmental impact by turning everyday web searches into tree-planting initiatives around the world. Ecosia partners with various reforestation organizations and is recognized as a certified B Corporation for its commitment to sustainability and transparency. As of 2025, Christian Kroll continues to serve as the CEO of Ecosia, leading the company’s mission to combat climate change and promote green internet solutions. Ecosia uses ad revenue to fund tree-planting; global share ~0.1 %. Niche but interesting from a branding/social responsibility perspective.
9. AOL
AOL (originally known as America Online) was founded in 1985 by Steve Case, Marc Seriff, Jim Kimsey, and William von Meister. It began as a pioneering internet service provider that introduced millions of people to email, instant messaging, and the World Wide Web during the early days of the internet boom. AOL became one of the most influential tech companies of the 1990s before transitioning into a digital media and advertising brand. As of 2025, Kristian Segerstrale serves as the CEO of AOL, leading the company’s efforts under its parent organization to innovate in online media and communication technologies. AOL remains a legacy portal with <0.1 % global share.
Much lower relevance for most content/SEO strategies.
10. Seznam
Seznam.cz, the leading Czech search engine and web portal, was founded in 1996 by Ivo Lukačovič in Prague, Czech Republic. Initially starting as a simple search directory, Seznam quickly grew into a comprehensive internet platform offering email, news, maps, and advertising services tailored for Czech users. It has remained one of the few local search engines to successfully compete with global giants like Google in its home market. As of 2025, Michal Feix serves as the CEO of Seznam.cz, overseeing the company’s growth, innovation, and continued dominance in the Czech digital landscape. Seznam (Czech Republic) <0.1 % global share.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the world of search engines is vast and dynamic, but a few major players continue to dominate global and regional markets. Google stands unrivaled as the world’s leading search engine, followed by Bing, Yandex, and Yahoo!, each catering to specific audiences and regions. Local platforms like Baidu, Naver, and Seznam showcase how regional preferences and languages shape online search behavior. While smaller engines like DuckDuckGo and Ecosia focus on privacy and sustainability, their niche audiences contribute to a more diverse digital ecosystem. For website owners, understanding these platforms’ user bases, ranking trends, and submission tools—such as Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, and IndexNow—is vital to improving online visibility and search performance across the globe.
0 Comments