In a bold move, a new search engine called Kagi is taking on Google's search dominance with a paid model that offers a better search experience, no ads, and more control for users. For $10 a month, Kagi promises to deliver better search results, no data collection, and a range of advanced features that set it apart from its free counterparts.

Kagi's founder, Vladomir Prelovac, was motivated to create the search engine after wondering why there wasn't a paid search experience like YouTube Premium, which offers ad-free content for a fee. Prelovac believes that when search is a paid product, it can be a better one, as he doesn't have to worry about engagement and can focus on delivering high-quality results.

Using Kagi feels like using Google a decade ago, with a simple and straightforward interface that returns a page full of links. The search engine has image search, video search, maps, news, and even a podcast-specific tab. Search results are also more focused on quality rather than quantity, with Kagi making decisions about what is good and what is bad, unlike Google, which crawls everything and hopes for the best.

Kagi's index is built by combining its own database with results from third-party providers like Google, Bing, WolframAlpha, and Wikipedia. This approach makes Kagi's results more thoughtful and less prone to SEO junk than Google's. Additionally, Kagi's default settings are straightforward, with a focus on delivering relevant results rather than trying to keep users engaged.

One of the key advantages of Kagi is its customization options. Users can click next to any search result and select "More results from the site" to increase how often a given domain will appear, or select "Remove results from this site" to stop seeing it altogether. Kagi also offers "Lenses," which allow users to change where the search engine looks for information. Users can create their own Lenses, effectively creating a personalized search experience.

Kagi also prioritizes user privacy, with a policy of not storing data on what users search for or what they click on. While some third-party integrations collect data on user activity, the app itself has limited information about users and their preferences. This approach is a welcome change from Google's data-driven model.

Kagi's $10 monthly plan offers access to AI-powered features like Quick Answers and the Kagi Assistant, which can be used like a general-purpose chatbot or to interact more deeply with search results. The search engine's way of thinking, paired with AI assistants, could be really interesting over time.

While paying for search may be a tough ask, Kagi's approach offers a refreshing alternative to Google's increasingly visual and ad-heavy search experience. As the internet becomes increasingly dominated by algorithms and platforms with hidden agendas, Kagi's focus on user control and privacy is a welcome change. With its unique approach and features, Kagi is poised to challenge Google's dominance in the search engine market.