Top 7 Semantic Search Engines: Alternatives to Google

The Rise of Semantic Search: Alternatives to Google

The dominance of Google in the search engine landscape is undeniable. Compared to other search engines like Bing, which rely heavily on page rankings and algorithms, Google consistently excels in delivering results.

However, alternative approaches to web searching exist, utilizing what are known as semantic search engines. These engines prioritize understanding the meaning of search terms, rather than simply matching keywords, leading to more relevant outcomes.

Kngine

Kngine categorizes search results into web and image results, prefaced by information about the search term – these are called 'Concepts'.

For instance, a search for the iPhone 3GS will display the device’s specifications beforehand. Similarly, searching for a film will yield information about the film, trailers, reviews, and quotes.

Currently, Kngine boasts a database of over 8 million Concepts, representing a core strength of the platform.

Users can easily share Kngine results on social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Digg, and Delicious. Furthermore, Kngine can be configured as the default search engine within Firefox, Google Chrome, or Internet Explorer.

Hakia

Hakia organizes search results into categories such as Web, News, Blogs, Twitter, Image, and Video, allowing for sorting by relevance or date.

Depending on the query, results may also include excerpts from Wikipedia entries, alongside 'Credible' results sourced from trusted websites.

Each search result is accompanied by a text excerpt, providing a preview of the linked content.

Hakia can also be integrated into your browser's quick search bar.

[NO LONGER WORKS] Kosmix

Kosmix presents a more visually elaborate start page compared to many other semantic search engines, featuring popular content from sources like Yahoo Buzz, Digg, YouTube, and Flickr.

It functions as a hybrid aggregator and search engine, incorporating results from both Google and Bing.

Despite this, Kosmix remains a semantic search engine due to its use of semantics to connect data from across the web, enhancing search relevance.

Search results are divided into Video, Web, News & Blogs, Images, Forums, Twitter, Amazon, and Facebook. Specific searches, like for the iPhone 3GS, may also include Fix-It and How-To Guides.

Kosmix incorporates sponsored content, but this is a minor consideration given the wealth of information it provides.

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a comprehensive semantic search engine offering numerous advantages over Google.

Searches are categorized into classic search, information search, shopping, and their unique "I'm feeling ducky" feature.

When a search term has multiple meanings, DuckDuckGo offers disambiguation results, allowing you to specify your intended meaning. For example, searching for "Apple" presents a list of possibilities – the fruit, the computer company, the bank, and more.

The !bang feature allows you to search other search engines directly from DuckDuckGo without leaving the page. Prefixing a search term with "!youtube" or "!google" directs you to results from those services. This also works with keywords like weather, images, and lyrics.

A complete list of !bang keywords is available online.

Like Kngine, DuckDuckGo features 'Zero-click info,' displaying information about the search topic before the main results.

Additional features include category pages, keyboard shortcuts, customizations, and the ability to detect calculations, WolframAlpha conversions, and color codes.

Evri

Evri, similar to Kosmix, features an information-rich landing page with top news stories from around the web.

Search results can be filtered into Articles, Quotes, Images, and Tweets, and shared on Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace.

Creating an account allows you to follow specific information streams related to certain results. For example, following a stream for "Barack Obama" is possible, while searching for just "Obama" may not offer the same option.

Users can connect their Google, Twitter, Yahoo, Facebook, Windows Live, or Blogger accounts for login purposes.

Evri also provides disambiguation results in a sidebar, helping you refine your search.

A toolbar is available for Firefox and Internet Explorer, facilitating easy searching and sharing. A free iPhone app offers three main tabs: Recent popular news, a search tab, and collected items.

Note that using the follow feature on the iPhone app requires a dedicated Evri account.

Evri's recent partnership with Twine promises further improvements in search relevance.

Truevert

Truevert distinguishes itself as a 'green search engine,' focusing on environmental awareness.

All results are filtered and presented from an environmental perspective. Searching for "meat," for example, yields results related to climate change, organic options, and sustainable food.

Truevert's front page features the latest news from environmental websites and blogs.

For those interested in semantic search, exploring Stefan's article about Juice, a Firefox addon based on semantics, is recommended.

Have you experimented with semantic search engines as alternatives to Google? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Image credit: Chris Chidsey