Unlike the surface web with Google and Bing, the dark web has its own ecosystem of search engines designed to index .onion sites. These tools help users navigate the decentralized and constantly-changing landscape of hidden services.
Indexing Challenges
Dark web search engines face unique difficulties:
- Sites frequently change addresses
- No central directory or DNS
- Many sites are intentionally hidden
- High rate of site turnover
- Malicious/phishing sites mixed with legitimate
Notable Search Engines
The most reputable dark web search engine. Filters illegal content and accessible on both clearnet and Tor. Operated by Juha Nurmi, a security researcher.
Torch
One of the oldest Tor search engines. Large index but includes unfiltered results.
DuckDuckGo (.onion)
Privacy-focused clearnet search with .onion mirror. Doesn't index .onion sites but protects search privacy.
Not Evil
Tor-only search claiming to exclude illegal content. Variable reliability.
Haystak
Claims to index over 1.5 billion pages. Premium version available.
Safety Considerations
Search Results Warning
Dark web search results often include malicious links, phishing sites, and scams. Never trust search results blindly. Verify .onion addresses through multiple trusted sources before visiting.