Best Private Search Engine for iPhone in 2026

The best private search engine for iPhone in 2026 requires a slightly different setup than Android because Safari — the default iOS browser — does not support fully custom search engine URLs. Consequently, getting Flaru set as your default requires switching browsers. This guide explains exactly what the Safari limitation is, which browsers support custom search engines on iOS, and the step-by-step process for the most secure iPhone search setup available in 2026.

The Safari Custom Search Engine Limitation

Safari on iPhone and iPad allows choosing only from five pre-approved search engines: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. Custom search engine URLs — like the Flaru URL pattern — are not supported in Safari’s settings. This is a deliberate Apple platform restriction. Consequently, the most straightforward path to using Flaru as your default iPhone search engine is installing Brave for iOS or Firefox for iOS. Both are free, both support custom search engines with URL patterns, and both deliver stronger privacy protection than Safari regardless of search engine choice.

How to Set Flaru as Default in Brave for iOS

1. Download Brave Browser from the App Store (free)
2. Open Brave → tap the menu (three lines) → Settings
3. Tap Search Engines
4. Tap Add Custom Search Engine
5. Enter: Name = Flaru, Search URL = https://www.flaru.com/search?q=%s
6. Tap Save, then set Flaru as your default

How to Set Flaru as Default in Firefox for iOS

1. Download Firefox from the App Store (free)
2. Open Firefox → tap the menu → Settings
3. Tap Search
4. Tap Add Search Engine
5. Enter Name = Flaru and URL = https://www.flaru.com/search?q=%s
6. Return to Search settings and set Flaru as Default Search Engine

Additional iPhone Privacy Steps

• Enable App Tracking Transparency: Settings → Privacy and Security → Tracking → Ask App Not to Track. Forces apps to request permission before tracking you.
• Limit Ad Tracking: Settings → Privacy and Security → Apple Advertising → Personalised Ads → off.
• Disable Siri Suggestions in Search: Settings → Siri and Search → disable Show in App Library and spotlight suggestions if you want to prevent query forwarding to Apple.
• Use Private Browsing with Flaru: Open Brave or Firefox in private mode while using Flaru for the cleanest possible search session.

DuckDuckGo as an Alternative in Safari

If switching browsers is not an option, setting DuckDuckGo as your Safari default is a major improvement over Google. Safari Settings → Apps → Safari → Search Engine → DuckDuckGo. This stops Google from logging your searches directly, though Safari itself still routes some queries through Apple’s infrastructure. Additionally, read our Flaru vs DuckDuckGo comparison to understand the difference between both options.

Frequently Asked Questions