Built-In Privacy: Startpage Lands in Firefox Across Five European Countries

You asked. Firefox listened. Now it’s here: Startpage in Firefox.

One billion annual searches. Zero extensions now required. 

The demand was clear: Startpage has been the most requested search engine integration on Mozilla Connect since 2024, and Firefox users already generate more than one billion Startpage searches annually. 

Starting today, it’s built in: Startpage is natively integrated into Firefox across Germany, the Netherlands, France, Austria, and Switzerland (Firefox 154 and later, on desktop), following a successful pilot across all five countries.

No extensions, no setup: full private search results with zero tracking, no AI-generated answers, no search history stored, and no account required.

“So much of your web experience is decided before you ever open a browser. We’d rather you decide. Adding Startpage puts a genuinely private search option (real results, zero profiling) one click away for millions of people in Europe.” — Ajit Varma, Head of Firefox

How to Switch in Seconds

1. Download the latest version of Firefox.
2. Click the search menu button in your address bar.
3. Select Startpage as your search engine.

Private searching starts immediately from your very first query. You can also set Startpage as your default in Firefox settings.

Why We Build It This Way

Private search. That’s the promise, for more than two decades. Startpage exists because search should be private: no profile quietly assembling behind your queries, nothing following you afterward, and no AI answers you didn’t ask for.

As a European search engine operating under EU privacy law, launching this native integration where privacy expectations run highest feels like coming home. And Firefox fits that promise. 

It’s a browser built with privacy and protection as the default: tracking, fingerprinting, and third-party cookies blocked out of the box. 

And Firefox listens: this integration exists because users asked for it.

You can access additional protections on Startpage, including Anonymous View, our proprietary privacy feature that lets you visit search result pages without third-party sites seeing who you are.

“More and more of what people use online comes from a handful of very large companies, and search is where that concentration gets felt most directly. Firefox has always been the browser for people who want to make their own decisions about the web, which makes it a natural home for private search. Firefox users already run over a billion Startpage searches a year. Now it’s built in for everyone in these markets.” — Stewart Marlborough, President, Startpage

Try It Today

If you’re browsing from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, or Switzerland, download the latest Firefox and select Startpage in your search settings.

Explore the rest of our privacy tools at startpage.com, and tell us what you think on Mozilla Connect. Your voice got this built, and it will shape what comes next.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is searching with Startpage in Firefox private?

Yes. When you submit a query, Firefox routes it to Startpage, where identifying information (including your IP address) is stripped before processing. No profiles are built, no search history is logged, and no account is required. Startpage is based in the Netherlands and operates under GDPR.

Does Startpage search use AI?

No. Startpage search has no AI-generated answers and no AI summaries in results. Your query returns search results, nothing else. Searches are also never used to train AI models.

Do I need an account to use Startpage in Firefox?

No. Select Startpage in Firefox’s search settings and every search is private from day one. No sign-ups or personal credentials required.

Which countries have Startpage built into Firefox?

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland, starting with Firefox 154. If you are located in one of these countries, Startpage appears automatically in your Firefox search settings.