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Gigablast

Open-source search engine with its own index, built by a single developer — one of the oldest independent web crawlers still operating.

Independent web indexes maintain their own crawl of the web, separate from Google or Bing. This independence is valuable for AI applications that need unbiased search results, want to avoid rate limits on commercial search engines, or need specialized coverage. Several of these indexes are open source, allowing full transparency into how results are ranked.

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Features

—JS Rendering
✓Structured Output
✓Open Source
✓Self-Hosted Option
Pricing:Free

Editorial assessment

A rare survivor — Matt Wells has been running Gigablast independently since 2000, making it one of the longest-lived independent search engines. Open-source and self-hostable. The index is small and aging. The one-person operation means inconsistent uptime and no SLA. More of a historical curiosity and educational resource than production infrastructure.

How Gigablast compares

Mojeek

Mojeek provides a more actively maintained independent index with API access.

Stract

Stract is the modern open-source search engine project building a fresh independent index.

Common Crawl

Common Crawl offers far larger open data if you want to build your own search.

Frequently asked questions

What is Gigablast?

Open-source search engine with its own index, built by a single developer — one of the oldest independent web crawlers still operating. It falls under the Independent Web Indexes category in our directory. Gigablast is open source, meaning you can inspect the code and self-host it.

How much does Gigablast cost?

Gigablast uses a free pricing model. It is completely free to use.

What are the best alternatives to Gigablast?

The top alternatives to Gigablast include Mojeek, Stract, Common Crawl. Each offers a different approach to independent web indexes — see our comparison section above for detailed analysis.

Does Gigablast support JavaScript rendering?

No, Gigablast does not include built-in JavaScript rendering. For dynamic websites, you may need to pair it with a headless browser or choose a tool that includes JS rendering.

Does Gigablast provide structured output?

Yes, Gigablast returns structured output (typically JSON), making it straightforward to integrate into AI pipelines, RAG systems, and data processing workflows.

Can I self-host Gigablast?

Yes, Gigablast offers a self-hosted option, giving you full control over the infrastructure, data privacy, and deployment environment.

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