Lilo
French solidarity search engine on Bing results that passes 80% of profits to associations you pick
Quick Overview
| Company | Qwant SAS |
|---|---|
| Category | Search Engines |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| EU Presence | EU (France) |
| Data Location | France (EU) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free, 80% of profits redistributed to user-chosen associations |
| Free Option | Free |
| Replaces | Google, Bing |
Detailed Review
Lilo is a French search engine built around giving money away. Its own pages state that 80% of its profits are redistributed every month to associations and projects that users choose themselves, and it reports having passed on more than five million euros so far.
The mechanism is the same advertising-funded model as other free engines, with the difference that the beneficiary is not a single tree-planting programme but a list of social and environmental projects the user selects. The figures are self-reported, as with any such claim.
The legal notice names Qwant SAS in Paris as the publisher, so Lilo and Qwant are one company with two products.
Results come from a partnership with Microsoft Bing, and with Pages Jaunes for local businesses, which means quality is Bing's rather than an independent index. Servers are hosted in France under EU jurisdiction. The site says it protects personal data, but the pages reviewed give no detail on logging or retention, so a privacy-minded user should read the policy before treating Lilo as equivalent to Startpage or MetaGer.
Within this category Lilo is closest to Ecosia in what it offers: a free engine on Bing results that turns advertising income into a cause.
It differs in being French-language first, in letting users spread support across several associations, and in sharing a parent with Qwant. It is a sensible default for someone who wants the donation mechanism and EU hosting, and a weaker choice for anyone whose main concern is independence from Bing or whose priority is a verified no-logging policy.
What Lilo does well
- 80% of profits redistributed monthly to associations the user chooses
- Reports more than five million euros passed on
- Published by Qwant SAS in Paris, EU jurisdiction
- Servers hosted in France
- Free to use, with Pages Jaunes local business results
Where Lilo falls short
- Results come from Microsoft Bing, no independent index
- Impact figures are self-reported and not independently audited
- Privacy pages reviewed give little detail on logging
- Same company as Qwant, so no independent ownership
- French-language first
Standout feature. A search engine that states it pays out 80% of its profits to associations chosen by its users, run by the company behind Qwant.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 80% of profits redistributed monthly to associations the user chooses
- Reports more than five million euros passed on
- Published by Qwant SAS in Paris, EU jurisdiction
- Servers hosted in France
- Free to use, with Pages Jaunes local business results
Cons
- Results come from Microsoft Bing, no independent index
- Impact figures are self-reported and not independently audited
- Privacy pages reviewed give little detail on logging
- Same company as Qwant, so no independent ownership
- French-language first
Alternatives to Lilo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Lilo?
Lilo is a French search engine built around giving money away. Its own pages state that 80% of its profits are redistributed every month to associations and projects that users choose themselves, and it reports having passed on more than five million euros so far.
The mechanism is the same advertising-funded model as other free engines, with the difference that the beneficiary is not a single tree-planting programme but a list of social and environmental projects the user selects. The figures are self-reported, as with any such claim.
Where is Lilo based?
Lilo operates from Paris, France, which places it under EU (France).
What does Lilo cost?
Free, 80% of profits redistributed to user-chosen associations. Free.
Who is Lilo best for?
French speakers who want searches to fund associations they pick. A search engine that states it pays out 80% of its profits to associations chosen by its users, run by the company behind Qwant.
What are the drawbacks of Lilo?
Results come from Microsoft Bing, no independent index. Impact figures are self-reported and not independently audited. Privacy pages reviewed give little detail on logging. Same company as Qwant, so no independent ownership. French-language first.
Is Lilo a good alternative to Google?
Lilo is built as a European alternative to Google: French solidarity search engine on Bing results that passes 80% of profits to associations you pick. It will not be a like-for-like feature match in every respect, so check the review above for where the two genuinely differ before switching.
How does Lilo compare to other Search Engines tools?
Lilo is one of several European Search Engines tools we cover. It is most often compared with Google, Bing.