OceanHero
Düsseldorf search engine and new-tab app funding verified ocean-plastic cleanup with its ad revenue.
Quick Overview
| Company | OceanHero GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | AI Search Engines |
| Headquarters | Düsseldorf, Germany |
| Founded | 2019 |
| EU Presence | EU (Germany) |
| Open Source | No |
| Pricing | Free |
| Free Option | Free |
| Replaces | Google, Bing, Ecosia |
Detailed Review
OceanHero runs the same trade as Ecosia with a different cause: search results come from Microsoft Bing, small ads appear alongside them, and most of that ad revenue funds plastic collection through two named nonprofit partners, Plastic Bank and Waste Free Oceans.
What separates it from a slogan is the paperwork — OceanHero has published a certificate every month since it launched in September 2019, naming what was collected and by which partner, and it is a listed member of the UN Environment Programme's Global Partnership on Marine Litter.
The product itself is unglamorous by design: a search box, a customisable new-tab page with a community impact counter, and browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox plus dedicated apps for iOS and Android.
There is no account requirement and no paid tier — advertising pays for it, not the user. Because Bing supplies the underlying results, this is not a rival to Mojeek's own index or to Startpage's no-logging promise; it competes with Ecosia on the same ground, with cause rather than privacy as the reason to switch.
OceanHero GmbH is registered in Düsseldorf, having moved its seat there from Berlin in 2022; its own imprint gives the company's address and VAT number, and public register data confirms the current filing and a 2019 founding.
That is a real, checkable German entity rather than a storefront, but the caveat that applies to Ecosia applies here too, and more sharply: an ocean charity funded by search ads is only as good as its two named partners, and OceanHero's own transparency page is the only source for how much of the revenue actually reaches them.
What OceanHero does well
- Monthly, third-party verified cleanup certificates since September 2019
- Named nonprofit partners: Plastic Bank and Waste Free Oceans
- Free, ad-funded, no account or subscription required
- Apps and extensions across Chrome, Firefox, iOS and Android
- Registered German GmbH with a checkable public filing
Where OceanHero falls short
- Search results are Microsoft Bing's, not an independent index
- Revenue reaching the ocean partners is self-reported, not audited
- No published EU-only hosting or residency commitment
- A much newer operation than Ecosia's longer certificate record
Standout feature. A dated cleanup certificate every month since launch — the same accountability trick as Ecosia, aimed at the ocean instead of trees.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Monthly, third-party verified cleanup certificates since September 2019
- Named nonprofit partners: Plastic Bank and Waste Free Oceans
- Free, ad-funded, no account or subscription required
- Apps and extensions across Chrome, Firefox, iOS and Android
- Registered German GmbH with a checkable public filing
Cons
- Search results are Microsoft Bing's, not an independent index
- Revenue reaching the ocean partners is self-reported, not audited
- No published EU-only hosting or residency commitment
- A much newer operation than Ecosia's longer certificate record
Alternatives to OceanHero
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OceanHero?
OceanHero runs the same trade as Ecosia with a different cause: search results come from Microsoft Bing, small ads appear alongside them, and most of that ad revenue funds plastic collection through two named nonprofit partners, Plastic Bank and Waste Free Oceans.
What separates it from a slogan is the paperwork — OceanHero has published a certificate every month since it launched in September 2019, naming what was collected and by which partner, and it is a listed member of the UN Environment Programme's Global Partnership on Marine Litter.
Where is OceanHero based?
OceanHero operates from Düsseldorf, Germany, which places it under EU (Germany).
What does OceanHero cost?
Free. Free.
Who is OceanHero best for?
People who want ad-funded search to fight ocean plastic. A dated cleanup certificate every month since launch — the same accountability trick as Ecosia, aimed at the ocean instead of trees.
What are the drawbacks of OceanHero?
Search results are Microsoft Bing's, not an independent index. Revenue reaching the ocean partners is self-reported, not audited. No published EU-only hosting or residency commitment. A much newer operation than Ecosia's longer certificate record.
Is OceanHero a good alternative to Google?
OceanHero is built as a European alternative to Google: Düsseldorf search engine and new-tab app funding verified ocean-plastic cleanup with its ad revenue. 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 OceanHero compare to other AI Search Engines tools?
OceanHero is one of several European AI Search Engines tools we cover. It is most often compared with Google, Bing, Ecosia.