metager.de

MetaGer is a metasearch engine that combines results from several search engines and offers anonymous browsing through a proxy that runs on its servers. Searches can be made without ads, tracking or logging, and users access ad-free search with a randomly generated key rather than an account. A Android app, a browser extension and a Tor access point are also offered, along with a maps service.

Individual users are the customers. Ad-free search is paid through token packages: one token is charged per ad-free web search with default settings, and packages range from 500 tokens for €5 to 6000 tokens for €60. Tokens are valid for two years and unused credit can be returned within 30 days of purchase. Part of the revenue is passed on to the search engines that are queried, and the rest covers staff, server costs and payment fees. MetaGer is developed and run by the non-profit association SUMA-EV, which is funded by memberships and donations.

MetaGer was launched in late 1996 as a research project of the University of Hannover, and its sponsorship moved to SUMA-EV on 1 October 2012. The source code has been published under the GNU AGPL licence since 2016. The team page lists five people, including the founder Wolfgang Sander-Beuermann. The services are stated to run on renewable energy.

Product: Metasearch engine with ad-free, anonymous search and anonymous browsing, accessed through a token-funded key, plus an Android app and browser extension.