Reviewed by The Mom Store editorial team, October 2026. See our editorial policy.
A kids search engine filters what your child sees when they look something up online, and most of them run on top of Google's own SafeSearch filter with extra rules added. None of them is perfect, so they work best alongside the settings on your child's device and an adult nearby.
Start with the settings you already have
Before installing anything new, switch on the filter built into the search engine your child already uses. Google's SafeSearch help page explains that SafeSearch tries to filter explicit content such as nudity and violence from search results, and that parents can lock it on Filter so a child cannot turn it off. If your child has a Google account managed through the Family Link app, SafeSearch is set to Filter by default for children under 13, and only a parent can change it.
Google is also clear that SafeSearch only applies to Google Search. It does not filter other websites, and it "attempts" to catch inappropriate content rather than promising to catch all of it. Bing and Yahoo have similar settings in their menus.
Search engines made for children
Children's search engines add their own filtering on top and usually have a brighter, simpler layout that younger children find easier to use. Here are six, with what each site says about itself.
Kiddle: a visual search engine for kids with separate tabs for web, images and facts. Its site says results are vetted by editors, and it has pages explaining how it blocks sites and keywords.
Kidtopia: describes itself as a Google custom search engine for preschool and primary school students that indexes only educator approved websites. Because it searches a smaller list of sites, results are narrower, which suits younger children doing simple school projects.
GoGooligans: despite the name, it is not part of Google. It says it is powered by Google SafeSearch and offers thousands of educational search suggestions, along with an on screen keyboard for children with disabilities.
KidsSearch: says it uses its own filters together with Google Safe Search to put child friendly results first, and has a page where you can report a result that slipped through.
WackySafe: describes itself as having strict safe search settings for home and school, with tabs for images, news, videos and a kids wiki. It does not need an account to start searching.
KidzSearch: one of the older services; it says it has been used by schools since 2005 and that all results are strict filtered, and it has a safety pledge that reminds children not to share personal details without a parent's permission.
A few habits that help more than any filter
- Set the kids search engine as the home page on the browser your child uses, so it is the first thing they see.
- Keep the laptop or tablet in a shared room such as the living room, especially for younger children.
- Try a few searches yourself first, including the words your child is likely to type for school projects, and see what comes up.
- Tell your child what to do if something upsetting appears: close the screen and come to you, without worrying about getting into trouble.
- Revisit the settings as your child grows. A ten year old researching a school project will soon outgrow a search engine built for six year olds.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are the personal views of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of The Mom Store.
