Wiby review
A free search engine for older-style and personal websites, not the whole web.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Nov 2026
Wiby is a free web search engine for people looking for personal websites and pages with an older web aesthetic, including sites designed for vintage computers. Its search index is deliberately focused rather than intended to cover the entire web, making it a niche alternative to broad general search. Visitors can submit pages for inclusion or use “surprise me” to land on a random site. It is best suited to curiosity-driven browsing and finding corners of the web that larger search engines may not emphasize.
Search controls add practical flexibility to that focused scope. Documented operators cover exact phrases, required and excluded terms, dates, and site restrictions. Adult-content filtering is adjustable, and an HTTPS filter is available for older browsers. Applications can use Wiby’s JSON search output, while people who want to run their own search engine can use the open-source software, licensed under GPLv2. These options make Wiby useful beyond its search page, though the search index remains centered on its chosen kind of sites.
The main trade-off is coverage: Wiby is not a substitute for a broad search engine when a query needs comprehensive web results. Its project prefers to seed the index through submissions from users and maintainers, so the experience is shaped by that focused approach. The official search service is free, and support is available by email. Choose Wiby for older-style and personal pages, casual discovery, or a self-hosted search project; choose a broader engine when wide-ranging coverage is the priority.
Wiby pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Searches an index focused on older-style and personal websites
- Offers page submissions, search operators, and adjustable content filters
- Provides JSON output and open-source software for self-hosting
- Where it doesn't
- Its focused index is not intended to cover the entire web
- Index seeding favors user and maintainer submissions
- Support is available by email
Wiby fact sheet, pricing and score →
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update