Kagi Expands Beyond Search with 'Small Web' Directory for Human-Curated Content
The new initiative offers a directory-style browsing experience reminiscent of early internet portals, available alongside its subscription-based search tools.
Search engine provider Kagi has expanded its service offerings with the launch of a new initiative called the 'Small Web'. This platform curates a directory of human-made and human-curated websites, aiming to provide an alternative to the current web landscape which is increasingly dominated by algorithms, advertisements, and AI-generated content. The project marks a strategic move beyond Kagi’s core privacy-focused search engine, positioning itself as a digital archive reminiscent of early web directories such as AltaVista, Yahoo, and StumbleUpon.
The 'Small Web' platform allows users to browse niche topics including DIY and making, travel and outdoors, retro interests, and pop culture. To facilitate discovery, the interface features a 'Next Post' button that enables random browsing through curated content, alongside options to share or favourite specific pages. This structure is designed to encourage users to encounter essays, digital art, and blog posts created for creativity rather than monetisation, echoing the spirit of the early open web.
Kagi’s primary business remains its subscription-based search engine, which operates on a model that charges users directly rather than monetising their data or displaying sponsored results. The service starts at $5 a month for 300 searches, which includes access to a standard-level AI assistant. Higher tiers are available for $10 a month, offering unlimited searches and increased AI assistant tokens. A free trial providing 100 searches is also available for new users to evaluate the platform.
The search engine itself is built to promote relevant, high-quality results and noncommercial sites, free from the influence of paid promotions. Users can filter results by type, such as images, videos, podcasts, maps, or news, and can limit searches by time or language. The integration of an AI assistant helps users interpret search results, while the underlying indexes are designed to avoid the sponsored links and data tracking practices associated with major competitors like Google.
To support these services, Kagi has recently released native applications for Android and iOS devices. The company frames its subscription model as a direct payment alternative to the traditional web economy, arguing that users should have the option to pay for privacy and quality rather than surrendering personal data or enduring advertisements. The 'Small Web' project represents an effort to preserve and highlight the human element of the internet in an era where AI is increasingly integrated into content creation and search.
