You.com
AI SearchAI search engine with customizable result sources
Overview
You.com launched in 2020 as an AI-powered search alternative that lets users customize their information sources and get conversational answers. Built by former Salesforce executives Richard Socher and Bryan McCann, the platform differentiates itself from Google through source transparency, privacy controls, and an app-based ecosystem for specialized searches. While You.com holds a tiny fraction of Google's search volume, it represents the broader shift toward AI-powered search experiences that SEO professionals need to understand.
The platform combines traditional web search with AI chat functionality, similar to Perplexity or SearchGPT, but with more granular control over source selection. Users can choose to prioritize academic sources, exclude social media, or focus on recent news. This customization creates different result sets than Google's algorithm-driven approach. For SEO professionals, You.com offers insight into how content performs when algorithmic personalization and tracking are reduced.
You.com's approach to AI search differs from Google's AI Overviews by giving users more control over the underlying sources. Rather than Google's black-box algorithm determining which sources feed AI summaries, You.com lets users see and modify these inputs. This transparency makes it valuable for testing how content appears in AI-driven search results across different source configurations.
Key features
Custom Source Selection
Choose which websites and databases feed your search results, letting you prioritize trusted sources or filter out unwanted content.
AI Chat Integration
Get conversational answers with citations, similar to ChatGPT but with real-time web access and source transparency.
App Ecosystem
Access specialized search apps for code, academic research, news, and other verticals within the same interface.
Privacy Controls
Search without tracking by default, with options to control data collection and ad personalization.
Multi-Modal Results
Get text, images, videos, and other media types in unified search results with AI-powered summaries.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Basic AI search, limited queries, standard sources |
| YouPro | $20/month | Unlimited AI chat, premium apps, priority support, advanced modes |
FAQ
How does You.com compare to Google for SEO research?
You.com offers more transparency in source selection and less personalized results, making it useful for seeing how content appears to unbiased searchers. However, Google remains the dominant search engine for SEO targeting.
Can You.com help with keyword research?
You.com can surface related topics and questions through its AI chat feature, but it lacks dedicated keyword research tools like search volume data or difficulty metrics.
Does You.com show ads like Google?
You.com shows fewer ads than Google and allows users to customize whether ads appear in results. This creates a different competitive landscape for paid search strategies.
How accurate are You.com's AI summaries for fact-checking content?
You.com provides source citations for its AI summaries, making verification easier than uncited AI responses. However, always verify claims through original sources, especially for YMYL content.
Will You.com replace Google for SEO professionals?
Unlikely in the near term due to Google's market dominance, but You.com represents important trends in AI search that SEO professionals should monitor and optimize for.
Review Sentiment
Bottom line
A free option for researchers and knowledge workers: You.com offers AI-powered search with customizable source preferences. It lacks a review track record, so treat it as experimental.
People love
- +AI-powered search with customizable source preferences — unique personalization approach
- +Multiple AI modes including Research, Writing, and Code for different use cases
- +Free tier with generous usage limits for research and content exploration
Common complaints
- –Tiny market share makes it irrelevant for SEO traffic strategy for most sites
- –Search results quality and freshness varies compared to Google or Bing
- –No webmaster tools or publisher controls for monitoring site presence
Last updated Feb 2026