TL;DR
nilch is presented as a not-for-profit search engine emphasizing a stripped-back experience without AI or advertising. The site highlights support for DuckDuckGo-style bangs and provides links for donations, an about page, and setting it as the default search.
What happened
A project called nilch was posted under a "Show HN" heading and is reachable at nilch.org. The site positions itself as a not-for-profit search option that avoids advertising and generative AI, promoting a minimal search experience. The homepage surfaces links to Donate and About, plus an option to set the engine as the browser default. A headline associated with the project also advertises compatibility with DuckDuckGo bangs — shorthand queries that jump directly to specific sites. The site is current as of the published timestamp in the source (2025-12-29T05:25:25+00:00). Beyond the homepage navigation and the core positioning against ads and AI, the source does not provide additional technical details, usage metrics, company structure, or privacy policy text.
Why it matters
- Provides an alternative to ad-driven and AI-augmented search experiences for users seeking simplicity.
- A not-for-profit framing could affect incentives around monetization and data use compared with commercial engines.
- Support for DuckDuckGo-style bangs may speed workflows for users who rely on shortcut queries.
- Easy access to a default-setting option lowers the barrier for users to try replacing their current search provider.
Key facts
- Project name and site: nilch — available at https://nilch.org/
- Presented under a 'Show HN' heading according to the source title.
- Site messaging emphasizes a search experience without advertising and without AI.
- The site advertises compatibility with DuckDuckGo 'bangs' (shortcut search commands).
- Visible site links include Donate, About, and Set as Default.
- Published timestamp in the source: 2025-12-29T05:25:25+00:00.
- No technical specs, traffic figures, or operator identity are provided in the source.
What to watch next
- Adoption and user interest (not confirmed in the source).
- How the project handles privacy, data retention, and queries (not confirmed in the source).
- Whether the project publishes a roadmap, source code, or governance details (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Not-for-profit: An organizational model where revenue is used to further the service or mission rather than distribute profits to owners or shareholders.
- Search engine: A web service that indexes and retrieves content from the internet in response to user queries.
- DuckDuckGo bangs: Shortcut commands that send a search query directly to a specified site or service; typically invoked with an exclamation mark followed by a site keyword.
- Ad-supported model: A business approach where services are monetized primarily through advertising displayed to users.
- Generative AI: Machine learning systems that produce new content such as text, images, or audio in response to prompts.
Reader FAQ
Is nilch ad-free?
The site presents itself as avoiding advertising.
Does nilch use AI to generate results?
The project states it does not use AI.
Can I donate to the project?
A Donate link is present on the site.
Who runs nilch and is it open source?
Not confirmed in the source.
nilch No AI, no ads, just search. Donate About Set as Default
Sources
- Show HN: My not-for-profit search engine with no ads, no AI, & all DDG bangs
- My not-for-profit search engine with no ads, no AI, & all …
- DuckDuckGo – Protection. Privacy. Peace of mind.
- The 10 Best Search Engines for Privacy in 2025
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