xEngine for Safari vs Customize Search Engine
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
xEngine for Safari
This utility app allows users to customize their default search engine within Safari. It supports a wide variety of popular and AI-powered search engines, and enables users to add their own custom options while prioritizing privacy through local processing.
- Customize Safari's default search engine
- Support for popular search engines
- Add custom AI search engines
- Local data processing for privacy
- Manage your own search engines
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xEngine — Customize Your Safari's Default Search Engine Tired of Safari's limited search options? xEngine gives you control. Switch between a wide range of search engines — or add your own, including AI engines like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity — all without sacrificing privacy. Key Features: - Choose from popular engines like Brave, Yandex, Startpage, ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and more - Add and manage your own custom search engines - Local processing only — xEngine never collects your data Simple. Private. Yours. Download xEngine and search the web your way.
Customize Search Engine
This Safari extension lets you customize your default search engine and settings. Easily switch between preferred search engines, including AI assistants, and modify options like hiding AI Overviews or changing language. It offers quick search shortcuts and emoji search functionality.
- Customize default search engine
- Use custom search engines in Private Browse
- Quick search with keywords
- Emoji search on Emojipedia
- Switch search engines by shortcuts
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Safari Extension to customize your search engine. This extension allows you to use your preferred search engines, such as non-default search engines or AI assistants. You can also use it to change search engine settings, for example, by hiding AI Overviews or changing language settings. ### Features ### --- Customize your Search Engine Change Safari's default search engine. --- CSE for Private Browse Switch search engines in Private Browse. --- Quick Search Enter the keyword to switch search engines. Example: - Search "br something" to search in Brave Search - Search "wiki Safari" to find Safari on Wikipedia - Search "yt Me at the zoo" to find the oldest videos on YouTube - Search "wbm example.com" to see past versions of the website --- Emoji Search If you enter only one emoji, you can search it on Emojipedia.org. --- Switch Search Engines by Shortcuts and Focus You can use a different custom search engine or disable CSE while at work, school, etc.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Customize Search Engine at Free against xEngine for Safari's $1.99. Customize Search Engine also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 6 months). xEngine for Safari's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Customize Search Engine is free to download; xEngine for Safari costs $1.99 up front. Customize Search Engine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. xEngine for Safari asks for nothing beyond the download.
Customize Search Engine holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Customize Search Engine has 66 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of xEngine for Safari's written reviews are positive against 78% of Customize Search Engine's.
xEngine for Safari ships an update every 6 months, Customize Search Engine every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | xEngine for Safari | Customize Search Engine |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.3 (6 ratings) | 4.4 (66 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 78.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 66 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | Every 9 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | 磊 汪 | Cizzuk Shihu |
Customer experience
xEngine for Safari
Customize Search Engine
Bugs and requests
xEngine for Safari
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Customize Search Engine
Reported bugs
8 issues- App crashes during export settings
- Inconsistent search results
- Safari freezes when using Brave Search
- Unremovable 'Open in the Google app' banner
- Rapid redirecting causing CAPTCHA issues
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- Block page sometimes stuck or slow
- Doesn't work on iOS
- Doesn't work at all
Requested features
4 requests- Add Ecosia as an option
- Support full-width space in quick search
- Sync settings between devices
- Improve redirect screen simplicity
In-app purchases
xEngine for Safari
No in-app purchases
Customize Search Engine
- Change App icon$0.99
Questions
Is xEngine for Safari free?
Is Customize Search Engine free?
Which has better reviews, xEngine for Safari or Customize Search Engine?
Do xEngine for Safari or Customize Search Engine have ads?
Which is updated more often, xEngine for Safari or Customize Search Engine?
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