[fauigerzigerk]

I don't understand the business model of Startpage. They pay Google for using their search engine. Their revenue comes from non-personalised advertising.

So that means either Startpage has higher ad margins than Google or Google is selling services to Startpage below their own search margins or Startpage has some other source of funds to subsidise the search engine.

[brewdad]

They do have a freemium mail offering

https://www.startmail.com/en/

I have no idea how much revenue this may bring in but it can't be much since I don't think I've ever seen it recommended in an Ask HN thread.

[Marsymars]

> or Google is selling services to Startpage below their own search margins

I expect this is the case - it's still better for Google to capture a user at lower margins via Startpage than to lose them to Bing.