In short. Open the three-dot menu or information icon beside an Ecosia result to read its provider message.
Definition: An Ecosia result provider supplies the search results displayed by Ecosia. The result's three-dot menu or information icon opens a message identifying that provider.
Key facts
- Ecosia's provider documentation, updated in August 2026, identifies Microsoft Bing, Google and European Search Perspective (EUSP) as providers.
- Ecosia's advertising guide identifies paid results through labels such as “Ad” or “Sponsored”.
- Ecosia's German rollout announcement reports EUSP results in Germany in July 2026.
Where is the provider indicator?
Ecosia's Search Result Providers guide gives this procedure:
- Run a search on Ecosia.
- Find the three dots (…) or information icon beside a search result link.
- Click or tap the control.
- Read the message naming the provider used for that search.
The guide says the provider can change between searches, including searches by the same user. Ads can have a different provider from the organic results, which are the unpaid listings.
What determines which provider supplies the results?
Ecosia's provider guide lists location, device type, and cookie and privacy permissions as selection factors. Bing is available to all users; Google availability depends on region and browser. Market and provider preferences influence selection, subject to provider availability. These controls are in Ecosia Search Settings:
https://www.ecosia.org/settings
Regional availability needs care. Ecosia's July 2026 announcement describes EUSP as its joint venture with Qwant to build a European search index, a database of web content used to supply results. It reports a rollout in Germany following availability in France. The announcement presents further expansion within Germany as a plan.
The help guide's France-only statement conflicts with that rollout announcement. For a particular search, the result's provider message supplies the documented check.
How do ads affect the check?
Ecosia's Ads on Ecosia Search guide, updated in March 2026, describes sponsored links in separate advertising slots. Microsoft Advertising and Google AdSense for Search supply ads, with other partners or formats sometimes tested in limited regions. Country and settings influence this advertising supply.
An “Ad” or “Sponsored” marker identifies a paid listing. The guide also describes special advertising boxes, including product or shopping ads in some regions. Search partners rank organic listings using their own algorithms; advertisers cannot pay to change their order. Maps, weather information, translations and AI answers are described separately as features supplied by search partners and feature providers. Recording the type of item alongside its provider helps distinguish these elements during a results review.
Related terms
- Can I choose which search provider Ecosia uses?
- Which search index supplies Ecosia results in Germany?
- How do I change Ecosia's search market for a regional comparison?
FAQ
Does my provider preference identify the provider actually used?
Check the result's provider message. Ecosia's provider documentation says availability can lead it to use another provider despite your preference.
Can I identify the organic provider from an ad?
Check the organic result itself. Ecosia documents that ads and organic results can use different providers, while its advertising guide identifies paid listings through “Ad” or “Sponsored” labels.
Sources
- Ecosia, "Search Result Providers", 12 August 2026
- Ecosia, "Ads on Ecosia Search", 23 March 2026
- Ecosia, "Suchergebnisse aus unserem Index sind in Deutschland live", 30 July 2026
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