I've been using it since ~2022 and can't go back. I think it definitely has better results: whenever I'm using a new machine or a different computer without it, I notice the low quality of results immediately; and quickly side-quest to find a way to log in to Kagi.
The freedom of clicking on the first few search results without thinking whether or not those are ads and/or scams is priceless; a calm and premium experience.
I’ve been using it for a couple of years and would add that it’s probably the density of high quality results that’s better, rather than the best results being better than Google.
In other words, there are fewer low quality results which raises the average quality of the results you’re presented with
The only time I really go to Google is when searching for a product or local business. Google excels there, but that's obviously because they have several decades of business-provided information.
how does it compare to brave search? I switched over to that a few years ago because I often got better results but I tsill end up back on google a few times a month.
Difficult to say if Kagi gives better results, but what's for certain is that it doesn't give worse results.
I am happy to pay 120$/year to support the business model.