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20 Forgotten Websites That Were Once More Popular Than Google

The article discusses 20 websites that were once the biggest on the internet but are now forgotten or overshadowed by bigger companies like Google. From search engines to social media networks, these websites used to be very important to many people and had a huge impact on the digital world.

  • Tricia Quitales
  • 6 min read
20 Forgotten Websites That Were Once More Popular Than Google
Startup Stock Photos on Pexels

Many websites in the early days of the internet helped shape the digital world, but many of them are no longer known. These platforms used to get a lot of traffic because of their cool features, but they had a hard time staying relevant over time. Know what made them special and why they don’t have the same place in internet history as they used to.

1. AltaVista

AltaVista Webseite on Wikimedia AltaVista Webseite on Wikimedia

AltaVista was one of the first big search engines, released in 1995. Compared to the others, it made searching faster and easier. Although it was initially successful, Google’s better search algorithms made it less important.

2. Ask Jeeves

ask.com on Wikimedia ask.com on Wikimedia

Ask Jeeves was an incredible search engine that let people ask things about anything. It stood out from others because of its friendly mascot, Jeeves. It had a unique method, but it couldn’t keep up with Google’s system, which was better at what it did.

3. Netscape

Netscape Communications Corp. (original icon). Gabriel dos Santos (SVG version) on Wikimedia Netscape Communications Corp. (original icon). Gabriel dos Santos (SVG version) on Wikimedia

Netscape was one of the first well-known web platforms. It came out in 1994. In the early days of the internet, it was very important because it helped people find their way around the World Wide Web. However, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome took over its market share.

4. MySpace

News Corporation on Wikimedia News Corporation on Wikimedia

When it first came out in 2003, MySpace was a social networking site that changed how people connected online. Teens and young adults liked it because they could change their profiles and meet with friends. Unfortunately, Facebook’s better features led to the end of MySpace.

5. Yahoo!

Yahoo! Inc. on Wikimedia Yahoo! Inc. on Wikimedia

Yahoo! was one of the first big websites that let you search the web, read news, and send emails. It was very popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s but slowly lost popularity because it couldn’t keep up with new search technologies. Google quickly took over as the best search engine, and Yahoo! lost its top spot.

6. AOL

AOL on Wikimedia AOL on Wikimedia

In the early days of the Internet, America Online (AOL) was the most popular internet service company and a well-known brand. It offered dial-up internet and a well-known instant message service. On the other hand, faster internet and free options caused AOL to quickly fall from favor.

7. Lycos

cottonbro studio on Pexels cottonbro studio on Pexels

When it came out in 1994, Lycos was a very famous search engine and web portal. It was one of the first search engines. It also hosted websites and had a listing service, but Google quickly took over because its search results were more accurate and faster.

8. Bebo

Derfel73; Bebo on Wikimedia Derfel73; Bebo on Wikimedia

People in the UK and Ireland used Bebo a lot when it first came out in the early 2000s. It let people make their own pages and stay in touch with friends. Even though it was successful at first, it couldn’t keep up with Facebook and other sites, so it shut down in the end.

9. Friendster

Public domain on Wikimedia Public domain on Wikimedia

Friendster was one of the first sites for social networking. It came out in 2002. In the early 2000s, it became very popular, especially in Asia, as a way to connect online. However, it couldn’t keep up with the growing number of users, so MySpace and Facebook quickly took their place.

10. Digg

Digg on Wikimedia Digg on Wikimedia

Digg was a social news site where people could post stories and vote on them. It became one of the most popular sites around the middle of the 2000s. However, it lost some of its appeal after several redesigns and the rise of rival sites like Reddit.

11. Flickr

Tiny SVG project on Wikimedia Tiny SVG project on Wikimedia

Flickr used to be the best place to share photos online, and artists loved it. Users could upload and share high-quality images. Even though Yahoo! bought it, it was hard to compete with Instagram and other photo-sharing apps, which caused it to fail.

12. Napster

Marek Levak on Pexels Marek Levak on Pexels

Napster was a groundbreaking service that let people share files with each other and share songs online. It was very famous in the late 1990s, but it went out of business because of legal problems and other similar services that were offered. Despite this, it paved the way for current services that stream music.

13. Vine

Vine Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia Vine Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia

Vine was a service for posting short videos that let users post 6-second loops. It became a cultural phenomenon, and many movies went viral on the site. However, it shut down in 2017 because it wasn’t making enough money, and now, there are apps like Instagram and Snapchat that do the same thing.

14. GeoCities

GeoCities on Wikimedia GeoCities on Wikimedia

GeoCities was one of the first tools for making websites, letting people make their own web pages. It became one of the most popular sites in the late 1990s. However, it didn’t develop any new ideas, and Yahoo! shut it down in 2009.

15. Second Life

Cm.lindenlab on Wikimedia Cm.lindenlab on Wikimedia

People could make characters, build homes, and talk to others in Second Life, a virtual world. At the beginning of the 2000s, it became very famous. However, as Facebook and games like Fortnite became more popular, Second Life became less known.

16. Orkut

Sussepudim on Wikimedia Sussepudim on Wikimedia

Google made the social networking site Orkut, which was famous in countries like India and Brazil. Users could connect with each other, share news, and make groups. It was initially successful, but Facebook eventually beat it and shut down in 2014.

17. LiveJournal

LiveJournal on Wikimedia LiveJournal on Wikimedia

Back in the early 2000s, LiveJournal was a popular site to write a blog. It let people write personal blogs and talk to each other. WordPress and Tumblr, on the other hand, made it less popular as they became more famous.

18. Foursquare

Foursquare Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia Foursquare Labs, Inc. on Wikimedia

People could “check in” at different places on Foursquare, a location-based social network. Many people used it to find new places and share their stories. However, the platform lost its usefulness over time, and in 2014, it was remade as Swarm.

19. Moo.com

Malte Luk on Pexels Malte Luk on Pexels

Moo.com used to be the best place to get and print personalized business cards. It gave people and companies a unique experience that could be tailored to their needs. However, as competition in the print business grew, it became hard for it to keep its place.

20. Blockbuster Online

MART PRODUCTION on Pexels MART PRODUCTION on Pexels

Blockbuster Online used to be a strong competitor to Netflix because it let people rent DVDs by mail. Customers could rent movies and have them sent to their houses. That said, the company failed to switch to digital streaming services, and Netflix took the lead in the market.

Written by: Tricia Quitales

Tricia is a recent college graduate whose true passion lies in writing—a hobby she’s cherished for years. Now a Content Writer at Illumeably, Tricia combines her love for storytelling with her fascination for personal growth. She’s all about continuous learning, taking risks, and using her words to connect with and inspire others.

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