Best Websites for Almost Anything
One site to search, one to ask, one to build, one to watch, one to keep, one to map. A general-purpose internet starter kit for people who want results, not a browser full of tabs.
- Six default destinations cover the vast majority of everyday internet needs.
- Each earns its slot by being the reliable, free default in its category.
- Learn one power feature per site; that's where the real value lives.
Forget a hundred tabs. A strong general-purpose setup is six defaults: search, reference, discussion, building, video, and maps. Learn one power feature in each and you can handle almost anything the internet throws at you.
As you encounter a category you use often, find one default for it and stop collecting alternatives. Six strong defaults beat forty okay bookmarks.
The six defaults
- Search — Google, DuckDuckGo, or Bing. Learn quotes for exact phrases and site: for one-domain searches.
- Reference — Wikipedia for breadth, then jump to cited sources for depth.
- Discussion — Reddit for real-world experiences; Stack Overflow for technical answers.
- Building — GitHub for code, projects, and learning from others' work.
- Video — YouTube, the free tutorial and how-to library.
- Maps — Google Maps or OpenStreetMap-based tools for directions and places.
Power features worth learning
| Site | One feature that pays off |
|---|---|
| Search | site:example.com — search within one site |
| Wikipedia | References section — the 'how to verify' door |
| Stack Overflow | Upvote counts and duplicate links — find the consensus answer fast |
| GitHub | Code search + README — read before you install or copy |
| YouTube | Playback speed + search within a video's comments/transcripts |
| Maps | Save lists and offline areas for travel and backup routes |
When 'almost anything' isn't enough
- Money decisions → dedicated, trustworthy comparison sources, not search snippets.
- Legal or medical questions → the official source (a .gov site, your insurer, your provider), not a forum.
- Work-critical research → primary sources and databases, not a general search.
Wire it without the clutter
- Set one search and one video default in your browser.
- Pin your reference, discussion, and building defaults.
- Remove the rest — bookmarks you don't use cost attention on every visit.
The best way to choose which of these you trust is an honest comparison process you can reuse everywhere.
Related: How to compare anything honestly. →
A great setup is six tools you trust, not six hundred you've heard of.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does 'for almost anything' actually mean?
It's the shortest practical stack: whichever six sites you'd offer a newcomer to cover search, learning, discussion, building, media, and maps. Start there and add as needs appear.
Are these really the best for everything?
No single site beats everything, but these six cover the middle of the bell curve. Specialists exist for every niche; this list is the reliable general default.
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