Google vs. DuckDuckGo: Which Search Engine is Better?

Sophie Webster, Tech Times 26 May 2022, 09:05 pm

When it comes to search engines, Google is probably the most well-known. Even though it has a lot of uses and has now a part of our everyday lives, it is not without controversy.

Google has been accused of stealing user information in order to create targeted advertising. The idea of the company monitoring your every move online did not sit well with a lot of people, so they began looking for an alternative.

In comes DucDuckGo, a search engine that is focused on user privacy. But how does it work and can it perform as well as Google?

What Is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a search engine that does not track its users. While Google collects and stores the data and link them to your account to create a personalized search result, DuckDuckGo opts not to personalize your search results and cleans up your search history.

The search engine has grown steadily since its inception. It started with an average of 79,000 daily searches back in 2010, and now it has around 79 million daily searches as of 2020, according to MakeUseOf.

Some of this growth has been due to DuckDuckGo's partnerships with browser like Safari and Firefox. They have also partnered with Linux operating systems and have native apps for iOS and Android.

Also Read: DuckDuckGo Web Browser for Desktop is in the Works-Privacy Focused Alternative for Google Chrome?

In 2019, the search engine was added to Google Chrome's default search provider list.

For those that want to take their online anonymity further, TOR browser users are presented with DuckDuckGo search results by default.

The search engine focuses on search result quality over quantity, with results coming from more than 400 sources.

If you still want alternative results, DuckDuckGo's bangs feature lets you search third-party sites and even other search providers directly, according to LifeWife.

DuckDuckGo vs. Google

Alongside search, Google operates some of the web's most used software including Docs, Gmail, Calendar, Drive and more besides.

Google's access to vast amounts of your data means that its results can be personalized and their search page pulls it all together in one place.

As for DuckDuckGo, it does not have any personal data to draw from, so it stands out in other ways. It is one of the many ways that this search engine protects your personal information online, according to Wired.

This privacy-focused environment is the exact reverse of Google's targeted surroundings. There are no personalized ads, no filter bubble, and no personal search results.

Depending on your point of view, this is either one of DuckDuckGo's best or worst features. For those concerned with their privacy, the lack of tracking may seal the deal.

But DuckDuckGo has bangs. Bangs allow you to search third-party sites directly from DuckDuckGo. So if you want to search a certain website, bangs will let you type !muo followed by the search term.

What's more, searching for a site on DuckDuckGo with any of the thousands of available bangs takes you directly to the site, rather than the search engine's results.

If you find yourself missing Google's search results, you can add !g with your query so you can see that specific page.