DuckDuckGo vs. Google 

Google is the largest search engine in the world. Billions of people use it to search for recipes, exercise routines, and historical facts. Google’s great for getting homework tips, and you can use their services to map your drive from home to the nearest attraction.

Access to user data is what makes Google great. It has good algorithms that give people what they want, and the company’s ability to filter information quickly keeps them well ahead of the pack.

However, anyone concerned with online privacy is likely aware that Google isn’t the place to go when you want to remain anonymous or prevent tracking online. For that, users need other options, and DuckDuckGo is one of the most popular choices for privacy-focused searches.

What’s the difference between Google and DuckDuckGo? Which one should you use when you’re online looking for everything from the best local bagels to planning your next vacation?

Here, we explore the difference between two leading search engines and what you can expect when using DuckDuckGo vs. Google.

Reasons to Use Google

People use Google for a good reason; they get great results quickly with the search engine. However, if you use other search engines, you’ll notice that the results aren’t as good, and you may have to look through more links to find what you need.

There are plenty of reasons Google is far ahead of the competition in search. They spend more on research and development. Every year, Google deploys billions of dollars studying user interactions and making the experience fast and simple.

In fact, Google is so confident in its search tools that its page is extremely simple. When you go to google.com to search, you see only a search bar and nothing else.

Google collects trillions of user searches, movements, and online behaviors to deliver a powerful tool designed to bring searchers the information they need in seconds. It keeps Google at the top of the stack regarding online search engines.

Reasons Not to Use Google

People eventually learn that Google is so good at online searches because of how they use and manipulate user data.

Essentially, Google builds online profiles that help them deliver personalized searches based on preferences, location, past search history, and other information. For example, Google tracks your searches and which links you click on and spend the most time on. This helps them recommend search results you’re more likely to enjoy in the future.

The suggested search terms that drop down when you begin to type something into the Google search bar will be different than someone living in another country with different search history.

Knowing that Google tracks what you search for and how you interact with search results is troubling for some people. They don’t like the idea of a large company knowing what they’re doing online and, even worse, what they’re likely to do as they browse the internet.

Some folks don’t mind being tracked because they care about getting the most accurate results. Other people, however, would prefer searching and browsing in a way that protects their privacy.

For that, they need to look for search engines beyond Google.

What Is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo was founded in 2008 as an alternative search engine focused on user privacy. Not only are searches on the engine completely anonymous, but the company also doesn’t use trackers to follow users where they go after they enter search queries.

The search engine also deletes user search history, so people don’t have to worry about other users on the same computer seeing what they’ve looked for in the past. Erasing search history also stops DuckDuckGo from personalizing search results or biasing results.

DuckDuckGo has browser plugins that make it easy to use. It’s also the preferred search option for other privacy tools like the TOR browser.

Users can also get to desired search results fasters, which makes it a powerful tool in the hands of users accustomed to the search engine. With “Bangs,” DuckDuckGo users can search for information on third-party sites.

DuckDuckGo started small, but they’ve grown into a formidable search company that handles tens of millions of daily searches. In addition, it has native mobile apps for both iOS and Android.

Comparing DuckDuckGo and Google

How important is online privacy to you? If you want a search engine that doesn’t track you across search results and link clicks, then give DuckDuckGo a try. You’ll get unbiased search results from hundreds of sources and the assurance that your data isn’t being collected and used to target you with ads in the future.

On the other hand, Google users often enjoy getting personalized search results that are precisely what they need or are extremely close to the mark. The company offers an unmatched ability to personalize results and ads. Some people like that.

In general, DuckDuckGo displays fewer ads in its search results compared to Google. It also gives users the ability to filter search results by region, which is a good feature for people wanting to hide their location from trackers but still want to look for stores or attractions in a specific area.

Others, however, would rather their search engine not follow them around the internet and turn to search engines like DuckDuckGo for anonymity.

Of course, the online experience doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing experience. Depending on what they’re doing online, people often use both DuckDuckGo and Google. For example, if you’d like certain topics to stay out of your search history, you can pop over to DuckDuckGo. However, if you want to find restaurants you’re more likely to enjoy based on past preferences, then Google is usually the better option.

Summary

Both Google and DuckDuckGo offer online users a unique experience. Google’s selling point is that it’s the best, most comprehensive search engine on the internet. DuckDuckGo focuses on user privacy and prevents tracking.

Knowing how your search engines handle queries and what they do with your data makes you a better online user. You can switch between Google and DuckDuckGo based on what you’re doing and whether you want to remain anonymous at the time.