BLOG
DuckDuckGo vs Google: Which One Should You Pick?
Table of contents
Click on a title to jump to a section
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of decades, you’ve heard of Google. The search engine giant has the world depending on its range of services.
If you’re an Android user, your digital footprint is constantly being monitored; from the steps, you take to the searches you make and the products you browse, the search engine giant is aware of your every movement. This is evident in Google’s biased search suggestions, which bombards viewers with information that Google thinks aligns with their search queries.
This is where DuckDuckGo promises to be a formidable alternative. If you’re one of those people who think privacy is a critical element while deciding which search engine to use, DuckDuckGo is the best fit. But discretion is hardly the search engine’s sole USP. DuckDuckGo has plenty more to offer and, in this post, as Revpanda, we’ll compare the two rivals to determine which is the better fit for you.
DuckDuckGo
Founded in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo emphasises protecting the search user’s data privacy. Since the search engine does not store browsing data, it doesn’t follow people around with personalised ads and suggestions. The search engine neither tracks IP addresses nor puts your details up for sale. But apart from anonymity, what else does DuckDuckGo bring to the table?
For starters, the search engine follows a similar layout as Google. But while Google offers hybrid results for various search types, DuckDuckGo displays up to ten traditional results. The interface is uncluttered and displays up to two ads on every results page.
DuckDuckGo uses independent web crawlers and resources to compile search results. Some of the most notable resources are Yahoo, Yandex, Bing, and Wikipedia. The search engine also pulls up contact details like name, email address and phone number from user-review sites like Yelp. Apple Maps is the default location service provider, although the search engine users can toggle between Google Maps, OpenStreetMap, and HERE Maps.
DuckDuckGo also offers a range of usability features like an endless scroll. When a user reaches the end of the search page, the next page automatically loads to create an endless loop. While this might sound like a simple feature, it helps keep the interface clean, which improves load speed. Users can also disable this feature at will.
Benefits & Drawbacks of Using DuckDuckGo
Pros
Privacy – The highlight of its services, DuckDuckGo respects user privacy and prides itself on offering the safest searches on the internet. The users don’t have to worry about their search data being stored by the search giant.
Popularity – As DuckDuckGo vs Google trends online, the former continues gaining widespread recognition. More users translate to more profit and more resources, which is a sign of a growing search market share.
Usability – The organised interface focuses on usability, is aesthetically pleasing, and offers a unique search experience. DuckDuckGo follows a basic search interface that is easy to navigate. 
Cons
Lack of Resources – While DuckDuckGo is an up-and-coming search engine, Google remains the gold standard.
Playing Catch-Up – Despite several original ideas, DuckDuckGo has been following Google’s footsteps closely, save for the privacy policy, since day one.
Limited Market Share – According to statistics, DuckDuckGo is the fourth most popular search engine globally. There are tons of room for growth, although the browser must sustain the increasing popularity to gain market share in the future.