news.volyx.in

DuckDuckGo is good enough for regular use (bitlog.com)

1158 points by braythwayt · 2408 days ago · 476 comments on HN

Article summary

The author tried using DuckDuckGo as their default search engine for a month and found it to be good enough for regular use. They compared DuckDuckGo's results to Google's and found that while Google excels at low-intent searches and provides more structured information, DuckDuckGo's results are often simpler and more relaxed. The author appreciates DuckDuckGo's privacy features and found that they rarely needed to use the !g operator to search Google. However, they noted that DuckDuckGo struggles with local searches and product comparisons.

Main themes

  • search engine comparison
  • privacy and tracking
  • local search limitations
  • technical search limitations
  • user interface and features
  • non-US search support
  • privacy vs. search result quality tradeoff

What commenters say

  • DuckDuckGo is a viable alternative to Google for many users, with some finding its results to be good enough or even better.
  • The search engine's lack of personalization and tracking is a major advantage for those concerned about privacy.
  • DuckDuckGo struggles with local searches and often requires users to append their location to search queries.
  • Some users find that DuckDuckGo's results are not as comprehensive as Google's, particularly for niche or technical searches.
  • The use of the !g operator to search Google is a common workaround for DuckDuckGo's limitations.
  • DuckDuckGo's interface and features are not as polished as Google's, but some users prefer its simplicity.
  • The search engine's ability to handle non-US searches and provide relevant local results is a major area for improvement.
  • Despite its limitations, DuckDuckGo is a good choice for users who value privacy and are willing to compromise on search result quality.