Major Search Engines
Google, launched in 1998, is the most widely used search engine in the world. Its minimalist design and powerful algorithm revolutionized the way we find information online.
It offers services like Google Maps, Google Scholar, Google Images, and many more. Its ranking system is based on hundreds of factors, including backlinks, content quality, and user experience.
Did you know? Google handles over 8.5 billion searches per day globally.
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo focuses on protecting users’ privacy. It does not track you or create a filter bubble around your searches, which means all users see the same search results for the same query.
It uses information from a variety of sources like Wikipedia, Bing, and its own web crawler. It also features "bangs" – shortcuts to search directly on other websites.
Interesting: DuckDuckGo grew rapidly during privacy scandals involving major tech companies.
Bing
Microsoft's Bing is known for its visually appealing layout and features like daily background images, video previews, and integration with Microsoft Office and Windows.
It provides competitive search results and is often the default on Microsoft products. Bing also powers Yahoo's search results and supports advanced AI integrations in Microsoft Edge.
Note: Bing has a rewards program that lets users earn points for their searches.
Yahoo
Yahoo was one of the first web portals and search engines. While it now uses Bing's technology for search results, it retains a unique look and additional services such as Yahoo Mail, News, Finance, and Sports.
Its homepage serves as a news aggregator and media hub, which makes it appealing to users who want more than just search.
Legacy: Yahoo was a dominant internet brand in the early 2000s before Google took the lead.
Yandex
Yandex is the most popular search engine in Russia and also serves other countries in Eastern Europe. It offers services similar to Google, including maps, email, translation, and taxi services.
It is optimized for the Russian language and local content, which makes it the preferred choice for users in the region. Yandex also invests heavily in AI and autonomous technology.
Fun fact: Yandex was founded in 1997 and has its own voice assistant, "Alice."