So a few years ago, I decided to avoid using Google as my primary search engine, and instead use Ecosia and DuckDuckGo, but with the expectation that I will need to fall back to Google for some searches. I just realised, a few years later, that I’ve rarely if ever done so. Ecosia/DDG give me the results I need on a daily basis. Feels good not using Google at all, tbh.
3 years ago · 👍 bimzhob, bronzie_beat, aka_dude, antolius, kocka_collector
yacy sometimes works well.
most importantly.. you add to the global index of knowledge by participating. · 3 years ago
@smokey Oh aye, Disroot has a SearX instance. I gave it try. Seems good for isolating results to specific languages. That will come in handy! · 3 years ago
Thank you - i was not aware of Ecosia - i've added it to DDG and StartPage for searches. ta. · 3 years ago
Nice! I too have been using DDG for a couple of years now. Even on rare occasions when I try searching for something on Google it surprises me how "wrong" its results seem to me. I guess I've grow used to DDG. · 3 years ago
DDG for me as well, unless I need some things in my native language and then it's not so good · 3 years ago
I am trying to do the same, and on my desktop have DDG as my primary search… Sometimes it is brilliant, but sometimes I still need to go back to Google, as much as I’d rather not. · 3 years ago
DDG uses bings search engine as far as i understand. In my own personal journey ive used DDG, DDG Lite (the most minimal search engine ive come across byte size wise) various instances of SearX, and startpage (uses googles engine but removes the tracking elements afaik). I use DDG the most i would say, but objectively to maximize privacy go with an instance of searx taylored to your interest. I'd reckon half the people who use gemini are tech savy to make their own instances too. · 3 years ago
I started using DuckDuckGo a month or two ago and for me the results have not only been adequate, but actually better than Google. Turns out Google, intentionally or not, is pretty biased towards certain types of sources so I don't find it all that useful anymore. The only place I still use it is on my phone (alongside DDG) because it's still helpful for quick questions. · 3 years ago
I like both of those and have also had success with Qwant. Google searches are terrible for me, maybe because I aggressively block personalization. · 3 years ago
Same here. I almost exclusively use DDG. It's quite strange how people's opinion of how good or bad google/ddg/others are can be so wildly different. Some swear up and down that google's results are so much better. Then there's people like you and I that find DDG's results perfectly adequate. It must be some combination of the way you search, the subjects you search for, etc. Lots of variables leading to different levels of satisfaction I suppose. · 3 years ago