New Research Reveals Who is Using DuckDuckGo and Why (2024)

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New Research Reveals Who is Using DuckDuckGo and Why (2)

A new report published this week by SimilarWeb reveals what type of users are opting for the privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, and why they’re using that search engine over alternatives.

According to the top 5 sites frequented by DuckDuckGo users, SimilarWeb has been able to determine they have an acute interest in tech and tech news sites. This is in contrast to people who use Bing, a more popular search engine, who tend to frequent sites you’d expect the average web user to visit.

Sites that DuckDuckGo users show the strongest affinity for include:

  • Whitehatsec.com
  • Github.com
  • NYtimes.com
  • 4chan.org
  • YCombinator.com

All of those sites, save for New York Times, serve a specific niche. Compare that list to the top 5 sites Bing users show a strong interest in:

  • MSN.com
  • Amazon.com
  • Reddit.com
  • Google.com
  • Baidu.com

DuckDuckGo users also like to engage with their search engine of choice for longer periods of time — averaging 9.38 minutes spent on DuckDuckGo vs. Bing.

Despite its growth over the past year, DuckDuckGo faces a considerable challenge when it comes to getting found by new users. Data shows the people using DuckDuckGo are those who already know about the search engine, with 93% of its traffic coming from direct visits. Only 1.5% of its traffic comes from organic search.

Roy Hinkis of SimilarWeb concludes by saying the loyal users of DuckDuckGo are those who love tech, and they use they use DuckDuckGo as an alternative because they’re concerned about having their privacy protected while they search online.

Hinkis and I share a similar opinion with respect to the growth of DuckDuckGo, being that it will need to launch a full fledged digital strategy dedicated to awareness in order to stay competitive. DuckDuckGo needs to get its brand in front of its demographic and let them know a private alternative to Google exists.

That being said, traffic to DuckDuckGo is up 22% year-over-year, ending December 2015 with a total of 108.2 million visits.

Featured Image Credit:Den Rise/ Shutterstock.com

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SEJ STAFF Matt G. Southern Senior News Writer at Search Engine Journal

Matt G. Southern, Senior News Writer, has been with Search Engine Journal since 2013. With a bachelor’s degree in communications, ...

New Research Reveals Who is Using DuckDuckGo and Why (4)

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New Research Reveals Who is Using DuckDuckGo and Why (2024)

FAQs

New Research Reveals Who is Using DuckDuckGo and Why? ›

Data shows the people using DuckDuckGo are those who already know about the search engine, with 93% of its traffic coming from direct visits. Only 1.5% of its traffic comes from organic search.

What is the main reason people use DuckDuckGo? ›

DuckDuckGo is a secure alternative to mainstream search engines, providing more privacy and allowing you to browse the internet safely. It doesn't track your search history or create your user profile according to your online activity.

What is the downside to DuckDuckGo? ›

Although DuckDuckGo is much more private and secure than Google and Bing, it still has several downsides and vulnerabilities. In particular, it doesn't encrypt search terms in the URL bar. Also, your data can be monitored if you share it on third-party websites or through online forms.

Can the FBI see what I search on DuckDuckGo? ›

DuckDuckGo search is completely anonymous, in line with our strict privacy policy.

Why does my wife use DuckDuckGo? ›

Use DuckDuckGo because it's fast and secure, because it's a free Google alternative that lets you search and browse the way you want, and because it puts you back in control of your personal data.

What is the DuckDuckGo controversy? ›

DuckDuckGo was criticized in May 2022 when researchers discovered some Microsoft tracking scripts while using DuckDuckGo's browsers.

Is DuckDuckGo part of the dark web? ›

Some of the more popular dark web search engines include: DuckDuckGo: This is the Tor browser's default search engine. DuckDuckGo's main selling point is its privacy features. Because it does not track users, people can use it to browse the dark web anonymously.

Is DuckDuckGo a Chinese company? ›

DuckDuckGo is an American software company that offers a number of products intended to help people protect their online privacy. The flagship product is a search engine that has been praised by privacy advocates.

Is DuckDuckGo 100% safe? ›

Unlike Google, the company doesn't keep or sell any information about you, which is a massive plus. DuckDuckGo is considered one of the safest search engines for your privacy, but it's good to be aware of its limits. For example, DuckDuckGo's tracker blocker only blocks well-known trackers.

Can hackers track you on DuckDuckGo? ›

It doesn't collect information about you the way Google does, so there's no information for hackers to get their hands on. As an added bonus, DuckDuckGo doesn't associate your searches with your IP address or maintain your search history. Your searches are private and anonymous.

Can your WIFI see what you search on DuckDuckGo? ›

No. Because the connection between you and DuckDuckGo Search is encrypted, that means your internet provider cannot see the searches you make on DuckDuckGo. You can check your connection is encrypted by looking at the web address in your browser.

What search engine doesn't spy on you? ›

Is there a search engine that does not track you? Yes, there are multiple private search engines that do not track you, like DuckDuckGo, Surfshark Search, and Startpage.

Can people track me on DuckDuckGo? ›

DuckDuckGo is an independent Google alternative that also lets you search and browse the web, but we don't track your searches or browsing history, and our browsers and extensions help you block other companies from trying to track you as well, all by default.

Why do men use DuckDuckGo? ›

The primary reason people start using DuckDuckGo is because they want the privacy that they can't get from other search engines, browsers, and email services.

Why should I use Google instead of DuckDuckGo? ›

Because Google has a vastly larger pool of search data to dive into, it can often make an effective guess as to what you're trying to find. DuckDuckGo can also get the job done, but you might have to clean up your unusual search terms a bit to hit the nail on the head.

Why does my boyfriend use private browsing? ›

People tend to use private browsing to protect their personal data or browsing activity from other users of their devices. Private browsing is also an easy way to log out of websites when using someone else's device – provided you close the browser window at the end of your browsing session.

What is DuckDuckGo most known for? ›

DuckDuckGo is an American software company that offers a number of products intended to help people protect their online privacy. The flagship product is a search engine that has been praised by privacy advocates. Subsequent products include extensions for all major web browsers and a custom DuckDuckGo web browser.

Can I be tracked if I use DuckDuckGo? ›

DuckDuckGo is an independent Google alternative that also lets you search and browse the web, but we don't track your searches or browsing history, and our browsers and extensions help you block other companies from trying to track you as well, all by default.

Why do guys use DuckDuckGo? ›

The primary reason people start using DuckDuckGo is because they want the privacy that they can't get from other search engines, browsers, and email services.

Why do schools ban DuckDuckGo? ›

Schools typically forbid the use of DuckDuckGo because students can use it to get around network restrictions and access inappropriate content.

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