Qwant vs DuckDuckGo – Which Search Engine is Better?

Search engines have become an integral part of our daily online experience, helping us find the information we need with ease.

With search engines that respect user privacy, Qwant and DuckDuckGo are among the top contenders. Both search engines have gained popularity among internet users who value privacy and want to keep their online activities private.

But when it comes to Qwant vs DuckDuckGo, which one is better? This article compares both search engines and their features to help you decide which one is right for you.

But maybe the right decision for you is to choose a completely different browser. Then you can consider the third option – Tempest.

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Qwant vs DuckDuckGo: A Quick Summary

Overall, both the Qwant search engine and DuckDuckGo are privacy-focused search engines that offer similar features and benefits, which means you need to compare their key features in more detail.

Overview of Qwant

Qwant is a privacy-focused search engine that prioritizes user privacy and security. Launched in France in 2013, Qwant has become increasingly popular among European users. The search engine promises to deliver unbiased results by prioritizing the relevance of the keyword over the popularity of the website.

Overall, Qwant is an attractive option for users who value privacy and security. Its focus on user experience and unbiased search results also makes it an excellent choice for anyone who wants a search engine that’s easy to use and reliable.

Best Use Case

The best use case for Qwant search engine is for those who highly value their online privacy and wish to keep their searches confidential. Qwant provides a unique and effective alternative for users who are wary of search engines that collect personal data to display targeted ads, making it a great choice for privacy-conscious individuals.

Also, those who prefer relevance over popularity in their search results and who prioritize user experience and fast search results would also find Qwant suitable for their needs.

Qwant’s added features, such as secure email and cloud storage, make it an ideal option for users who desire a privacy-first approach across multiple online activities.

Pros of Qwant

• Strong emphasis on user privacy: It does not keep track of users’ IP addresses, their search queries or their location data, which means users are free to search without being monitored or tracked. This makes Qwant a secure and private option for users who value their online privacy.
• Unbiased search results: It delivers search results based on the relevance of the search query, rather than the popularity of a particular website or advertisement. This objective approach delivers reliable, accurate, and varied results to users, ensuring that they receive the results that are most directly connected to their search.
• Well organized and user-friendly: With a well-organized and easy-to-use search results page, it offers fast and user-friendly service to its users to navigate through their search results. The search filters are highly effective, helping users quickly refine their search results to find exactly what they’re looking for.
• Additional services: It offers additional services such as email and cloud storage services that are secure and private, which is an added advantage for users who require a privacy-first approach across multiple online activities.
• Available in multiple languages: It is available in multiple languages, making it suitable for international users who can use it to search for relevant content in their preferred language.
• High-quality content: Its search engine curates high-quality content from various sources, including independent blogs and news outlets, making it a reliable source for delivering accurate and informative search results to its users.
• Simple and attractive user interface: It has a simple and attractive user interface, making it easy to navigate, even for inexperienced users. The search engine’s design is aesthetically pleasing, with a sleek and enjoyable appearance, making Qwant stand out as a user-friendly search engine.

Cons of Qwant

• Limited content: Unlike other popular search engines, it has a limited index of web pages and may not provide as many search results for some specific queries, making it hard for users to find relevant information.
• Language limitations: While it supports multiple languages, its language support outside of France is limited, which may make it difficult for users from non-French speaking countries to find relevant search results.
• Limited geographical support: It is not available in many countries worldwide, which may be a disadvantage for people living outside its geographical support area.
• Limited features: It lacks some of the advanced search features that are available on other popular search engines, which may make it harder for users who used to such features to work and interact with the search engine.
• Limited advertising: Its advertising model is different from other search engines; it displays generic ads related to the search query instead of targeted ads based on data collection. However, this may limit the revenue the search engine generates to keep innovating.
• Image search issues: The search engine’s image search quality can be subpar at times, not providing sharp or specific enough results as compared to other image search engines such as Google Images.
• Slow updates: Qwant does not update its search results as frequently as other popular search engines, which may lead to outdated information or news being displayed.

In summary, while Qwant’s privacy-first approach is valuable, the search engine falls short when it comes to advanced search features and timely updates, which may hinder its usefulness for certain types of searches in certain regions.

Overview of DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is a privacy-first search engine that emphasizes individual privacy and anonymous browsing without user data tracking. Since its establishment in 2008 by Gabriel Weinberg, DuckDuckGo ranking has risen to become a popular search engine, processing tens of millions of searches daily.

DuckDuckGo offers several privacy-focused add-ons and features, making it a secure and private search engine. The tracker blocker feature blocks known trackers and surveillance from specific websites, while the privacy grade feature rates website security and privacy. The search engine also offers users the option to access websites through a proxy service, increasing user anonymity and privacy.

Overall, DuckDuckGo is a top-rated search engine choice for privacy-focused users looking for fast and accurate search results, alongside additional privacy features that protect their browsing activities. DuckDuckGo ranking is highly recognized because it offers users the ability to search with confidence and without sacrificing privacy.

Best Use Case

Due to its emphasis on privacy and user anonymity, the DuckDuckGo search engine is best suited for privacy-conscious individuals concerned about data privacy breaches, including online trackers and government surveillance. This search engine can be invaluable for users who would rather keep their information and details private and not be targeted by advertising agencies, data brokers, or other online entities.

DuckDuckGo is also suited for people who may have security concerns, whether they use public networks or have sensitive data to protect. It offers a range of security features, including a privacy grade indicator, which shows how secure and private a website is, and a tracker blocker, that can block known web trackers and thus increase the user’s online privacy.

Pros of DuckDuckGo

• Guaranteed privacy: It strictly upholds users’ privacy by not collecting, storing, or sharing any user data.
• Fast and accurate search results: It delivers fast and accurate search results by indexing multiple sources, which ensures a variety of search results.
• Instant answers: Its instant answer feature is useful, as it provides quick answers to common queries, such as quick facts, definitions and more, without having to visit other web pages.
• Privacy-focused browsing: It is a great browsing option for users that want to browse the internet without being followed by advertisers or have their search history tracked by government surveillance.
• Encrypted and Private searches: It encrypts and hides users’ search queries, making it harder for search engines, ISPs, and other third-parties to monitor users’ online activities.
• Enhanced security: It offers additional security features such as tracker blockers, which keep a user’s online habits and activity private, preventing several tracking and data-sharing entities from tracking the user’s activity.
• Instant off-site answers: It provides instant answers from its database and also provides immediate off-site answers from some of the most trusted online encyclopedias.
• User-friendly interface: The user interface is easy to navigate, with useful search filters that allow users to refine their searches easily.
• Environmentally friendly interface: The search engine uses as little energy as possible and reduces carbon emissions, making it eco-friendly.
• Constant innovation: It continues to innovate and offer new features that allow users to enjoy their browsing experience without sacrificing their online privacy.

Cons of DuckDuckGo

• Limited search results: Its search results can sometimes be limited compared to other search engines. This may make it challenging to find what one is looking for, especially when it comes to less popular topics.
• Limited language support: Unlike other search engines that support many languages, it supports only a few languages, which may limit the search engine’s usefulness to non-English speakers.
• Limited geographical support: While it is available in most regions worldwide, its availability in some countries is limited, which may make it challenging for people living in such areas to access the search engine’s services.
• Limited advanced search features: Its advanced search features are limited compared to other search engines, and this may make it hard to find specific and detailed search results.
• Limited Advertising: Unlike some other search engines, it doesn’t collect data to provide specific targeted advertisements, which may limit its ability to generate revenue required to continue innovating and growing.
• Limited Browser Support: While the search engine is available through many browsers and most mobile phones, users of certain browsers are not privy to its services.
• Limited data: As it doesn’t collect user data, this means that some of its services may not be available to users, such as personalized search results, which may be limiting for some.

Overall, while some of DuckDuckGo’s features may be less robust than other search engines, it is still a reliable search engine for individuals seeking better online privacy, fast and accurate search results, and a user-friendly interface.

Key Features Comparison: Qwant vs DuckDuckGo

When making a comparison of DuckDuckGo vs Qwant, it is helpful to examine the key features, starting with privacy, to gain a more informative understanding.

1. Privacy

A comparison of the privacy features of Qwant and DuckDuckGo will determine which browser offers the strongest privacy protection.

Data Collection

• Qwant only keeps personal data for internal use rather than sharing it with third-party advertisers.
• DuckDuckGo does not save any personal data, including IP addresses.

Search History

• Qwant and DuckDuckGo do not monitor users’ search history since they do not track any data.
• Unlike DuckDuckGo, Qwant’s privacy policy states that they keep data for internal processing, but they offer an automatic erasure option for any user wishing to erase their search history, which can be a more transparent way of dealing with data collection.

Advertising

• Both search engines provide ad-free search results pages that do not track users’ internet habits or display targeted ads.
• Qwant offers generic ads related to search queries, while DuckDuckGo offers no ads at all to its users.

Encryption

• Both Qwant and DuckDuckGo encrypt their web traffic, protecting users from HTTPS downgrades or other online threats.
• DuckDuckGo has additional protection of users’ searches, as it uses the latest encryption technology to hide users’ search activity from third-party entities.

Privacy Features

• Qwant and DuckDuckGo offer unique privacy-centric features, such as additional services for emails and cloud storage, and both have tracker-blockers, which prevent third-party entities from tracking user browsing activities.
• DuckDuckGo offers additional security features, such as the privacy grade indicator and immediate answers from trustworthy sources.

Jurisdiction

• Qwant is based in France and complies with GDPR and EU data protection laws, which ensures that user data is only shared with others if legally required to do so.
• DuckDuckGo is based in the United States, where data protection laws are a mixed bag, with various intelligence services having broad legal powers, and surveillance through data collection is rampant. However, DuckDuckGo is still bound by US data privacy and protection laws.

Winner: Both Qwant and DuckDuckGo offer strong privacy-focused features. DuckDuckGo’s privacy features appear to be more robust and advanced than Qwant’s. DuckDuckGo has been around longer, and this has allowed the company to develop a range of privacy-enhancing features such as tracker blockers, privacy grades, and encrypted search queries. This puts DuckDuckGo ahead of Qwant in terms of advanced privacy features.

2. Search Results Quality

Here’s a comparison of the search results quality between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Unbiased Search Results

• Qwant prioritizes the relevance of the keyword over the popularity of the website.
• DuckDuckGo delivers fast and accurate search results by indexing multiple sources.
• Both search engines deliver unbiased search results.

Relevance and accuracy of results

• Both search engines deliver accurate and relevant results to users.
• Qwant prioritizes the relevance of the keyword over the popularity of the website.
• DuckDuckGo pulls information from multiple sources.

Scope of results

• Qwant has a smaller index of web pages, which can lead to a more limited set of results.
• DuckDuckGo, while not as comprehensive as Google, has a broader scope, provides more diverse search results and appeal to a wider range of users.

Search Results Volume

• Qwant has a limited index of web pages and may not provide as many search results for some specific queries, making it hard for users to find relevant information.
• DuckDuckGo has excellent search volume and will offer a wide variety of search results.

Community-based moderation

• DuckDuckGo has community-based moderation, which safeguards the search results from spam and low-quality content.
• Qwant curates high-quality content through dedicated editors.

Geographical relevance

• Both search engines are limited to certain countries, although Qwant is more targeted towards European countries.

Advanced search features

• Qwant lacks some of the advanced search features available on other popular search engines.
• DuckDuckGo offers an array of features, such as searching for specific file types and filtering by date.

Image search

• While both search engines provide image search, DuckDuckGo’s image search is more refined and offers relevant and targeted results for specific queries.

Winner: DuckDuckGo offers a more diverse and comprehensive search result with better advanced search features, while Qwant offers a more privacy-conscious search with curated high-quality content.

3. User Interface

Here is a comparison of the user interface between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Layout and Design

• DuckDuckGo has a simpler layout and interface design, with a minimalistic feel with a visible search bar and a DuckDuckGo brand logo in the center.
• Qwant has a more visually appealing interface with a colorful background, more elements such as news, images, and social feeds, and an easily reachable dashboard.

Ease of Navigation

• Both search engines have straightforward navigation, making it easy for users to browse search results and filter their search parameters.
• Qwant has more extensive filter options, enabling users to refine results by content type, date, and source, in addition to refining results by language and region.

Functionality

• Qwant’s search results are well-organized, with a side panel including suggested filters. Its filter system is customizable, with plenty of categories to choose from.
• DuckDuckGo’s interface is uncomplicated, with all its main features easily accessible from the homepage. Its main results page includes additional helpful features, such as icons, to indicate the web page’s trustworthiness.

Settings

• The settings on Qwant allow for results to be translated, personalised to match user preferences, and filters can be set for specific categories, such as news and sport, and can be permanently saved.
• DuckDuckGo’s settings have more emphasis on security features, such as enabling ad or tracker blocking. It features a themed background that changes daily, with an option to switch it off or run your own background.

Additional Services

• Qwant has features such as email and cloud storage services that are not available on DuckDuckGo, which focuses exclusively on search services.

Winner: It’s a tie as both Qwant and DuckDuckGo have functional interfaces that work differently. Qwant provides a customizable filter system that can be personalized according to users’ preferences, while DuckDuckGo has a clean and uncomplicated layout geared towards easy access to smart features. Qwant’s focus is more towards refined filters, while DuckDuckGo’s emphasis remains on privacy and security features.

4. Performance

Here is a comparison of the performance between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Search Speed

• Qwant search speed is relatively fast, but not as fast as other search engines like Google.
• DuckDuckGo’s search speed is similar to Qwant, but may be affected by the user’s geographic location and internet connection.

Instant Answers

• Both Qwant and DuckDuckGo offer instant results, providing swift responses to queries.
• DuckDuckGo has more advanced features, such as special search commands, and instant weather forecasts and definitions because they come from more sources besides DuckDuckGo’s database.

Special Features

• Qwant’s additional services include secure cloud storage, which prioritizes user privacy and security.
• DuckDuckGo offers additional security features, including tracker blocking, identity protection, and a password generator for added convenience.

Winner: While both Qwant and DuckDuckGo offer privacy-first search engine experiences and similar features, DuckDuckGo edges Qwant out with its fast and reliable search results, more comprehensive index of web pages, and a wider range of privacy-focused features.

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5. Mobile Compatibility

Here’s a detailed comparison of the mobile compatibility between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Interface

• Qwant’s mobile interface is easy to use and well-organized, making it easier for mobile users to navigate even on small screens.
• DuckDuckGo’s mobile interface is also user-friendly and easy to use, with the same clean and minimalistic design approach to its desktop interface.

Functionality

• Both Qwant and DuckDuckGo work well on mobile devices, offering users fast and accurate search results.
• Both search engines offer features like autocomplete, search suggestions, and advanced filtering options on mobile.

Apps

• Qwant has a mobile app available for both iOS and Android, offering users an exclusive interface designed for improved mobile use and compatibility.
• DuckDuckGo also has a mobile app available for both iOS and Android, with features like voice search and visual search.

Additional features

• Qwant and DuckDuckGo both offer additional privacy features like private browsing modes and privacy-oriented search results, making them both ideal picks for privacy-conscious mobile users.
• Qwant offers additional services like email and cloud storage through its mobile app, creating an all-in-one package for mobile users.
• DuckDuckGo’s apps offer additional features such as extensive privacy settings, including ad and tracker blocking options.

Winner: Both Qwant and DuckDuckGo are highly compatible with mobile devices, suitable for users seeking privacy and providing additional features that enhance the search experience. Though Qwant offers additional services such as email and cloud storage, DuckDuckGo’s extensive privacy settings and voice and visual search feature make it a winner for mobile compatibility.

6. Language Support

Here’s a detailed comparison of the language support aspect between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Qwant Language Support

• Good language support, particularly for European languages including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Dutch.
• Relatively weak support for Asian languages, such as Japanese, Chinese, and Korean.

DuckDuckGo Language Support

• Good language support, with over 60 languages supported, including Asian languages, such as Japanese, Chinese; Middle-Eastern languages like Arabic, Hebrew; and European languages, such as French, German, Spanish and Italian.
• DuckDuckGo is available in more languages compared to Qwant.

Winner: Based on the above comparison, DuckDuckGo offers better language support compared to Qwant. With over 60 languages supported and availability in more countries compared to Qwant, DuckDuckGo is suitable for users from all around the world.

7. Community Support

Here’s a detailed comparison of community support between Qwant and DuckDuckGo.

Community Trust

• Qwant has limited global recognition, and therefore, it has a small base of users.
• DuckDuckGo has a considerably more significant user base and is highly trusted by privacy enthusiasts globally.

User Feedback

• Qwant receives feedback from users through a limited number of channels, such as its Twitter account or email feedback.
• DuckDuckGo offers a vast feedback mechanism through multiple channels, including official forums, email feedback, and online community groups.

Resource Expansion

• Qwant wants to expand its user base and has partnered with other companies to achieve that goal.
• DuckDuckGo has efficiently managed to grow its user base through word-of-mouth and through partnerships with leading online privacy platforms.

Community Involvement

• Qwant engages its users with news and updates through its blog and Twitter account.
• DuckDuckGo provides several ways for users to get involved beyond simply using the search engine, such as contributing documentation, programming, or translation services.

Winner: Based on this comparison, DuckDuckGo has a more significant community support system than Qwant. DuckDuckGo also has a larger user base, community involvement, and better feedback mechanisms. 

8. Extensions

Both search engines offer browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and other major browsers. These extensions allow users to add Qwant or DuckDuckGo to the browser’s list of search options, making their searches private and secure.

Winner: It is a tie because both search engines offer similar extensions.

Which One Should You Use: Qwant or DuckDuckGo?

Deciding whether to use Qwant or DuckDuckGo comes down to personal preferences and needs. Here is a brief comparison to help you decide.

Reasons to use Qwant

• Does not track user data or store it in any way.
• Delivers unbiased search results with relevance prioritized.
• Offers an email and cloud storage service, both of which are secure and private. This gives users the added advantage of convenience as well as online privacy.
• Offers an interface that is more visually appealing and easier to navigate and use as compared to DuckDuckGo.
• Its high-quality curation of its search results makes it ideal for those who prefer reliable sources. The search engine has a team of editors who curate its sources, ensuring that users receive reliable results.
• Offers support for various languages besides French, making it more useful for international users.

It’s worth noting that Qwant comes with some drawbacks, including limited geographical support and updates, language limitations, and image search quality that can be subpar.

Reasons to use DuckDuckGo

• Places a higher emphasis on privacy features with their privacy-first approach, which makes it better suited to users who place a premium on privacy and want to keep their browsing activity strictly private.
• Delivers fast, accurate, and diversified search results by leveraging machine learning algorithms, ensuring that users find the most relevant and up-to-date search results.
• Offers instant answers from its own database and from some of the most trusted online sources.
• Includes a variety of security features such as tracker and ad-blocker, making it a more secure alternative to Qwant.
• Offers a privacy grade feature, which shows you how secure a website is.
• Its source code is partially open-source, contributing to transparency and ensuring its trustworthiness.
• Is eco-friendly and uses minimal energy.

It’s also worth noting that DuckDuckGo has some limitations, including some advanced search features being missing and a slightly limited index of web pages.

In conclusion, both Qwant and DuckDuckGo provide excellent search engine alternatives for users looking for a private and secure search experience. Qwant’s user interface and additional services make it an excellent option if you’re looking for convenience, whereas DuckDuckGo offers better privacy and security features, better search results and instant answers, making it an attractive option for users who prioritize privacy, speed, and security. 

Still Unsure Which One to Choose? Consider This Alternative: Tempest Browser

The Tempest Browser is a privacy-focused web browser that is gaining popularity among users who are wondering what’s better than DuckDuckGo and Qwant. Tempest is designed to protect users’ privacy by blocking ads, trackers, and cookies, and by encrypting all traffic using the HTTPS protocol. It also includes a few built-in features, such as a password manager, making it a comprehensive solution for privacy-conscious users.

One feature that makes Tempest Browser stand out is its focus on security. It uses a secure architecture that prevents third-party access to user data and protects against various types of attacks, such as cross-site scripting and phishing. It also allows users to configure their security settings and block unwanted content, making it a customizable solution for users who want to tailor their browsing experience. Another advantage of Tempest Browser is allowing users to browse the web anonymously and access geo-restricted content. This feature is particularly useful for users who want to bypass censorship and access content that is not available in their country.

Overall, Tempest Browser offers a comprehensive set of features that makes it a good alternative to Qwant and DuckDuckGo for users who prioritize privacy and security.

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