What is the most important thing when deciding what browser or search engine to use? How important do you consider your privacy to be when surfing the internet?
For users Brave vs Duckduckgo, the search engine creates a debate. Brave and Duckduckgo are some of the best options for users who value their privacy on the internet.
Google is the most used search engine in the world, and Google Chrome, the browser, is accountable for over half the web traffic globally.
However, some are turned off by the number of ads they get or by the fact that websites can actively track user habits. Brave and Duckduckgo are welcome alternatives to Chrome and Google.
In this article, we will conduct a detailed review of Brave and Duckduckgo and discuss the possibility of using Duckduckgo as the default search engine on the Brave browser.
Brave: An Overview
As mentioned, Brave is a welcome alternative to Google Chrome which dominates among browsers. Brave has a fast-growing user base.
Since its release in 2016, it has had over 10 million downloads and 8 million active users.
Based on Google’s open-source Chromium project, Brave has many features in common with Chrome; however, its inbuilt adblocker and features that prevent tracking give it an edge. In this regard, it is just like Duckduckgo.
Like Duckduckgo, brave proudly displays the number of ads and trackers they block for the user to see.
I will recommend you to read How Brave Improves Its Ad-Blocker Performance by 69x
Duckduckgo: An Overview
Duckduckgo has gained popularity in recent years. As a browser, DuckDuckGo has versions for Android and iOS.
This is perhaps its greatest limitation as a browser compared to Brave. It does not have a dedicated browser for other operating systems.
However, DuckDuckGo is better known as a search engine. In this regard, it is growing in popularity. It had a 50% rise in search traffic between August 2018 and August 2019.
There are more than 45 million daily queries on DuckDuckGo on average.
DuckDuckGo has an emphasis on privacy. Its privacy features, easy navigation, and interface make it a good choice for users. It is now the 7th most popular search engine globally on desktop and mobile devices.
Features of Brave:-
1. Adblocking:-
Brave has inbuilt ad blockers. This means you can browse all day without having your experience marred by constant ads and pop-ups.
As opposed to most browsers, you don’t need any extensions installed in other to block ads; this happens automatically.
It’s also worth noting that trackers are also blocked automatically. This is one of the standout features of Brave, and the number of ads and trackers blocked is on display whenever you use the browser.
2. Brave Attention Token:-
Another interesting facet of their ad approach is how much control it gives the users over the ads they see.
With most other browsers, user data is tracked for monetization purposes, and websites are rewarded for the number of ads on their site. Grave’s approach rewards quality content instead of adverts.
Brave swaps ads on a site with its own (which do not track you). If you choose to view these ads instead of generating revenue for publishers, as you do on other browsers, you can earn up to 70% of the revenue the advertisers spend in the form of a Basic Attention Token (BAT).
3. Speed:-
There is no other way of stating this; Brave is fast. Very fast. It has one of the shortest loading times per page of any browser.
This could be because of the ad-blocking feature, which means pages have less content to load.
An advantage of having a fast browser is that it saves you a lot of time cumulatively. Brave displays to users how much time they have saved using the browser.
4. Privacy:-
For many, this is the major reason. They choose to use Brave as their default browser. Its privacy features are top-notch.
First, it blocks ads and trackers without the need for third-party extensions. This means that websites cannot track user information for monetization purposes.
Other options increase the user’s privacy, such as its fingerprint feature. Cookies are also blocked, so websites would not recognize you.
5. Security:-
Brave has some interesting security features. The shield menu at the right of the address bar gives you a rundown of everything allowed or blocked on the browser and allows you to choose your preferences.
Brave offers ad and tracking blocking, as has been discussed, forced HTTPS connections, and it warns you when you are about to enter a site that doesn’t have secure connections. Cookies are also blocked.
Since some ads allow malware to be introduced to the system, the ad-blocking feature is excellent security. A passcode can be set to protect your saved logins which give protection if your mobile device is stolen or lost.
A chink in the armor regarding security is that updates are not too frequent. For instance, though Chromium (on which Brave is based) is updated every two weeks, Brave receives updates less frequently.
Regarding security, Google safe browsing, which the browser comes with, scans URLs for potential malware.
6. RAM usage:-
Because ads are blocked and cookies also, the amount of data needed to load a page is less than for most other browsers. This means it is better in terms of how much of the device memory is used by the browser.
Once I use chrome, my memory and Disk are always close to 100 %, but with brave, it’s not going more than 65%. 🙂
Features of DuckDuckGo:-
1. No tracking:-
When you visit DockDockGo, apart from the search box, you will notice the subheading “the website that doesn’t track you.”
As a result, you can be assured that your personal history is not kept for monetization purposes or sold to third parties.
DuckDuckGo does not keep your personal information. They do not sell your personal information.
They do not use any personal information to personalize the search results you get or the ads you see.
In the private browsing mode, there is no tracking.
2. Privacy:-
DuckDuckGo is a welcome alternative to Google for those who prize their privacy.
A click on the menu button on their homepage allows you to protect your data on every device, subscribe to their privacy crash course, protect your devices by reading privacy guidelines, and find out more about the importance of reduced tracking. This shows how important your privacy is to DuckDuckGo.
3. No personalized results:-
With other search engines that keep your personal information, you are likely to get personalized ads that target you based on your data or search results that are personalized.
The ads you see are based exclusively on the keywords in your searches.
With DuckDuckGo, this is different. The same search results are shown for each search entry. You can be sure you are getting the same search result as everyone else who searches for the same thing.
4. Website grading:-
When you visit a website, you are shown a privacy grade for that website (A-F) that shows you how protected and severely you are tracked. The DuckDuckGo extension and mobile app offer this feature.
This feature gives you all the information you need to decide what websites to visit.
5. Infinite Scroll:-
6. Instant answers:-
With over 100 sources to provide answers, you can get what you need without clicking on a result. DuckDuckGo instant answers are open source, so any developer can view or provide fixes to them using the GitHub repository.
The DuckDuckGo instant answers cover factual answers, calculations, and rhymes. It can even help in generating strong passwords or checking the status of a flight.
7. !bangs:-
Your search on popular websites like Amazon or Wikipedia has been made simple using this feature. If you want to search for turtlenecks on amazon, you can type! amazon turtlenecks.
Interestingly many popular sites have short versions, so, !a turtlenecks will lead you to Amazon’s page for turtlenecks and !w Einstein will direct you to Wikipedia’s page on Einstein.
Brave vs Duckduckgo :- A Pros vs. Cons analysis
Brave:-
Pros:-
Speed – Brave is one of the fastest browsers around. If speed is important to you, it is recommended you consider using Brave.
A lack of ads means pages have fewer data to load and thus load faster. Brave displays how much time they saved you by using the browser.
Automatic ad blocking – You don’t need to install extensions to block ads. This feature makes your browsing experience much more enjoyable. You do not have those annoying pop-ups constantly ruining your experience.
Built-in torrent client – You can do your torrent downloads easily and safely without the need for extensions.
Supports Chrome Webstore – This means you can enjoy almost the full range of extensions as Chrome users while enjoying the unique perks of Brave. Brave and Chrome are Chromium-based browsers which are why similar extensions can work on both.
User control of ads – You can be paid for viewing ads through the Brave Attention Token. You can allow Brave to automatically pay sites the token you earn based on how much time you spend on them, or you can do it manually.
This gives users greater control of ads than they would have gotten with any other browser.
Safety and Privacy – With features like HTTPS everywhere and ads and trackers blocked, you are sure that your privacy and safety will be high.
Low RAM usage – Compared to other browsers, memory usage, is low on Brave.
Cons:-
Battery consumption – Because Brave enables hardware acceleration, the toll of using the browser is usually high.
Similar security risks to Chrome – Because they are both based on Google’s open-source Chromium project, they are liable to similar security issues. While Google has almost limitless resources and manpower to tackle issues, Brave does not.
Sync issues – Brave only syncs tabs. It doesn’t sync extensions or history.
DuckDuckGo:-
Pros:-
Privacy is a priority – DuckDuckGo does not save your IP address or store or use personal information. It does not track your browsing habits or data and can not personalize adverts or sell your data to a third party.
Instant answers – DockDockGo has a wide range of instant answers. A box will pop up with the result you need for factual answers, rhymes, and calculations. Searching “stopwatch” will make a stopwatch pop up. “password” will generate a password.
!bangs – Bangs are commands that allow searching via a different website’s search engine. This makes it easy to search for results on popular sites like Amazon and Wikipedia. Searching using bangs will automatically redirect you to the desired page.
infinite scroll – You don’t have to click through pages while searching.
You can disable ads – This means you can enjoy your browsing experience without ads constantly disturbing you. Also, note that the ads are not obstructive and are clearly labeled as ads. The ads are based on searched keywords, not your user data.
Numerous customization options – The site allows you to customize several aspects of the search engine’s appearance, such as font size, alignment, and page width. There are also several premade themes available.
No filter bubble – You get to see all the available results for a search. DuckDuckGo does not filter the results you can see based on user data.
Cons:-
No personalized results – The results you get may not be specific to your needs or situation. You may modify your search terms several times to get exactly what you want.
The browser app is not available on several platforms – The DickDuckGo browser is available only on Android and iOS. For other platforms, the search engine is all you have.
No date information on search results – There is no date to tell you when the page was published, which means you have no means of knowing if the information on the page is outdated.
Brave and DuckDuckGo Partnership:-
As mentioned repeatedly, your privacy is important to Brave and DuckDuckGo. For many people who actively use the internet, privacy is one of the most important factors in deciding what browser or search engine to use.
As a result, DuckDuckGo has been integrated into Brave’s privacy tabs, providing users with a way to guarantee privacy.
Users who open new privacy or “incognito” tab on Brave will be given an option to select DuckDuckGo as their default search engine.
Users are tracked by other search engines even when used in a privacy tab; hence this partnership is supremely important for privacy.
These privacy tabs are not logged in browser history and disappear alongside their associated cookies when the browser is closed.
The partnership between Brave and DuckDuckGo is about the best you can have if privacy is your primary consideration.
Brave vs Duckduckgo – Which Tool is the Most Secure for Online Activities?
Here is a detailed comparison of both.
| Criteria | Brave | DuckDuckGo |
|---|---|---|
| Business Model | Ad and tracker-blocking browser with a built-in cryptocurrency-based reward system for users and content creators | Privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track user activity or store personal data |
| User Interface | Modern and sleek interface with a customizable new tab page and a sidebar for quick access to bookmarks, history, and other features | Simple and straightforward search bar with customizable search options and instant answers |
| Privacy | Blocks third-party trackers and ads by default, and provides users with a “private window with Tor” feature for anonymous browsing. Also uses a decentralized ad platform to serve ads without tracking users. | Doesn’t collect or share personal information, and encrypts user data to prevent unauthorized access. Also has a “bangs” feature that allows users to search other websites without leaving the DuckDuckGo site. |
| Speed | Brave is based on the Chromium engine, which is known for its fast browsing speed. Additionally, it has a built-in ad-blocker, which can speed up page loading times. | DuckDuckGo is known for its fast and efficient search results, and its minimalist interface means that pages load quickly. |
| Compatibility | Available on all major desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Also compatible with most Chrome extensions. | Available on all major desktop and mobile platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android. Has a mobile browser that comes with built-in tracker and ad blocking. |
| Customization | Users can customize the new tab page with widgets and choose from a variety of themes. Also has an extensive library of extensions and a built-in password manager. | Users can customize search preferences, enable or disable instant answers, and choose from several themes. Can also integrate with other privacy-focused services, such as the Tor browser. |
| Support | Has a large community of users and developers, and provides support through a help center, community forum, and social media channels. | Has a small but dedicated team of developers, and provides support through a help center and community forum. |
📗FAQ on Brave vs duckduckgo
Which browser is better than DuckDuckGo?
Given that the “better” browser for you will rely on your unique needs and tastes, it is challenging to claim with certainty which browser is “better” than DuckDuckGo.
Search engine DuckDuckGo is committed to preserving user privacy by not collecting users’ personal information or search history. It is a search engine rather than a web browser and may be used with any web browser.
There are a few choices to consider if you’re seeking a web browser that is also concerned with preserving your privacy.
Brave, Mozilla Firefox, and Tor Browser are some well-known browsers that place a high priority on user privacy.
The ability to disable third-party trackers and adverts and to use the TOR network to browse the internet anonymously is just a couple of the privacy-focused features that these browsers offer.
Your unique requirements and objectives will ultimately determine which browser is ideal for you. If protecting your privacy is your top priority, you might want to think about using a browser that is made with that goal in mind.
But you might want to think about using a different browser if performance or customization choices are more important to you.
Can brave browser be trusted?
Brendan Eich, a co-founder of Mozilla, launched Brave Software, which creates the Brave web browser. It is based on the Chromium open-source project, also used by popular browsers like Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.
Generally speaking, it is secure to use Brave as a web browser. To guarantee that you have the most recent security and performance enhancements, keeping your browser updated is always a good practice. Additionally, Brave was created with user privacy in mind.
As a result, it has various features that can help you safeguard your privacy when browsing the internet, including blocking third-party trackers and adverts and browsing the internet anonymously using the TOR network.
Unfamiliar websites should always be avoided, and users should be mindful of potential security risks like malware and phishing scams, as with any browser.
Utilizing a reliable antivirus application, updating your operating system, and using other software are also wise precautions to safeguard your computer from security risks.
Is there a better browser than Brave?
Since the ideal browser for you will rely on your unique needs and preferences, it is challenging to claim with certainty which browser is “better” than Brave.
Brave is a web browser that was made with user privacy in mind. It has various features that can help safeguard your privacy when browsing the internet, including blocking third-party trackers and adverts and using the TOR network to access the internet anonymously.
There are numerous additional web browsers that you can use, each with a unique set of features and functionalities. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge are a few well-liked Brave substitutes. These browsers might offer various features or functionality better suited to your requirements.
Your unique requirements and objectives will ultimately determine which browser is ideal for you. If privacy is your top priority, you might consider adopting a browser with privacy protection built right in, like Brave or Mozilla Firefox.
But you might want to consider using a different browser if performance or customization choices are more important.
To determine which browser suits you the most, it is a good idea to test out a few different ones.
Which is better, incognito or DuckDuckGo?
DuckDuckGo and incognito mode are separate entities with different uses.
A feature of web browsers called incognito mode enables users to browse the internet without recording their search or browsing histories or keeping cookies or other information from the websites they visit. It’s intended to give you some degree of anonymity as you browse the internet.
On the other side, DuckDuckGo is a search engine that strongly emphasizes preserving user privacy by not collecting personal information or search history from users. It works with any online browser, including private browsing modes.
While browsing the internet, using DuckDuckGo and incognito mode can offer a higher level of privacy protection.
When using DuckDuckGo, your privacy is protected because the service does not collect or share your personal information. Incognito mode can help prevent your browsing and search histories from being saved.
Ultimately, your particular needs and objectives will determine the best strategy to safeguard your privacy when exploring the internet.
While using incognito mode and a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo might offer some protection, it’s still crucial to exercise caution when accessing untrusted websites and be aware of potential security risks like malware and phishing scams.
Is Brave truly private?
The privacy and security of its users are a top priority for the web browser Brave. Users can further tailor their browser experience to preserve their privacy, and third-party trackers and invasive adverts are automatically blocked.
Additional capabilities provided by Brave include the ability to restrict web requests and scripts that could be used to monitor users, as well as a private browsing mode that stops the browser from saving any browsing or search history information to the device.
Brave protects user privacy in several ways and provides various tools to manage online privacy. There are always possible threats when using the internet. Thus, no web browser can guarantee perfect privacy.
Users should be aware of these hazards and take precautions to protect their privacy, including using strong passwords and being wary of disclosing personal information online.
