Goodbye google, I leave you without remorse or regret: this other search engine won me over

A few weeks ago, I told you about my experience of leaving after 12 years of Spotify use for Deezer (or almost any alternative, finally). For example, This decision above all ethical. Moreover, even political, was part of a larger choice on my part to consume and navigate better.

Before changing my musical streaming service. Meanwhile, I also started to gradually abandon Google, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft, by reducing my use of some of their services. Consequently, I started by deactivating my X and Facebook accounts in particular and taking interest in online storage. In addition, I went from Google Drive. Nevertheless, OneDrive to Proton Drive via a family subscription (where I also enjoy Proton Pass and the recent Authenticator). Furthermore, One day, I promise, I will also change my email addresses. Meanwhile, But now a more goodbye google, i leave you complex subject is about: web research.

It’s not me, it’s you and your research – Goodbye google, i leave you

Between my wish to detach myself from the GAFAM, respect for privacy of all relative on the part of Google, or the undeniable loss of its quality of search engine (IA everywhere, relevant results drowned under painful recommendations …), my cut is full in this summer 2025.

However. Moreover, after I don’t know how many years of daily google research, an algorithm that knows me by heart, an interface familiar and an integration of this solution absolutely everywhere – including in natural language -, difficult to motivate yourself to find a competitor. Moreover, Especially since the latter. Consequently, like Yahoo, Bing, Qwant or DuckduckGo, have not always had an excellent reputation concerning the quality and relevance of their results.

Never mind, a month ago, I decided to give DuckduckGo a chance. Consequently, Yes. Additionally, Consequently, the question of trying Qwant was seriously posed, French service that it is when DuckduckGo is a American, and also promising a research respectful of privacy by not following the user activity and blocking trackers and cookies.

However. In addition, by reading recent user feedback, I had more confidence in the duck for my transition, but it would seem that its European competitor is also relevant today. For example, Once again, this article is not sponsored by anyone and your personal feedback in comments are all welcome!

Reflexes to lose and new to adopt – Goodbye google, i leave you

The first days allowed me to realize goodbye google, i leave you that Google is really everywhere. However, On my PC. Therefore, Android smartphone, as soon as it is a question of research, the engine of the Mountain View firm was configured by default automatically or by me.

So I had to define DuckDuckGo by default, fortunately in a few rapid clicks. Therefore, Addressing bars of my browsers with shortcuts present everywhere, everything has gone there. In addition, This change is made without clashes, except on Android where Google logically still has its hand in some cases. For example. For example, it is impossible to define DuckDuckGo by default when pressing the home button on my smartphone, this action always opening the Google application. Similarly, Too bad, this has always been my main way to launch a mobile search. Meanwhile, It was therefore necessary to fertilize and adopt a new reflex.

For my part. using the respectful of Vivaldi privacy as a main browser on Desktop and Android (stop using Chrome, out of pity), I created a widget to launch a search from Vivaldi, where I chose DuckDuckGo as an engine. This research is done in a bit less fluid than with the Google application. or via the browser that DuckDuckGo also offers. But we are only talking goodbye google, i leave you about a loss of a seconds handle. a few additional windows for a completely satisfactory result.

Nothing dramatic then. and it only took me a little more than a week to take the fold of this new process. It should be noted if necessary that some Android. third -party overlay makes it possible to reassign the home button to another action, and that many other solutions that mine must exist.

Vivaldi Browser – Goodbye google, i leave you

Vivaldi is an innovative web browser developed on the Open Source Chromium engine. and launched by the old CEO of Opera. It takes up some specificities while offering other interesting features.

• Licence : Free license
• Auteur : Vivaldi Technologies
• Operating systems: Windows 11 goodbye google, i leave you / 64 bits – 10 / Arm – 10 / 32 bits – 10. Linux, macOS, Android, iOS iPhone / iPad
• Category : Internet

After a month of DuckDuckGo, the main good news is that I never needed to go back to Google to find information. For everyday research. both for the pro and the character, I have always had the feeling of finding quickly and easily from the first page of results what I was looking for via DuckDuckGo. The results are displayed Fissa. the automatic engine suggestions during the entry are relevant and the sources offered suit me; No need to devour my personal data to try to do better.

I even regularly forgot that I was no longer on Google. It must be said that I do three -quarters of my research other than via the search engine home page. which gives a little the illusion of having changed anything.

On the other hand. for lack of monitoring my research and DuckDuckGo account in the engine itself, there is no research history. Historical that we finally learn to do without. especially as such a history remains the game if you do research directly from the address bar of your browser as is my case.

This ease of transition is also explained by the organization of the main search engine page. very close to that of the Mountain View firm solution (images, videos, news, many filters, etc.). It also offers some welcome options for displaying results. and even allows you not to display the images generated by AI – with results, let’s say … variables. For lovers of artificial intelligence. the firm still succumbed to it and offers some optional tools (such as its Chatbot Duck.ai), but without imposing anything.

Goodbye google. i leave you

Some faults, but solutions

On the other hand, two faults appeared to me, forcing me there too to change my habits. The first problem is minor and will only concern fans of series and films, such as your servant. To display at the top of its results the casting goodbye google, i leave you of a work. Google remains unbeatable and DuckDuckGo does not offer this.

More generally. if the latter sometimes displays cards and suggestions summarizing or accompanying a subject (generated normally or via IA), Google remains largely more efficient in this area and often saves precious time (while capturing traffic from other sites …). This is why now, when looking for goodbye google, i leave you a casting, I go directly through the IMDB application. To get around the absence of effective fast cards as in Google. you just have to relearn how to read the lines under the first results, often sufficient.

The other defect, undoubtedly more annoying, concerns plans and routes. For some time now. DuckDuckGo has been offering its own alternative to Google Maps in its engine, but it is much less complete and efficient. Among other faults. goodbye google, i leave you my geolocation from my PC is not good, the details on the displayed establishments (when there are) are not practical at all to display, and the options around the means of transport for the journeys are chick. In addition. used to searching for a place or a trip from my PC to then find it on my smartphone via synchronization with my Google account, difficult here to make the transition to the DuckDuckGo, incomplete and isolated solution.

Faced with this too limited solution for my use, I therefore added a link to Google Maps in my Vivaldi favorites. I still have to take the reflex to launch it when I am looking for a place. and not go directly through the search engine. Effective third -party solutions, both on desktop and on mobile, most likely exist (Mappy, Osmand …), but it will be time to look at it later to replace Google Maps. For the moment. the latter is too formidable of efficiency, relevance and, it must be admitted, wealth in real time thanks to the data sent by its users.

Goodbye google. i leave you

Conclusion

If there are still a few areas where Google does better than others, including its other services such as Google Maps, it is clear that after a month of research on DuckDuckGo, I do not think of returning to Google’s solution. The first days have certainly requested a little farfouille to find solutions to a few shortcomings. defects of the solution for my type of use, but today I do research almost as comfortably and effectively as before, without sacrificing my personal data. Obviously. nothing prohibits that very sharp or goodbye google, i leave you obscure research puts DuckDuckGo in difficulty, while the comfort of Google cards could miss in some cases.

Of course, this is only my personal experience, with my uses. It is very likely that some people with other research needs or methods will find other limitations when leaving Google. However, it is impossible not to imagine that these problems will be either minor, or easy to bypass. The Internet has no shortage of hackers. getting detached more from GAFAM is a real possibility in 2025, as the relevant alternatives are legion.

As if to leave Spotify. the first step is the most difficult, but once the walk is launched, everything seems natural despite the menus obstacles that can remain on the journey. Above all. this is a question of will and motivation to change some habits to stop giving a company that has nothing to do with your private goodbye google, i leave you life.

In addition. if changing the day after a search engine scares you, but you want to gradually leave Google, note that DuckDuckGo also exists in the form of a web extension. Practical to alternate between the two solutions at first. What if you want to go there, why not try the firm’s browser?

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo is an American search engine that preserves user privacy. prevents their data from being used for advertising or other purposes.

• Licence : Free license
• Auteur : DuckDuckGo Inc.
• Operating systems: Windows 10 / 11. macOS, Service en ligne, Android, iOS iPhone / iPad, Extension Google Chrome / Microsoft Edge / Mozilla Firefox
• Category : Internet goodbye google, i leave you

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