Since its release in 1998, Google has been the most popular search engine on the planet. There’s wasn’t a worthy competitor until the release of Bing over a decade later in 2009 by the Microsoft Corporation. Though Google remains the most used engine, which is superior in terms of quality and additional features? We’re here to offer the final answer to the age-old question of Bing vs Google.
Why Choose Google?
Google has several features that are superior to Bing’s. It has a more user-friendly image search interface that even the least tech-savvy users can navigate with ease. Bing’s image search interface looks and operates in a way that is more complex than necessary. Google also offers a better shopping experience for its users by providing more options with overall better deals than their competitor.
The larger search engine also offers an impressive array of smart features and searches for everything from health information to unit conversions to weather forecasts. Though Bing has some of these features as well, Google’s overwhelms in terms of quantity.
Google’s standout feature, however, might be their popular “instant search” feature. This allows users to view their search results as they type, provided they have a good internet connection. This convenient feature saves users a considerable amount of time, making it a favourite alongside their “Voice Search” and reverse image search options.
This search engine also offers better service for technical searches, as Google can provide relevant and highly specific search results for essentially every keyword there is.
As of July 2020, statcounter.com has reported that Google currently occupies about 94% of all search engine market share, while Bing has around 4%.
For this reason and for business’s especially should really be targeting Google as its primary source of organic traffic. Many websites, however, are unsure of where to start for harnessing this traffic.
Why Choose Bing?
Bing currently powers most of Yahoo and Microsoft’s search functions, making it the second most popular search engine worldwide. Though Google is in first place with a pretty massive lead, Bing has several great benefits that Google doesn’t.
Bing’s results page layout is better presented than Google’s. It provides larger thumbnails and the ability to preview or watch videos by hovering over them rather than having to leave the search window.
The smaller search engine also offers eight autocomplete options, double that of Google’s four. This helps users find certain products and websites easier when they might be struggling to find the exact wording.
Another distinctive feature of Bing’s is that they offer a rewards program. Those who subscribe to the service can earn points and exchange them for gift cards.
Though that particular service is US exclusive, Bing also has the superior international social integration program. This is because Bing contracts with Facebook and Twitter, which offer far more social data than Google+ which has now become defunct.
Are There Any Alternatives?
Yes! There are well over 100 search engines out there on the web. You may even find some that suit your individual needs better than Google or Bing can. For example, CC Search is the search engine of choice for millions of people looking for copyright-free content for their articles, videos, educational materials, advertisements and so on.
A benefit shared by many of these alternative engines, such as Swsisscows and DuckDuckGo, is that they don’t collect or store any of your personal information. However, this isn’t the only way that smaller engines can try to take a more ethical route than the bigger names. GiveWater and Ekoru are dedicated to the issues of poor water quality and climate change, contributing portions of their monthly revenue to partnered charities.
Needless to say, there’s plenty of options for those who’d rather search outside of Google and Bing.
Final Thoughts
Bing continues to grow at a steady rate through its social integration platform, rewards program, and other features. However, Google rightfully remains the superior search engine and the engine of choice for the vast majority of internet users. Google has simply been around the longest, giving it the time needed to develop a sophisticated and precise system that finds and organises relevant results instantaneously.
In addition to that, Google is always working to innovate and stay on top of its competition. Though many engines are finding interesting and meaningful ways of distinguishing themselves, it will be hard to take many users away from this fine-tuned, online behemoth.
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