Best Reviewed
Search Engines
- Best search engine overall Google *Est. $0
- Alternative search engine Bing *Est. $0
- Search engine for private browsing DuckDuckGo *Est. $0
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Alternative search engine
- Useful search-refinement tools
- Social searches
- Search results are very similar to Google's
Bing is not Microsoft's first search engine, nor has it managed to unseat Google at the top of the market. But recent market data shows Bing swiftly gaining its share of users. The search engine, introduced in 2009, called itself a "decision engine" and replaces Microsoft's Live.com. In 2010, Microsoft struck a deal with Yahoo! to power that engine's searches. The comparative searches we looked at found Bing's results were as relevant as Google's, but mostly the same. Social searches, a recent update to Bing, checks the users' searches against searches by Facebook friends to come up with more refined, personalized results.
A PC World slideshow review compares Bing to other search engines and finds it best for popular searches, checking airfares, local searches and search refinement. The Daily Beast and NetworkWorld.com offer comparative reviews, while many others offer standalone reviews. Viewpoints.com has feedback from a small number of users.
Our Sources
This slideshow compares searches and related services by Bing, Google and Yahoo! Bing wins in most of the categories including homepage, popular searches, airfare, refining searches, video searches and local searches.
Review: Bing vs. Google vs. Yahoo, Tom Spring, May 29, 2009
In a comparative test against Blekko and Google, Bing wins in some areas, including recipe search, based on 100 real-world search queries. Not only did it come up with the recipes, Bing also produced thumbnail photographss of the food.
Review: Testing the New Google Killer, Thomas Weber, Nov. 3, 2010
In this comparative review, editors note that features like tabs and an answer box are helping Bing distinguish its search results from Google's. Although Google still commands a large lead in the number of searches it handles, Bing is gaining some ground.
Review: Google vs. Bing vs. Yahoo, Carolyn Duffy Marsan, June 7, 2010
4. About.com
This About.com page doesn't make a definitive pick, but it does provide useful descriptions of the top 10 search engines as chosen by readers. The reviewer suggests Bing is worth trying because of features like suggested searches. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation)
Review: The 10 Best Search Engines of 2011, Paul Gil, July 2011
Viewpoints offers five user reviews for Bing and rates the search engine at 4.2 out of 5 stars. Contributors like Bing's video search and homepage photos, but some say search results aren't so great.
Review: Bing.com Reviews, Contributors to Viewpoints.com
Posted shortly after Bing's debut, this article describes Microsoft's effort to unseat Yahoo! as the number two search engine. Ellysa Kroski describes some of Bing's compelling features, including video search. (Yahoo is now powered by Bing.)
Review: Search Engine Wars Redux, Ellysa Kroski, July 9, 2009
7. CNET
The article reports that Bing has taken a chunk of Google's market share in the last year, increasing its share by 75 percent between May 2010 and May 2011.
Review: Bing Grabs Market Share from Google Over Past Year, Lance Whitney, June 21, 2011
Continuing to look for an edge against Google, Bing now features social searching, which checks recommendations from a user's Facebook friends for more refined, personalized results. The review says the social search ability gives Bing the potential to distinguish itself from Google.Bing also offers helpful tools for booking travel.
Review: Why Bing "Likes" Facebook, Paul Boutin, Jan. 3, 2011
9. PCMag.com
PCMag's lead software analyst Michael Muchmore gives Bing a positive review (4.5 out of 5 stars) for its "appealing design," and its ability to answer some queries without sending users to another website. He also likes its special features for booking travel, shopping and previewing videos. (Bing now powers Yahoo.)
Review: Microsoft Bing, Michael Muchmore, June 2, 2009
10. AppAppeal.com
Bing is useful for finding some information, like airline flight data, editors say, but Microsoft's search engine isn't likely to unseat Google at the top spot. Editors give Bing 4 out of 5 stars.
Review: Bing, Editors of AppAppeal.com