what to know
- Bing is a search engine much like Google, but it was created by Microsoft.
- Although they are similar services, Google Search is generally more helpful than Bing.
- Bing offers apps for iOS and Android that you can use in any browser.
If you're tired of Google's plain old interface and want to explore other search engine options, why not give Microsoft's Bing a try? Here's everything you need to know about Bing, including how it differs from Google and what to expect from its mobile apps.
Bing, sometimes called Bing Search, is a search engine developed by Microsoft. Since its creation, it has expanded to include features such as artificial intelligence chatbots. The feature was originally called Bing Chat, but Microsoft later renamed it Copilot.
Copilot is based on ChatGPT and started as a simple chatbot. Nowadays, however, it includes image and music generation as well as more specialized programs. "Co-pilot GPT" focuses on a single task, including cooking assistant, fitness instructor and designer.
In addition to its website, you can also access Bing through the Microsoft Edge browser, where it is the default search engine. Bing also has mobile apps for Android and iOS.
Bing and Google are both search engines that perform one of the most basic tasks of everyday web browsing, but how are they different? Let’s look at their four main differences.
The differences between Bing and Google are obvious, based solely on their respective interfaces. Google's main search page has a very simple and minimalist design, while Bing's is the opposite, often filled with gorgeous images and links to the latest news stories.
Bing still has a simple search bar that's easy to find; it's positioned slightly higher on the page than Google's.
Bing’s search homepage is also customizable. If you prefer more white space or a less busy background, you can hide the page's menu bar, news links, or even the daily homepage image.
For the most part, the consensus is that there isn't much difference in the quality of search results generated by Bing and Google.
However, they have some important differences when it comes to searching for time-sensitive information.
First, if you're searching for a news article or researching something that requires the latest information, Bing may be slightly less helpful than Google because it doesn't always show publication dates next to search results. This omission can make it more difficult to quickly see which article or resource has the most recent information. Google provides these dates more frequently.
Bing also doesn't always put the latest articles at the top of search results, and it tends to show older articles instead of more recent articles or videos that would be more appropriate. Google tends to be more consistent in making sure the latest headlines appear at the top of its search results.
Both Bing and Google offer advanced search options and filters to narrow down search results. While Bing used to be harder to find than Google in some cases, now they're basically the same.
For regular searches, a Tools option appears on the right side of the menu bar, allowing you to filter by date. In image and video searches, you'll see a "Filter" heading in Bing. It contains many of the same options you'll find in Google (image size, video length, etc.), but with different names.
While both engines offer rewards programs that allow you to earn rewards or money, Bing's rewards program is more reliable and easier to earn points. Bing's rewards program, Microsoft Rewards, works across a variety of platforms, which helps you earn rewards.
As long as you're signed in with a Microsoft account, you can earn points by searching with Bing, taking quizzes, shopping in the Microsoft Store, playing games on Xbox Game Pass, and more. Since so many activities earn you points, you'll find your point total goes up faster.
Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for gift cards, charitable donations, or sweepstakes.
Google’s rewards program is all about surveys. Google Opinion Rewards runs through the app and pays you in cash (via PayPal). Your earnings depend on the number of surveys you take, which in turn depends on how many surveys you qualify for based on your age, location, and other factors.
If you think you need to do most of your web searches on your mobile device, try the Bing search app. The Bing search app is available for Android and iOS devices.
The search engine aspect of the app still offers the same quality of search results as Bing's main desktop site, but Bing's mobile app offers some notable features, such as Near Me, Fun, and Gas:
- Near me : Click this button and Bing will automatically populate a list of highly rated restaurants near you and local attractions to visit.
- Fun : Bing will feature lots of fun mobile-friendly games and quizzes for you to kill time.
- Gas : Bing will automatically generate a list of the nearest gas stations with their addresses and the latest gas prices.
Bing and Google may be the most famous search engines, but they're certainly not the only ones. There are other great web search engines, such as DuckDuckGo and Dogpile, that are more than up to the task.
