Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

DuckDuckGo vs Lloyd

DuckDuckGo 4.8★ · Free to download 75
Winner DuckDuckGo
Lloyd 4.5★ · Free to download 40

DuckDuckGo is the better choice for users prioritizing privacy and a traditional search experience, while Lloyd struggles with significant performance issues and a confusing transition from its previous identity.

Full reviews: DuckDuckGo · Lloyd

DuckDuckGo is a well-regarded private search engine and browser, though recent updates have introduced performance issues and unwanted AI features for some users. Lloyd, formerly Glide, is a video messaging app that has recently integrated AI, leading to widespread user frustration over glitches, slow performance, and the loss of previous features.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: DuckDuckGoR4R7R8R9
DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo users appreciate its core privacy features, including ad blocking and tracker prevention, and the option to avoid AI R8. However, recent updates have introduced unwanted AI features for some, and users report issues with Duck Player, VPN compatibility, and missing advanced settings R4R7R9. Some users also note limitations in search results compared to other engines R4.
Lloyd Lloyd, formerly Glide, offers video messaging and has integrated AI, which some users find useful for various needs, including video . However, many users are frustrated by the removal of old messages, inability to import pre-recorded videos, and the lack of features like read receipts or the ability to type text R63R64. The app also defaults to the AI page, which is not desired by all users .
Ease of Use & Performance edge: DuckDuckGoR2R3R9R10
DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo generally receives praise for being user-friendly R2. However, many recent reviews highlight significant performance issues, including slow loading times, freezing, crashing, and battery drain R3. Some users also find unskippable tutorials and pop-ups annoying R9R10.
Lloyd Lloyd users report widespread issues with the app's performance, including constant glitches, freezing, black screens, and slow response times R61R76. Messages are often cancelled or fail to send, and notifications sometimes don't work R76.
Reliability & Stability edge: DuckDuckGoR6R12R21R37
DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo's stability has been negatively impacted by recent updates, with users reporting issues like erased tabs, ignored settings, and app crashes R6R12R37. The ad blocker is also noted as arbitrary and sometimes ineffective R21.
Lloyd Lloyd suffers from severe reliability issues, with frequent freezing, messages not sending, and notifications failing R61R76. Users also report the app timing out while typing and deleting messages .
Privacy & Security edge: DuckDuckGoR4R8R25R28
DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo is highly praised for its privacy and security features, with users choosing it specifically to avoid tracking and protect their data R8. However, some recent reviews express concern about Microsoft's involvement and the effectiveness of track blocking R4R25. There are also reports of the app opening Amazon webpages unexpectedly, raising security concerns R28.
Lloyd Lloyd reviews do not focus on privacy or security, but some users express concern about deductions from their bank accounts R67. There are no specific claims about the app's privacy or security features from users, positive or negative, beyond general dissatisfaction with its performance.
Price & Value edge: DuckDuckGoR20R35R67R81
DuckDuckGo DuckDuckGo is a free app, and users appreciate its value as a privacy-focused browser and search engine R20R35. There are no complaints about pricing.
Lloyd Lloyd is free to download, but some users complain about deductions from their bank accounts and the app constantly pushing for upgrades R67R103. Deaf users, who previously used Glide for free, express frustration over new charges and limited video duration R81R89.
Pick DuckDuckGo if

You prioritize privacy and a non-AI search experience, are looking for a browser with ad-blocking, and are willing to tolerate occasional performance glitches or recent update issues R8R20.

Pick Lloyd if

You are looking for an AI assistant that can handle video input and integrate with other AI models, and you are willing to overlook significant performance issues and a confusing user experience .

Evidence note: Reviews for Lloyd are heavily skewed by negative feedback regarding its transition from 'Glide' to 'Lloyd AI', with many users expressing frustration over lost features, performance degradation, and unwanted AI integration. This skews the overall perception of the app significantly.

Frequently asked

What are the main complaints about DuckDuckGo?
The main complaints about DuckDuckGo revolve around recent updates introducing unwanted AI features, slow loading times, app crashes, ignored settings, and the ad blocker being inconsistent R3R4R6R9.
What happened to the Glide app?
The Glide app transitioned to Lloyd AI, which has led to widespread user dissatisfaction due to constant glitches, freezing, messages not sending, loss of access to old videos, and the app defaulting to an AI page instead of messaging R61R63R64R76.
Does Lloyd have a free tier?
Lloyd is free to download, but some users report unexpected bank deductions and constant prompts to upgrade, and deaf users who previously used Glide for free now face charges and limited video durations R67R81R89R103.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R4] DuckDuckGo 2/5 · US Not great: I originally started using this to stop the tracking. Search engine itself brings up limited results. I usually have to use a different search option to get more results for what am looking for. AI answers are very bad. It basically either sums up the first result from the search or just gives wrong information. The track blocking has also seemed to stop working well. I will do a s
  2. [R7] DuckDuckGo 2/5 · US Duck Player with VPN Issue: Duck Player never work for YouTube through a VPN connection!
  3. [R8] DuckDuckGo 5/5 · US Privacy: Keeps me secure and private with out being traced other then for safety concerns
  4. [R9] DuckDuckGo 3/5 · US Unskippable tutorial needs to go: The unskippable tutorials and forced AI use should be removed with prejudice.
  5. [R2] DuckDuckGo 5/5 · US Amazing Service and Communication: From start to finish they have been amazing! They make everything do easy from scheduling evaluations at your house to drop off. Highly recommend!
  6. [R3] DuckDuckGo 3/5 · US Needs more work: I love duck duck and have referred it to many of my friends but when I started having problems I decided to try an update. Wish I never had! I have updated twice now. It is very slow to load if it does at all. Please fix duck duck I don’t want to use google😔
  7. [R10] DuckDuckGo 1/5 · US “Blocks pops” and replaces them with its own.: This app is incredibly difficult to use because it’s constantly displaying pop ups to tell you about how it’s blocking pop ups.
  8. [R6] DuckDuckGo 3/5 · US Wtf: Your last update erased all my tabs!!!! Priceless info I needed!!!
  9. [R12] DuckDuckGo 3/5 · US Disappointed in latest update: I just updated this app and it is not adhering to the settings I have in place for this app. I have searching set to not keep past results or search bookmarks, but that is exactly what it is doing. It is ignoring my settings. I wonder what other settings it is ignoring. Fix the app. Why have settings if you are going to ignore them?
  10. [R21] DuckDuckGo 3/5 · US It has it’s limitations: Ad blocker is arbitrary; some sites have managed to pull up my app store app, or YouTube. Some sites have difficulty playing videos (both embedded and alternate viewer).
  11. [R37] DuckDuckGo 1/5 · US Auto deletes all tabs: 3rd strike u go to HELL
  12. [R25] DuckDuckGo 1/5 · US DuckDuckgo IS MICROSOFT!!!!: Duckduckgo search results are already horrible, Because its Microsoft. It’s worse now, to get you to click Search Assist; THAT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF. Its always been bad, this is terrible. Stop believing this BS Duckduckgo is the worst at protecting your privacy. Microsoft Tracks you on DuckDuckGo. Stop trusting garbage
  13. [R28] DuckDuckGo 1/5 · US Very unsecure: This browser is useless. I was playing Wool Crush desktop. It opened up my amazon webpage. They need to completely test this app.
  14. [R20] DuckDuckGo 5/5 · US DuckDuckGo: Am very happy I’ve been using your DuckDuckGo, for at least 6 years and found it to be exceptional. Whatever I look for in search, from dictionary, different topics have been clear and concise. It’s a browser needed for all. Thank you for making this browser.
  15. [R35] DuckDuckGo 5/5 · US Really good comes with perks: Get this app trust
  16. [R67] Lloyd 1/5 · US AI app: I never use this apps . I don’t like deduction from my bank every week . I want deflate it .
  17. [R81] Lloyd 3/5 · US Unlimited time: This glide should be least longer than just minutes. Marco Polo least long time any time so this glide should be the same.
  18. [R61] Lloyd 1/5 · US Glitches and freezes: The app glitches so much. Not a fan of the speed of the app system. Very frustrating
  19. [R63] Lloyd 3/5 · US Old videos: I've been Glide customer (Lloyd now) for many years and I don't like that I can't get access to my old videos cause you've blocked the access, that is unfair for us the customers, please allow access to our old videos
  20. [R64] Lloyd 1/5 · US Glide: Why remove the old messages that we like to see again
  21. [R76] Lloyd 1/5 · US Constant freezing: Since this app changed from Glide to Lloyd AI, there have been constant issues. App freezing, cancelled messages, black screens. It is so frustrating!
  22. [R89] Lloyd 5/5 · US Why charge us?: .. Timing too short!!!! l am Deaf, most of us Deaf users tend to use American Sign Language to communicate. We use our hands, not our voices, WHY WIL STILL CHARGING US 🤬?? Gide and never charged us.
  23. [R103] Lloyd 1/5 · US Not worth it too slow: When you sign up it ask you for information like your phone number and first and last name it’s weird. And when comes to the seeing Ai vision it’s very very slow because it’s not a real time video stream. All it does is take the photo and process it and that can take time. Even the voice response is extremely slow processing. Still with open Ai, grok or google Gemini. All th

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store