Won't load right now where I am. (I'm at a library)

That's unusual. Startpage has been known to filter IP ranges that it thinks might be scraping it, but normally it just throws up a CAPTCHA.

It's a large & well known search engine though. So you could ask the librarian, maybe it's blocked from the library's WAN for some reason.

https://support.startpage.com/hc/en-us/articles/445538045083...

Probably, but they don't block google so I'll continue to use that. Path of least resistance.

DDG user here, worth the switch?

It's definitely worth a try if you're not satisfied with DDG's results. They seem to more closely match Google & have a few more privacy features, such as visiting a page through their anonymized proxy.

I've been quite impressed with Brave's search, tbh. They do have optional AI answers & I've been happy with the results.

More info: https://www.privacytools.io/private-search

https://www.privacyguides.org/en/search-engines/