Baidu (百度) : China's Google with ~65% search share, challenged by mobile fragmentation.

China's version of Google, Baidu was once the undisputed leader of Chinese internet search and a founding member of the "BAT" trio alongside Alibaba and Tencent. It still commands approximately 65% market share in web search, but its dominance has eroded significantly in the mobile era as users have shifted to searching for content directly within specialized apps - products on Taobao, videos on Douyin, and reviews on RedNote (Xiaohongshu).

How does Baidu search compare to Google?

Baidu dominates China's search market with ~65% share but indexes far fewer international sites than Google. Results prioritize Chinese-language content and Baidu-owned properties (Baidu Baike, Tieba). Image and video search quality lags behind Google.

Does Baidu require a Chinese phone number to register?

Non-Chinese phone numbers work for Baidu registration, including US numbers. An email-based registration option is also available. However, some features like Baidu Wallet require additional identity verification with a Chinese ID.

Can I use Baidu from the United States?

For the most part, yes. Baidu is accessible from the US without a VPN. However, search results are filtered according to Chinese government censorship requirements. The interface is predominantly Chinese with no full English mode, making it challenging for non-Chinese speakers.