The DuckDuckGo Browser Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about DuckDuckGo Browser in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
DuckDuckGo Browser
The Insider’s Guide
Free browser that blocks trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups by default
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among browsers, read from DuckDuckGo Browser’s own pages.
Made by DuckDuckGo · checked Oct 5, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from DuckDuckGo Browser’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on DuckDuckGo Browser’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade
The DuckDuckGo browser is a free browser for Windows, Mac, iOS and Android built around DuckDuckGo's private search engine. It blocks third-party trackers, most ads and cookie pop-ups by default, clears browsing data with one button and includes a password manager, Email Protection and optional Duck.ai chat. A paid subscription adds a full-device VPN, advanced AI models and identity protection services.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about DuckDuckGo Browser, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It's free on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with no Linux build and nothing on record about extensions.
- 1
Best for private browsing with nothing to set up
The DuckDuckGo browser blocks trackers, most ads and cookie pop-ups from the start, and one button wipes your tabs and history.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year
As its pricing page puts it: $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Plus subscription).
- 3
There is a free plan
The browser is free on every platform, with private search, tracker, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, Email Protection, a password manager and the basic Duck.ai chat models.
- 4
It runs on 4 platforms
Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
- 5
Tracker and ad blocking
Third-party trackers from companies such as Google and Facebook are blocked by default, along with most ads before they load, including ads on YouTube videos.
- 6
Cookie pop-up handling
The browser detects cookie consent pop-ups and, where possible, opts out automatically so the pop-up never appears.
- 7
One-button data clearing
A single button deletes all open tabs, history and browsing data, so nothing from a session is left behind on the device.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 5 of 15
That is against the other browsers we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace DuckDuckGo Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
DuckDuckGo Browser at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Plus subscription)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free trial of the subscription for new subscribers; its length was not shown when read
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, iOS, Android
- Made by
- DuckDuckGo, since 2008
- Category
- Browsers
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for private browsing with nothing to set up
The DuckDuckGo browser blocks trackers, most ads and cookie pop-ups from the start, and one button wipes your tabs and history. It's free on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, with no Linux build and nothing on record about extensions. The VPN and better AI models need Plus at $9.99 a month, that subscription is only sold in some countries, and DuckDuckGo itself says no service can block all hidden tracking.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The browser costs nothing. The extras you might want, the whole-device VPN, better AI models, information removal, identity restoration, come as Plus at $9.99 a month, the dear end of what browsers charge. Pro at $19.99 is in this category's dearest tenth, and the subscription is sold in only some countries. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright on all four platforms, with private search, tracker, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, a password manager, Email Protection and the basic Duck.ai models. Paying adds the VPN, better AI models and identity services. |
| Features | C | The blocking covers third-party trackers, most ads including YouTube's, cookie pop-ups opted out of for you, and one button that wipes tabs, history and the lot. Past that the listing is short for a browser, with nothing at all about extension support, and no Linux build. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, but there's nothing here to set up: install it and the blocking is already on, with passwords and bookmarks imported from Chrome if you want them. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android, so both a computer and a phone are covered. No Linux build, and no integrations or API on record at all. The paid protections are only reachable through this browser. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who DuckDuckGo Browser is for
- Fits if you want trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups blocked without changing a setting
- Works for people who want private search and anonymous AI chat in the same app
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you're on Linux, as the desktop browser is Windows and Mac only
- Not for you if you want the subscription outside the US, Canada, the UK and the listed EU countries
- Pricey if you only wanted the VPN, since it comes in the $9.99 a month bundle and nothing smaller
- Watch out: nothing on record says whether it takes extensions, and there are no integrations or API
- Watch out: it keeps a list of tracking exceptions so sites don't break, and says no service blocks all hidden tracking
Good to know
Good for
- People who want tracker and ad blocking with no setup
- Private search and anonymous AI chat in one app
- Those who want a VPN and identity services bundled with their browser
Worth knowing
- The VPN, advanced AI models, Personal Information Removal and Identity Theft Restoration need a subscription from $9.99 per month.
- The subscription is sold only in the US, Canada, the UK and listed EU countries, and its features are accessed through the DuckDuckGo browser.
- The desktop browser is available only for Windows and Mac; no Linux version is listed.
- DuckDuckGo says no service can block all hidden tracking, and it keeps a list of exceptions to avoid breaking websites.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.33
A month to start, paid by the year. There is a free plan too
DuckDuckGo Browser has a free plan. Paid plans start at $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year (Plus subscription).
Paying adds the VPN, better AI models and identity services.
Free
$0
The full browser with private search, tracker and cookie pop-up blocking, Email Protection, a password manager and basic Duck.ai models.
Plus
$9.99
per month, or $99.99 per year, plus tax if applicable
Adds a full-device VPN on up to 5 devices at once, advanced AI models in Duck.ai, Personal Information Removal and Identity Theft Restoration.
Pro
$19.99
per month, or $199.99 per year, plus tax if applicable
Everything in Plus, with the most advanced Duck.ai models, higher reasoning effort and 2x the Plus usage limits.
The free plan
The browser is free on every platform, with private search, tracker, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, Email Protection, a password manager and the basic Duck.ai chat models.
Trying it first
Free trial of the subscription for new subscribers; its length was not shown when read
Read from duckduckgo.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
About 17% off with yearly billing
Plus is $99.99 a year against $9.99 a month, and Pro is $199.99 a year against $19.99 a month, a saving of about 17% over twelve monthly payments.
Stated on duckduckgo.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
4
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, iOS and Android
Free browser that blocks trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups by default. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, password manager, web browser.
Past that the listing is short for a browser, with nothing at all about extension support, and no Linux build.
- Tracker and ad blocking
- Third-party trackers from companies such as Google and Facebook are blocked by default, along with most ads before they load, including ads on YouTube videos.
- Cookie pop-up handling
- The browser detects cookie consent pop-ups and, where possible, opts out automatically so the pop-up never appears.
- One-button data clearing
- A single button deletes all open tabs, history and browsing data, so nothing from a session is left behind on the device.
- Private search and Duck.ai
- DuckDuckGo Search is built in and does not track searches. Duck.ai offers anonymized chats with models such as ChatGPT and Claude that are not used for training, and it can be turned off.
- Password manager and Email Protection
- A built-in password manager stores logins, passwords and bookmarks can be imported from browsers such as Chrome, and Email Protection blocks hidden trackers in emails.
- Subscription protections
- Subscribers get a VPN that covers the whole device, advanced Duck.ai models, Personal Information Removal from data broker sites and Identity Theft Restoration, all reached through the browser.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
DuckDuckGo Browser is made by DuckDuckGo, and has been around since 2008.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/15
Other browsers it is graded above
DuckDuckGo Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 5 of 15) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7.08 for the category: 4 of the 7 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 7 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 16 browsers we grade, cut by the letter each got. DuckDuckGo Browser’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 2 of 15
- AFree plan and trialAbove 5 of 15
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 15
- BEase of useAbove 4 of 15
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 7 of 15
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 15 browsers. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. DuckDuckGo Browser is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace DuckDuckGo Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $99.99 a year.
What you could not
- A web browser.
- A password vault, the last thing anyone should make for themselves.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
What this rests on. DuckDuckGo Browser’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Brave, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome and Vivaldi
The 5 tools DuckDuckGo Browser is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.8GPA
Brave
Free plan · from $3.00/mo
Open-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default.
- Only Brave lists a Linux app.
- Brave is open source, according to its own site.
- Brave also covers video calls.
- 3.8GPA
Firefox
Free
Free, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in.
- Only Firefox lists a Linux app.
- Firefox is open source and end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- 3.2GPA
Safari
Free
Apple's built-in browser for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Vision Pro.
- Only DuckDuckGo Browser lists Windows and Android apps.
- DuckDuckGo Browser also covers password manager.
- Safari also covers passkeys and read later.
- 3.6GPA
Google Chrome
Free
Google's free browser for desktop and mobile, with Gemini built in.
- Only Google Chrome lists a Linux app.
- Google Chrome also covers passkeys.
- 3.8GPA
Vivaldi
Free
Customizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader.
- Only Vivaldi lists a Linux app.
- Vivaldi is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- DuckDuckGo Browser also covers password manager.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is DuckDuckGo Browser free?
DuckDuckGo Browser has a free plan. The browser is free on every platform, with private search, tracker, ad and cookie pop-up blocking, Email Protection, a password manager and the basic Duck.ai chat models.
How much does DuckDuckGo Browser cost?
DuckDuckGo Browser lists 3 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does DuckDuckGo Browser work on?
DuckDuckGo Browser is available on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Does DuckDuckGo Browser offer any discounts?
DuckDuckGo Browser publicly lists the following: About 17% off with yearly billing.
Does DuckDuckGo Browser have a Linux app?
No Linux app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. DuckDuckGo Browser is listed for Windows, macOS, iOS and Android.
Is DuckDuckGo Browser open source?
DuckDuckGo Browser is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does DuckDuckGo Browser have a free trial?
Yes. Free trial of the subscription for new subscribers; its length was not shown when read.
Who makes DuckDuckGo Browser?
DuckDuckGo Browser is made by DuckDuckGo. It dates from 2008.
What are the alternatives to DuckDuckGo Browser?
The closest alternatives to DuckDuckGo Browser in our directory are Brave, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome and Vivaldi.
How does DuckDuckGo Browser compare with other browsers?
DuckDuckGo Browser's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 5 of the 15 other browsers we grade, and level with 1.
Is DuckDuckGo Browser good value for money?
ToolGPA grades DuckDuckGo Browser C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month when paid by the year, against a middle price of $7.08 for the category: 4 of the 7 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of DuckDuckGo Browser?
To replace DuckDuckGo Browser you would be making a web browser. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from DuckDuckGo Browser’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from DuckDuckGo's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-22.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by DuckDuckGo. Prices change, so check duckduckgo.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- DuckDuckGo Browser, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/duckduckgo-browser
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "DuckDuckGo Browser: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/duckduckgo-browser
Know someone choosing between browsers?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/duckduckgo-browser/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded browsers after DuckDuckGo Browser, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Browsers Insider's GuideEvery one of the 16 browsers we grade, compared
- Brave Insider's GuideOpen-source browser that blocks ads and trackers by default3.8 GPA
- Firefox Insider's GuideFree, open-source browser from Mozilla with tracker blocking built in3.8 GPA
- Vivaldi Insider's GuideCustomizable browser with built-in mail, calendar and feed reader3.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what DuckDuckGo Browser’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. DuckDuckGo Browser is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by DuckDuckGo. Prices and plans change: check duckduckgo.com before you buy.