DuckDuckGo started as a search engine that does not track your searches. Today it also makes the DuckDuckGo browser for Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone, and a Chrome extension with about four million users (September 2026) that brings its tracker blocking to the browser you already use. This guide explains what each option does, how to install it, and where its privacy protection ends.
The DuckDuckGo browser, extension and search compared
| DuckDuckGo browser | Chrome extension | Search only | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private search | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blocks third-party trackers | Yes | Yes | No |
| One-tap data wipe (Fire Button) | Yes | Yes, in the extension | No |
| Replaces your browser | Yes | No | No |
Key privacy features
- Tracker blocking: stops hidden third-party trackers from loading on the sites you visit.
- Private search: DuckDuckGo does not build a profile from your searches.
- Fire Button: closes tabs and clears browsing data in one step.
- Cookie pop-up handling: answers many consent banners with the most private option.
- Email Protection: free forwarding addresses that strip trackers from emails.
- Duck.ai: an optional, anonymised way to use AI chat models from within DuckDuckGo.
How to install the DuckDuckGo browser
- Go to duckduckgo.com/app on the device you want to use.
- Download the browser for Windows or Mac, or install it from your phone’s app store.
- Open it and import your bookmarks and passwords from your old browser if asked.
- Set it as your default browser if you want links from other apps to open in it.
Prefer to keep Chrome? Add the extension
Install DuckDuckGo Search & Tracker Protection from the Chrome Web Store. It makes DuckDuckGo your search engine in Chrome and blocks trackers on the pages you visit. Run it alongside one ad blocker at most; two tools blocking the same things can break pages.
DuckDuckGo on Android and iPhone
On phones the DuckDuckGo browser works much like a normal mobile browser, with tracker blocking on by default and the Fire Button in the toolbar. The Android version also offers App Tracking Protection, which blocks many third-party trackers inside your other apps, not just in the browser. It works by routing app traffic through a local connection on the phone itself, so Android shows a VPN key icon while it is on; the traffic does not go to DuckDuckGo’s servers. Note that Android allows only one VPN-type app at a time, so this feature and a real VPN cannot run together.
What DuckDuckGo does not hide
Tracker blocking stops companies from following you across websites, but it does not hide your IP address from the sites you visit or from your internet provider. Sites you sign in to still know who you are. If you need to change the address websites see, add a VPN; our comparison of free VPN extensions and the Proton VPN review are good starting points.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DuckDuckGo browser free?
Yes. DuckDuckGo earns money from ads in its search results that are based on the search itself, not on a profile of you. It also sells an optional paid privacy subscription in some countries.
Is DuckDuckGo search as good as Google?
For everyday searches it is close, though local and very recent results can be weaker. You can always add !g to a query to send it to Google when you need to.
Does it work with incognito mode?
The browser has its own Fire mode for this. For Chrome’s incognito, see how to reopen a tab in incognito.
If you want fewer companies watching what you do online without changing your habits much, the DuckDuckGo browser, or its Chrome extension, is one of the easiest steps you can take.