--- title: DuckDuckGo Browser canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/duckduckgo-browser/ category: Web Browsers points: 53 rank: 9 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # DuckDuckGo Browser Free browser that blocks trackers and ads by default and has encrypted sync. 53 points out of 100. #9 of 12 web browsers. Vendor: DuckDuckGo. Website: https://duckduckgo.com/app - The browser is free and runs on Windows, Mac, Android and iOS [1]. - It blocks third-party trackers and, the vendor says, most ads, including on videos [1]. - Sync & Backup is free and encrypted on your device, and DuckDuckGo says it cannot read the data [5][6]. - The Windows browser needs Windows 10 (May 2020) or later; 32-bit builds stopped receiving updates after version 0.170.0 [10]. - The VPN is a separate paid subscription that covers the whole device, not only the browser [8]. Verdict: DuckDuckGo Browser suits people who want trackers, ads and cookie pop-ups handled without setup, plus encrypted sync of bookmarks and passwords [1][3][5]. It costs nothing [1]. The catch: the vendor's pages do not describe tab groups, vertical tabs, profiles or translation, and its open-source list has no Windows repository [4][11]. Best for: People who want privacy settings already switched on. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Other systems | macOS, iOS, Android | 6/8 | App page lists Windows, Mac, Android and iOS; Linux is not listed [1][3]. | | Privacy and security | Blocks trackers by default | Yes | 8/8 | App page says it blocks third-party trackers; the tracking page says the protection is built into the apps [1][2]. | | Privacy and security | Built-in ad blocker | Yes | 5/5 | Vendor pages say the browser blocks most ads, including YouTube and invasive web ads, with no extension [1][3]. | | Privacy and security | Fingerprinting protection | Yes | 7/7 | Windows app: fingerprinting scripts from third-party trackers are blocked and browser APIs overridden [2]. | | Privacy and security | Built-in VPN or proxy | No | 0/3 | The VPN covers the whole device, not only browser traffic, and comes with the paid subscription [8]. | | Privacy and security | Open source | Not published | 0/5 | Open-source page lists repositories for iOS, Mac and Android, none for Windows [4]. | | Privacy and security | Public bug bounty | Not published | 0/4 | Not published on the vendor's open-source page [4]. | | Privacy and security | Phishing and malware warnings | Yes | 5/5 | Built-in Scam Blocker warns about phishing and malware sites and can be turned off in settings; page names no platform [12]. | | Sync and sign-in | Free sync across devices | Yes | 6/6 | Sync & Backup is a free feature of the browser; it syncs bookmarks and passwords between devices [5][6]. | | Sync and sign-in | End-to-end encrypted sync | Yes | 8/8 | Data is encrypted on your device; DuckDuckGo says it has no access to the key [5]. | | Sync and sign-in | Built-in password manager | Yes | 3/3 | Help page describes a built-in password manager that stores, fills and generates passwords without an account [13]. | | Sync and sign-in | Saves passkeys | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's password manager page [7]. | | Extensions | Chrome Web Store extensions | Not published | 0/6 | Not found on the vendor's pages; the Windows help page does not mention extensions [10]. | | Extensions | Manifest V2 extensions still work | Not published | 0/6 | Not found on the vendor's pages; the Windows help page does not mention extensions [10]. | | Tabs and tools | Vertical tabs | Not published | 0/4 | Not found on the vendor's pages [3][11]. | | Tabs and tools | Tab groups | Not published | 0/4 | Not found on the vendor's pages [3][11]. | | Tabs and tools | Built-in page translation | Not published | 0/4 | Not found on the vendor's pages; its translation page covers search results only [11]. | | Tabs and tools | Separate profiles | Not published | 0/4 | Not found on the vendor's pages [3][11]. | | Price | Cost to use | $0 | 5/5 | The app page calls the browser free [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Browser | Free [1][8] | $0 | ## Strengths - Free, with no paid tier needed for the browser itself [1]. - Third-party trackers are blocked and fingerprinting scripts are blocked in the Windows app [2]. - Sync & Backup is free and end-to-end encrypted [5][6]. - Built-in password manager that encrypts passwords with 256-bit AES on your device [7]. ## Limits - The vendor's open-source list names repositories for iOS, Mac and Android, but none for Windows [4]. - Its Windows crash-report page calls the Windows browser "DuckDuckGo Preview" [9]. - The vendor's pages do not describe tab groups, vertical tabs, profiles or page translation [3][11]. - The VPN is a paid subscription service that protects the whole device [8]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - DuckDuckGo says the browser blocks YouTube ads, invasive web ads and cookie pop-ups [3]. ## Sources 1. [DuckDuckGo Browser](https://duckduckgo.com/app), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Web tracking protections](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections/), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Does DuckDuckGo make a browser?](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/does-duckduckgo-make-a-browser/), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [DuckDuckGo open source](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/open-source/opensource-overview), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Sync & Backup privacy](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/sync-and-backup/sync-and-backup-privacy), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Enable Sync & Backup](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/sync-and-backup/enable-sync-and-backup), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [Password manager security](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/sync-and-backup/password-manager-security), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [About DuckDuckGo VPN](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy-pro/vpn/what-is-vpn), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [DuckDuckGo Windows crash disclaimer](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/r-legal/duckduckgo-preview-crash-report), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 10. [Get the DuckDuckGo Browser on Windows](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/get-duckduckgo-browser-on-windows), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 11. [The Fire Button, Fire Windows, and Fire Tabs](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/fire-tabs), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 12. [Scam Blocker](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/threat-protection/scam-blocker), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 13. [Passwords & Autofill](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/passwords-autofill), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08