ad blocker · DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials

Free open-source browser extension that blocks third-party trackers in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera.

61/100

#10 of 12 ad blockers
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

The extension is available for 4 Windows browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera².
The extension is free, according to DuckDuckGo's Firefox Add-ons listing⁹.
The source code is on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 licence³.
DuckDuckGo says it does not save or share your search or browsing history⁷.
Cookie pop-up handling is not supported in the extensions yet⁴.

This extension suits people who want free tracker blocking that works straight from a browser store, with open source code and a no-history policy^2,3,7. It costs nothing and the Chrome version uses Manifest V3^8,9. The catch: the vendor documents no custom block rules, cookie pop-up handling is unsupported, and its ad-blocking and scam-blocking pages describe only its own browser^2,4,5,6.

Best for: People who want free tracker blocking without an account.

Where the points come from

Where it blocks18 of 23

Blocking4 of 26

Privacy and trust20 of 20

Price19 of 31

Where it blocks 18 of 23 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Windows browsers	Chrome, Edge, Firefox, OperaThe help page lists install links for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera extensions².	12 / 12
Blocks outside the browser	NoThe extensions work inside browsers; the Windows app is DuckDuckGo's own browser^1,2.	0 / 5
Phone protection	iOS, AndroidCounted through the vendor's own browser with tracker and ad blocking on iOS and Android; the extension itself is not on phones^1,5.	6 / 6

Blocking 4 of 26 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Still works in Chrome after Manifest V2	YesThe Chrome manifest in the vendor's public repository declares manifest_version 3⁸.	4 / 4
Your own block rules	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's extension help page².	0 / 7
Malicious site blocking	Not publishedScam Blocker is described only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extensions⁶.	0 / 5
Cookie pop-up blocking	NoCookie pop-up protection is listed as unsupported in the Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera extensions⁴.	0 / 4
No ad allow-list on by default	Not publishedNot published on the vendor's ad-blocking page⁵.	0 / 6

Privacy and trust 20 of 20 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Open source	YesThe repository states the extensions are distributed under the Apache 2.0 licence³.	10 / 10
No browsing history kept	YesThe privacy policy says DuckDuckGo does not save or share search or browsing history, including with its extensions⁷.	6 / 6
Works without an account	YesThe help page links straight to browser-store installs, with no sign-in step².	4 / 4

Price 19 of 31 points

Rule	What is published	Points
Free plan	Not publishedThe extension is free, but vendor pages describe ad blocking only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extension^9,5.	0 / 12
Cheapest paid plan	$0No paid plan is listed for the extension, which the Firefox Add-ons listing calls free; counted as $0^1,9.	12 / 12
Devices on one paid plan	99No paid plan for the extension, so recorded as 99 under the rule¹.	4 / 4
Money-back guarantee	YesNo paid plan for the extension, so nothing to refund; recorded as true under the rule¹.	3 / 3

The rule behind each line: how we score ad blockers.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

Plan	Price as listed	Per month	Notes
Extension1 person	Free^2,9	$0	Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera

The app page mentions a paid DuckDuckGo subscription with no price shown; it is not an ad-blocking plan for this extension¹.

Strengths

Installs from the stores for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera².
Source code is public under Apache 2.0³.
The Chrome extension manifest declares Manifest V3⁸.
The privacy policy says search and browsing history is not saved or shared⁷.

Limits

Cookie pop-up protection is listed as unsupported in the browser extensions⁴.
Ad blocking and Scam Blocker are described only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extension^5,6.
The extension runs only inside browsers, so it does not filter other programs².
The GitHub project says it is not accepting new feature pull requests³.

What DuckDuckGo says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

DuckDuckGo says its Windows and mobile browsers block most ads and many third-party trackers^1,5.

Other ad blockers

1
uBlock OriginPeople who want a free, open-source blocker with their own filter rules
95/100
$0cheapest paid plan
2
GhosteryPeople who want a free, open-source blocker with cookie pop-up handling
82/100
$0cheapest paid plan
3
AdGuard DNSPeople who want device-wide blocking and a plan with their own rules
77/100
$1.67/mocheapest paid plan
4
Control DPeople who want to filter every device by DNS and write their own domain rules
73/100
$2.50/mocheapest paid plan

All 12 ad blockers

Sources

DuckDuckGo browser and apps, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Adding DuckDuckGo to your browser, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Web tracking protections, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Ad blocking, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Scam Blocker, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
DuckDuckGo privacy policy, DuckDuckGo. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
Chrome extension manifest.json, GitHub. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
DuckDuckGo extension listing on Firefox Add-ons, Mozilla Add-ons. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: duckduckgo.com/app · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with DuckDuckGo.