Alternatives to DuckDuckGo Browser
Privacy-default browser from DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGo Browser ranks #12 of 14 in Browsers, with an Alt Score of 40. It is licensed under Apache-2.0, free and available on macOS, Windows, iOS and Android. 5 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
People who want to browse and search the web without being tracked by ad networks or big tech, on either desktop (Windows, Mac) or mobile (iOS, Android), without having to configure privacy settings themselves.
A free browser with tracker blocking, ad blocking, and cookie-popup handling turned on by default, plus a built-in private search engine that doesn't log queries. It enforces HTTPS where available, includes a password manager and email protection, and lets you clear browsing data, history, and tabs in one action. Optional paid add-ons include a VPN and identity-theft protection.
Download the browser for your platform (direct download or app store) and it blocks trackers and ads automatically as you browse, with no setup required. You can import bookmarks and passwords from your previous browser to switch over quickly.
Where DuckDuckGo Browser stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave DuckDuckGo Browser
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
Sign in to add a reason — new reasons go through moderation before appearing.
Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How DuckDuckGo Browser compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Browsers checklist | DuckDuckGo Browser | Vivaldi | Brave | Waterfox | Orion | Firefox |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) | ||||||
| Built-in ad blocker | ||||||
| Built-in VPN or proxy | ||||||
| Vertical tabs | ||||||
| Tab groups & workspaces | ||||||
| Extension ecosystem compatibility | ||||||
| Sync (E2E encrypted) | ||||||
| Battery / memory saver mode | ||||||
| Privacy: fingerprinting protection | ||||||
| Telemetry opt-out | ||||||
| Profile containers | ||||||
| Reader mode |
Every fact and feature listed for DuckDuckGo Browser is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Apache-2.0 verified 2026-07-11
DuckDuckGo android is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license
https://github.com/duckduckgo/Android -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
our browser is free
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/does-duckduckgo-make-a-browser -
Platforms macOS, Windows, iOS, Android verified 2026-07-11
Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/does-duckduckgo-make-a-browser -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
More Duck.ai Functionality from Address Bar: Use more Duck.ai functions directly from your address bar!
https://duckduckgo.com/updates -
Engine (Chromium / Gecko / WebKit) Yes verified 2026-07-11
For web page rendering, the browser uses the underlying operating system rendering API. (In this case, it's a Windows WebView2 call that utilizes the Blink rendering engine underneath.)
https://www.spreadprivacy.com/windows-browser-open-beta/ -
Built-in ad blocker Yes verified 2026-07-11
blocks YouTube ads, invasive web ads, and cookie pop-ups
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/does-duckduckgo-make-a-browser -
Built-in VPN or proxy Yes verified 2026-07-11
DuckDuckGo VPN (short for Virtual Private Network) is a service that gives you an extra layer of protection online by encrypting your Internet connection across your entire device and hiding your loca
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy-pro/vpn/what-is-vpn -
Sync (E2E encrypted) Yes verified 2026-07-11
Synced data is end-to-end encrypted, so DuckDuckGo never has access to your synced data or encryption key.
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/sync-and-backup -
Privacy: fingerprinting protection Yes verified 2026-07-11
we override many of the browser APIs used for fingerprinting to make them return either no information or alternative information that's less useful for fingerprinting
https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections
FAQ
Yes. Vivaldi, Brave and Waterfox have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Brave, Waterfox and Firefox — every license claim links its source.