Some browsers ask for your data before they give you speed. DuckDuckGo Browser flips that equation: privacy first, then polish. You launch it, search as usual, and the app quietly blocks trackers, upgrades connections, and sweeps away dark-pattern cookie walls. In the latest version line, it’s grown into a genuinely daily-driver choice—lean, tidy, and opinionated about your privacy without nagging you about it. If you’re building a clean workstation stack, this sits neatly alongside your other office & productivity tools without the telemetry drama that follows you around the web. (Browse more picks in ourOffice & Productivitycategory.)
Key Features
Tracker blocking + “Smarter Encryption.” The browser stops most third-party trackers and upgrades many HTTP links to secure HTTPS, out of the box.
Cookie pop-up protection. It auto-chooses the most private option and hides the banner so you can just read the page.
Fire Button & “Burn on Exit.” Nuke recent browsing data in a tap—or clear tabs and history automatically whenever you exit.
Duck Player for YouTube. Watch with fewer distractions and less tracking; great for quick research sessions.
Built-in password manager & private sync. Save passwords locally and (when you want) sync passwords/bookmarks securely across devices—no account required.
Email Protection (@duck.com). Create private aliases that strip trackers before mail reaches your inbox.
What’s New
Sync & Backup expands. Private, account-free syncing for passwords and bookmarks via QR or setup code, with encrypted recovery.
“Burn on Exit.” A new setting that clears tabs and browsing data every time you close the app—useful on shared machines or lab PCs.
UI refresh & quality-of-life polish (mid-2025). A cleaner interface with small but welcome refinements around everyday controls.
Free Download — DuckDuckGo Browser 0.125.3.0
Free Download — full version standalone installer (App Installer/MSIX bundle; no login)
Pro Tips
Set it and forget it. In Settings → Privacy, keep Cookie Pop-up Protection and Smarter Encryption enabled; they quietly remove friction on most sites.
Use Duck Player for research. It cuts noise on YouTube links—perfect when you just need the content without the side-tracking.
Turn on “Burn on Exit” on shared PCs. Library, office kiosk, or a family PC? This makes a clean slate your default.
Try Email Protection for sign-ups. Generate a fresh @duck.com alias for each site; if one leaks, delete it and move on.
Know what’s under the hood. On Windows, the app uses WebView2 (Blink) for page rendering—so compatibility feels like Edge/Chrome, but the privacy model is DuckDuckGo’s.
Comparisons with Similar Tools
Waterfox Browser — deeply customizable, Firefox-based privacy browser; DuckDuckGo is simpler, with opinionated defaults and anti-tracking baked in.
AVG Secure Browser — security-centric with its own add-ons; DuckDuckGo feels lighter and avoids account tie-ins by design.
System Requirements
OS: Windows 10 May 2020 Update (2004) or later, or Windows 11.
Installer: App Installer/MSIX bundle (official).
Footprint: Store listing shows an ~1–1.6 GB app size; leave extra space for cache.
Frequently Asked Questions about DuckDuckGo Browser
1. Is DuckDuckGo Browser a Chromium fork?
No. On Windows it uses the OS’s WebView2 (Blink) for rendering; DuckDuckGo builds its own UI, privacy features, and tools on top.
2. Does Duck Player block YouTube ads and tracking?
It’s designed to reduce tracking and distracting elements around playback; behavior can vary by video and changes on YouTube’s side.
3. How does Sync & Backup work without an account?
You pair devices with a QR/alphanumeric code; data is encrypted end-to-end, and a recovery PDF can restore access.
4. Will “Burn on Exit” delete my bookmarks or saved passwords?
No—it clears tabs and browsing data on exit, not your saved bookmarks/passwords.
