DuckDuckGo Review in 2025: Everything You Need to Know

If you’re used to using mainstream search engines like Google, your browsing history is likely not private. Fortunately, you can switch to a privacy-centric search engine like DuckDuckGo to protect your online activities from being tracked.

So, what is DuckDuckGo? Is DuckDuckGo safe? Does it come with a built-in VPN? This latest 2025 DuckDuckGo review will answer all your questions. Let’s get started!

What Is DuckDuckGo?

DuckDuckGo is a free search engine dedicated to providing users with a more private and faster browsing experience. Unlike Chrome and other browsers, it doesn’t track or monitor your surfing history or collect personal info, and it also blocks trackers from other websites.

The Disappearing Internet Privacy

In 1993, The New Yorker published a cartoon: a black dog sits on a computer chair, looking at another dog standing on the floor and saying, “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re a dog.” This cartoon became a classic for The New Yorker, and the dog’s line became a classic internet joke.

However, in 2025, this joke might actually become just that—a joke. If that little black dog were still online today, it would likely be shocked to discover that not only do others know it’s a dog, but they also know its name, owner, address, breed, fur color, and even whether it’s been neutered.

Today’s internet has long left “anonymity” and “privacy” behind, building a business model centered around user data. Most websites track and monitor personal info and search records to craft a world of personalized recommendations just for you. You search for “tomato” online, and a minute later, you see the same ad titles or recipes on social platforms or shopping sites.

Now, 32 years since 1993, the line between the real world and the virtual world seems blurrier than ever. Yet, amidst this data frenzy, some websites remain committed to protecting user privacy, and DuckDuckGo is one of them.

Brand Identity & Naming

When discussing “privacy” and “personal data,” there’s often a serious and rigid atmosphere. However, those encountering DuckDuckGo for the first time are likely to be drawn to its cute and humorous logo: a silly-looking duck wearing a green bow tie against a red background, with a harmless expression—a comical contrast to the serious tagline below: “Your protection, our priority.“

The quirky but amusing name “DuckDuckGo” originates from its founder, Gabriel Weinberg, a graduate of MIT. According to him, he was inspired by the children’s game “duck, duck, goose,” with no other metaphors or deeper meanings behind it.

The History of DuckDuckGo

On its official “About DuckDuckGo” page, DuckDuckGo presents its key points to users in a timeline format. 

Founded in 2008, DuckDuckGo made the pivotal decision in 2010 to not track users’ search histories, reinforcing its core principle of protecting user privacy. In January 2011, DuckDuckGo put up a giant billboard directly addressing Google’s tracking practices with the message, “Google tracks you. We don’t,” which garnered significant attention. A year later, as Google announced updates to its privacy policies to collect user info across its services, DuckDuckGo experienced a spike in traffic. Then in 2013, the PRISM scandal further heightened public concern over internet privacy, allowing DuckDuckGo to reach the milestone of one billion anonymous searches.

Over the next eleven years, DuckDuckGo continued to grow and optimize its features, now reaching 3 billion monthly searches and 6 million monthly app downloads. Although these numbers pale in comparison to mainstream search engines like Google, it’s still an impressive achievement.

So, how has DuckDuckGo managed to establish itself on the internet, and what features does it offer? We will provide you with a detailed overview. Keep reading!

Main Features of DuckDuckGo

Basic Search

DuckDuckGo’s basic search function operates similarly to other mainstream services. Users simply enter keywords into the search bar to navigate to the results page. 

It supports common commands like `site:` and `filetype:` effectively, allowing results to be further filtered by parameters such as language and update time. This ensures a seamless transition for users switching from other search engines without imposing any additional learning curve.

For advanced users, DuckDuckGo offers the option to perform sophisticated searches by adding parameters to the URL. For example:

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=xvpn&kp=0&kl=uk-en

This URL initiates a search for the keyword “xvpn” (q=xvpn), with no filtering of search results (kp=0), and limits the search to the UK region (kl=uk-en). 

Moreover, DuckDuckGo allows users not only to define search parameters via URL adjustments but also to customize the behavior of the search page (such as whether to open links in a new tab) and its appearance (like theme settings).

You can consult DuckDuckGo’s help page for more detailed instructions and commands.

!Bangs

Bangs are search shortcuts that allow you to quickly navigate to search results on other websites. They work by simply adding an identifier starting with an exclamation mark (!) before your search keywords. DuckDuckGo will then use the search engine or website associated with that bang to perform the search. For example, if you search:

!g tomato

DuckDuckGo will take you directly to Google’s search results for the keyword “tomato.” Similarly, using !w and !bing will take you to Wikipedia or Bing for your search, respectively.

Seach “!g tomato” on DuckDuckGo

This way, if you’re unsure about the accuracy of a DuckDuckGo search or want to gather the most info by comparing results from different search engines, you can do so directly from the DuckDuckGo search bar without needing other tools.

Search Results

It must be acknowledged that for a search engine, features, and privacy protection are just enhancements; ultimately, attracting users depends on the quality of its search results. DuckDuckGo’s search results have the following unique elements:

・Objectivity: It does not use users’ personal search histories to customize results. This means that searches for the same keyword produce consistent results for all users.

・Instant Answers: When searching for specific keywords, DuckDuckGo tries to provide relevant answers right at the top of the results page, giving users important information without the need for further clicks.

・Contextual Data: By using contextual data based on the user’s ISP, DuckDuckGo enhances the relevance of search results in a privacy-friendly manner.

Instant Answers on DuckDuckGo

Privacy Protection

Search engines typically collect various types of info about you, including your IP address, geo-location, and search history. The aim is to create a “profile” of you. And if the search engine knows more about your personal info, it can deliver more targeted promotional content to increase the click-through rate, thereby boosting its advertising revenue.

In contrast, DuckDuckGo commits not to track your User Agent, IP address, search queries, or any other passively transmitted info. It also refrains from actively identifying you through mechanisms like cookies.

Additionally, DuckDuckGo enhances user privacy with the following features:

・No User Profiles: DuckDuckGo does not require users to register for an account. Your search history and personal data are stored on your local device.

・Automatic Forced Encryption: When you use DuckDuckGo to visit other websites, it strives to enforce HTTPS encryption wherever possible. This measure helps prevent your source address and search keywords from being exposed via the insecure HTTP protocol.

・Web Tracking Protection: Blocks most hidden trackers from loading and prevents Cookie consent pop-ups. This stops companies from collecting and using data from these trackers and also speeds up the loading of websites.

・Built-in Email Protection: It allows users to create a unique, private @duck.com email address. Any emails sent to this address are forwarded to your regular inbox, with email trackers removed. 

・App Tracking Protection: DuckDuckGo can detect when Android apps on your device send your private data to third-party tracking companies listed in their database and block most of these requests. Users can also use the DuckDuckGo Android app to view real-time results of this protection.

・Privacy Grades: A privacy rating system is provided, which performs a comprehensive evaluation by analyzing each website’s level of encryption, the number of trackers, and its privacy policy, making it easier for users to decide whether to trust a site.

・Global Privacy Control (GPC): A feature that allows users to manage their data more conveniently. When users visit a website that supports GPC, they can request the site not to sell or share their data.

・Burn After Reading: After browsing, simply click the Fire button at the top of the screen to delete tabs and all browsing data—truly erasing your online footprint.

Customization

After years of refinement and development, DuckDuckGo now boasts an interface that rivals other similar services and supports a wide range of detailed customization options. 

Users can adjust various settings according to their preferences, such as changing the interface theme, default language, region, and whether to open search results in a new window. In addition to these basic features, users can also engage in advanced operations like setting tags, managing bookmarks, and adding sites to a whitelist.

Additional Functions

In addition to the aforementioned features, DuckDuckGo enhances the user browsing experience with some standout extras like Duck Player and AI Chat.

・Duck Player: A free YouTube player, built into the DuckDuckGo browser, allows you to watch YouTube without targeted ads and recommendations –  Just your video.

・AI Chat: A free beta feature that utilizes AI to provide interactive and content-rich responses to user queries. Currently supported models include: GPT-4o mini, Claude 3 Haiku, Llama 3.1 70B, and Mixtral 8x7B.

DuckDuckGo AI Chat

DuckDuckGo vs. Other Search Engines

After learning about DuckDuckGo’s main features, we can compare it with other mainstream browsers. This will help you gain a more accurate understanding of its unique offerings.

Privacy Protection

・DuckDuckGo: Privacy is at its core; it does not track users, store personal info, or create user profiles.

・Google/Bing/Yahoo: These search engines track user data to offer personalized services and targeted ads, creating profiles to enhance service quality.

A Screenshot of DuckDuckGo

Search Results

・DuckDuckGo: Everyone sees the same results for the same search query.

・Google/Bing/Yahoo: They offer personalized search results based on user’s browsing history, location, or preferences, which may better suit users’ needs.

Features and Tools

・DuckDuckGo: Focuses on privacy protection tools but also offers unique features like “!Bangs.”

・Google: Has built a comprehensive ecosystem with a wide range of additional tools and services, such as Docs, Maps, Drive, Shopping, etc.

・Bing/Yahoo: Offer services similar to Google but lag behind in usability and user base.

User Interface

・DuckDuckGo: Simple interface with fewer ads and distractions.

・Google/Bing/Yahoo: Typically busier interfaces, featuring more ads and extra functions on the results page.

Transparency and Open Source Components

・DuckDuckGo: Uses open-source components, allowing the public to view and examine the codebase for security and transparency.

・Google/Bing/Yahoo: Primarily rely on proprietary code, with the public unable to access their internal workings.

Ad Revenue Model

・DuckDuckGo: Displays ads based on search keywords without targeting based on personal data.

・Google/Bing/Yahoo: Deploy targeted ads based on collected user data, a mainstay of their revenue model.

In summary, DuckDuckGo holds a clear advantage in privacy protection, while users who prioritize personalized results and additional features may prefer Google, Bing, or Yahoo.

Pros and Cons of DuckDuckGo

Based on the content above, we can easily summarize the advantages of DuckDuckGo.

😆Strong Privacy: DuckDuckGo does not track user data and provides a clean, distraction-free browsing environment through its robust privacy protection features.

😆Objective Results: Search results are not influenced by a user’s search history, ensuring fairness and accuracy.

😆Enhanced Search Experience: Features like “!Bang” and Instant Answers improve search efficiency, allowing users to search directly on specific websites and access information quickly.

😆Community-Based: Builds user trust through open-source software and transparent operations, encouraging community members to participate in feedback and improvements.

😆Multi-Platform Support: Offers mobile apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and can be integrated into these web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera.

Certainly, although DuckDuckGo is favored by many users for its emphasis on privacy, it also has some noticeable drawbacks:

👿Lack of Personalized Results: Without tracking user data, users might not receive highly accurate or relevant search results or ad recommendations in some cases.

👿Limited Ecosystem: Compared to Google’s or Microsoft’s ecosystems, DuckDuckGo’s functionality is more restricted and lacks integration with other services.

👿Low Market Share: A smaller user base can restrict access to popular trends and localized information.

👿Lack of Add-ons: Cannot be customized with extensions, limiting personalization.

👿Limited Advanced Technology: Does not utilize AI and machine learning to the same extent as Google for enhancing search accuracy and usability.

👿Localization Support: Less comprehensive support in non-English markets.

👿Limited Performance: Smaller index databases may affect result coverage, especially when handling complex or uncommon queries.

Is DuckDuckGo Safe?

If you’re wondering “Is DuckDuckGo safe?”, the answer is yes, DuckDuckGo is safe. The details provided above support this claim effectively.

However, online privacy is a complex and sensitive issue, and using DuckDuckGo alone doesn’t guarantee 100% privacy protection. Various factors that could compromise your safety still exist, which DuckDuckGo cannot control:

・Malware: DuckDuckGo cannot prevent your device from being infected with viruses or malware, nor does it feature harmful file scanning or antivirus capabilities. Complementary tools like Microsoft Defender or other PC Protection software are advisable.

・Unsafe Links: You might encounter phishing links with malicious content during browsing. DuckDuckGo has no control over your mouse, and there is no way to prevent theft of your info or DDoS attacks.

・ISP Monitoring: As the bridge to the internet, ISPs can log websites visited and search records, potentially leading to unauthorized data leaks or sharing.

Meanwhile, DuckDuckGo has faced some crisis of confidence. In May 2022, DuckDuckGo came under scrutiny and criticism after an audit found that its browser allowed Microsoft’s tracker. While DuckDuckGo subsequently responded to this, explaining that it was related to its agreement to use Bing as a search partner, promising to reach broader protections, this incident is also a reminder.

Therefore, while DuckDuckGo is indeed secure, it cannot wholly safeguard our privacy. For enhanced anonymity, use additional security tools, like a top-tier VPN, which encrypts data and conceals your IP for comprehensive anonymity, preventing malicious attacks and ISP monitoring.

Recognizing this, DuckDuckGo introduced the DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro subscription service with integrated VPN functionality in April 2024.

What’s DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro?

DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro is a newly launched subscription service by DuckDuckGo, aimed at enhancing your online privacy protection.

This service includes three core features: VPN, Personal Information Removal, and Identity Theft Restoration.

・VPN: DuckDuckGo’s proprietary VPN service uses the WireGuard protocol to encrypt network connections and automatically routes DNS queries through DuckDuckGo’s private DNS resolver, effectively hiding your browsing history. It supports up to five devices and strictly adheres to a no-log policy.

・Personal Information Removal: Regularly scans over 50 data broker websites that store and sell personal information. If your info is found, it automatically removes all and handles follow-up confirmation emails.

・Identity Theft Restoration: Offers support for identity theft recovery through partnership with Iris Powered by Generali, helping you effectively deal with the risk of identity theft with peace of mind.

💰Price

・Monthly Plan: $9.9

・Yearly Plan: $99.99

DuckDuckGo VPN: Is It Good?

In today’s privacy-conscious world, VPNs have become essential tools, DuckDuckGo’s introduction of a VPN service to enhance privacy isn’t surprising. 

But is it worth the subscription cost? After a VPN test, we’ve summarized the following key points:

・VPN Servers: DuckDuckGo VPN offers access to servers in 31 countries and 44 locations, which is very limited compared to other VPNs.

・VPN Protocol: DuckDuckGo VPN supports only the WireGuard protocol, without offering other protocol options.

・Privacy Protection: DuckDuckGo is committed to privacy protection, and we trust its no-log policy pledge. 

・Features: While DuckDuckGo VPN includes basic features like split-tunneling, it currently lacks advanced features such as specialty servers and Double VPN.

・User Experience: The VPN can be accessed directly via the DuckDuckGo browser, avoiding the hassle of installing a separate app.

・Speed: It performs well domestically with minimal speed loss, but cross-border connections suffer significant latency and over 30% speed reduction.

・Streaming: Provides a stable experience for general streaming, but noticeable delays occur on live streams.

・Unblocking Capabilities: Lacks obfuscation features, making it difficult to bypass VPN detection systems on platforms like Netflix, thereby limiting access to geo-specific content.

In conclusion, while DuckDuckGo VPN excels in privacy protection, it could improve in areas like server count, feature diversity, and unblocking capabilities. It is suitable for users seeking basic privacy protection but those requiring more extensive features and coverage might need to explore other options.

Pro Tip: The Best Alternative of DuckDuckGo VPN

If you’re looking for the best alternative to DuckDuckGo VPN, X-VPN is undoubtedly the top choice. Like DuckDuckGo, X-VPN values user privacy and strictly enforces a No-logs Policy, ensuring your data—be it connection records, device info, or browsing activities—remains solely on your device, shielded from third-party access.

Employing military-grade AES-256 encryption, X-VPN combines this with various VPN protocols to guarantee data protection. Even if hackers intercept your data, they will only see encrypted gibberish that cannot be deciphered.

With 8,000+ servers in 225 locations worldwide, X-VPN has built a vast and fast VPN network. This diversity ensures your traffic is routed through various regions, effectively protecting your anonymity from ISPs or malicious actors.

X-VPN is set to introduce more security tools soon, such as Download Protection, Fake ID Generator, and Malware Scanner. This means that when you use DuckDuckGo with X-VPN enabled, you’ll receive comprehensive privacy protection.

Beyond security, X-VPN excels in entertainment and content access. Whether you want to stream, game, or unlock global content, X-VPN has got you covered. Its proprietary Everest protocol features VPN obfuscation, offering high-speed, low-latency connections while effortlessly bypassing Netflix and YouTube’s VPN detections.

Also, X-VPN offers a free version with no limitations and login. You can enjoy 1,000+ free servers and top-level encryption indefinitely, giving you ample time to decide whether to upgrade to a premium plan.

📝Basic Info

Free Servers	1000+ servers in 17 countries
Global Servers	8000+ servers in 65 countries
Compatibility	iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chromebook, Chrome, TVs, etc.
Security	AES-256 encryption with a Strict No-log Policy
Speed	Fast and Stable
Connections	5 Simultaneous Connections
Free Version	Provide. No limitation, no login.

😆Pros

・User-friendly and equipped with ample customer support, making it extremely welcoming for beginners.

・Leading-edge encryption technology and privacy protection, featuring a rich array of VPN functions and protocols.

・Offers high-speed and stable connections, with an average speed loss of no more than 15%.

・Powerful unblocking ability that not only helps you play 4K streaming smoothly, but also helps you get a Netflix plan at only $1.38/mo.

・Upcoming additional security tools include Tracker Blocker, Ad Blocker, Download Protection, Private Browser, etc. – all accessible with one subscription.

・Truly unlimited free version available, ready to use upon installation without requiring any personal info.

👿Cons

・One account can only log in to 5 devices at the same time.

💰Price

・Free Plan: Offered. 

・Monthly Plan: $11.99

・Half-Year Plan: $59.94

・One-Year Plan: $71.99

We warmly invite you to try the perfect combination of X-VPN and DuckDuckGo for unparalleled online privacy and security. Simply click the button on the left to swiftly download X-VPN and enjoy free access right away. For enhanced features, upgrade to our premium service, complete with a 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee. 

Conclusion

DuckDuckGo is the leading privacy-focused search engine today, offering excellent security. However, it still cannot guarantee 100% privacy on its own. Therefore, we recommend using DuckDuckGo in conjunction with X-VPN to add an extra layer of protection for your data. This way, you can ensure the safety of your digital info and enjoy seamless, anonymous browsing without worries.

FAQs