# DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai — Search, Browser, VPN

> Private search, browser, AI chat, and VPN for enhanced online data protection. (iPhone/iPad app by DuckDuckGo, Inc..)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duckduckgo-optional-duckai/id663592361 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [DuckDuckGo, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/479988139)
- Category: Utilities, Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 2,385,892 App Store ratings · 3,125 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 238 MB
- Languages: American English, Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French (France), German (Germany) and 16 more
- Released: 2013-06-27
- Data updated: 2026-09-06
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duckduckgo-optional-duckai/id663592361/reviews.md

## What is DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai?

At DuckDuckGo, we believe the best way to protect your personal information from hackers, scammers, and privacy-invasive companies is to stop it from being collected at all. That's why millions of people choose DuckDuckGo over Chrome and other browsers to search and browse online. Our built-in search engine is like Google but never tracks your searches. Our browser blocks YouTube ads, invasive web ads, and cookie pop-ups, reducing distractions and helping to stop other companies from collecting your data. While our optional integrated AI features, Search Assist and Duck.ai, are private and never use your data to train AI. Oh, and our browser is free. We make money from privacy-respecting search ads, not by exploiting your data. Take back control of your personal information with the browser designed for data protection, not data collection.  

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 
Protect Your Searches by Default: DuckDuckGo Search comes built-in, so you can easily search online without being tracked.  

Shield Your Browsing History: Our 3rd-Party Tracker Loading Protection blocks most trackers before they load, greatly exceeding what most popular browsers offer by default.  

Chat Privately With AI: Duck.ai lets you have private conversations with 3rd-party AI models, anonymized by us and never used to train AI. 

Secure Your Email (Optional): Use Email Protection to block most email trackers and hide your existing email address with @duck.com addresses.   

Block Ads: Our browser blocks YouTube Ads, and stops invasive trackers from loading on sites, effectively eliminating targeted ads.

Automatically Enforce Encryption: Shield your data from network and Wi-Fi snoopers by forcing many sites to use an HTTPS connection.  

Escape Fingerprinting: Make it harder for companies to create a unique identifier for you by blocking attempts to combine info about your browser and device.  

Sync and Back Up Securely (Optional): Sync encrypted bookmarks and passwords across your devices. 

Clear your tabs and browsing data in a flash with the Fire Button. 

Banish cookie pop-ups and automatically set your preferences to minimize cookies and maximize privacy. 

And many more protections not available on most browsers, even in private browsing mode, including protection from link tracking, Global Privacy Control (GPC), and more. 

DUCKDUCKGO SUBSCRIPTION
Subscribers get

• Our VPN: Secure your connection on up to 5 devices.     

• Access to advanced AI Models in Duck.ai: Chat privately with AI models built for complex tasks. 

• Personal Information Removal: Find and remove personal info from sites that store and sell it.   

• Identity Theft Restoration: If your identity is stolen, we’ll help restore it.   

DuckDuckGo Subscription Pricing & Terms   
Payment will be charged automatically to your Apple Account until you cancel, which you can do in app settings. You have the option to provide an email address to activate your subscription on other devices, and we will only use that email address to verify your subscription. For terms of service and privacy policy, visit https://duckduckgo.com/pro/privacy-terms 

Read more about our free Tracking Protections at https://help.duckduckgo.com/privacy/web-tracking-protections 

Privacy Policy: https://duckduckgo.com/privacy/  

Terms of Service: https://duckduckgo.com/terms 

Note about 3rd-Party Tracker Protection and Search Ads: while there are some limitations following search ad clicks, viewing ads on DuckDuckGo search is anonymous. Learn more here https://help.duckduckgo.com/privacy/web-tracking-protections 

Privacy. Simplified. ™

## Key features

- Private search engine
- Tracker and cookie blocking
- Private AI chat
- Optional VPN
- Email protection
- Encryption enforcement
- Fingerprinting escape

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DuckDuckGo (Pro, Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| DuckDuckGo (Plus, Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| DuckDuckGo (Plus, Yearly) | $99.99 | per year |
| DuckDuckGo (Pro, Monthly) | $19.99 | per month |
| DuckDuckGo (Pro, Yearly) | $199.99 | per year |
| DuckDuckGo annual | $99.99 | per year |
| DuckDuckGo monthly | $9.99 | per month |


## Chart rankings

- #13 in Top Free · Utilities (US App Store)
- #31 in Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

## What do users think of DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Excellent privacy protection
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🔥 Effective ad and tracker blocking

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Slower page load times compared to other browsers
- 🔍 Inconsistent search quality compared to Google

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Inability to set DuckDuckGo as default browser on iOS
- Refresh button hidden in menu instead of standalone

**Most requested features**

- Add support for voice search
- Improve tab management and history navigation
- Introduce customizable font and theme options

## Recent user reviews (10 of 3,125)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duckduckgo-optional-duckai/id663592361/reviews.md

### 5/5 — My new favorite browser

*2026-08-18, version 7.233.0*

Built like and rugged as chrome, but made for today's internet. Unfortunately a subscription is required to utilize the VPN, but a small price to pay for discretion...

### 1/5 — Voice to text doesn’t work, except on googles homepage. WTF

*2026-08-18, version 7.233.0*

Using on an Ipad. Voice to text does not work in the searchbar or anywhere else ever. Except if google’s homepage is open. Only google’s homepage search works with voice. Why does google seemingly have more control over this app than duckduckgo on this apple ipad. This has been going on for awhile and now I’m switching to brave. 

A and every time I search for something on DuckDuckGo they start selling it to me on Instagram. So you are selling out people's data this web browser is a lie.

### 1/5 — What Happened?

*2026-08-18, version 7.233.0*

I just did an update to the new version on iPad OS and it is acting so slow and weird. The new YouTube layout is straight out of my nightmares with video thumbnails that take up the entire screen and it’s so very bad. Please fix this ASAP or I’m moving to a different browser.

### 5/5 — 🇺🇸 ⚖️ 🫡 [Exceeded Expectations!!]

*2026-08-18, version 7.233.0*

🇺🇸 🇯🇵 🇫🇷 ISO9001 🇫🇷 🇯🇵 🇺🇸 
🇺🇸 Intel Corporation S-Corp 🇺🇸

### 5/5 — Quack 🦆 Quack

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

I love the Privacy from the duck 🦆 duck 🦆 Go! 🦆🦆🦆🦆🦆

### 5/5 — Privacy

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

The only app I’ve found that keeps my info secure!

### 5/5 — Happy

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

So far so good!

### 1/5 — Super buggy

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

Will start and stop whenever it chooses.

### 5/5 — Impressed and feel safe

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

I’ve been using DuckDuckGo for years now started using when he first came out on all my devices and my bad I didn’t do it this time for like the last six months on this new phone and finally I did and I feel much better now

### 5/5 — Yes

*2026-08-17, version 7.232.0*

Absolutely Great so far👍🏽

## Frequently asked questions about DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai

### What does the DuckDuckGo app do?

The app provides a private search engine and browser that prevents your online activity from being tracked. It includes built-in protections against trackers, cookies, and link tracking, along with optional AI chat features and a VPN for enhanced security.

### What are the key privacy features of this app?

Key features include a search engine that never tracks your searches, third-party tracker blocking, cookie pop-up management, automatic encryption enforcement, and protection against browser fingerprinting. It aims to stop your personal information from being collected.

### Is this app free to use?

The core search and browsing features are free. The app offers optional subscription-based services, such as a VPN, advanced AI model access, personal information removal, and identity theft restoration.

### What devices is this app compatible with?

The description mentions that the optional VPN can secure your connection on up to 5 devices. While specific operating systems aren't detailed, it's implied to be available on common mobile platforms for its browser and VPN functionalities.

### How does the AI chat feature work privately?

The integrated AI features, Search Assist and Duck.ai, are designed to be private. Conversations with third-party AI models through Duck.ai are anonymized by the app and are never used to train the AI models themselves.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.235.0 — 2026-08-31

This update includes various bug fixes and other improvements.

### 7.234.0 — 2026-08-24

• You can now ask Duck.ai about any text you see while browsing, without having to copy/paste it into a Duck.ai chat. Just select text on any website and tap "Ask Duck.ai" in the context menu.

### 7.233.0 — 2026-08-17

• Added more shortcut options to the address bar and toolbar, to make it easier to add bookmarks and favorites, fill passwords, and access other actions.

### 7.232.0 — 2026-08-10

• Bug fixes and other improvements.

### 7.231.0 — 2026-08-03

• Bug fixes and other improvements.

## Apps similar to DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Google Chrome](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-chrome/id535886823) | 4.7 (3,796,364) | Free | Utilities |
| [Firefox Fast & Private Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firefox-fast-and-private-browser/id989804926) | 4.6 (216,504) | Free | Utilities |
| [Brave Browser & Search Engine](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brave-browser-and-search-engine/id1052879175) | 4.8 (639,376) | Free | Utilities |
| [Opera: AI browser with VPN](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/opera-ai-browser-with-vpn/id1411869974) | 4.7 (256,111) | Free | Utilities |
| [Private Browsing Web Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462) | 4.7 (127,494) | Free | Utilities |
| [Aloha Browser – Private VPN](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aloha-browser-private-vpn/id1105317682) | 4.7 (312,275) | Free | Utilities |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-06.*