Puffin Cloud Browser vs DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Puffin Cloud Browser
This app provides access to a cloud-based web browser, allowing users to view web content rendered on remote servers. It offers features like browser isolation, data saving, and full desktop mode, but does not render web content directly on the device.
- Browser Isolation
- Cloud Acceleration
- Data Saving
- Download to Cloud
- Flash Game Support
- Full Desktop Mode
- Internet Access Protection
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DISCLAIMER: Puffin Cloud Browser is NOT a web browser. Puffin Cloud Browser is the client app that accesses the cloud server which runs the web browser. The Puffin client app and the Puffin cloud server do not communicate in HTTP protocol and the data exchange is not in HTML format. The Puffin client app is like the remote desktop client and the Puffin cloud server is like the remote desktop server. Puffin Cloud Browser gives the audience the illusion of a web browser but it is not, in reality, a web browser. Puffin Cloud Browser can only "display" the web content rendered on the cloud servers but can't "render" the web content itself on the client devices. ==== Differentiating Features ==== * Browser Isolation * Cloud Acceleration * Data Saving * Download to Cloud * Flash Game * Full Desktop Mode * Internet Access Protection * Virtual Gamepad/Mouse/Trackpad ==== Important Limitations ==== * Only works on websites that are publicly accessible from the US -- Does not work for private IP, corporate Intranet, and geo-restricted websites * Only works in countries that are not excessive in censorship -- Does not work in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates * For some websites, Puffin server IP blocks need to be white-listed -- Puffin can bring an excessive load to some websites More info at Puffin FAQ https://help.puffin.com/faq
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
This app offers a private search engine and browser that blocks trackers and cookies by default. It includes AI chat features and optional tools like a VPN and email protection to safeguard your online activity and personal information.
- Private search engine
- Tracker and cookie blocking
- Private AI chat
- Optional VPN
- Email protection
- Encryption enforcement
- Fingerprinting escape
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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. ™
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai at 4.8 against Puffin Cloud Browser's 3.9. DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (2.4M vs 6.7K). Puffin Cloud Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Puffin Cloud Browser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai has 2.4M ratings behind it against 6.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 61% of Puffin Cloud Browser's written reviews are positive against 65% of DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai's.
Puffin Cloud Browser ships an update every 6 weeks, DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai weekly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.
| Parameter | Puffin Cloud Browser | DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.9 (6.7K ratings) | 4.8 (2.4M ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.4% of reviews | 65.3% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6.7K | 2.4M — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #14 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 85 MB | 240 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | +17 |
| Developer | CloudMosa, Inc. | DuckDuckGo, Inc. |
Customer experience
Puffin Cloud Browser
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
User reviews
Puffin Cloud Browser
From 6.7K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and responsive browsing
- 👍 Allows access to desktop websites
- 🔍 Supports Flash content
- 💻 Provides desktop-like experience on mobile
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Constant reconnection issues
- 🤖 Unreliable captcha system
- ⚠️ Websites blocked or not loading properly
- 💰 Subscription model and additional fees
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
From 2.4M App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Excellent privacy protection
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🔥 Effective ad and tracker blocking
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Slower page load times compared to other browsers
- 🔍 Inconsistent search quality compared to Google
Bugs and requests
Puffin Cloud Browser
Reported bugs
3 issues- Gamepad controls crashing the app
- Inability to type or log in to certain websites
- Sudden loss of network connectivity
Requested features
4 requests- Improved stability and reliability
- Seamless integration with popular websites
- Customization options for user interface
- Ability to save progress in Flash games
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
Reported bugs
2 issues- Inability to set DuckDuckGo as default browser on iOS
- Refresh button hidden in menu instead of standalone
Requested features
3 requests- Add support for voice search
- Improve tab management and history navigation
- Introduce customizable font and theme options
In-app purchases
Puffin Cloud Browser
- Puffin Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
- Puffin Yearly Subscription$4.991 Year
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai
- DuckDuckGo (Plus, Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
- DuckDuckGo monthly$9.991 Month
- DuckDuckGo (Pro, Monthly)$19.991 Month
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- DuckDuckGo (Pro, Monthly)7 Days trial$19.991 Month
- DuckDuckGo (Plus, Yearly)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
- DuckDuckGo annual$99.991 Year
- DuckDuckGo (Pro, Yearly)7 Days trial$199.991 Year
Questions
Is Puffin Cloud Browser free?
Is DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai free?
Which has better reviews, Puffin Cloud Browser or DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai?
Do Puffin Cloud Browser or DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai have ads?
Which is updated more often, Puffin Cloud Browser or DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai?
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