Comparison

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai vs Pure Web Browser

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai

This app offers a private search engine and browser that blocks trackers and ads. It includes optional AI features for private conversations and email protection. A subscription unlocks a VPN, advanced AI, and personal information removal services.

Highlights
  • Private search engine
  • Ad and tracker blocking browser
  • Private AI chat
  • Email protection
  • Optional VPN
  • Personal information removal
Features
Read full description

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. ™

About

Pure Web Browser

Experience lightning-fast internet browsing with essential features for performance and simplicity. Enjoy private browsing, ad blocking, and customizable settings for a seamless online experience.

Highlights
  • Lightning-fast browsing
  • Dark mode with customization
  • Tabbed and full-screen browsing
  • Private browsing and adblock
  • Password management
  • Download manager
  • Reader view
Features
Read full description

Pure Web Browser is the ultimate lite and fast browser for iOS users who want performance and simplicity in one app. It delivers lightning-fast browsing with essential features to improve your online experience. Enjoy dark mode, tabbed browsing, and swipe gestures for seamless navigation. Pure provides private browsing, adblock, and password management to keep you secure online. User Interface Features - Dark Mode - Dark Mode Style Options (Static/Dynamic) - Tabbed Browsing - Full-Screen Browsing - Font and Color Customization - Swipe Gestures Support - Keyboard Shortcuts Support Browsing Features - Sortable Bookmarks and Bookmark Folders - Download Manager - Find on Page - Reader View - Request Desktop Site - Website Translator - Search Suggestions - Change/Add Default Search Engine - Capture Website Screenshot - Autofill Passwords - Change User Agent - Manage MIME Types - Individual Website Settings - Adjust Video Playback Speed Privacy & Security Features - Adblock - Unlock with Passcode/Touch ID - Private Browsing - Password Management - Clear Website Data

Screenshots

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai4 screens
Pure Web Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai at 4.8 against Pure Web Browser's 4.3. DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). Pure Web Browser's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 65%) and iOS requirement (9.3 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Pure Web Browser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai has 2.4M ratings behind it against 62, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai's written reviews are positive against 76% of Pure Web Browser's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai ships an update weekly, Pure Web Browser every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai versus Pure Web Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDuckDuckGo, optional Duck.aiPure Web Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (2.4M ratings) — better4.3 (62 ratings)
Positive reviews64.8% of reviews76.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.4M — better62
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#18 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.09.3 — better
Further details — not scored
Size256 MB7 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperDuckDuckGo, Inc.Prasomsak Khunmuen

Customer experience

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai

All ratings2,417,546 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.7%
Negative1.1%
Written reviews3,532 reviews
Positive64.8%
Neutral8.1%
Negative27.1%

Pure Web Browser

All ratings43 ratings
Positive72.1%
Neutral11.6%
Negative16.3%
Written reviews50 reviews
Positive76.0%
Neutral12.0%
Negative12.0%

Bugs and requests

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

Pure Web Browser

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai

Subscriptions7
  • DuckDuckGo (Plus, Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • DuckDuckGo monthly$9.991 Month
  • DuckDuckGo (Pro, Monthly)$19.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • 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
1 purchases

Pure Web Browser

One-time1
  • Remove in-app ads$0.99

Questions

Is DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai free?
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pure Web Browser free?
Pure Web Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai or Pure Web Browser?
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai is rated higher. DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.4M ratings, while Pure Web Browser averages 4.3 from 62 ratings.
Do DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai or Pure Web Browser have ads?
Pure Web Browser shows ads; DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai does not.
Which is updated more often, DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai or Pure Web Browser?
DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai ships an update weekly, and Pure Web Browser every 3 months. Most recently, DuckDuckGo, optional Duck.ai was updated on November 3, 2026 and Pure Web Browser on October 24, 2026.

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