--- title: DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/duckduckgo-privacy-essentials/ category: Ad Blockers points: 61 rank: 10 of 12 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials Free open-source browser extension that blocks third-party trackers in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera. 61 points out of 100. #10 of 12 ad blockers. Vendor: DuckDuckGo. Website: https://duckduckgo.com/app - The extension is available for 4 Windows browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera [2]. - The extension is free, according to DuckDuckGo's Firefox Add-ons listing [9]. - The source code is on GitHub under the Apache 2.0 licence [3]. - DuckDuckGo says it does not save or share your search or browsing history [7]. - Cookie pop-up handling is not supported in the extensions yet [4]. Verdict: This extension suits people who want free tracker blocking that works straight from a browser store, with open source code and a no-history policy [2][3][7]. It costs nothing and the Chrome version uses Manifest V3 [8][9]. The catch: the vendor documents no custom block rules, cookie pop-up handling is unsupported, and its ad-blocking and scam-blocking pages describe only its own browser [2][4][5][6]. Best for: People who want free tracker blocking without an account. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Where it blocks | Windows browsers | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera | 12/12 | The help page lists install links for Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Opera extensions [2]. | | Where it blocks | Blocks outside the browser | No | 0/5 | The extensions work inside browsers; the Windows app is DuckDuckGo's own browser [1][2]. | | Where it blocks | Phone protection | iOS, Android | 6/6 | Counted through the vendor's own browser with tracker and ad blocking on iOS and Android; the extension itself is not on phones [1][5]. | | Blocking | Still works in Chrome after Manifest V2 | Yes | 4/4 | The Chrome manifest in the vendor's public repository declares manifest_version 3 [8]. | | Blocking | Your own block rules | Not published | 0/7 | Not published on the vendor's extension help page [2]. | | Blocking | Malicious site blocking | Not published | 0/5 | Scam Blocker is described only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extensions [6]. | | Blocking | Cookie pop-up blocking | No | 0/4 | Cookie pop-up protection is listed as unsupported in the Firefox, Chrome, Edge and Opera extensions [4]. | | Blocking | No ad allow-list on by default | Not published | 0/6 | Not published on the vendor's ad-blocking page [5]. | | Privacy and trust | Open source | Yes | 10/10 | The repository states the extensions are distributed under the Apache 2.0 licence [3]. | | Privacy and trust | No browsing history kept | Yes | 6/6 | The privacy policy says DuckDuckGo does not save or share search or browsing history, including with its extensions [7]. | | Privacy and trust | Works without an account | Yes | 4/4 | The help page links straight to browser-store installs, with no sign-in step [2]. | | Price | Free plan | Not published | 0/12 | The extension is free, but vendor pages describe ad blocking only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extension [9][5]. | | Price | Cheapest paid plan | $0 | 12/12 | No paid plan is listed for the extension, which the Firefox Add-ons listing calls free; counted as $0 [1][9]. | | Price | Devices on one paid plan | 99 | 4/4 | No paid plan for the extension, so recorded as 99 under the rule [1]. | | Price | Money-back guarantee | Yes | 3/3 | No paid plan for the extension, so nothing to refund; recorded as true under the rule [1]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Extension | Free [2][9] | $0 | The app page mentions a paid DuckDuckGo subscription with no price shown; it is not an ad-blocking plan for this extension [1]. ## Strengths - Installs from the stores for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Opera [2]. - Source code is public under Apache 2.0 [3]. - The Chrome extension manifest declares Manifest V3 [8]. - The privacy policy says search and browsing history is not saved or shared [7]. ## Limits - Cookie pop-up protection is listed as unsupported in the browser extensions [4]. - Ad blocking and Scam Blocker are described only for the DuckDuckGo browser, not the extension [5][6]. - The extension runs only inside browsers, so it does not filter other programs [2]. - The GitHub project says it is not accepting new feature pull requests [3]. ## Vendor claims (not scored) - DuckDuckGo says its Windows and mobile browsers block most ads and many third-party trackers [1][5]. ## Sources 1. [DuckDuckGo browser and apps](https://duckduckgo.com/app), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Adding DuckDuckGo to your browser](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/desktop/adding-duckduckgo-to-your-browser/), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension](https://github.com/duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Web tracking protections](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/privacy/web-tracking-protections/), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [Ad blocking](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/ad-blocking), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Scam Blocker](https://duckduckgo.com/duckduckgo-help-pages/threat-protection/scam-blocker), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 7. [DuckDuckGo privacy policy](https://duckduckgo.com/privacy), DuckDuckGo, accessed 2026-10-08 8. [Chrome extension manifest.json](https://github.com/duckduckgo/duckduckgo-privacy-extension/blob/main/browsers/chrome/manifest.json), GitHub, accessed 2026-10-08 9. [DuckDuckGo extension listing on Firefox Add-ons](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/duckduckgo-for-firefox/), Mozilla Add-ons, accessed 2026-10-08