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DuckDuckGo

Search without the profile building, plus bang shortcuts that fire your query straight at another site. Type an exclamation and w for Wikipedia.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

DuckDuckGo sits in Privacy & Security under Learn, filed as instant.

  • Just open it. It pays off within seconds, with nothing to read first.
  • It works on a phone or a desktop, so open it on whatever is nearest.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something useful.

About this category: Breach checkers, fingerprint tests, throwaway inboxes and plain-English readings of terms of service. Mildly alarming, entirely free.

Good for

  • A five-second distraction
  • Getting something practical done
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Killing time on your phone
  • Trying it with zero commitment

DuckDuckGo: quick answers

Is DuckDuckGo free?

Yes. DuckDuckGo is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use DuckDuckGo?

No. You can use DuckDuckGo without signing up for anything.

Does DuckDuckGo work on a phone?

Yes. DuckDuckGo works on phones as well as desktop browsers.

Is DuckDuckGo safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does DuckDuckGo take?

We file it as "Instant": Good within five seconds of loading.

More in Privacy & Security

All 18 in Privacy & Security

Same mood: useful

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  • A search engine that funds tree-planting projects with its profits and publishes regular reports showing where the money went.

  • The carbon intensity of the grid across most of the world, coloured by how clean each country's electricity happens to be at this minute.

  • Enormous archive of emoji strings, kaomoji and text arrangements, searchable by whatever you are trying to say.

Keep exploring

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