DuckDuckGo Browser vs Ghostery

DuckDuckGo Browser is a browser for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows, with a free plan and paid subscriptions. It blocks third-party trackers, including those from Facebook and Google, and most ads, including video and YouTube ads. It can block most cookie pop-ups and may opt users out automatically. Cross-device sync and a password manager are included, and a one-click control clears tabs, history, and browsing data. Email protection blocks hidden trackers in emails, while Duck.ai offers optional private chats with popular AI models. DuckDuckGo says those conversations are not used to train AI and that it does not track searches; its tracker list and exceptions are open source. Paid plans add VPN protection, advanced AI models, personal information removal, and identity restoration. Plus costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year. Pro costs $19.99 a month or $199.99 a year and adds Claude Opus 4.8, GPT-5.6 Sol, higher reasoning effort, and twice Plus’s Duck.ai usage limits. DuckDuckGo has been independent since its founding in 2008 and is based in Paoli, Pennsylvania.

Ghostery is a free, open-source browser extension combining ad blocking, tracker protection, cookie-consent handling, and tracker information tools. It blocks banners, video ads, pop-ups, and sponsored content. The Tracker Panel displays trackers it identifies and neutralizes, while WhoTracks.Me provides information about tracking activity and companies. Ghostery says its protection replaces personal identifiers with random values. Never-Consent rejects tracking cookies and sends opt-out signals on supported sites. Supported browsers include Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Safari, and Brave, and users can install the extension on as many devices as they like. On iOS and iPadOS, it offers Safari protection; on Android, it supports Edge and Firefox. Chrome on Android is unavailable because Chrome does not allow extensions there. Ghostery says extension telemetry is non-personal, with additional telemetry sent if users opt in. For phishing and malware protection, it says it sends a partial URL checksum to its backend rather than the full URL. Private Search is in closed beta.