DuckDuckGo Browser vs Maxthon

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.

Maxthon is a free Chromium-based browser with built-in notes, password management and an AI chat assistant. Signing in syncs bookmarks, settings, Maxnote, password-manager data and quick-access URLs across devices. Maxnote can record, organize, clip and share URLs, text, images and links. Maxthon 7 supports Chrome extensions, and its desktop versions can sync extensions between Windows and macOS. Reading mode removes ads and other page elements, Read Aloud converts webpages to speech, and split-screen browsing shows multiple pages in one window. Listed privacy tools include ad blocking, anti-tracking, incognito mode and a free VPN provided by Bright Data. Maxthon's privacy policy says searches through its default MaxAsk engine, which uses Google as its search content provider, involve collecting search queries, IP addresses and browser details. Maxthon says it encrypts account information and sensitive data stored locally or in the cloud, as well as data during account synchronization. Super Bookmarks requires a VIP subscription, and video downloads are limited for logged-in users.