DuckDuckGo is an independent internet privacy company founded in 2008. Its products span search engine technology, web browser technology, ad tracker blocking, cookie blocking, VPN technology, data removal and identity theft restoration, and privacy-preserving advertising. For engineers, the work centres on building privacy protections into widely used consumer software rather than on data collection.
The DuckDuckGo Search Engine handles over 3 billion monthly searches and does not track users' searches. The DuckDuckGo Browser, available on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, ships with built-in protections including ad tracker and cookie blocking and carries a 4.8 average app store rating. Other products include Email Protection, a free browser extension, and the Privacy Pro subscription, which combines a VPN, Personal Information Removal, and Identity Theft Restoration.
The company has been profitable since 2014, with annual revenue exceeding $100m, funded by privacy-respecting search advertising rather than user data. It employs a team of 335+ people across more than 15 countries in a remote-first arrangement, and also invests in early-stage companies pursuing privacy technologies. Its stated aim is to raise the standard of trust online, with products designed for data protection rather than data collection.
