DuckDuckGo browser promises to solve your privacy problems and small annoyances. But despite its privacy-first approach, using DuckDuckGo isn't always all rosy and bright – there are pros and cons to using DuckDuckGo's privacy-friendly browser.
Advantages of DuckDuckGo browser
DuckDuckGo browser is private by default

If you're someone who values privacy, the first impression of a new browser can be frustrating. All the biggest browsers have Google as their search engine. This is either because the browser is owned and distributed by Google, like Chrome, or because the project accepts large sums of money for the privilege, like Firefox. According to ZDNet, this deal is worth about 400 million USD per year.
After manually setting your search engine to another option, you must look for extensions like uBlock Origin to prevent websites from tracking you across the Internet.
With the DuckDuckGo browser, you don't need to do this because you'll find most of what you need is pre-configured and ready to use. If you perform a search from the URL bar, DuckDuckGo performs the search (as you would expect), and both tracking scripts and ads are blocked. This privacy-first approach is why you should consider DuckDuckGo as your search engine in other browsers.
There is no attractive rewards program
Brave is one of the best privacy-friendly browsers and despite being based on the Chromium engine, it is effective in protecting people from ads, trackers and pop-ups.
One of Brave's most lauded options is Basic Attention Tokens (BAT), which allows you to “support content creators and earn tokens for the ads you see in Brave”. In return, you can use your tokens to purchase gift cards.
This crypto-based trick has some problems. Very few creators sign up for this program, because you're essentially running an ad blocker but are still seeing ads and participating in crypto.
DuckDuckGo browser has no such program.
DuckDuckGo browser has a private YouTube viewing tool

If you're conscious enough about your privacy to install a privacy-focused browser, you don't want Google's YouTube video platform keeping records of what you watch and when.
While you can watch YouTube without accessing YouTube by accessing it through an alternative privacy-friendly interface, such as Safeshare, this browser has a built-in anonymizer feature. When you click on a YouTube video for the first time, the browser will ask if you want to watch the video using Duck Player.
Duck Player hides your viewing activity from YouTube and provides a clean viewing experience without ads.
DuckDuckGo browser hides annoying messy web pages

Pop-up windows are a scourge of the modern Internet, and almost every page you visit has a pop-up window asking you to log in with your Google account or accept or decline cookies. This is annoying and can ruin your browsing experience. While there are methods to block cookie consent pop-ups in browsers, they all rely on extensions.
While you can also configure your Google account to block sign-in prompts, this approach relies on you having to sign in to your Google account when visiting websites – which is obnoxious to users. any web user who values privacy.
DuckDuckGo browser automatically manages Google consent and pop-ups, so you never have to worry about it again.
DuckDuckGo includes email protection

Every modern website wants your email address for a variety of reasons. But you don't have to share your email address when using DuckDuckGo's Email Protection service. This service is a free email forwarding product that helps you hide your real email address from services without switching email providers. It gives you an email address @duck.com free for this purpose.
In addition to hiding your real email address, it also automatically removes different types of trackers from emails. So if you're worried about the proliferation of email trackers, this service takes care of that automatically.
Disadvantages of DuckDuckGo browser
DuckDuckGo is not always honest with its users
DuckDuckGo's 2023 effort isn't its first. DuckDuckGo browser for Android launched to much fanfare in 2021.
In May 2022, DuckDuckGo admitted that instead of blocking trackers as expected, the company had a tracker blocking agreement from Microsoft. This is considered shady behavior.
Users hope DuckDuckGo will not engage in such fraudulent business transactions again; but that is not impossible. The choice whether to trust them or not is up to you.
DuckDuckGo browser does not support extensions
Most mainstream browsers allow you to install add-ons and extensions. In addition to protecting your privacy, these extensions can help you customize your browsing experience, manage downloads, view different file types, etc. There are hundreds of great browser extensions available. .
Currently, DuckDuckGo doesn't support extensions, so if you're used to browsing the web a certain way, you're out of luck.
Overall, the DuckDuckGo browser offers handy features if you're concerned about privacy while surfing the web. It certainly has its drawbacks, but this is a great browser for those who value privacy.