# We’re about dataprotection, not data collection. We're the independent, free browser that actively protects your personal information. Search, browse, and use AI privately, keeping your information to yourself and away from hackers, scammers, and privacy-invasive companies. Unlike others, all our AI features are optional. Learn More About DuckDuckGo ## Trusted for Over a Decade Join the millions of people that choose [DuckDuckGo over Chrome and other browsers.](/content/compare-privacy/index.html) - **3B** Monthly Searches - **9M** Monthly Downloads - **4.8** Average Rating - **335** Team Members ## Take control of your personal information. The DuckDuckGo browser is designed for data protection, not data collection. Our [browsing protections](/content/compare-privacy/index.html) help stop your data from being collected and our built-in search engine never tracks your searches. Plus, it blocks cookie pop-ups and invasive ads, including on videos. Available on [Mac](/content/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/get-duckduckgo-browser-on-mac/index.html), [Windows](/content/duckduckgo-help-pages/get-duckduckgo/get-duckduckgo-browser-on-windows/index.html), [iOS](/content/duckduckgo-help-pages/mobile/ios/index.html), and [Android](/content/duckduckgo-help-pages/mobile/android/index.html). ## Our Story of Protection Since 2008, we’ve expanded what we do to protect you no matter where you go on the Internet. Check out our story. ### We Hatched DuckDuckGo began as an idea for a better search engine experience. We hatched out of a few servers in a dusty basement. **September 25, 2008** ### Launch! Within the year, DuckDuckGo was announced to the Hacker News and reddit communities. We made it out with only minor troll scars. **September 25, 2008** ### Anonymous We decided to make a bold move and not track your search history. Tracking is creepy. **March 15, 2010** ### The Billboard We told the world “Google tracks you. We don’t.” with a billboard in their backyard. Hello, World! **January 11, 2011** ### Launched Charitable Donations Program We rely on a lot of great projects to keep our wings flapping. So we started giving back to support new and innovative tech projects, strengthening our commitment to raising the standard of trust online. **February 26, 2011** ### Team Member #1 For years, our founder Gabriel was the only full-timer. Caine Tighe changed all that, coming on board as our first official team member. **November 30, 2011** ### Headquarters We finally moved out of Gabriel’s basement into our fortress in Paoli, PA. It really looks like a castle! **December 1, 2011** ### Redesign Our first major visual overhaul introduced a new design that made you not want to close your browser the second you saw our results page. **January 16, 2012** ### 1 Billion Searches! We reached the incredible milestone of 1 billion anonymous searches. **July 18, 2013** ### 10 Billion Searches! We concluded 2016 with over four billion anonymous searches served, surpassing a cumulative count of ten billion! **December 31, 2016** ### 50 Billion Searches! In the last two years, we've flown from 25 billion searches to a whopping 50 billion! **June 20, 2020** ### 15th Anniversary! We celebrated 15 years of DuckDuckGo, now offering comprehensive privacy protections used by tens of millions of people to protect their everyday online activities, from searching to browsing, emailing, and more. **September 25, 2023** ### Email Protection We launched [Email Protection](/content/duckduckgo-help-pages/email-protection/index.html)— our free email forwarding service that removes multiple types of hidden email trackers and lets you create private email addresses on the fly. ### From Our Blog At SpreadPrivacy.com, we publish privacy education, tips, and original research, along with DuckDuckGo news. ## We're Hiring DuckDuckGo is a remote company of passionate people from over 15 countries. Join our fully distributed team and help raise the standard of trust online — from anywhere! [Join Our Global Team](https://start.duckduckgo.com/hiring) ### Hear directly from the DuckDuckGo team. [Check Out Our Podcast](https://insideduckduckgo.substack.com/?showWelcome=true)