DuckDuckGo browser beta available for macOS, but there's a waitlist for users

DuckDuckGo, the company that offers a secure and privacy-first search engine, has developed a web browser, and a beta edition is available for Apple's macOS. But interested users will have to join a waitlist if they wish to download and use it.

The DuckDuckGo web browser has arrived for macOS before a Windows version. Although it may sound a little strange, given how zealously Apple promotes its privacy-centric approach, the announcement does make some sense.

The DuckDuckGo browser promises “privacy by default”. It essentially promises to strip away invasive trackers, speed up browsing, and shut out those annoying cookie consent pop-ups that users rarely, if ever, accept. The company is calling the browser an “all-in-one privacy solution for everyday browsing with no complicated settings, just a seamless private experience. Plus, we’re excited to share some new features we think you’ll love.”

As all the mentioned features include the same rendering engine used by Apple’s Safari browser and also block trackers at the source, users should experience a faster browsing experience while saving data.

DuckDuckGo claims that browsing with its browser consumes 60% less data than Chrome. Although it sounds fancy, the “Smarter Encryption” technology merely ensures users are redirected to the secure HTTPS version of any website they visit.

DuckDuckGo promises that its browser does not access user history, bookmarks, and passwords. Moreover, users will have the ability to check which sites the browser caught attempting to track their activity. There’s even a “Facebook blocker”, which blocks Facebook’s content embedded in other websites. The social media giant has long used such tricks to continue tracking its users even when they are not on any of the web properties that Facebook (now Meta) owns.

Other standard features such as password management, tab management, and bookmarks, are included. However, the beta version of the DuckDuckGo browser does not support any extensions. The company has indicated that the Windows version is under development and should arrive soon.