DuckDuckGo does offer a VPN service, but this offering represents an important distinction that many users misunderstand. The VPN is not a standalone product but rather one component of DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Pro subscription service, which the company launched in April 2024 as part of its broader expansion beyond its flagship privacy-focused search engine and browser. This comprehensive analysis examines whether DuckDuckGo has a VPN, what that VPN actually does, how it compares to other options in the market, and whether it represents a worthwhile investment for privacy-conscious internet users seeking comprehensive online protection.
Understanding DuckDuckGo’s Evolution from Search Engine to Privacy Suite
DuckDuckGo began as a privacy-focused search engine and has evolved significantly since its founding. The company built its reputation on a fundamental principle that contradicts the business models of major search engines like Google: that users can have excellent search results without their personal data being collected and monetized. DuckDuckGo conducts over 100 million searches per day and has become one of the second-largest search engines by market share in mobile search in the United States, a remarkable achievement considering it operates independently without the resources of major technology corporations. The company maintains profitability through privacy-respecting search advertisements rather than through tracking user behavior and selling that data to advertisers.
Over time, DuckDuckGo expanded its product offerings beyond the search engine itself. The company developed a private browser for desktop and mobile platforms, browser extensions for popular web browsers, and email protection features. Each of these tools was designed with privacy as the primary architectural principle, meaning privacy protections were built into the default settings rather than offered as optional features that users needed to discover and manually enable. However, for the first sixteen years of DuckDuckGo’s existence, the company relied entirely on free products supported by ad revenue. The launch of Privacy Pro in April 2024 marked the company’s first foray into a paid subscription service, representing a significant strategic shift.
The timing of Privacy Pro’s launch aligned with DuckDuckGo’s acquisition and integration of technologies from Removaly, a startup focused on personal data removal, which the company acquired in 2022. This acquisition provided DuckDuckGo with the technical foundation for creating a personal information removal service that could compete with established data removal services. By bundling a VPN, personal information removal, and identity theft restoration services into a single subscription, DuckDuckGo created a comprehensive privacy protection suite that addresses multiple dimensions of online privacy simultaneously.
The VPN Component: Technical Specifications and Architecture
DuckDuckGo’s VPN operates as an integrated component within the DuckDuckGo private browser rather than as a standalone application. This design choice distinguishes it from most other VPN services, which typically provide standalone applications that work across all applications and browsers on a user’s device. The VPN encrypts internet connections across browsers and applications on the entire device and hides the user’s location and IP address from websites they visit. The service uses the WireGuard protocol, a modern cryptographic protocol known for its balance between speed and security. WireGuard has gained considerable adoption in the privacy and security community because it offers improved performance compared to older VPN protocols like OpenVPN while maintaining strong encryption standards.
The VPN’s server infrastructure comprises 44 dedicated servers located across 31 countries according to some sources, though more recent information suggests the network has expanded to include servers in 71 countries. The company has prioritized establishing server presence in European and North American regions while maintaining plans to expand further. The use of dedicated VPN servers, rather than shared infrastructure that DuckDuckGo uses for other services, ensures that VPN traffic remains isolated from the company’s other operations. Additionally, VPN servers are located in geographically distinct physical locations from other DuckDuckGo infrastructure, further compartmentalizing the service.
One particularly important technical feature is that all DNS queries are routed through DuckDuckGo’s own DNS resolvers rather than being processed by the user’s internet service provider. This architectural decision prevents Internet Service Providers from observing which websites a user attempts to visit, even when a user is connected to DuckDuckGo’s VPN. DNS, which stands for Domain Name System, translates human-readable website names into numerical IP addresses that computers use to identify and connect to servers across the internet. In normal circumstances, when a user types a website address into a browser, the DNS request reveals to the ISP which website the user is attempting to visit, creating a record of browsing behavior even when the actual web traffic is encrypted. By handling DNS resolution internally, DuckDuckGo prevents this information leakage.
The VPN allows simultaneous connections on up to five devices per subscription, which aligns with industry standards for consumer VPN services. Users can activate their Privacy Pro subscription on up to five separate devices, allowing household members or individuals with multiple devices to protect all their internet-connected equipment under a single subscription. The service supports full device compatibility including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android. Importantly, the VPN connection is integrated into the DuckDuckGo browser, meaning users do not need to install a separate VPN application. Users can connect or disconnect the VPN with a single click, and recent updates have added widgets for iOS that allow quick VPN access from the home screen and Control Center.
Security Features and Protective Mechanisms
DuckDuckGo’s VPN incorporates several security features designed to prevent common vulnerabilities and attack vectors that compromise user privacy. The service passed comprehensive WebRTC leak tests, which assess whether the VPN successfully prevents a particular class of vulnerabilities that could expose a user’s real IP address through browser-based JavaScript attacks. WebRTC, which stands for Web Real-Time Communication, is a technology used for voice calls, video conferencing, and peer-to-peer communication in web browsers. Researchers discovered in 2015 that WebRTC can inadvertently leak a user’s local and public IP addresses through STUN server requests that browsers make outside of normal security controls. DuckDuckGo’s VPN showed no leaks in this testing, which represents a significant security achievement.
The service also passed DNS leak tests comprehensively. DNS leaks occur when a user’s DNS queries are processed by their ISP’s DNS servers or other third-party DNS resolvers rather than being routed through the VPN’s secure DNS infrastructure. Even when a VPN is nominally active, misconfiguration or poor implementation can allow DNS requests to bypass the VPN tunnel, potentially revealing a user’s browsing activity. DuckDuckGo’s implementation prevents these leaks by routing all DNS queries through DuckDuckGo’s own DNS resolvers, ensuring that DNS requests remain encrypted and private.
The VPN maintains a strict no-logs policy, meaning DuckDuckGo does not maintain records of which websites users visit, what content they access, when they use the VPN, or any identifying information that could be linked back to specific users. This architectural principle means that even if DuckDuckGo were served with a legal demand to produce user activity records, the company would no such records to produce. The company emphasizes that it uses random identifiers rather than traditional user accounts, and payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors like Apple App Store, Google Play, and Stripe rather than being processed directly by DuckDuckGo. This design prevents DuckDuckGo from maintaining a direct connection between a specific user’s payment information and their VPN usage records.
DuckDuckGo underwent a comprehensive security audit conducted by Securitum, a third-party security firm, in October 2024. The audit examined the VPN infrastructure, VPN backend API, and all VPN applications across different platforms. According to the audit report, Securitum identified several vulnerabilities during testing, including a high-severity vulnerability related to TunnelVision, an attack that can cause traffic to leak outside the VPN tunnel under certain network conditions. Securitum also identified a high-severity vulnerability involving inter-process communication permissions and a medium-severity issue with the Exclude Local Networks functionality. Importantly, Securitum noted that these vulnerabilities were fixed during the audit process. The fact that DuckDuckGo commissioned an independent third-party security audit and published the results transparently demonstrates a commitment to accountability that is less common among VPN providers, many of whom avoid subjecting their infrastructure to public scrutiny.
Notable Limitations and Gaps in VPN Functionality
While DuckDuckGo’s VPN incorporates robust security features, it also has significant limitations compared to more established VPN services. Most notably, the VPN lacks a kill switch feature, a security mechanism that immediately severs all internet connectivity if the VPN connection drops. A kill switch is considered essential by privacy experts and security researchers because even brief moments when the VPN connection lapses can expose the user’s real IP address and browsing activity. While DuckDuckGo claims the VPN will notify users if the connection drops, allowing them to manually kill their own connection, this reactive approach relies on user attention and reaction time, which may not be sufficiently rapid to prevent data leakage. The absence of a kill switch is a notable weakness that distinguishes DuckDuckGo’s VPN from premium competitors like NordVPN and Surfshark, which include this feature as standard.
Split tunneling, a feature that allows users to specify which applications or traffic should use the VPN and which should bypass it, is only available on Android devices. This limitation means macOS, Windows, and iOS users cannot selectively route traffic through or around the VPN. Split tunneling offers practical value in scenarios where a user wants to access locally stored resources or account-based services that may be incompatible with VPN usage while simultaneously maintaining VPN protection for other online activities. The limitation to Android represents a significant gap for users on other platforms who may need this functionality.
The VPN does not employ AES-256 encryption, which represents the current industry standard for security-sensitive applications. Instead, DuckDuckGo implements what it calls “Smarter Encryption,” a custom encryption framework designed to eliminate the use of cookies and trackers. While the specifics of Smarter Encryption are less transparently documented than industry-standard encryption protocols, the approach reflects DuckDuckGo’s philosophy of using custom solutions optimized for privacy rather than adopting standard solutions.
The service is only available to residents of the United States, though recent expansions have made it available in the United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada. For users outside these jurisdictions, DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro, including the VPN component, remains inaccessible. This geographic limitation significantly restricts the potential user base and may reflect concerns about regulatory requirements or infrastructure costs in other regions.
Distinguishing DuckDuckGo’s Search Engine and Browser from Its VPN
A critical point of confusion for many internet users is the distinction between DuckDuckGo’s search engine, its browser, and its VPN. DuckDuckGo is fundamentally a search engine that does not track searches or collect personal information. The DuckDuckGo search engine is entirely free to use, as are the DuckDuckGo browser and most browser extensions. A common misconception is that because DuckDuckGo offers privacy protection, it functions as a VPN or as a complete substitute for a VPN. This misunderstanding stems from the fact that both privacy search engines and VPNs aim to enhance online privacy, but they achieve this through fundamentally different mechanisms.
DuckDuckGo the search engine is a tool that processes search queries without tracking the user, does not build a profile of the user’s interests based on searches, and does not use search history to serve targeted advertising. The search engine does not hide a user’s IP address, does not encrypt traffic between the user’s device and websites they visit after leaving DuckDuckGo, and does not provide protection against ISP monitoring or tracking by network-level observers. The DuckDuckGo browser extends these protections by blocking third-party trackers, encrypting searches, blocking cookies, and connecting users to secure HTTPS versions of websites.
A VPN, by contrast, encrypts all internet traffic regardless of whether it originates from a search engine, browser, or any other application. A VPN routes traffic through servers in different geographic locations, hiding the user’s real IP address from websites and network observers. A VPN provides protection at a network level, meaning it protects all applications and data transfers, not just search activity. These are fundamentally distinct functions, and using DuckDuckGo’s search engine or browser alone does not provide the same protection as using a VPN.
For this reason, privacy experts generally recommend that users concerned about comprehensive online privacy use DuckDuckGo alongside a VPN rather than viewing DuckDuckGo as a VPN substitute. Users who engage in financial transactions, access sensitive information, use public Wi-Fi networks, or want to prevent ISP-level monitoring should use a VPN in addition to privacy-focused search and browsing tools. However, for users whose primary concern is avoiding search tracking and personalized advertising without additional investment, DuckDuckGo’s free search engine and browser provide substantial privacy benefits.
Privacy Pro Subscription: Bundled Services and Pricing Structure
DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Pro subscription, which includes the VPN, costs $9.99 per month when billed monthly or $99.99 per year when billed annually. This pricing positions Privacy Pro competitively in the market for bundled privacy services. For context, premium VPN services like NordVPN and ExpressVPN typically cost between $2.99 and $11.99 per month depending on subscription length, while data removal services like Aura and LifeLock cost considerably more, often exceeding $20 per month. Privacy Pro’s $9.99 monthly price point combines services that would cost substantially more if purchased separately, making it an economical choice for users seeking a comprehensive privacy bundle.
The Privacy Pro subscription includes three primary components beyond the VPN. The Personal Information Removal service automatically scans over 80 data broker websites to locate personal information such as names, home addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying details that data brokers collect and sell to third parties. When Personal Information Removal locates a user’s data on these broker sites, it automatically initiates removal requests with each broker. The service re-scans data broker sites every ten days to detect if personal information has reappeared after removal, and resubmits removal requests if necessary. This continuous monitoring represents an advantage over one-time data removal services that may not catch information that brokers re-acquire or repost.
Importantly, Personal Information Removal operates in a privacy-preserving manner that distinguishes it from many competitors. The personal information that users provide during setup, including their name, birth year, and addresses, is stored locally on the user’s device in an encrypted database rather than being transmitted to and stored on DuckDuckGo’s servers. This architectural choice means that DuckDuckGo itself never has access to users’ personal information during the data removal process. The service creates specific search URLs to query data broker sites and automatically initiates opt-out requests, but the user’s personal information never leaves their device except when transmitted directly to data brokers as part of the removal request process.
The Identity Theft Restoration component provides professional assistance for users who experience identity theft. DuckDuckGo partners with Iris, a dedicated identity restoration service, to provide round-the-clock support for users whose identities are compromised. The restoration service helps users recover fraudulent charges, reissue compromised financial instruments like credit cards and bank accounts, correct fraudulent entries in credit reports, and handle document replacement for items like driver’s licenses and passports. This service is only activated if a user actually becomes a victim of identity theft, meaning users do not need to provide information upfront; the service is available when needed.
Jurisdictional and Regulatory Considerations
DuckDuckGo is headquartered in Paoli, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. The Five Eyes alliance comprises the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, which have established formal intelligence-sharing agreements dating back to World War II. These countries’ intelligence agencies actively conduct mass surveillance and share collected data with each other, sometimes circumventing legal protections that would prevent the collecting country from directly surveilling its own citizens. For example, the NSA is legally restricted from conducting surveillance on American citizens without a warrant, but GCHQ in the United Kingdom faces fewer restrictions on surveilling Americans, allowing the intelligence agencies to collect data on each other’s citizens and share it back to the originating country, effectively bypassing constitutional protections.
This Five Eyes membership creates a theoretical privacy risk for DuckDuckGo users, though the practical significance of this risk is moderated by DuckDuckGo’s no-logs policy. Since DuckDuckGo maintains no logs of VPN activity, there is no information about user activity that could be demanded by government agencies and turned over to other Five Eyes members. However, the mere fact that DuckDuckGo is subject to potential legal demands from U.S. authorities represents a concern for some users, particularly those in jurisdictions with adversarial relationships with the United States government. Users seeking to avoid potential surveillance by Five Eyes members might prefer VPN services headquartered in jurisdictions outside the Five Eyes alliance, such as Panama (NordVPN), the British Virgin Islands (ExpressVPN), or Switzerland (Proton VPN).
Despite these jurisdictional concerns, DuckDuckGo’s actual track record regarding government data requests and surveillance has been strong. The company has published transparency reports indicating relatively few requests from law enforcement and has consistently refused requests that lack proper legal justification. Additionally, because DuckDuckGo stores minimal data about users, the company has limited information to disclose even when served with valid legal demands. The distinction between DuckDuckGo’s U.S. headquartering and its robust privacy practices illustrates that jurisdiction alone does not determine whether a service is trustworthy; actual logging practices and legal resistance to overreaching government demands are equally or more important.
Comparative Analysis with Standalone VPN Services
When compared to dedicated standalone VPN services, DuckDuckGo’s VPN offers both strengths and significant limitations. The primary strength of DuckDuckGo’s VPN lies in its integration with the DuckDuckGo browser and ecosystem, providing a seamless user experience for individuals already committed to using DuckDuckGo for privacy protection. Users do not need to download, install, and configure a separate application; the VPN is built into the browser they are already using. This integration reduces the activation energy required to adopt VPN protection and ensures that privacy is maintained consistently across the user’s browsing experience.
However, dedicated VPN services like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN offer substantially larger server networks, more geographic distribution, and more sophisticated features aimed at specialized use cases. NordVPN, for instance, operates over 7,150 servers across 118 countries, compared to DuckDuckGo’s 44 servers in 31 countries. Surfshark provides unlimited simultaneous connections compared to DuckDuckGo’s five-device limit, as detailed in this overview of Best VPN Services. ExpressVPN offers custom protocols and advanced features for users with specific security requirements.
More critically for many users, standalone VPN services operate independently of a user’s browser and encrypt all network traffic from all applications on the device, not just browser traffic. This comprehensive protection is important for users running applications that access the internet outside of browsers, such as messaging applications, email clients, or specialized software. DuckDuckGo’s VPN, being integrated into the browser, provides protection only for browser traffic and not for other applications on the device.
Dedicated VPN services also typically offer features that DuckDuckGo’s VPN lacks, such as kill switches, multi-hop routing through multiple servers for enhanced anonymity, dedicated IP addresses, and specialized protocols optimized for particular use cases. These features are valuable for users with specific security requirements, such as journalists accessing sensitive information, activists in repressive jurisdictions, or individuals concerned about extremely sophisticated adversaries.
For the specific use case of browsing privacy and accessing geo-restricted content on streaming services, however, DuckDuckGo’s VPN performs competently. Testing by independent reviewers confirmed that DuckDuckGo’s VPN successfully unblocked Netflix content libraries in multiple geographic regions, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia. The VPN maintained steady speeds during these tests, performing reliably for streaming purposes. This performance suggests that for users whose primary VPN use cases are avoiding search tracking, preventing ISP monitoring, and accessing geo-restricted streaming content, DuckDuckGo’s VPN represents a capable option, particularly given its integration with the privacy-focused browser.
Use Cases and Practical Considerations
DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Pro subscription is particularly well-suited for specific user profiles and use cases. Users already committed to using DuckDuckGo’s search engine and browser who want to enhance their privacy protection with a VPN will benefit from the integrated experience and bundled pricing. The combination of search privacy, browser-based tracker blocking, VPN encryption, and data removal services creates a comprehensive privacy framework without requiring the user to coordinate multiple third-party services.
Users concerned about data brokers collecting and selling their personal information will find particular value in the Personal Information Removal component, which operates in a privacy-preserving manner and continuously monitors for information reappearance. The service’s automatic rescanning every ten days and resubmission of removal requests addresses a weakness of one-time data removal services. Users interested in regaining control over their digital footprint can see concrete progress through the redesigned Personal Information Removal dashboard, which displays scanning results, removal requests in progress, and completed removals.
However, Privacy Pro is less suitable for several user profiles. Users requiring protection for all applications and services on their device, not just browser traffic, should opt for a dedicated standalone VPN. Users who need advanced VPN features like kill switches, multi-hop routing, or split tunneling across all platforms require services with more sophisticated feature sets. Users located outside the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, or Canada will find Privacy Pro unavailable. Users primarily concerned with torrenting or accessing highly geographically restricted content should investigate dedicated VPN services with larger server networks and more specialization in these use cases. Users who prefer to avoid U.S. jurisdiction entirely should consider VPN providers headquartered outside Five Eyes countries.
Recent Developments and Service Improvements
Since launching Privacy Pro in April 2024, DuckDuckGo has implemented numerous improvements to enhance the service’s functionality and user experience. The Personal Information Removal dashboard has been completely redesigned to provide users with more granular visibility into the data removal process. Users can now see when each data broker site was last scanned, how many records have been removed, which sites are clear of their personal information, and a timeline showing the progress of individual removal requests. These interface improvements make the service more transparent and user-friendly.
The company has significantly expanded the number of data broker sites covered by Personal Information Removal from 50 to over 80. New additions include FastPeopleSearch, MyLife, and OfficialUSA.com, expanding coverage of the data broker ecosystem. Scan performance has been optimized, with initial scans after signup or profile updates now completing ten times faster than the original implementation.
VPN-specific improvements have addressed several usability challenges. iOS users can now access VPN widgets for the home screen and Control Center, allowing quick connection and disconnection without opening the full browser application. A “snooze” feature allows both iOS and Android users to temporarily disable the VPN for sites and applications that are incompatible with VPN usage, addressing a common frustration with VPN services that require users to choose between privacy protection and application compatibility. Android users benefit from automatic VPN pausing during Wi-Fi calls to prevent dropped connections, with automatic resumption when calls end. New auto-exclude functionality on Android automatically detects incompatible applications and routes their traffic around the VPN without requiring manual configuration.
International expansion has made Privacy Pro available in additional countries beyond the United States. Services are now accessible to residents of Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, with localization in multiple languages including Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. The company has announced plans for continued expansion of geographic availability.
DuckDuckGo has also enhanced customization options for advanced users, adding support for custom DNS resolvers on Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android, allowing users to substitute their preferred DNS provider for DuckDuckGo’s default DNS resolvers. This flexibility caters to advanced users with specific DNS preferences while maintaining the privacy benefits of DNS encryption through the VPN tunnel.
Security Considerations and Threat Model Analysis
When evaluating whether DuckDuckGo’s VPN is appropriate for a given user, it is important to clearly define the threat model, which represents the specific adversaries and attack vectors that the user is concerned about defending against. For users primarily concerned about surveillance by mainstream advertisers and tracking networks, DuckDuckGo’s VPN provides robust protection through IP address masking, DNS encryption, and the integration with tracker-blocking browser features. The combination of DuckDuckGo’s search engine, browser, and VPN creates multiple overlapping layers of protection against commercial tracking and advertising surveillance.
For users concerned about ISP monitoring of browsing activity, DuckDuckGo’s VPN provides complete encryption of web traffic and DNS queries, preventing the ISP from observing which websites the user visits. This protection is particularly valuable for users on networks with adversarial ISPs or in jurisdictions where ISPs are required to monitor and report on user activity.
For users in jurisdictions with government censorship or surveillance, DuckDuckGo’s VPN may provide limited utility, particularly if the censoring government actively blocks VPN traffic or conducts surveillance at the national border. Users in such jurisdictions might be better served by specialized tools like the Tor Browser, which is specifically designed to defeat government-level censorship and surveillance. Additionally, DuckDuckGo’s U.S. headquarters means that sophisticated nation-state adversaries with the ability to compel cooperation from U.S. companies might be able to pressure DuckDuckGo to provide user information, though the no-logs policy mitigates this risk by ensuring minimal information exists to provide.
For users concerned about local network adversaries, such as attackers on the same Wi-Fi network, DuckDuckGo’s VPN provides encryption that prevents interception of traffic between the user’s device and the VPN server. This protection is generally equivalent to that provided by other VPN services. However, for users in extremely high-threat environments with concerns about sophisticated adversaries capable of attacking VPN protocols themselves, the lack of advanced features like multi-hop routing and the choice to use custom encryption rather than standard protocols like AES-256 might present concerns.
Pricing and Value Proposition
The $9.99 monthly subscription cost for DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro must be evaluated against the cost of purchasing equivalent services separately. A comprehensive data removal service like Aura costs between $15.99 and $29.99 per month depending on features. Premium VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN cost between $2.99 and $11.99 per month on annual plans, though shorter subscription commitments cost more. Identity theft restoration services can cost $20 or more per month if purchased independently. The bundled cost of $9.99 per month for all three services represents compelling value, particularly for users already using DuckDuckGo’s free search engine and browser.
However, the value proposition depends on whether the user actually needs and will use all three components. For users whose primary concern is VPN protection and who care less about personal information removal or identity theft restoration, dedicated VPN services offering more extensive features for similar or lower costs might represent better value. Users located outside the service’s available geographic regions cannot access Privacy Pro at any price. For users for whom the integrated experience and DuckDuckGo ecosystem alignment provides significant value, Privacy Pro represents an economical way to build a comprehensive privacy toolkit.
The DuckDuckGo VPN Verdict
DuckDuckGo does indeed offer a VPN service as a component of its Privacy Pro subscription package, though this offering occupies a particular niche rather than directly competing with dedicated standalone VPN services. The VPN is specifically designed to integrate with DuckDuckGo’s privacy-focused browser and ecosystem, providing streamlined protection for users already committed to the DuckDuckGo platform.
For its intended use case—privacy-conscious internet users seeking integrated privacy protection across search, browsing, and web traffic encryption without the complexity of coordinating multiple third-party services—DuckDuckGo’s VPN performs capably. The service passes critical security tests, maintains a strict no-logs policy, undergoes independent security audits, and successfully encrypts traffic and unblocks geographic restrictions. The bundled Personal Information Removal service provides continuous monitoring and removal requests across over 80 data broker sites, offering practical value for users concerned about their digital footprint.
However, the VPN’s limitations must be clearly understood by potential users. The lack of a kill switch represents a significant security gap for users with critical privacy requirements. Limited server distribution and lack of advanced features limit utility for specialized use cases like torrenting or accessing highly restricted content. The restriction to browser traffic rather than device-wide encryption limits protection for applications outside the browser. The lack of availability outside the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, and Canada prevents adoption by users in other regions.
Ultimately, DuckDuckGo’s VPN should be evaluated not against premium dedicated VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN, but rather against the value of comprehensive privacy protection for typical users concerned with search privacy, tracker blocking, ISP monitoring prevention, and personal data removal. For users already using DuckDuckGo’s search engine and browser who want to add VPN protection without the friction of managing separate services, Privacy Pro represents a compelling, affordable option. For users with more specialized VPN requirements or located outside supported geographic regions, dedicated standalone VPN services remain the superior choice. The question of whether DuckDuckGo has a VPN is most accurately answered as: yes, DuckDuckGo has a VPN as part of Privacy Pro, and it serves its intended purpose well for its intended users, though broader privacy needs may require supplementary tools.
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