DuckDuckGo has spent the past few months gaining fresh attention as more users look for alternatives to Google’s increasingly AI-heavy Search experience. Now, the privacy-focused company is adding a feature that could make its browser even more tempting for everyday use. DuckDuckGo says its browser can now block most video ads, including those on YouTube, when a video is playing inside the browser.
What’s happening?
DuckDuckGo says the new YouTube ad detection and blocking system is based on open-source community filter lists from uBlock Origin. The company may also apply its own rules to make the feature work better inside its browser.
The feature will be turned on by default for most DuckDuckGo users on iPhone, Windows, and Mac. Android users will get the same default treatment soon, but they can manually enable it from the browser settings menu for now. Users on all platforms can also turn YouTube ad blocking on or off from settings.
There is one limitation here. You need to watch YouTube inside the DuckDuckGo browser for the feature to work, because the browser obviously cannot block ads inside the official YouTube app.
Better timing than ever
DuckDuckGo is rolling out this feature at a useful moment. The company recently saw a jump in interest after Google announced major AI changes to Search, including AI Overviews and a more conversational AI Mode. DuckDuckGo has been pitching itself as the browser and search alternative that gives users more control over how much AI they want.
Video ad blocking gives DuckDuckGo a more direct everyday benefit. Brave has made that pitch for years by blocking ads by default across the web, including on YouTube, and the approach has clearly found an audience. The browser recently crossed 120 million monthly active users.
DuckDuckGo is now moving in a similar direction, although it is being upfront about the tradeoffs. The company warns that users may see longer buffering times, and some hiccups could still appear. Even so, for users tired of video ads and Google’s AI push, DuckDuckGo just became a much more attractive option.