Type: Privacy-focused search engine — official Tor mirror
Access: Tor Browser — .onion address
Account required: No
Clearnet version: duckduckgo.com
Indexes .onion sites: No — surface web only
Default Tor Browser search engine: Yes
Last verified: March 2026
What Is DuckDuckGo’s .onion Address?
DuckDuckGo operates an official .onion address — and it is the default search engine built into Tor Browser. When you open Tor Browser and type a search query into the address bar, it goes to DuckDuckGo’s .onion by default. This makes it the most-used search tool among Tor users by a significant margin, simply through its default status.
However, DuckDuckGo’s .onion is widely misunderstood. It is not a dark web search engine. It does not index .onion sites. It returns the same results as regular DuckDuckGo — clearnet pages, mainstream websites, publicly indexed content. The .onion address changes only the network path your query takes to reach DuckDuckGo’s servers, not what those servers return.
Onion Address
Clearnet version: https://duckduckgo.com
Verification: This address is published in DuckDuckGo’s official documentation and referenced by the Tor Project. It has been stable since launch and is pre-configured in Tor Browser.
What DuckDuckGo’s .onion Actually Does
| What It Does | What It Doesn’t Do |
|---|---|
| Routes your search query through Tor | Index .onion sites |
| Hides your IP from DuckDuckGo’s servers | Return dark web results |
| Prevents ISP from seeing your search queries | Help you discover new .onion addresses |
| Returns clearnet search results privately | Track your searches between sessions |
| Works as default Tor Browser search | Provide anonymity if you log into accounts from results |
How DuckDuckGo Protects Your Privacy
DuckDuckGo’s core privacy promise applies equally to its .onion and clearnet versions — it does not track your searches, does not build a profile of your interests and does not link search queries to your identity. This is meaningful on the clearnet; via the .onion it is reinforced by Tor’s IP anonymity.
On the clearnet, DuckDuckGo sees your IP address even though it doesn’t store it for tracking purposes. Via the .onion, DuckDuckGo sees only a Tor exit node IP — it cannot identify you even if it wanted to. This closes a gap that exists on the clearnet version: the combination of query content plus IP address creates a more complete fingerprint than either alone, even with a no-tracking policy.
DuckDuckGo .onion vs. Other Search Options Inside Tor
| Engine | Indexes .onion? | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| DuckDuckGo .onion | ❌ No | Private clearnet search inside Tor |
| Ahmia | ✅ Yes | Finding .onion sites safely |
| Torch | ✅ Yes | Maximum .onion coverage |
| Not Evil | ✅ Yes | Clean .onion search |
When to Use DuckDuckGo .onion
Use DuckDuckGo .onion when: You need to search the regular internet privately from inside Tor — looking up news, definitions, clearnet resources, verifying information — without your ISP seeing your queries or DuckDuckGo linking your searches to your IP.
Do not use DuckDuckGo .onion when: You are trying to find .onion sites, discover dark web resources or search for content that exists only within the Tor network. For these purposes, use Ahmia, Torch or Not Evil.
DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Features
Beyond its .onion address, DuckDuckGo offers several privacy features that apply to both access methods:
- No search history. DuckDuckGo does not store your search history — queries are not linked to your IP, browser or any identifier between sessions.
- No filter bubble. Results are not personalized based on past behavior — everyone searching the same query gets the same results, preventing the reinforcement loops that personalized search creates.
- !Bang shortcuts. Type !w before a query to search Wikipedia directly, !yt for YouTube, !g for Google. These shortcuts route through DuckDuckGo before redirecting — privacy protection depends on the destination site’s practices once you arrive.
- Safe search. DuckDuckGo includes a built-in safe search filter for adult content — adjustable in settings.
DuckDuckGo’s Limitations
Result quality vs. Google. DuckDuckGo’s index is smaller than Google’s. For highly specific queries, niche topics or very recent news, Google returns more relevant results. DuckDuckGo is strong for general queries and acceptable for most everyday searches but has meaningful gaps for specialized research.
No .onion indexing. The most commonly misunderstood limitation. Tor users who want to find .onion sites must use a dedicated dark web search engine — DuckDuckGo cannot help with this regardless of whether it is accessed via the .onion address.
!Bang shortcuts exit Tor’s protection. When you use a !bang shortcut, DuckDuckGo redirects you to the destination site. If that destination is a clearnet site and you click through, you are now browsing that site through Tor’s exit relay — meaning the site sees a Tor exit node IP rather than your real IP, but you have left DuckDuckGo’s privacy protections behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is DuckDuckGo the default search engine in Tor Browser?
The Tor Project selected DuckDuckGo as Tor Browser’s default search engine because it does not track users, does not build behavioral profiles and has a documented no-logging policy — all consistent with Tor Browser’s privacy goals. DuckDuckGo also operates an official .onion address that keeps search traffic within the Tor network rather than exiting at a relay and traveling to a clearnet server.
Can DuckDuckGo find .onion sites if I search for them specifically?
DuckDuckGo can return clearnet pages that mention or link to .onion addresses — for example, articles about darknet markets or Tor hidden services. It cannot directly navigate to .onion addresses or return .onion pages as search results. If you find a .onion address mentioned in DuckDuckGo results, copy it and open it directly in Tor Browser rather than clicking a link.
Is DuckDuckGo’s .onion faster or slower than the clearnet version?
Slightly slower — your query travels through three Tor relays before reaching DuckDuckGo’s servers, adding latency compared to a direct clearnet connection. For most searches the difference is barely perceptible. For users already using Tor Browser for other purposes, the additional latency is negligible compared to Tor’s baseline connection overhead.
Does DuckDuckGo share data with governments?
DuckDuckGo has stated it does not collect the data that would typically be requested in government legal orders — IP addresses, search histories linked to individuals. Via the .onion address, it cannot see your IP regardless. However, DuckDuckGo is a US-based company subject to US law. For searches where even the company receiving the query is a concern, SearXNG instances operated by non-US parties provide an alternative.