DuckDuckGo’s mission has always been simple: make everyday internet use a little less creepy. For years, that meant a private search engine and a privacy-minded browser you could use for free. In April 2024, the company took the next step: Privacy Pro, a paid “three-in-one” subscription that bundles a VPN, an automated personal-information removal tool, and identity-theft restoration help. Now DuckDuckGo is letting people try that bundle for seven days, free — a small window to decide whether paying $9.99 a month (or $99.99 a year) is worth it.

Privacy Pro bundles: (1) an on-device VPN that uses WireGuard and supports up to five devices; (2) a Personal Information Removal tool that scans and requests opt-outs from dozens of data-broker sites; and (3) 24/7 identity-theft restoration handled by a partner (Iris). Both monthly and annual plans now include a 7-day free trial.

Privacy tools are strange things to judge quickly. A VPN’s speed, a data-removal service’s thoroughness, or an identity restoration team’s responsiveness are hard to evaluate in a single browsing session. A seven-day trial is modest but useful: it gives you time to stress-test the VPN on the devices you use, initiate a personal-information scan, and—if you’re unlucky—see how identity-theft support responds to an initial inquiry. DuckDuckGo now lists the free trial on its product page and has announced it publicly.

1. The DuckDuckGo VPN — simple, browser-centered, and private

DuckDuckGo built the VPN to be tightly integrated with its browser. It uses the WireGuard protocol (a modern, efficient VPN protocol), promises no-logging, and advertises protection across apps and browsers on the device. You can run it on up to five devices under one subscription. DuckDuckGo maintains an evolving list of server locations and says it will expand capacity over time. For many people the appeal here is simplicity: a privacy-first VPN with minimal settings and clear defaults rather than a swarm of advanced options.

Caveat: DuckDuckGo’s VPN is relatively new compared with established standalone VPNs and, like other newcomers, currently has fewer servers than large incumbents. If you need many country endpoints or a VPN geared specifically for streaming/circumventing geo-blocks, dedicated VPNs still lead the market.

2. Personal Information Removal — built on Removaly tech

This is the part that sets Privacy Pro apart from run-of-the-mill VPN subscriptions. DuckDuckGo’s Personal Information Removal scans over 50 people-search and data-broker sites for your details, and automates the opt-out and follow-up process. Critically, the company says the identifying details you provide are stored locally on your device (encrypted), and removal requests are initiated from your machine rather than being uploaded to DuckDuckGo’s servers. The capability grew out of DuckDuckGo’s acquisition of a removal tool startup (Removaly) in 2022.

Limitations: Personal Information Removal is currently designed for use from a desktop device and—at least at launch—was only available to U.S. subscribers. Data-broker ecosystems differ around the world (and in many regions regulatory protections already limit what brokers can do), so coverage and features vary by country.

3. Identity Theft Restoration — a human backup

If identity theft actually happens, the headache is often a paperwork marathon. Privacy Pro includes an Iris-powered identity-theft restoration service: a dedicated case manager, help with credit reports, recovering losses, replacing documents, and some emergency support. DuckDuckGo’s help pages explain the process and stress that details vary by region; outside the U.S. the service is often advisory (for example, in the EU, U.K., and Canada, agents may not directly negotiate with banks on your behalf).

What’s improved since launch

When Privacy Pro debuted in April 2024, reviewers praised the idea but flagged server counts, regional limits, and the usual caution about how effective automated removal tools can be. Since then, DuckDuckGo says it has expanded server locations, increased the speed and scope of removal scans, and tightened scam-blocking across devices when the VPN is active. Independent reviews and DuckDuckGo help pages document steady updates to servers, regional availability, and feature polish. Still, empirical studies of PII removal services show these systems can struggle with coverage and accuracy—something to keep in mind when you try the product.

Privacy Pro subscriptions are available to residents in the U.S., the U.K., the E.U., and Canada, with the company expanding language support and country availability over time. The DuckDuckGo browser itself is available in English, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish, and the help pages outline which Privacy Pro features vary by region. Personal Information Removal remains U.S.-focused at present; identity restoration is offered more widely, but with regional differences in scope.

Who should try it (and who should not)

Try the trial if:

• You already use the DuckDuckGo browser and want tighter integration (bookmarks, passphrase activation across devices).
• You value a “set-and-forget” privacy bundle rather than juggling multiple services.
• You want to test whether automated removal actually finds and removes your records.

Skip (or approach cautiously) if:

• You rely on a VPN for advanced streaming or geo-unblocking—big VPNs still offer broader server fleets.
• You expect a quick, total wipe of your online footprint; data-broker removal is a long game with mixed results.

How to start the free trial

DuckDuckGo lists the 7-day trial on its Privacy Pro landing page; you can subscribe via the browser (iOS, Android, Mac, Windows) from the Settings > Privacy Pro menu or sign up on duckduckgo.com/pro. Both monthly and yearly plans include the trial, so the clock starts when you opt in — set a calendar reminder if you want to cancel before the first charge.

Privacy Pro is not a magic bullet — but it is an honest, well-integrated attempt to turn DuckDuckGo’s privacy ethos into a practical consumer product. The seven-day trial is a sensible addition: it gives you a chance to test the VPN, run a first removal scan, and get a feel for Iris’s restoration support. If you’re already a DuckDuckGo browser user and want a tidy, privacy-first bundle without wrestling with multiple vendors, it’s worth trying. If you need extensive VPN endpoints or guaranteed removal across every broker, understand the limits before you subscribe.