DuckDuckGo is best known as a privacy-focused search engine, but its Privacy Pro subscription now bundles a VPN, identity theft restoration, and personal information removal for $9.99 per month. How does it stack up against PrivacyOn's dedicated data removal and dark web monitoring service? We compared both head-to-head to find out.
Quick Verdict
PrivacyOn is our top pick for anyone serious about removing their personal data from the internet. While DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro is a decent privacy bundle, its data removal component covers far fewer brokers and lacks the dark web monitoring and family protection features that make PrivacyOn the more comprehensive choice.
Data Broker Coverage
This is where the biggest difference lies:
- PrivacyOn: Removes your data from 100+ data broker sites, including major people-search engines, background check services, marketing data companies, and niche brokers
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro: Scans approximately 50 data broker sites — less than half of PrivacyOn's coverage
That coverage gap matters. Every broker site that goes unchecked is another place where your name, address, phone number, and other personal details remain publicly searchable. With twice the coverage, PrivacyOn catches brokers that DuckDuckGo simply doesn't monitor.
How Removals Work
PrivacyOn submits opt-out requests on your behalf using a combination of automated tools and manual review. The service monitors your status 24/7 and automatically re-submits requests when brokers re-list your information — which happens frequently, sometimes within a few months.
DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro takes a privacy-first approach to the removal process itself: it stores your data locally on your device and sends opt-out requests directly from your machine rather than centralizing your information on remote servers. While this architectural choice is commendable from a data-handling perspective, it means removals only occur when your device is active and connected.
Dark Web Monitoring
- PrivacyOn: Includes proactive dark web monitoring that scans for your personal data — including email addresses, passwords, Social Security numbers, and financial information — appearing in data breaches and dark web marketplaces
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro: Does not include dark web monitoring. Its identity theft restoration service helps after the fact, but it won't alert you proactively when your data appears in a breach
Why Dark Web Monitoring Matters
Over 3,300 data breaches were reported in 2025 alone. Early detection of your compromised data can mean the difference between preventing identity theft and spending months recovering from it.
Family Protection
- PrivacyOn: Family plans cover up to 5 people, letting you protect your spouse, children, and elderly parents under a single subscription
- DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro: Individual plans only. Each family member needs their own separate subscription at $9.99/month
For a family of four, DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro would cost nearly $40/month. PrivacyOn's family plan covers everyone for a fraction of that cost.
Additional Features
DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro includes a VPN (usable on up to 5 devices) and identity theft restoration assistance. These are useful additions, but they serve different purposes than dedicated data removal.
PrivacyOn focuses entirely on what matters most: getting your data off broker sites and monitoring for new exposures. This focused approach means deeper broker coverage, faster response times, and more thorough removals.
Pricing Comparison
| Feature | PrivacyOn | DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From $8.33/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Annual cost | From $99.96/yr | $99.99/yr |
| Broker coverage | 100+ sites | ~50 sites |
| Dark web monitoring | Yes | No |
| Family plan | Up to 5 people | Individual only |
| VPN included | No | Yes |
| 24/7 monitoring | Yes | Device-dependent |
Consider What You're Paying For
DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro bundles a VPN, but if you already use a standalone VPN (which many privacy-conscious users do), you're paying for a feature you don't need. PrivacyOn gives you more data removal power for less money.
Who Should Choose DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro?
DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro makes sense if you want a simple all-in-one privacy bundle with a VPN, you're an individual user (no family to cover), and you prefer on-device processing for your removal requests. It's a solid entry-level option for people just starting their privacy journey.
Who Should Choose PrivacyOn?
PrivacyOn is the better choice if you want the widest possible data broker coverage, need dark web monitoring to catch breach exposures early, want to protect your whole family under one plan, or need reliable 24/7 monitoring that doesn't depend on your device being online.
The Bottom Line
DuckDuckGo Privacy Pro is a respectable privacy bundle, but as a dedicated data removal service, PrivacyOn simply offers more: double the broker coverage, dark web monitoring, family plans, and round-the-clock automated protection — all at a lower starting price. If keeping your personal information off the internet is your primary goal, PrivacyOn is the clear winner.