ChatGPT vs Duck.ai
Both answer questions for free, and Duck.ai can even pass your question to a model made by OpenAI. What differs is the trip your words take: Duck.ai removes your IP address first and rules out training, while ChatGPT trains on conversations unless you opt out.
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ChatGPT
AI chatbot that trains on your chats by default unless you opt out.
Duck.ai (DuckDuckGo)
Free AI chat that never trains on your prompts.
Prices last checked on
| Feature | ChatGPT | Duck.ai (DuckDuckGo) |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | n/a | n/a |
| Price | From €8/mo | From $8.33/mo |
| Same currency (ECB 2026-09-01) | $9.27/mo | $8.33/mo |
| Free plan | ||
| Best for | Anyone comparing mainstream AI assistants on privacy | Anyone wanting a free, no-training AI chat |
| Category | Private AI and encrypted apps | Private AI and encrypted apps |
| Provider | OpenAI | DuckDuckGo |
| Visit ChatGPT | Visit Duck.ai (DuckDuckGo) |
Our verdict
Duck.ai is the better choice if privacy comes first. Your prompts are not used to train AI models, neither by DuckDuckGo nor by the companies whose models answer them, and DuckDuckGo removes your IP address before a question leaves for OpenAI, Anthropic or another provider.
No account is needed, and chats stay on your own device unless you turn on Sync & Backup, which stores them encrypted so only you can decrypt them. Under DuckDuckGo's agreements, the model providers delete what they receive within 30 days at most.
ChatGPT is the fuller product: OpenAI's free plan already includes image generation, voice chats, memory and deep research, while free Duck.ai sticks to basic chat models. The trade-off is training on your chats, unless you opt out at privacy.openai.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is Duck.ai really private?
Yes, on the points DuckDuckGo commits to in its terms. Prompts and answers are not used for training, your IP address is removed before a question reaches the model, and recent chats stay on your device unless you switch on Sync & Backup. Shared chat links disappear after 30 days. The terms do not say in which country the servers are.
Is Duck.ai free?
Yes, Duck.ai is free and needs no account. DuckDuckGo also sells a subscription that opens up more advanced models from OpenAI, Anthropic and others. Plus costs $9.99 a month or $99.99 a year in the US, plus tax where it applies. The pricing page does not spell out which extras come with Plus and which only with Pro.
Can I use ChatGPT without it training on my chats?
Yes. Click "do not train on my content" on OpenAI's privacy portal at privacy.openai.com, and your conversations are no longer used for training. For a one-off question, a Temporary Chat works without touching your account settings: it stays out of your history and out of training.