So if you’re looking for a private maps solution that “just works,” congratulations – it’s called DuckDuckGo Maps and it’s available to use right now at

The process is still anonymous because no personal information is ever stored in the company’s server logs. The only reason someone would use it over Google is because they want to keep their activities anonymous, and if you fit that bill you’d be hard-pressed to find a better alternative.Įven letting DuckDuckGo Maps use your precise location information doesn’t actually store any data that anybody else may be able to intercept. So much of this has to do with the fact that privacy is literally DuckDuckGo’s competitive advantage.

You can also pinch and zoom the map to view more detail, and switch between regular map view and satellite view as needed.īut the real benefit here is that DuckDuckGo Maps stores as little information as possible about its users.Įvery search that you make is instantly anonymized, and absolutely no trackers are permitted of any kind. You can even select on either driving or walking directions. If you turn on more precise results, the businesses you see will get even more specific.Īfter clicking a suggested location, you can click on the “Directions” button to get step-by-step directions on how to get from the address you input to the exact business you’ve selected. If you searched for “coffee shops near me,” for example, you’ll be greeted with search results that are all customized based on your current (approximate) location. Why DuckDuckGo Maps MattersĪs is true with the DuckDuckGo search engine, DuckDuckGo Maps is billed as a privacy-focused alternative to both Google and Apple’s maps offerings.Īll you have to do is go to and search for whatever local business or location you’re looking for. People who make privacy a priority have been searching for a viable alternative for years, and DuckDuckGo Maps may just be the solution they’ve been waiting for. If your iPhone can give you turn-by-turn directions between any two points, it stands to reason that means it also knows exactly where you’re going and where you’ve been, too. Both worked well in a general sense, but ended up leaving a lot to be desired in terms of the one thing that matters most: When the iPhone originally launched in 2007, the data provided by the original stock “Maps” app was powered by Google Maps.Ī few years later, Apple launched their own “Apple Maps” service as a replacement.

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