DuckDuckGo’s app installs jumped sharply after Google changed its search engine. The spike began right after Google’s I/O 2026 event.

Between May 20 and May 25, DuckDuckGo’s U.S. installs rose about 18% week over week. The growth lasted six days straight. On Memorial Day, installs peaked at 30% above the previous week.

The surge was even bigger on Apple devices. iPhone installs climbed 33% on average, hitting nearly 70% growth on a single day. This shows many iOS users are switching search engines.

Google replaced its traditional blue links with AI-powered answers. Its new AI Mode answers questions directly and runs background tasks. But users cannot turn AI off or return to classic search.

Many users saw this as a major change they did not want. DuckDuckGo’s CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, said Google is “force-feeding AI with no way to opt out.”

Users Flocking to AI-Free Search

DuckDuckGo runs a special AI-free search page that blocks all AI features. After Google’s changes, visits to this page rose about 23%, sometimes hitting nearly 28% growth day over day.

This page offers a plain list of results without AI summaries or chat assistants. It gives users the search experience Google is moving away from.

The jump in installs and visits suggests many people want to avoid AI-driven results. They aren’t necessarily anti-AI, but they want a choice to opt out.

Why This Matters for Search and Privacy

Google now answers around 60% of queries without showing source websites. For AI-powered overviews, that number grows to 83%. This reduces traffic to original content creators.

Publishers and journalists worry their referral traffic will shrink as Google’s AI takes over. Meanwhile, users lose control over what they see and how they see it.

DuckDuckGo, by contrast, offers privacy-focused search with no tracking. It also runs its own AI service, duck.ai, where users control how much AI they use. Conversations are private and not used for training.

This opt-in versus forced AI approach is the key difference. DuckDuckGo lets users decide. Google makes AI the default with no escape.

While DuckDuckGo’s market share is small—about 2 to 3% in the U.S.—the install surge signals growing dissatisfaction with Google’s AI mandate.

This shift also affects related markets. Tools that optimize for AI-generated search results, like Peec AI, are growing fast. Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 will even let users pick different AI models for Siri and set third-party defaults.

So the industry is moving toward giving users more choice about AI, except Google is heading the other way.

The Bigger Picture: Competition and Regulation

DuckDuckGo has long challenged Google’s dominance. In 2023, its CEO testified that Google’s exclusive default search deals block competitors from gaining ground.

These contracts lock Google in as the default on most browsers and devices, making it hard for alternatives to compete.

The U.S. Department of Justice and EU regulators are watching closely. Google’s mandatory AI rollout could add fuel to antitrust cases and calls for more user choice.

Meanwhile, DuckDuckGo’s install surge shows that when users get pushed too far, they look for alternatives—even if switching is a hassle.

For now, DuckDuckGo’s growth is a small ripple in Google’s vast ocean. But it could grow into a wave if users demand control over AI in search.

One thing is clear: the future of search will be about who gives users the power to decide how AI fits into their online experience.