DuckDuckGo iPhone Installs Surge 33% After Google I/O

DuckDuckGo reported a sustained increase in user acquisition across the United States following the Google I/O developer conference, which concluded last week. The privacy-focused search company observed that the growth in its user base, particularly among mobile users, accelerated between May 20 and May 25, 2026.

According to data provided by the company, U.S. Installs of its application rose by an average of 18.1% on a week-over-week basis during this period. This upward trend remained consistent over six consecutive days, reaching a peak of 30.5% on May 25. The shift was most pronounced on the iOS platform, where average weekly installs climbed by 33%, peaking at nearly 70% on the same day.

The surge in activity coincides with Google’s recent announcements regarding the integration of artificial intelligence into its search ecosystem. During the I/O event, Google detailed plans for an overhaul of its search interface, including expanded AI Overviews and broader Gemini integration. The company characterized these updates as the most significant upgrade to its search box in more than 25 years.

In response to these developments, traffic to DuckDuckGo’s specialized search portal—which disables AI-generated features by default—also experienced a measurable increase. Visits to the site rose by an average of 22.7% week-over-week, with a peak of 27.7% recorded on May 24.

DuckDuckGo noted that the domestic growth rate significantly outpaced international figures, suggesting that the migration of users was linked to the specific announcements made during the U.S.-centric conference. The company stated that the growth in user activity not only held steady but accelerated through the Memorial Day weekend, a period when search traffic typically experiences a decline.