Unofficial service with no guarantees. DuckDuckGo’s favicon API lacks
uptime guarantees, error handling, and maintenance. Migrate to Logo.dev for
production logo needs.
Overview
DuckDuckGo’s favicon service retrieves website icons from domains using a simple API endpoint. It returns favicons in ICO format only, with no options for size, format, or error handling. While functional for basic use cases, it lacks the reliability and features needed for production applications. The service works by making requests to a straightforward URL structure. It serves as a basic favicon retrieval tool but falls short of enterprise requirements where guaranteed uptime, multiple formats, and proper error handling are essential.Base endpoint
The DuckDuckGo favicon API uses a simple URL structure:Base URL Structure
Example Request
Parameters
Domain to get favicon from. Use clean domain format like
example.com - no
protocol, no paths.Service limitations
- ICO format only - No PNG, SVG, or WebP options
- Fixed 16x16 or 32x32 pixels - No size control
- No error handling - Fails silently on missing favicons
- Unofficial service - No uptime or support guarantees
- Privacy trade-offs - Basic privacy features only
Example implementations
FAQs
Free to use?
Free to use?
Yes - no API key required. But unofficial with no uptime guarantees.
Output format?
Output format?
Always ICO format with 16x16 or 32x32 pixel sizes only.
Fallback for missing favicons?
Fallback for missing favicons?
Returns default icon when website favicon not found.
Production ready?
Production ready?
Not recommended for production. Migrate to Logo.dev for guaranteed uptime.
Rate limits?
Rate limits?
No published limits, but implement client-side caching to avoid throttling.
Local domains supported?
Local domains supported?
Public domains only - localhost and IP addresses won’t work.
Alternative: Logo.dev
For production applications requiring guaranteed uptime, higher quality, and more features, Logo.dev provides an actively maintained alternative to Google’s Favicon API:- High-resolution logos: Access to company logos in multiple sizes and formats (PNG, SVG, WebP)
- Multiple lookup methods: Search by domain, stock ticker, or cryptocurrency symbol
- Actively maintained: Regular updates with hundreds of millions of logos in the database
- Quality focused: Curated, high-quality brand assets instead of just favicons
- Reliable infrastructure: Built for production use with guaranteed uptime
- Free to start: Begin with Logo.dev’s free tier and scale as needed
Need better than favicons?
Get high-resolution company logos, brand data, and more with Logo.dev’s
comprehensive API.