# jBrowse — Block ads, trackers, and sites

> Block ads, trackers, and sites (iPhone/iPad app by John Friedson.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jbrowse/id6755676925 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Friedson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1844993554)
- Category: Utilities
- Price: $2.99
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 18.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-12-15
- Data updated: 2026-09-17
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/jbrowse/id6755676925/reviews.md

## What is jBrowse?

jBrowse is a fast, general purpose multi-tab private browser built for iPhone and iPad. Three protection modes let you choose your privacy level for each tab independently.

PROTECTION MODES
• Standard — Tracker and ad blocking (700+ domains). Good for social media and sites that need more access.
• Safer — Rotating canvas, WebGL, and audio fingerprint. Third-party cookies blocked, referrers stripped, WebRTC blocked.
• Strict — Full rotating fingerprint: hardware, screen resolution, fonts, CPU, RAM, and language all vary per site. A different "you" on every website.

PRIVACY ENGINE
• 700+ blocked domains: ads, analytics, session replay, telemetry
• Notification requests blocked in all modes
• URL tracking parameters stripped (utm_*, fbclid, gclid, msclkid, and 20+ more)
• Bounce redirect bypass for Facebook, Reddit, Slack, and Medium
• DNS leak prevention: blocks dns-prefetch and preconnect tags
• Global Privacy Control (GPC) opt-out signal sent to every site
• Invisible tracking pixel suppression
• JavaScript alert/confirm/prompt dialogs suppressed

DISTRACTION BLOCKING
• Cookie and GDPR consent banners removed
• Newsletter and subscription popups blocked
• Sticky overlays and modal dialogs removed
• Floating video players removed
• Scroll-lock prevention
• Reader Mode with optional Auto Reader Mode per site
• Video and audio playback blocking (Safer/Strict)

TABS & INTERFACE
• Multiple tabs, each with its own protection mode
• Tab strip with per-tab mode badges
• Address bar: top or bottom
• Icon bar: top, bottom, left, or right
• Light, dark, or auto display mode
• Swipe to go back or forward
• Find in page

PASSWORD MANAGER
• Passwords stored in the iOS/iPadOS system Keychain
• Face ID / Touch ID authentication
• Autofill on login forms
• Secure password generation on compatible pages
• Enable or disable saving per site
• No cloud sync — everything stays on your device

PER-SITE SETTINGS
• Override protection mode per domain
• Enable or disable video playback per site
• Reader Mode per site (Always, Never, or Global Default)
• Allow WebRTC for video conferencing sites
• Disable protections for compatibility when needed
• Mark sites as Trusted to exempt from privacy clearing
• Schedule automatic site refresh for frequently visited pages

PRIVACY BY DESIGN
jBrowse does not collect, store, or transmit any browsing data. No analytics, no crash reporting to third parties, no accounts required.


## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.8 — 2026-09-05

jBrowse blocks hundreds of web sites for ads and malware, and is periodically updated, but for users who want more 'real time' filtering of all the sites they access they can now opt in to Quad9 review of all URLs initially passed by jBrowse.  This setting can also be changed in settings. When in use, a number '9' will appear in the icon bar, green if Quad9 is accessible, and red if not.

### 3.7 — 2026-08-26

More ad-serving domains blocked.

### 3.6 — 2026-07-24

NEW

• Block This Site — block a single page or an entire domain, permanently. Blocks are
  enforced at the network layer and blocked sites disappear from your history and
  address-bar suggestions.
• Vertical tabs — Tab Strip Position now offers Left and Right (vertical) alongside
  Top and Bottom.
• Always-on security floor — malware, scamware, and cryptojacking domains are blocked
  in every mode, and stay blocked even when you disable protections for a site.
• Blank Ad-Space Removal — when an ad is blocked, jBrowse collapses the empty gap or
  colored placeholder box it would have left behind. Only slots with no ad are
  collapsed; real content is untouched.
• Domain Auto-Forward Blocking — stops sites from sending you to a different domain
  without your action. On in Safer and Strict.
• Article Overlay — tapping a story in a news feed opens it over the feed, so Back
  returns you to your exact place instead of reloading. On by default for Google News.
• Silent Video (GIF) — choose Collapse or Play for the muted looping hero videos news
  sites use. Set globally or per-site.

IMPROVED

• Blocklist grown to 1,100+ ad, tracker, and session-replay domains.
• Blocked videos now show a still frame instead of a black error box.
• Anti-adblock and reload-loop ad hosts blocked at the network layer.
• Better compatibility with Fox News, Yahoo, NPR, space.com, New York Post,
  realtor.com, weather.com, MakeUseOf, Futurism and more.
• Built-in bug reporting, straight from the app.

### 3.5 — 2026-06-06

Speed enhancements and improved site history clearing.

### 3.3 — 2026-05-20

Added Task Bar Icon Size setting: Small, Standard, Large, X-Large. This scales toolbar icon glyphs and touch targets. 
Added toolbar Brightness Control: sun button opens an in-app brightness slider that adjusts screen brightness. 
Expanded Scheduled Refreshes from per-site configuration into a central list view reachable from the menu, showing home pins and active refresh schedules. 
Added broader JavaScript Compatibility Recovery: jBrowse can detect repeated link/control failures and prompt the user to relax JS protections for the session or site. This is no longer limited to an allowlist. 
Added Overlay Compatibility Recovery: if overlay blocking appears to break taps/links, jBrowse can prompt to disable overlay protection for the session or site while keeping other protections active

## Apps similar to jBrowse

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [SafePulse Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/safepulse-browser/id6768818859) | — | Free | Utilities |
| [Gologin Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gologin-browser/id6784699638) | 3.0 (2) | Free | Utilities |
| [BlackBird](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbird/id6760231389) | 5.0 (4) | Free | Utilities |
| [NovaFlick](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/novaflick/id6747818649) | 3.5 (28) | Free | Utilities |
| [Octo Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/octo-browser/id6762627194) | 3.7 (18) | Free | Utilities |
| [Plagiarism Checker -Prepostseo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plagiarism-checker-prepostseo/id1463941368) | 4.3 (53) | Free | Utilities |

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-17.*
