# Startpage - Private Browser — user reviews > 315 indexed App Store user reviews of Startpage by Startpage BV, rated 4.80/5 from 6,914 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 6,063 · 4★ 617 · 3★ 138 · 2★ 37 · 1★ 59 ## What do users think of Startpage? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Lightning-fast and responsive - 🔒 Robust privacy and security features - 👍 Clean and user-friendly interface - 🔍 Accurate and relevant search results - 🕊️ Preserves user privacy and anonymity **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues - 🔍 Limited search customization options - 🔌 Lack of built-in ad blocker - 🔍 Inconsistent search engine behavior across platforms **Commonly reported bugs** - Pages not loading properly - Inconsistent behavior when searching from iOS home screen - Anonymous view failing to load images/thumbnails **Most requested features** - Dark mode option - Ability to export bookmarks and reading lists - One-tap history/data clearing - Option to set default private browsing mode - StartMail app integration ## Newest reviews (15 of 315) ### 3/5 — Pretty alright *2026-08-15, version 152.0.4* It’s not bad but it gets laggy sometimes and I don’t like how you can’t re open private browsing tabs so it’d be nice if that was fixed ### 3/5 — Verifying *2026-08-15, version 152.0.4* I have been using Startpage for years with Firefox and been very happy. I do not allow cookies from sites unless really necessary. And I delete everything when quitting Firefox. Recently Startpage will not do a search unless cookies are enabled in privacy. If I attempt to do a search using Startpage without cookies all I see is a continual message saying “verifying”. ### 4/5 — Good but *2026-07-28, version 152.0.4* Overall good, but can’t edit bookmark names ### 4/5 — Group tabs? *2026-07-01, version 151.0.3* Overall I am so happy with Startpage! I just wish there was a way to group tabs (i.e. video games, books, TTRPGs, research, etc) ### 3/5 — Anonymous view *2026-06-23, version 151.0.3* Website don’t load when using anonymous view ### 3/5 — Startpage - Browser *2026-06-04* I want to keep using this browser but falls short. I would like more control over ad blocking rulesets (including adding my own), Also, when i use share sheet or tap link in mail, start page browser open but the page is not. This is a deal breaker, i just don't have time to tinker when brave and safari just do that job correctly. Keep trying, this browser is on good track. looks like it's back to safari for the time being. **Developer response:** Thank you for caring about privacy and for sharing your feedback with us. ### 4/5 — really enjoying *2026-06-02, version 150.0.3* i love how similar the layout is with safari so getting used to it was easier. still getting used to the search results as i’ve been using google for decades lol. this has real potential! ### 4/5 — Startpage - Browser *2026-05-27, version 150.0.3* current mission is to find a valid alternative to Brave. Must block trackers and ads. Startpage seems to the job but time will tell. please add more AdBlock sources and please... the ability for users to add their own list AdBlock list. ### 2/5 — have to clear cache after every use or it freezes *2026-05-22, version 150.0.3* have to clear cache after every use or it freezes. new prinlem started today. Poor programming. Fix it now! ### 4/5 — So far so good *2026-04-26, version 149.0.3* Starting to use this search engine because of googles AI push, it functions very good so far. ### 2/5 — Zap button not working *2026-04-19* Edit: Appreciate the dev response — Still having the zap button issue, I'm down to demonstrate it but its not much more complex than described, if the last thing I do is press the zap button (and not close any tabs manually) my tabs go away, but then come back the next time I open the app. I'm happy to file a bug report if asked. As for the AI features, while I do appreciate being able to turn them off, my knocking of stars is due to their presence at all, as these general purpose chatbots have multiple documented cases of giving advice that furthered killings and suicides. I don't think they're safe even if I can personally turn them off, and making them private is nice but does not resolve that issue. Original Review: Wanted a replacement for the duckduckgo app since they've started using LLMs and their search had gotten worse. I still like the startpage search, but this app behaves strangely at times, and it can get annoying. First of all, they've now added their own LLMs, so I'd have to switch *again* to avoid that. More importantly for the app itself, the zap tabs button behaves weirdly inconsistently. Sometimes I will hit it and the tabs will simply not clear, and other times I will hit it, reload the app, and suddenly all my closed tabs will be back. I mainly use the button to clear clutter, but if you had cookies that needed to be cleared, such as a banking or work login, this could cause more serious problems. The app also seems to be more likely to break websites than other mobile browsers. Less sure of the specific problem there but it makes me have to switch to safari every once in a while. Always want to root for privacy focused companies but you'll want a backup browser if you use this. (P.S. Devs if you're reading this, a really easy feature add that would be very nice would be a swipe feature to switch tabs, Brave lets you do this by swiping on the bottom button bar, makes switching tabs much much faster) **Developer response:** AI: We made it straightforward to completely disable. Go to Settings > General > Private AI > move sliders to OFF position. Good-bye AI. Swipe feature: thanks, that's a great call. Zap: not a bug we've encountered, but we will definitely keep an eye. ### 5/5 — Make the switch! *2026-04-09, version 148.0.3* Best search engine - more reliable search results - No Regrets! ### 5/5 — Easy *2026-04-06, version 148.0.3* Easy to use . No monthly charge. It lets me know when it’s a good time to clear my browsing . And it's private . I give it a thumbs up ### 5/5 — Another option *2026-04-04, version 148.0.3* Having a choice is good. It causes competition which causes everyone to improve our lose ### 5/5 — Goodnight Google *2026-04-03, version 148.0.3* Good morning Startpage ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Private Browser *2026-08-02, version 152.0.4* Funny how they say it’s private when they collect usage data,diagnostics and device info. ### 1/5 — Disappointed *2026-07-25, version 152.0.4* Startpage used to be my favorite browser but I just deleted the app off my iPhone because anonymous view is no longer working. This started happening a month or so ago. I wonder what they did to cause this because I haven’t made any changes on my end… ### 1/5 — crashes instantly on startup *2026-05-08, version 150.0.3* im using an iphone 7 so this is somewhat excusable given its age, but if there are problems with older hardware they should increase the ios version requirement this review is subject to change if this gets fixed, other than that i use startpage on my desktop all the time and it works exceptionally well so id imagine the app is the same ### 1/5 — Does not block ads *2026-04-21, version 149.0.3* They claim ad blocking which is completely false. ### 1/5 — Not really a private browser *2026-04-11, version 148.0.3* This browser is not a good model for privacy as it claims; but, to the contrary is very privacy intrusive, contains spyware, and embedded AI information collecting without your knowledge and consent. The junk-ware spyware integrated into this browser constantly uses in-app unsolicited feedback popups as some sort of back-channel conversation. And this is coming out of the EU which claims to have strict privacy laws on everyone else yet cannot manage EU developers and vendors. ### 1/5 — startpage.com не открывается… *2026-01-11, version 144.0.4* они реально забанили мой IP? ### 1/5 — Not better than safari; easy test to prove it: *2025-12-26, version 144.0.4* For both safari and startpage browsers, visit the "whatsmyip" website to see if your ip address is hidden. In safari it is hidden; but in startpage it is not. Therefore, the safari browser is more private. ### 1/5 — No longer aligns with my moral values. *2025-12-18* The reason I started using Startpage to begin with was because it was a private browser with no generative AI attached that gave decent, consistent results. It wasn't perfect— I got a few ads as the first result on occasion— but it did its job and fulfilled all the requirements of a browser that I wanted. And then today I got a popup ad for their new "Vanish AI" or whatever. So let me re-iterate, I was under the assumption that this was a PRIVATE browser. PRIVATE. Wanna know what these AI models are trained on? Other people's data! Without their consent! Obtained by crawling all over the internet and picking out whatever information they can get their grubby little hands on, including information that is potentially extremely sensitive! Does that sound like PRIVATE to you?!? The AI itself having the little "private" adjective attached to it means nothing because it's trained on data that was gained through INVASION OF PRIVACY. So let me go through my list again; -no longer private -no longer ai-free -still yields decent results, supposedly, but after seeing what happened to Google? Nah I think this is just gonna go in the same/similar direction You're not a big fish in terms of search engines. People who just want a search engine resort to Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo because they're the most popular. People only find you by scouring Reddit out of desperation to escape the pitfalls of the aforementioned browsers. That's how I found you. Remember why people use you at all. I'm looking at other search engines now, I'm sure I'll find a searxng instance that'll give me the results I like. If anyone else in the reviews is deleting Startpage and has any other search engine recommendations, do mention them because I am looking. **Developer response:** You can easily turn off PrivateAI in the app and Vanish is a separate app that you are under no obligation to use. The Startpage browser and search engine experience will remain unchanged. Thanks for sharing your feedback with us. ### 1/5 — Not working *2025-12-17, version 144.0.4* From first start isn’t work (pc) ### 1/5 — Just Like Other Browsers *2025-10-12, version 143.0.3* I made one search for a name used in a novel and got nothing but a list of businesses. Also, it gave nearby businesses, so, evidently, your location is used. Does anyone else miss the original world wide web? ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Me da tranquilidad *2026-08-18, version 152.0.4* Realmente me da la tranquilidad de saberme protegido contra espías y fisgones. ### 5/5 — Absolutely a must if you value your security *2026-08-03, version 152.0.4* Starpage is easy to use and has the extra security functions you need to not be bombarded by ads or algorithms every second. You also have the added benefit of No AI so you search based on actual facts from well researched sources. You get real information which is unbiased and you’re saving water by not contributing to massive data centres. ### 5/5 — Great browser *2026-07-27, version 152.0.4* I have yet to find a more private and better web browser for iPhone than Startpage. It includes an actually private incognito mode, and a handy zap button. Would recommend ### 5/5 — Still the Best *2026-07-08, version 151.0.3* 5⭐️ Please add a search button “🔍” to the bottom tool bar to make it easier to initiate a search using the keyboard when address bar is on top. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Nice and clean *2026-06-29, version 151.0.3* Simple is good ### 5/5 — Lightning Fast & Private ⚡ *2026-06-19, version 151.0.3* I’ve tried Chrome, Safari, Brave and many others, but I’ve never seen a browser this fast. Everything opens in milliseconds. Plus, privacy is fully protected. Highly recommend! ⚡ ### 5/5 — Been waiting for such a browser ! *2026-05-12, version 150.0.3* "A(ddled) I(diot)" optional therefore a tweak in search terms results in different answers. Cleaner than other privates ;) Fast while using far less battery. Wishlist Ability to create "folders" for cleaner bookmarks and for cc to work in full screen. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2026-05-07, version 149.0.3* Justin ### 5/5 — Best privacy browser *2026-05-06, version 149.0.3* But you have to go deep into settings to make everything private. I was annoyed by several presets, like allowing third-party apps and exempting website offline data from the zap. ### 5/5 — Private and Diversified Searches *2026-04-28, version 149.0.3* Love the searches offering various diversified results and privacy is very effective. --- *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 2026-09-07.*