iRetro vs Private Browser
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
iRetro
Explore how websites looked in the past using the Wayback Machine API. This browser offers a retro design for an immersive experience and can also be used for modern web browsing with a minimalistic interface. It's completely free with no ads or in-app purchases.
- View past website versions
- Powered by Wayback Machine API
- Retro design for atmosphere
- Modern web browsing
- Minimalistic interface
- No ads or in-app purchases
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Have you ever wonder how the Facebook, Yahoo or [[put your favorite website here]] looked like 10 years ago? Or 15? Now you can do this with our browser powered by Wayback Machine API*! Just set the date and that’s it - you’re in the past! The app has retro design for the deep diving into the atmosphere of oldschool web. The app can also browse the modern web, you can use it as regular browser. It has a simple minimalistic interface and, therefore, unlike other browsers, it won’t be able to spy on you :-) The app is absolutely free and not contains any ads or in-app purchases. Have a nice trip to the past, fun present and bright future! * For more information visit http://archive.org/
Private Browser
This privacy-focused browser offers a minimalist, full-screen experience. It automatically clears browsing data upon exit and includes features like app locking and a "Burn Everything" option for complete privacy.
- Full screen browsing
- Automatic private browsing data clearing
- History-less and tracking-less browsing
- Application lock
- "Burn Everything" reset option
- Easy zoom adjustment
- Quick tab access
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Brovacy is a privacy-focused browser with a minimalist design. FEATURES • A full screen experience where you are in full control • Private browsing mode automatically clears everything upon app exit • Multiple zoom level that's super easy to adjust • History-less and tracking-less browsing to protect your privacy • Application lock to protect you from prying eyes • "Burn Everything" makes it easy to reset everything • 5 tabs, all at a single tap's reach. Simple, effective and no clutter.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iRetro at none against Private Browser's 2. iRetro also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 68%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). Private Browser's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 24 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Private Browser sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. iRetro asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for iRetro against 4.6 for Private Browser. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 95 and 232 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of iRetro's written reviews are positive against 68% of Private Browser's.
iRetro ships an update every 24 months, Private Browser weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | iRetro | Private Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (95 ratings) — better | 4.6 (232 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews — better | 68.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 95 | 232 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | QURAI SOFTWARE - FZCO | Actowise LLC |
Customer experience
iRetro
Private Browser
User reviews
iRetro
From 95 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- ✨ Nostalgic experience
- 🚀 Fast loading speeds
- 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
- 🤩 Unique retro design
- 💯 Free to use
Room to improve
- ⚠️ AI overview visible
- 🐛 Space bar issues
- ❌ No bookmarks
- ❌ No tabs
- ❌ Not updated recently
Private Browser
From 232 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Good privacy protection
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Brilliant app
- 👍 Works as intended
Room to improve
- 🐛 Charged for $0 promo
- 🐛 No refund eligibility
- 🐛 App asks for review too soon
- 🐛 Tabs reset on closing
- 🐛 No support reply
Bugs and requests
iRetro
Reported bugs
9 issues- Space bar not retained in keyboard
- Time Machine feature not working
- Redirects to fake pages for Facebook login
- Cannot download files
- DNS errors when trying to access past websites
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- AI overview still visible
- No landscape mode support
- No desktop mode
- No device rotation support
Requested features
25 requests- Landscape mode support
- Add bookmarks
- Add tabs
- Add Netscape Navigator style
- Make time traveling easier
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- Add search within retro webpage
- Option to save offline
- Add homepage welcome and customization
- Add fullscreen feature for YouTube
- Add save to Camera Roll feature for images
- Add “add or change homepage” feature
- Add favorites bar
- Ability to set as default browser
- Make a Windows version
- Make a Windows 98 version
- Add click sound from old IE
- Add split view
- Add retro gaming
- Add retro cameras
- Add retro Radio (Internet-based app)
- Make other retro apps (video player, camera, music player)
- Support for retro themes (Windows 98/95/NT 4.0, XP, iPod Classic, iOS 5)
- Remove top panel during scroll
- Full desktop mode
- Device rotation support
Private Browser
Reported bugs
4 issues- Charged $10 for $0 promo
- Tabs reset when app is closed
- Randomly switches search engine (Google to Bing)
- Ads appear at start-up after free promotion
Requested features
9 requests- Force dark mode on pages
- Add Chinese language support
- Keep browsing history private and secured
- Add more to keep prying eyes away from history
- Ability to return to previous browsing session
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Dark mode option
- Make it an iOS default browser option
- Individual website zoom setting stick
- Indication of which tabs contain content
In-app purchases
iRetro
No in-app purchases
Private Browser
- Pro Lifetime$4.99
- Pro Lifetime$9.99
Questions
Is iRetro free?
Is Private Browser free?
Which has better reviews, iRetro or Private Browser?
Do iRetro or Private Browser have ads?
Which is updated more often, iRetro or Private Browser?
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