# iRetro vs Private Browser

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | iRetro | Private Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iretro-the-internet-browser/id1015692776/reviews)** | [4.6 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-brovacy/id1630781823/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 95 | **232** |
| Positive reviews | **85.1% of reviews** | 68.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 16 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [QURAI SOFTWARE - FZCO](https://appshunter.io/developer/911550136) | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) |

## What reviewers say

### iRetro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iretro-the-internet-browser/id1015692776)

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.

**Highlights:** View past website versions, Powered by Wayback Machine API, Retro design for atmosphere, Modern web browsing, Minimalistic interface, No ads or in-app purchases

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Nostalgic experience
- 🚀 Fast loading speeds
- 👍 Simple and intuitive UI
- 🤩 Unique retro design
- 💯 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⚠️ AI overview visible
- 🐛 Space bar issues
- ❌ No bookmarks
- ❌ No tabs
- ❌ Not updated recently

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Add bookmarks
- Add tabs
- Add Netscape Navigator style
- Make time traveling easier


### Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-brovacy/id1630781823)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Good privacy protection
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Brilliant app
- 👍 Works as intended

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Charged for $0 promo
- 🐛 No refund eligibility
- 🐛 App asks for review too soon
- 🐛 Tabs reset on closing
- 🐛 No support reply

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iRetro free?

iRetro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Private Browser free?

Private Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, iRetro or Private Browser?

iRetro is rated higher. iRetro averages 4.6 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Private Browser averages 4.6 from 232 ratings.

### Do iRetro or Private Browser have ads?

Neither iRetro nor Private Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iRetro or Private Browser?

iRetro ships an update every 24 months, and Private Browser weekly. Most recently, iRetro was updated on October 23, 2026 and Private Browser on October 30, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*