# Private Browser vs Dark Browser

Private Browser and Dark Browser both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 77% of Private Browser's written reviews are positive against 32% of Dark Browser's. Private Browser also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5). Dark Browser's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark Browser sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Private Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Private Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Private Browser's written reviews are positive against 32% of Dark Browser's.

Private Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, Dark Browser every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 11, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browser | Dark Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-priver/id1029847541/reviews)** | [4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-browser-private-and-secure/id1476630579/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1K | **1.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.0% of reviews** | 31.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 96 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SUGURU OKUYAMA](https://appshunter.io/developer/851617037) | [Si Yong Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777462143) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-priver/id1029847541)

This private browser offers a secure way to browse the internet, automatically protecting your history and bookmarks. It disguises itself as a calculator on your home screen, only revealing its browsing capabilities when a passcode is entered. Your data remains private and inaccessible to other apps.

**Highlights:** Calculator disguise, Passcode protection, Secure browsing, History and bookmark protection, Automatic privacy lock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for private browsing
- 🔒 Protects privacy
- 🚀 Works great
- 💡 Useful disguise feature

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads/pop-ups interrupting browsing
- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🐛 No reception/connectivity issues

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when entering PIN
- Freezing and performance issues

**Requested features**

- Ability to remove ads
- Bookmark folders
- Restore bookmarks after updates


### Dark Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-browser-private-and-secure/id1476630579)

This app provides a comfortable browsing experience by automatically switching web pages to dark mode. It also offers ad and virus blocking for a safer online environment. Users can easily manage their browsing with features like bookmarks, history, and downloads.

**Highlights:** Automatic dark mode for web pages, Manual dark/light mode switching, Ad and virus interception, Fast search functionality, Customizable homepage, Bookmarks and history management, Download manager

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advanced features for a month | $4.99 | per month |
| Continuous weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Advanced features for a month | $9.99 | per month |
| Advanced features for 3 months | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual premium features | $36.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌙 Excellent dark mode support
- 🚀 Fast and responsive browser
- 👍 Helpful for night browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 💸 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Poor privacy and security
- 🔧 Compatibility issues with older devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Inverted colors on dark websites
- Inability to access .onion sites

**Requested features**

- Add support for captcha and login features
- Improve image handling and color inversion
- Introduce customization options for dark mode


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browser free?

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

### Is Dark Browser free?

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

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

Private Browser is rated higher. Private Browser averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Dark Browser averages 4.4 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Private Browser or Dark Browser have ads?

Both Private Browser and Dark Browser show ads.

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

Private Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dark Browser every 5 days. Most recently, Private Browser was updated on September 11, 2026 and Dark Browser on September 21, 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.*