# Brave Browser & Search Engine vs Private Browser

The clearest difference is rating: Brave Browser & Search Engine at 4.8 against Private Browser's 3.7. Brave Browser & Search Engine also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and ratings volume (655K vs 10). Private Browser's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13 vs 18.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brave Browser & Search Engine sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Private Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Brave Browser & Search Engine holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brave Browser & Search Engine has 655K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 73% of Brave Browser & Search Engine's written reviews are positive against 76% of Private Browser's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Brave Browser & Search Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, Private Browser every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brave Browser & Search Engine | Private Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (655K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brave-browser-and-search-engine/id1052879175/reviews)** | [3.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-web-browser/id1661034319/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **655K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 73.3% of reviews | **76.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#22** | — |
| Size | 361 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **13** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Brave Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1052874328) | [Unicorn VPN LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1513310581) |

## What reviewers say

### Brave Browser & Search Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brave-browser-and-search-engine/id1052879175)

**Currently charting:** #22 Top Free · Utilities, #124 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

A fast, private web browser with built-in ad blocking and a VPN. It offers an AI assistant, a crypto wallet, and a privacy-focused search engine. Enjoy offline media playback and enhanced security features.

**Highlights:** Built-in Adblock and Pop-up Blocker, Firewall + VPN, AI Assistant (Brave Leo), Secure Crypto Wallet (Brave Wallet), Privacy-Focused Search Engine (Brave Search), Offline Media Playback (Brave Playlist), Voice Search

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Firewall + VPN | $9.99 | per month |
| Brave Leo AI (monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| Annual Firewall + VPN | $99.99 | per year |
| Brave Leo AI (annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Brave Origin | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient browsing
- 🔒 Strong privacy and security features
- 👍 Customizable settings and options
- 💰 Earning potential with Brave Rewards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive UI changes
- 🚫 Lack of full sync capabilities across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing tabs and lost browsing data
- Compatibility issues with certain websites
- Problems with the Brave Playlist feature

**Requested features**

- Ability to clear browsing history and data in bulk
- More customization options for the home screen and UI
- Improved integration with other apps and services
- Expanded Brave Rewards program and payouts


### Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-web-browser/id1661034319)

Browse the web privately and securely with a built-in VPN. Enjoy ad-free browsing, protect your IP address, and encrypt your internet traffic. Offers advanced privacy tools and a distraction-free experience.

**Highlights:** Built-in VPN, Private browsing, Ad blocker, Encrypts web traffic, Hides IP address, No-logs policy

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly + Free Trial | $8.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $29.99 | per month |
| Monthly Browser Subscription | $37.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $149.99 | per year |
| Yearly: Private Browser | $299.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brave Browser & Search Engine free?

Brave Browser & Search Engine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Private Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brave Browser & Search Engine or Private Browser?

Brave Browser & Search Engine is rated higher. Brave Browser & Search Engine averages 4.8 out of 5 from 655K ratings, while Private Browser averages 3.7 from 10 ratings.

### Do Brave Browser & Search Engine or Private Browser have ads?

Neither Brave Browser & Search Engine nor Private Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brave Browser & Search Engine or Private Browser?

Brave Browser & Search Engine ships an update every 3 weeks, and Private Browser every 3 months. Most recently, Brave Browser & Search Engine was updated on September 25, 2026 and Private Browser on August 13, 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.*