Comparison

Private Browser vs Beacon Web Browser

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Private Browser

Securely browse the web with enhanced privacy features. This app offers password and biometric protection, ensuring no browsing data is saved. Enjoy faster, fullscreen browsing with easy navigation and integrated video playback.

Highlights
  • Password protected app entry
  • Biometric unlock (Touch ID/Face ID)
  • No data or history saved
  • Faster browsing speeds
  • Fullscreen browsing mode
  • Integrated video playback
Features
Read full description

Private Browser allows you to securely browse the web on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. It makes mobile browsing faster, easier and smarter. Features: • Password Protected App Entry. • Pin Code. • Touch-ID Support. • Face Unlock Support. • Absolutely no data is saved. When you exit the app, all data and history is removed. Everything that goes on in the browser is removed when you hit Home, Exit, or Close. • Faster Browsing Load instantly and get to what you want in a snap. • Fullscreen Browsing An interface can disappear for fullscreen browsing. • Video Plays Play videos directly from the browser • Easy Navigation Navigate with a simple, streamlined browser. • And much, much more! Disclaimer: This application is the sole creation and responsibility of the developer. This application is not endorsed by or affiliated with any of the apps displayed inside the app. Payment & Renewal Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription anytime in your Apple ID account settings. For more details on managing subscriptions, visit: https://support.apple.com/en-us/118428 Terms of Use (EULA): https://sites.google.com/view/sbtermsofservice/home Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/privacypolicysb/home Thank you for choosing us.

About

Beacon Web Browser

A privacy-focused web browser that replaces traditional certificate authorities with decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems. It offers on-device DNSSEC validation and supports encrypted DNS with Handshake naming.

Highlights
  • Decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems
  • On-device DNSSEC validation
  • Encrypted DNS with Handshake naming
  • Access to Ethereum names
  • Open source development
Features
Read full description

Beacon is a privacy and security-focused browser with the goal of replacing traditional certificate authorities with decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems, DNSSEC, and DNS-Based Authentication of Named Entities (DANE)! 1. We use a lightweight peer-to-peer client that connects to the Handshake network[1] and syncs block headers in a few seconds! 2. On-device DNSSEC validation, you don't need to trust external resolvers. Beacon doesn't use a centralized DNSSEC signing key either. Instead, it requests and verifies proofs from the Handshake network. 3. Enable your device to use encrypted DNS with Handshake naming support. Handshake links to other naming systems such as Ethereum using HIP-5. Beacon supports accessing those names too! Try opening humbly.eth or impervious.forever. 4. Look for "Secured by Handshake" to identify websites secured by decentralized DNS-Based Authentication. 5. Beacon is open source! Submit feedback, contribute and report bugs or issues: https://github.com/imperviousinc/beacon-ios [1] https://handshake.org

Screenshots

Private Browser4 screens
Beacon Web Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Beacon Web Browser at 4.6 against Private Browser's 3.5. Beacon Web Browser also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Beacon Web Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 14 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Browser ships an update every 2 months, Beacon Web Browser every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Private Browser versus Beacon Web Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate BrowserBeacon Web Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.5 (10 ratings)4.6 (14 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1014 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB104 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSachin BhadaniyaImpervious Inc

Customer experience

Private Browser

All ratings10 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative30.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Beacon Web Browser

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Private Browser

No in-app purchases

None

Beacon Web Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Private Browser free?
Private Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Beacon Web Browser free?
Beacon Web Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Private Browser or Beacon Web Browser?
Beacon Web Browser is rated higher. Private Browser averages 3.5 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Beacon Web Browser averages 4.6 from 14 ratings.
Do Private Browser or Beacon Web Browser have ads?
Private Browser shows ads; Beacon Web Browser does not.
Which is updated more often, Private Browser or Beacon Web Browser?
Private Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Beacon Web Browser every 3 weeks. Most recently, Private Browser was updated on October 16, 2026 and Beacon Web Browser on October 15, 2026.

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