# Pure Web Browser vs Via Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Via Browser at none against Pure Web Browser's 1. Via Browser also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). Pure Web Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (9.3 vs 11.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pure Web Browser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Via Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Via Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 43 and 161 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Pure Web Browser's written reviews are positive against 84% of Via Browser's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pure Web Browser | Via Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pure-web-browser/id1301166115/reviews) | **[4.4 (161 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-browser/id1639085829/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **161** |
| Positive reviews | 76.0% of reviews | **83.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 7 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.3** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Prasomsak Khunmuen](https://appshunter.io/developer/636412127) | [亚锋 涂](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639060061) |

## What reviewers say

### Pure Web Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pure-web-browser/id1301166115)

Experience lightning-fast internet browsing with essential features for performance and simplicity. Enjoy private browsing, ad blocking, and customizable settings for a seamless online experience.

**Highlights:** Lightning-fast browsing, Dark mode with customization, Tabbed and full-screen browsing, Private browsing and adblock, Password management, Download manager, Reader view

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove in-app ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### Via Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-browser/id1639085829)

A minimalist and lightweight web browser designed for speed and minimal memory usage. It offers extensive customization options, ad blocking, and essential browsing features for a clutter-free experience.

**Highlights:** Quiet browsing experience, Low memory usage, Minimalist design, Customizable interface, Ad blocking, Night mode, Request desktop site

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Extremely fast and lightweight browser
- 💾 Minimal storage footprint (4.8MB)
- ⚙️ Advanced customization options (CSS/JS injection, ad-blocking rules)
- 🔒 Strong privacy controls and data management
- 🎯 Clean, minimalist UI design

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Sync functionality completely broken across devices
- 🐛 Bookmarks disappear after several days of use
- 💾 Excessive cache accumulation (200MB+ after minimal use)
- 🔧 iOS version lacks many Android features
- ⚠️ Website compatibility issues (iCloud, some sites block access)

**Reported bugs**

- Sync not working between devices
- Bookmarks disappearing after days of use
- Cache not clearing properly, excessive memory usage
- Settings URL field resets on app restart
- Userscripts install but don't execute

**Requested features**

- Set as default browser
- Cross-device bookmark synchronization
- Resource sniffer/traffic inspection tool
- QR code scanner functionality
- Userscript/Tampermonkey full support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pure Web Browser free?

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

### Is Via Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pure Web Browser or Via Browser?

Via Browser is rated higher. Pure Web Browser averages 4.1 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Via Browser averages 4.4 from 161 ratings.

### Do Pure Web Browser or Via Browser have ads?

Pure Web Browser shows ads; Via Browser does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pure Web Browser or Via Browser?

Pure Web Browser ships an update every 3 months, and Via Browser every 3 months. Most recently, Pure Web Browser was updated on October 5, 2026 and Via Browser on October 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.*