# HamsterBrow vs Shimmer Browser

The clearest difference is rating: Shimmer Browser at 5.0 against HamsterBrow's 3.7. Shimmer Browser also leads on update cadence (every 6 days vs every 6 weeks) and review sentiment (50% vs 35%). HamsterBrow's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 2) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HamsterBrow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Shimmer Browser sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Shimmer Browser holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HamsterBrow has 43 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of HamsterBrow's written reviews are positive against 50% of Shimmer Browser's.

HamsterBrow ships an update every 6 weeks, Shimmer Browser every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HamsterBrow | Shimmer Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsterbrow/id1336968941/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimmer-browser/id6739163018/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 59 MB | 45 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Tan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1336967890) | [Jamie Froggatt](https://appshunter.io/developer/933327498) |

## What reviewers say

### HamsterBrow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsterbrow/id1336968941)

This app offers a unique web browsing experience by allowing users to scroll pages using device tilt or screen swipes, controlled by a virtual hamster. It's ideal for hands-free reading, note-taking, or when physical interaction with the screen is difficult.

**Highlights:** Tilt-to-run scrolling, Swipe-to-run scrolling, Super-smooth 60fps scrolling, Customizable hamster cursor and feedback, Offline file saving (Pro), iCloud sync (Pro), Choice of virtual pets (Pro)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HamsterBrow Pro Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |


### Shimmer Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimmer-browser/id6739163018)

This web browser offers customizable visual styles and a resizable sidebar for a personalized experience. It includes features to manage tabs, set time limits, block web annoyances, and organize saved links. Homescreen widgets provide quick access to selected tabs.

**Highlights:** Customizable visual styles, Resizable sidebar, Tab saving and organization, Time limits on saved tabs, Web annoyance blocking, Homescreen widgets

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| More Tabs | $7.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HamsterBrow free?

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

### Is Shimmer Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HamsterBrow or Shimmer Browser?

Shimmer Browser is rated higher. HamsterBrow averages 3.7 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Shimmer Browser averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do HamsterBrow or Shimmer Browser have ads?

Neither HamsterBrow nor Shimmer Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HamsterBrow or Shimmer Browser?

HamsterBrow ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shimmer Browser every 6 days. Most recently, HamsterBrow was updated on October 20, 2026 and Shimmer Browser on October 16, 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.*