# HamsterBrow vs Shield Browser & Search Engine

HamsterBrow and Shield Browser & Search Engine both sit at 3.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 90% of Shield Browser & Search Engine's written reviews are positive against 35% of HamsterBrow's. Shield Browser & Search Engine also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). HamsterBrow's advantage is ratings volume (43 vs 6) and iOS requirement (10.3 vs 17.6). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HamsterBrow sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shield Browser & Search Engine asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.7 for HamsterBrow against 3.7 for Shield Browser & Search Engine. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HamsterBrow has 43 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 35% of HamsterBrow's written reviews are positive against 90% of Shield Browser & Search Engine's.

HamsterBrow ships an update every 6 weeks, Shield Browser & Search Engine every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HamsterBrow | Shield Browser & Search Engine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.7 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hamsterbrow/id1336968941/reviews)** | [3.7 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shield-browser-and-search-engine/id6753663434/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **43** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 35.0% of reviews | **90.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 59 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.3** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Christopher Tan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1336967890) | [Zac Jama](https://appshunter.io/developer/1832115117) |

## 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 |


### Shield Browser & Search Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shield-browser-and-search-engine/id6753663434)

This independent web browser offers robust privacy protection and a fast browsing experience. It features an AI-powered ad blocker, persistent chat capabilities, and a unique dark mode that enhances readability and saves battery.

**Highlights:** AI Adblocker, Persistent AI Chats, Eye-safe Dark Mode (TZLDM), Multiple Search Engine Support, Lightweight and Fast Loading, Tab, History, Bookmark Management

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HamsterBrow free?

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

### Is Shield Browser & Search Engine free?

Shield Browser & Search Engine is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, HamsterBrow or Shield Browser & Search Engine?

HamsterBrow is rated higher. HamsterBrow averages 3.7 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Shield Browser & Search Engine averages 3.7 from 6 ratings.

### Do HamsterBrow or Shield Browser & Search Engine have ads?

Neither HamsterBrow nor Shield Browser & Search Engine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HamsterBrow or Shield Browser & Search Engine?

HamsterBrow ships an update every 6 weeks, and Shield Browser & Search Engine every 3 days. Most recently, HamsterBrow was updated on October 16, 2026 and Shield Browser & Search Engine on October 5, 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.*