Gear vs Macaque
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Gear
A modern, privacy-focused web browser designed for enthusiasts. It offers powerful extension support, on-device AI features, and advanced tools for enhanced productivity and a personalized browsing experience.
- Powerful extension engine
- Unlimited AI features
- Adaptive dark mode
- Intelligent translator
- Built-in content filter
- Professional developer tools
- Immersive reader mode
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"A new browser with a nice design and advanced features that will appeal to enthusiasts." - LifeHacker Gear is a modern browser built with powerful web extensions, on-device intelligence, minimal design, and strong privacy protection to provide an exclusive browsing experience and empower productivity. # Powerful Extension Engine The first web browser to support both Web Extension and UserScript, designed for high performance and seamlessly integrated with the browser, providing unlimited possibilities. # Unlimited AI Features Powered by an on-device large language model, the AI features enhance the browsing experience with groundbreaking privacy protection. # Adaptive Dark Mode An advanced intelligent algorithm delivers a refined dark mode with improved visual comfort and better power efficiency. # Intelligent Translator Translate web pages with an intelligent engine optimized for accuracy and natural fluency. # Built-in Content Filter 250,000+ deeply optimized rules to block ads and trackers for faster loading speed and privacy protection. # Professional Developer Tools Inspect elements, view resources, analyze performance, and debug with a complete set of on-device developer tools. # Immersive Reader Mode Listen, translate, or summarize content with a clean, immersive reading experience. # Flexible Gear Player A modern media player with Picture-in-Picture, subtitles, and AirPlay support. # Designed for the latest iOS Features Supports the latest iOS features, including default browser, Widgets, Handoff, Spotlight search, and more. -------- If you have any recommendations for Gear, please contact us at contact@gear4.app. # Official website https://gear4.app # Social Media X.com: @GearBrowser Facebook: facebook.com/GearBrowser Reddit: reddit.com/r/GearBrowser/ # Privacy Policy https://gear4.app/privacy # Terms of Service https://gear4.app/tos
Macaque
Manage UserScripts directly within your browser. Add, edit, and remotely modify scripts, and view console logs for each. Supports a comprehensive list of GM API functions for advanced customization.
- Add and edit UserScripts
- Remotely edit UserScripts
- View console logs
- Supports GM API functions
- Browser extension
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Macaque is a UserScript Manager Browser Extension. Macaque provides you the ability to add, edit, remotely edit, as well as view the console logs for each UserScript! The following GM API's are supported: - GM.addStyle - GM.addValueChangeListener - GM.deleteValue - GM.download - GM.getResourceText - GM.getResourceURL - GM.getValue - GM.info - GM.listValues - GM.log - GM.notification - GM.openInTab - GM.registerMenuCommand - GM.removeValueChangeListener - GM.setClipboard - GM.setValue - GM.unregisterMenuCommand - GM.xmlhttpRequest - GM_deleteValue - GM_getResourceText - GM_getResourceURL - GM_getValue - GM_info - GM_listValues - GM_log - GM_setValue
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Gear at Free against Macaque's $1.99. Gear also leads on ratings volume (250 vs 15) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Macaque's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Gear is free to download; Macaque costs $1.99 up front. Gear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Macaque asks for nothing beyond the download.
Macaque holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Gear has 250 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Gear's written reviews are positive against 66% of Macaque's.
Gear ships an update every 5 days, Macaque every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | Gear | Macaque |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.0 (250 ratings) | 4.6 (15 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | 65.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 250 — better | 15 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 55 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Binary Gear LLC | Evan Reichard |
Customer experience
Gear
Macaque
Bugs and requests
Gear
Reported bugs
4 issues- Extensions not working
- Inability to open certain websites
- Inconsistent dark mode behavior
- Difficulty managing bookmarks and history
Requested features
5 requests- Add support for more extensions and userscripts
- Improve tab management and browsing experience
- Provide more customization options
- Optimize performance and stability
- Offer a one-time purchase option instead of subscription
Macaque
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Gear
- Monthly Pro Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
- Semi-annually Pro Subscription7 Days trial$14.996 Months
- Yearly Subscription1 Year trial$19.991 Year
Macaque
No in-app purchases
