# Gear vs Macaque

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gear | Macaque |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | [4.0 (250 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gear-ai-web-extension-browser/id1458962238/reviews) | **[4.6 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macaque/id1595306197/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **250** | 15 |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **65.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 55 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Binary Gear LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/959824264) | [Evan Reichard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1595306199) |

## What reviewers say

### Gear

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gear-ai-web-extension-browser/id1458962238)

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.

**Highlights:** Powerful extension engine, Unlimited AI features, Adaptive dark mode, Intelligent translator, Built-in content filter, Professional developer tools, Immersive reader mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Safari Extension, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Pro Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Semi-annually Pro Subscription | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful features
- 🔒 Secure browsing
- 👍 Minimalist design
- 👍 Customizable dark mode
- 🚀 Efficient performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Compatibility issues with extensions
- 🔒 Paid subscription for core features
- 🐛 Crashes and stability problems
- 🐛 Slow page loading
- 🐛 Confusing user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Extensions not working
- Inability to open certain websites
- Inconsistent dark mode behavior
- Difficulty managing bookmarks and history

**Requested features**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macaque/id1595306197)

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.

**Highlights:** Add and edit UserScripts, Remotely edit UserScripts, View console logs, Supports GM API functions, Browser extension

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Gear free?

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

### Is Macaque free?

Macaque costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Gear or Macaque?

Macaque is rated higher. Gear averages 4.0 out of 5 from 250 ratings, while Macaque averages 4.6 from 15 ratings.

### Do Gear or Macaque have ads?

Neither Gear nor Macaque shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gear or Macaque?

Gear ships an update every 5 days, and Macaque every 2 weeks. Most recently, Gear was updated on October 24, 2026 and Macaque on October 24, 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.*