# Gear vs Via Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Via Browser at none against Gear's 3. Via Browser also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 56%) and rating (4.4 vs 4.0). Gear's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Gear sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Via Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Via Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 252 and 162 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Gear's written reviews are positive against 84% of Via Browser's.

Gear ships an update every 5 days, Via Browser every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Gear | Via Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (252 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gear-ai-web-extension-browser/id1458962238/reviews) | **[4.4 (162 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-browser/id1639085829/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **252** | 162 |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **83.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 55 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.5 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Binary Gear LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/959824264) | [亚锋 涂](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639060061) |

## 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


### 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 Gear free?

Gear 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, Gear or Via Browser?

Via Browser is rated higher. Gear averages 4.0 out of 5 from 252 ratings, while Via Browser averages 4.4 from 162 ratings.

### Do Gear or Via Browser have ads?

Neither Gear nor Via Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Gear or Via Browser?

Gear ships an update every 5 days, and Via Browser every 3 months. Most recently, Gear was updated on October 29, 2026 and Via Browser on October 27, 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.*