# Dark Browser vs Via Browser

Dark Browser and Via Browser both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Via Browser's written reviews are positive against 31% of Dark Browser's. Via Browser also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). Dark Browser's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 161). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dark Browser sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Via Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Dark Browser against 4.4 for Via Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dark Browser has 1.2K ratings behind it against 161, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Dark Browser's written reviews are positive against 84% of Via Browser's.

Dark Browser ships an update every 5 days, Via Browser every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dark Browser | Via Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-browser-private-and-secure/id1476630579/reviews) | [4.4 (161 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/via-browser/id1639085829/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.2K** | 161 |
| Positive reviews | 31.5% of reviews | **83.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 96 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Siyong Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/6777462143) | [亚锋 涂](https://appshunter.io/developer/1639060061) |

## What reviewers say

### Dark Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-browser-private-and-secure/id1476630579)

This app provides a comfortable browsing experience by automatically switching web pages to dark mode. It also offers ad and virus blocking for a safer online environment. Users can easily manage their browsing with features like bookmarks, history, and downloads.

**Highlights:** Automatic dark mode for web pages, Manual dark/light mode switching, Ad and virus interception, Fast search functionality, Customizable homepage, Bookmarks and history management, Download manager

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Advanced features for a month | $4.99 | per month |
| Continuous weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Advanced features for a month | $9.99 | per month |
| Advanced features for 3 months | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Annual premium features | $36.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌙 Excellent dark mode support
- 🚀 Fast and responsive browser
- 👍 Helpful for night browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 💸 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Poor privacy and security
- 🔧 Compatibility issues with older devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Inverted colors on dark websites
- Inability to access .onion sites

**Requested features**

- Add support for captcha and login features
- Improve image handling and color inversion
- Introduce customization options for dark mode


### 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 Dark Browser free?

Dark Browser 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, Dark Browser or Via Browser?

Dark Browser and Via Browser are both rated 4.4 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1.2K and 161 ratings respectively.

### Do Dark Browser or Via Browser have ads?

Dark Browser shows ads; Via Browser does not.

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

Dark Browser ships an update every 5 days, and Via Browser every 3 months. Most recently, Dark Browser was updated on October 19, 2026 and Via Browser on October 17, 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.*