# Proxyman vs Desktop Browser

The clearest difference is update cadence: Proxyman at every 8 days against Desktop Browser's every 5 weeks. Proxyman also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (81% vs 64%). Desktop Browser's advantage is ratings volume (3.3K vs 799) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Proxyman sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Desktop Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Proxyman holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 799 and 3.3K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Proxyman's written reviews are positive against 64% of Desktop Browser's.

Proxyman ships an update every 8 days, Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Proxyman | Desktop Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (799 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proxyman-capture-https/id1551292695/reviews)** | [4.5 (3.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 799 | **3.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **80.9% of reviews** | 64.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#8** | #21 |
| Size | 71 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Proxyman LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677092874) | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) |

## What reviewers say

### Proxyman

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proxyman-capture-https/id1551292695)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Grossing · Developer Tools, #60 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app acts as a web debugging proxy, allowing you to capture and inspect HTTP/HTTPS traffic directly from your iPhone or iPad. It decrypts requests and responses, offers advanced debugging tools, and ensures your sensitive data remains on your device.

**Highlights:** Capture & Inspect HTTP/HTTPS from iOS devices, Decrypt and view requests/responses, JSON syntax highlighting, Quick filtering by URL, header, body, Advanced debugging tools (SSL Proxying, Block List), Secure with FaceID/TouchID/Passcode

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| PROJECT PASS Quarterly Subscription | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Proxyman Lifetime with Black Friday | $69.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Powerful networking tools
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 💡 Helpful for debugging and development
- 🤖 Great for reverse engineering APIs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive premium version
- 🔋 High data usage reported by some users
- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🤖 Confusing user experience for free version

**Reported bugs**

- Breakpoint functionality not working properly
- Losing session state when relaunching the app
- Incompatibility issues with certain apps and websites
- Crashes when trying to view large response bodies

**Requested features**

- Add support for Simplified Chinese
- Implement scripting capabilities like the desktop version
- Improve handling of WebSocket and MQTT traffic
- Allow grouping of related requests
- Add an option to change DNS settings within the app


### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser-zoomable/id1568442831)

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Free · Developer Tools, #105 Top Grossing · Developer Tools (US App Store)

Experience a full desktop web on your mobile device. This browser simulates a large, resizable screen to display desktop versions of websites, avoiding mobile-optimized layouts. Enjoy features like zoom control, full-screen mode, and privacy-focused data collection.

**Highlights:** Desktop website rendering, Zoomable screen (1x-3x), Full screen mode, Portrait/landscape transitions, Favorites management, UI customization, Multiple tabs (Pro), Theme customization (Pro)

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2 Extra Tabs | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 Intuitive user interface
- 🔍 Effective desktop mode
- 💡 Useful zoom feature
- 🔒 Secure browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and reloads
- 🔍 Inconsistent desktop mode performance
- 📱 Incompatible with some mobile apps
- 💸 Paid version required for full functionality
- 🔌 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Issues connecting to local IP addresses
- Inability to use Google account login
- Blank pages when resizing or zooming
- Redirects to search engine instead of desired site

**Requested features**

- Add ad-blocking capabilities
- Implement local network access
- Allow setting as default browser
- Introduce a virtual trackpad mode
- Improve bookmark management


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Proxyman free?

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

### Is Desktop Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Proxyman or Desktop Browser?

Proxyman is rated higher. Proxyman averages 4.8 out of 5 from 799 ratings, while Desktop Browser averages 4.5 from 3.3K ratings.

### Do Proxyman or Desktop Browser have ads?

Neither Proxyman nor Desktop Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Proxyman or Desktop Browser?

Proxyman ships an update every 8 days, and Desktop Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, Proxyman was updated on September 24, 2026 and Desktop Browser on September 22, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Proxyman or Desktop Browser?

Proxyman currently peaks at #8 in the App Store charts, and Desktop Browser at #21. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*