Comparison

Beacon Web Browser vs Lion Browser

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Beacon Web Browser

A privacy-focused web browser that replaces traditional certificate authorities with decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems. It offers on-device DNSSEC validation and supports encrypted DNS with Handshake naming.

Highlights
  • Decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems
  • On-device DNSSEC validation
  • Encrypted DNS with Handshake naming
  • Access to Ethereum names
  • Open source development
Features
Read full description

Beacon is a privacy and security-focused browser with the goal of replacing traditional certificate authorities with decentralized peer-to-peer naming systems, DNSSEC, and DNS-Based Authentication of Named Entities (DANE)! 1. We use a lightweight peer-to-peer client that connects to the Handshake network[1] and syncs block headers in a few seconds! 2. On-device DNSSEC validation, you don't need to trust external resolvers. Beacon doesn't use a centralized DNSSEC signing key either. Instead, it requests and verifies proofs from the Handshake network. 3. Enable your device to use encrypted DNS with Handshake naming support. Handshake links to other naming systems such as Ethereum using HIP-5. Beacon supports accessing those names too! Try opening humbly.eth or impervious.forever. 4. Look for "Secured by Handshake" to identify websites secured by decentralized DNS-Based Authentication. 5. Beacon is open source! Submit feedback, contribute and report bugs or issues: https://github.com/imperviousinc/beacon-ios [1] https://handshake.org

About

Lion Browser

This web browser offers built-in parental controls to help teens explore the internet safely. Adults can also use it for personal accountability, setting limits and receiving reports on flagged content. It provides a familiar browsing experience while ensuring responsible online activity.

Highlights
  • Blocks explicit websites
  • Detects inappropriate images
  • Customizable detection sensitivity
  • Whitelist mode
  • PIN-protected settings
  • Weekly accountability reports
  • Personal browsing limits
Features
Read full description

The best browser for teens. A powerful accountability tool for adults. Lion is a web browser with parental controls built in. Give your teen the freedom to explore the internet responsibly — while staying informed about what they're seeing. For parents & teens: • Blocks explicit websites and detects inappropriate images automatically • Customize detection sensitivity, block specific sites, and manage media access • Whitelist mode for complete control over which websites can be visited • PIN-protected settings prevent unauthorized changes • Weekly accountability reports summarize any flagged content For adults who want accountability: • Set personal browsing limits and stay accountable to a trusted partner • Private and secure — your logs stay on your device, never stored on servers • Customize what to track, block, or filter based on your needs How it works: 1. Set Lion as the default browser 2. Disable Safari using Screen Time 3. Add an accountability partner — a parent, mentor, or trusted friend 4. Browse the web — Lion logs activity based on your settings 5. Receive weekly reports on flagged content A browser you'll actually want to use Lion is fast, smooth, and familiar. Bookmarks sync across devices. Tabs work like you'd expect. It's a real browser — not a locked-down kids app. Subscription required for full access. Choose an Individual or Family plan. Privacy Policy: https://www.lionfamily.org/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.lionfamily.org/terms

Screenshots

Beacon Web Browser4 screens
Lion Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beacon Web Browser at none against Lion Browser's 6. Beacon Web Browser also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 87%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). Lion Browser's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and ratings volume (110 vs 14). On price, rating, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lion Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Beacon Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Beacon Web Browser against 4.7 for Lion Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lion Browser has 110 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Beacon Web Browser's written reviews are positive against 87% of Lion Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Beacon Web Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, Lion Browser every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Beacon Web Browser versus Lion Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBeacon Web BrowserLion Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14 ratings)4.7 (110 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better87.1% of reviews
Number of ratings14110 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.6
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB66 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperImpervious IncLion Software, LLC

Customer experience

Beacon Web Browser

All ratings14 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lion Browser

All ratings110 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.6%
Written reviews31 reviews
Positive87.1%
Neutral6.5%
Negative6.5%

In-app purchases

None

Beacon Web Browser

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Lion Browser

Subscriptions6
  • Individual Plan$4.991 Month
  • Family Plan$8.991 Month
  • Premium Family Plan7 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Individual Plan (Annual)$49.991 Year
  • Family Plan (Annual)$79.991 Year
  • Premium Family Plan (Annual)14 Days trial$99.991 Year

Questions

Is Beacon Web Browser free?
Beacon Web Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lion Browser free?
Lion Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Beacon Web Browser or Lion Browser?
Lion Browser is rated higher. Beacon Web Browser averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Lion Browser averages 4.7 from 110 ratings.
Do Beacon Web Browser or Lion Browser have ads?
Neither Beacon Web Browser nor Lion Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Beacon Web Browser or Lion Browser?
Beacon Web Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lion Browser every 5 days. Most recently, Beacon Web Browser was updated on September 30, 2026 and Lion Browser on October 14, 2026.

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