# Swisscows Email vs Startpage

The clearest difference is rating: Startpage at 4.8 against Swisscows Email's 3.0. Startpage also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ratings volume (7.4K vs 4). Swisscows Email's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swisscows Email sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Startpage asks for nothing beyond the download.

Startpage holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Startpage has 7.4K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Swisscows Email's written reviews are positive against 71% of Startpage's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Swisscows Email ships an update every 3 weeks, Startpage monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swisscows Email | Startpage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swisscows-email/id1608937971/reviews) | **[4.8 (7.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **7.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 70.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 49 MB | 240 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Swisscows AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/1013972705) | [Startpage BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/632832985) |

## What reviewers say

### Swisscows Email

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swisscows-email/id1608937971)

This secure email service prioritizes user privacy with end-to-end encryption and a commitment to not storing any data. It offers password-protected emails and is based in Switzerland under strict data protection laws.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Password-protected emails, No data storage policy, Swiss-based servers, Private and business use

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Swisscows.email Basic Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Swisscows.email Standard Month | $11.99 | per month |
| Swisscows.email Premium Month | $19.99 | per month |
| Swisscows.email Basic Year | $49.99 | per year |
| Swisscows.email Standard Year | $99.99 | per year |
| Swisscows.email Premium | $179.99 | per year |


### Startpage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430)

Browse the web and search privately with a built-in search engine that protects your data. It clears your history and tabs with one tap, masks your location and IP address, and provides unprofiled search results. Enjoy a secure and private online experience.

**Highlights:** Private search engine, Clear tabs and history, Anonymous website visits, Private tabs and maps, Unprofiled search results, Avoid targeted ads

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast and responsive
- 🔒 Robust privacy and security features
- 👍 Clean and user-friendly interface
- 🔍 Accurate and relevant search results
- 🕊️ Preserves user privacy and anonymity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited search customization options
- 🔌 Lack of built-in ad blocker
- 🔍 Inconsistent search engine behavior across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Pages not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior when searching from iOS home screen
- Anonymous view failing to load images/thumbnails

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to export bookmarks and reading lists
- One-tap history/data clearing
- Option to set default private browsing mode
- StartMail app integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swisscows Email free?

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

### Is Startpage free?

Startpage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Swisscows Email or Startpage?

Startpage is rated higher. Swisscows Email averages 3.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Startpage averages 4.8 from 7.4K ratings.

### Do Swisscows Email or Startpage have ads?

Neither Swisscows Email nor Startpage shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swisscows Email or Startpage?

Swisscows Email ships an update every 3 weeks, and Startpage monthly. Most recently, Swisscows Email was updated on October 24, 2026 and Startpage on November 1, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*