# Private Browser vs Onion Browser

Private Browser and Onion Browser both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 85% of Onion Browser's written reviews are positive against 68% of Private Browser's. Private Browser's advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Browser sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Onion Browser sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Private Browser against 4.6 for Onion Browser. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 227 and 206 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Private Browser's written reviews are positive against 85% of Onion Browser's.

Private Browser ships an update weekly, Onion Browser every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browser | Onion Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (227 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-brovacy/id1630781823/reviews) | **[4.6 (206 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser-deep-web-proxy/id6478085370/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **227** | 206 |
| Positive reviews | 68.2% of reviews | **84.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 89 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) | [Secure cypher Solutions](https://appshunter.io/developer/1731713292) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-brovacy/id1630781823)

This privacy-focused browser offers a minimalist, full-screen experience. It automatically clears browsing data upon exit and includes features like app locking and a "Burn Everything" option for complete privacy.

**Highlights:** Full screen browsing, Automatic private browsing data clearing, History-less and tracking-less browsing, Application lock, "Burn Everything" reset option, Easy zoom adjustment, Quick tab access

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Lifetime | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pro Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Good privacy protection
- 👍 Easy to use
- ✨ Brilliant app
- 👍 Works as intended

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Charged for $0 promo
- 🐛 No refund eligibility
- 🐛 App asks for review too soon
- 🐛 Tabs reset on closing
- 🐛 No support reply

**Reported bugs**

- Charged $10 for $0 promo
- Tabs reset when app is closed
- Randomly switches search engine (Google to Bing)
- Ads appear at start-up after free promotion

**Requested features**

- Force dark mode on pages
- Add Chinese language support
- Keep browsing history private and secured
- Add more to keep prying eyes away from history
- Ability to return to previous browsing session


### Onion Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser-deep-web-proxy/id6478085370)

Browse the web privately and securely with advanced features like ad blocking and VPN integration. Access the Darknet and deep web with confidence, while also monitoring your phone's performance and system health.

**Highlights:** Private browsing, VPN integration, Ad and tracker blocking, Darknet and deep web access, Phone performance analytics, Encryption and security

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Onion Browser Weekly Premium | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Onion Browser Yearly Premium | $34.99 | per year |
| Lifetime premium subscription | $14.99 | one-time |
| Onion Browser Pro for Lifetime | $17.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast browsing speed
- 🔒 Good for privacy
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Detailed analytics provided
- ✨ Convenience makes a difference

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐌 Slow loading times
- 🐛 Does not load pages
- 🐛 Repeatedly fails human verification
- 💰 Subscription required
- 🐌 Browser is laggy

**Reported bugs**

- Does not load any pages
- Human verification fails repeatedly
- Unable to connect after payment
- Cannot access onion/deep web

**Requested features**

- Improve loading speed
- Fix human verification issues
- Clarify free vs. paid model
- Enable access to onion/deep web


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browser free?

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

### Is Onion Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Private Browser or Onion Browser?

Onion Browser is rated higher. Private Browser averages 4.5 out of 5 from 227 ratings, while Onion Browser averages 4.6 from 206 ratings.

### Do Private Browser or Onion Browser have ads?

Neither Private Browser nor Onion Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Browser or Onion Browser?

Private Browser ships an update weekly, and Onion Browser every 10 days. Most recently, Private Browser was updated on October 7, 2026 and Onion Browser on October 15, 2026.

---

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