# Private Browser vs Wave Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Wave Browser at none against Private Browser's 2. Private Browser's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (232 vs 34). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Browser sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Wave Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Private Browser against 4.5 for Wave Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Browser has 232 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 68% of Private Browser's written reviews are positive against 71% of Wave Browser's.

Private Browser ships an update weekly, Wave Browser every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browser | Wave Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (232 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-brovacy/id1630781823/reviews)** | [4.5 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-browser-clean-the-ocean/id6478534832/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **232** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | 68.2% of reviews | **71.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 16 MB | 133 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Actowise LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1563247119) | [Eightpoint Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1451581185) |

## 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


### Wave Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wave-browser-clean-the-ocean/id6478534832)

Browse the web while contributing to ocean cleanup efforts. This secure and user-friendly browser funds verified ocean cleanup initiatives with every session, helping to remove plastic and trash from waterways.

**Highlights:** Funds ocean cleanup with every session, Secure and private browsing, Built-in ad blocker, Simple and intuitive interface, Track collective ocean cleanup impact, Eco-friendly browsing experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browser free?

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

### Is Wave Browser free?

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

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

Private Browser is rated higher. Private Browser averages 4.6 out of 5 from 232 ratings, while Wave Browser averages 4.5 from 34 ratings.

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

Neither Private Browser nor Wave Browser shows ads.

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

Private Browser ships an update weekly, and Wave Browser every 3 months. Most recently, Private Browser was updated on October 30, 2026 and Wave Browser on October 24, 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.*