Comparison

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser vs Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

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

Head to head
About

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser

A powerful, private web browser designed for customization and control. It offers desktop-style tab management, built-in ad and tracker blockers, and sync capabilities across devices. Personalize your browsing experience with themes, wallpapers, and dark mode.

Highlights
  • Ad Blocker
  • Tracker Blocker
  • Desktop-like tabs
  • Encrypted Sync
  • Customizable Themes & Wallpapers
  • Dark Mode for Webpages
  • Notes & Bookmarks
Features
Read full description

Vivaldi Browser is a powerful, personal, and private web browser. It comes packed with built-in features including desktop-style tabs, an Ad Blocker, tracking protection. Designed to put you back in control. Trusted by millions of users across the world. FEATURES: - Ad Blocker: Browse with minimal distractions. - Tracker Blocker: Stay protected with leading privacy and security features. - Custom Wallpapers & Themes: Pick a theme and background that matches your style. - Dark Mode for all webpages: Force Dark Mode to every website you visit. - Desktop-like tabs: Efficiently manage multiple websites at once. - Encrypted Sync: Seamlessly sync data across your mobile and desktop devices. - Notes: Jot down thoughts and ideas while browsing. - Bookmarks: Organize your favorite sites effortlessly. - Reading Lists: Save articles for offline reading. - Custom App Icon: Personalize Vivaldi's appearance on your home screen. - Switch Search Engines: Choose your preferred search engine on the fly. POWERFUL Packed with flexible features, all built in. PERSONAL You make it your own, Vivaldi adapts to you. PRIVATE We don't track you, or your behavior. DESKTOP-LIKE TABS Bring the robust tab management from your desktop to your iOS device. Vivaldi on iOS features a unique Tab Bar akin to the desktop browser. To activate or deactivate the Tab Bar, head to Vivaldi menu > Settings, and tap on "Show Tab Bar" to toggle the setting. SYNC ACROSS DEVICES Never feel out of touch. Sync your data across devices with end-to-end encryption. From open tabs and saved logins to bookmarks and notes, everything is seamlessly available wherever you go. Add an extra layer of security with an encryption password. SET AS DEFAULT BROWSER Ready to make the switch? Set Vivaldi as your default browser and experience the web like never before. Here's how: Go to Settings, scroll down to Vivaldi, and select it as your Default Browser App. It's that simple! ABOUT VIVALDI With millions active users and a vibrant community of over 1.4 million members worldwide, Vivaldi is redefining what a web browser can be. At Vivaldi, we believe a browser should be powerful, personal, and private. With our unique philosophy of "respect, question, create, and deliver," we're crafting a browsing experience that adapts to you, not the other way around. Some of the links in this app are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the development of Vivaldi and keeps the web browser independent. Thank you for your support! By downloading Vivaldi, you are agreeing to the End User License Agreement at https://vivaldi.com/privacy/vivaldi-end-user-license-agreement/. Learn more about how Vivaldi handles and protects your data in our Privacy Policy at https://vivaldi.com/privacy/browser/.

About

Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

Enhance your browsing experience by blocking intrusive ads, trackers, and pop-ups across all websites. This tool significantly speeds up page load times and provides insights into online tracking activities, offering a cleaner and more private internet.

Highlights
  • Block ads and pop-ups
  • Stop trackers from collecting data
  • Remove cookie consent pop-ups
  • Speed up page load times
  • Get detailed tracker insights
  • Preview tracker info on search results
  • Customize with whitelists
Features
Read full description

Block ads, trackers, and popups on Safari. Browse 2.5X faster with Ghostery, the powerful ad blocker for iPhone, iPad, and Mac with over 100 million downloads worldwide. FEATURES: * Block ads and pop-ups across all websites, including YouTube and Facebook * Stop trackers from collecting your personal data * Automatically remove annoying cookie consent pop-ups * Speed up page load times * Get detailed insights on trackers for any website you visit * Preview tracker information on search engine results before visiting a page * Customize your browsing with whitelists for trusted sites and trackers * Enjoy a cleaner, faster, and more private web experience ABOUT GHOSTERY: Ghostery is more than just an ad blocker. Our advanced privacy protection suite is powered by the world's largest tracker database, WhoTracks.Me ensuring you stay ahead of evolving online threats. As an open-source app supported by a global community, Ghostery is committed to making the internet a safer, more private place for everyone. WHY CHOOSE GHOSTERY? * Easy to use: Install and start protecting your privacy in seconds * Customizable: Fine-tune your protection levels to suit your needs * Transparent: See exactly what trackers are blocked on each site * Constantly updated: Our tracker database is upgraded daily * Free and open-source: No hidden costs and fully transparent Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.ghostery.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser4 screens
Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser at none against Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy's 11. Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (4.5K vs 208). Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs fortnightly). On price, review sentiment, ads and monetization model 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. Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser has 4.5K ratings behind it against 208, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser's written reviews are positive against 76% of Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser ships an update fortnightly, Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser versus Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVivaldi Powerful Web BrowserGhostery AdBlocker for Privacy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.5K ratings) — better4.3 (208 ratings)
Positive reviews77.4% of reviews — better76.2% of reviews
Number of ratings4.5K — better208
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.0 — better18.7
Further details — not scored
Size241 MB45 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperVivaldi TechnologiesGhostery GmbH

Customer experience

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser

All ratings4,386 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.4%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews1,168 reviews
Positive77.4%
Neutral7.4%
Negative15.2%

Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

All ratings208 ratings
Positive80.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews390 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral5.9%
Negative17.9%

User reviews

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser

From 4.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Highly customizable
  • 🔒 Strong privacy and security features
  • 🚀 Fast and responsive
  • 💡 Innovative features like tab stacking
  • 👍 Seamless cross-device sync

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
  • 🔋 Battery drain concerns
  • 🔒 Lack of support for third-party password managers
  • 👎 Missing some basic mobile browser features (e.g., reader mode, bottom address bar)

Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

From 208 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to understand settings
  • 🚀 Websites run much better
  • 🔒 Blocks ads, trackers, and pop-ups
  • 👍 Customizable blocking options
  • 🚀 Lightweight and fast

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance on different platforms
  • 🐛 Fails to block some ads, especially on YouTube
  • 🐛 Occasionally stops working or requires reinstallation

Bugs and requests

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Issues with ad blocker not working consistently
  • Problems with tab syncing between devices
  • Text input lag and delays
  • Forced review prompts

Requested features

6 requests
  • Option to move address bar and navigation buttons to the bottom of the screen
  • Ability to set custom search engines
  • Implement a reader mode
  • Add support for browser extensions
  • Improve tab closing/management gestures
Show 1 more
  • Provide more customization options

Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • New version not supported on macOS Safari
  • Uninstall icon causes issues on other devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Allow one-time donations instead of subscriptions
  • Expand DNS-level blocking to other devices
  • Improve integration with Safari and other browsers

In-app purchases

None

Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser

No in-app purchases

11 purchases

Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy

Subscriptions8
  • Small monthly contribution$1.991 Month
  • Medium monthly contribution$4.991 Month
  • Monthly donation$4.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Large monthly contribution$11.991 Month
  • Small yearly contribution$23.901 Year
  • Yearly donation$47.991 Year
  • Medium yearly contribution$59.901 Year
  • Large yearly contribution$143.991 Year
One-time3
  • Small one-time contributio$5.00
  • Medium one-time contribution$10.00
  • Large one-time contribution$20.00

Questions

Is Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser free?
Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy free?
Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser or Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy?
Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser is rated higher. Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4.5K ratings, while Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy averages 4.3 from 208 ratings.
Do Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser or Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy have ads?
Neither Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser nor Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser or Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy?
Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser ships an update fortnightly, and Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy every 6 days. Most recently, Vivaldi Powerful Web Browser was updated on October 28, 2026 and Ghostery AdBlocker for Privacy on October 26, 2026.

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