# VanillaSurf vs iPrivateBrowser

The clearest difference is rating: VanillaSurf at 5.0 against iPrivateBrowser's 3.9. VanillaSurf also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 31%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). iPrivateBrowser's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VanillaSurf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and iPrivateBrowser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

VanillaSurf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of VanillaSurf's written reviews are positive against 31% of iPrivateBrowser's.

VanillaSurf ships an update every 3 weeks, iPrivateBrowser every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VanillaSurf | iPrivateBrowser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vanillasurf/id302678135/reviews)** | [3.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iprivatebrowser/id314281847/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **14** |
| Positive reviews | **52.5% of reviews** | 31.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MetaCert Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/302678138) | [Shmoopi LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/314281850) |

## What reviewers say

### VanillaSurf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vanillasurf/id302678135)

This app offers a full-screen browsing experience with robust download management for MP3s and other files. It allows for offline tab support, bookmark import/export, and multiple search engine options.

**Highlights:** Full-screen browsing, MP3 download manager, Offline tab support, Bookmark import/export, Multiple search engines, Private browsing, Ad-blocker

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VanillaSurf Premium Upgrade | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 👍 Intuitive interface
- 🔒 Private browsing mode
- 💡 Useful full-screen mode
- 💡 Tabbed browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🚫 Intrusive ads
- 🚫 Limited functionality in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Pages not loading correctly
- Tabs not behaving as expected
- Settings reset after updates
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Bookmark management and organization
- Password manager integration
- Ability to download files
- Landscape mode keyboard support
- Sync with cloud services


### iPrivateBrowser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iprivatebrowser/id314281847)

A private and secure mobile browser offering TOR integration, ad-blocking, and customizable settings for enhanced online privacy. Enjoy a faster, more secure browsing experience with features like unlimited tabs and passcode protection.

**Highlights:** TOR Integration, Ad-Blocking, Passcode Protection, Unlimited Tabs, SSL Encryption, User-Agent Switching

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| pro version | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VanillaSurf free?

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

### Is iPrivateBrowser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VanillaSurf or iPrivateBrowser?

VanillaSurf is rated higher. VanillaSurf averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while iPrivateBrowser averages 3.9 from 14 ratings.

### Do VanillaSurf or iPrivateBrowser have ads?

Neither VanillaSurf nor iPrivateBrowser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VanillaSurf or iPrivateBrowser?

VanillaSurf ships an update every 3 weeks, and iPrivateBrowser every 2 months. Most recently, VanillaSurf was updated on October 10, 2026 and iPrivateBrowser on October 15, 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.*