# VanillaSurf vs Secure Web Browser

The clearest difference is rating: VanillaSurf at 5.0 against Secure Web Browser's 3.5. Secure Web Browser's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VanillaSurf sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Secure Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

VanillaSurf holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of VanillaSurf's written reviews are positive against 50% of Secure Web Browser's.

VanillaSurf ships an update every 3 weeks, Secure Web Browser monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VanillaSurf | Secure Web Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vanillasurf/id302678135/reviews)** | [3.5 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-web-browser-free/id378753735/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | **52.5% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 | **6.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [MetaCert Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/302678138) | [SinSoft, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/371935085) |

## 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


### Secure Web Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secure-web-browser-free/id378753735)

Browse the internet privately and securely on your Apple devices. This app prevents websites from tracking your activity by deleting browsing history, cookies, and cache upon exit. Enjoy peace of mind when visiting sensitive sites or sharing your device.

**Highlights:** Private browsing, No history tracking, No cookie storage, Deletes cache on exit, Full-screen video playback, Pinch and zoom functionality

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VanillaSurf free?

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

### Is Secure Web Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VanillaSurf or Secure Web Browser?

VanillaSurf is rated higher. VanillaSurf averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Secure Web Browser averages 3.5 from 8 ratings.

### Do VanillaSurf or Secure Web Browser have ads?

Neither VanillaSurf nor Secure Web Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VanillaSurf or Secure Web Browser?

VanillaSurf ships an update every 3 weeks, and Secure Web Browser monthly. Most recently, VanillaSurf was updated on October 10, 2026 and Secure Web Browser on September 21, 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.*