Comparison

iCab Mobile (Web Browser) vs Private Browser

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

Head to head
About

iCab Mobile (Web Browser)

A highly customizable web browser for iOS that prioritizes privacy and user control. It offers advanced features like tab management, content filtering, and profile creation for personalized browsing. Users can tailor the interface, manage downloads, and even inject custom code into websites.

Highlights
  • Customizable user interface
  • Advanced privacy controls
  • Multiple user profiles
  • Tab and window management
  • Content filtering (ad/tracker blocking)
  • Download manager with ZIP support
  • Website element customization
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

iCab Mobile is a web browser for iOS. iCab Mobile is customizable in almost all areas and can thus be made into your very own personal browser. PRIVACY: In private mode, no private data is saved permanently. Special private tabs increase privacy even further, with only a small loss of comfort. PROFILES/USER ACCOUNTS: Any number of profiles/user accounts can be created, with each profile having its own settings, bookmarks, etc. Profiles are suitable for an iPad that is used by the whole family, but also for users who want to separate professional and private surfing. TABS, WINDOWS: iCab Mobile can open any number of websites simultaneously in tabs. Tabs can be saved and organized in groups so that they can easily be loaded together again later. Tabs can be protected against accidental closing or overwriting. On the iPad, multiple app instances can be opened as windows (Stage Manager, Split View), even with multiple profiles simultaneously (since iOS 18). FILTERS: Filters can be used to block advertising, trackers, etc. Popular filter lists can be used directly (Easylist, AdBlock Plus, uBlock & compatible), but you can also define your own. USER INTERFACE: The user interface is freely configurable. Action, context and text selection menus, toolbars and gestures can be adapted to your own needs. ACCESSIBLE: The user interface is barrier-free and adapts to the system font size and is compatible with VoiceOver. BOOKMARKS: Bookmarks can be organized in folders. “Smart folders” create special collections based on self-defined rules (e.g. the latest bookmarks from the last 2 weeks). Colored labels allow further categorization. DOWNLOADS: Download any files and manage the files in the download manager, including unpacking/creating ZIP archives, exporting/importing, etc. SEARCH: The app offers a large list of search engines (self-expandable) that you can use to search directly on the web. It is also possible to search on the current page. WEBSITES: You can define what websites can and cannot do. Highlight important content with a highlighter, hide unwanted elements, allow buttons to be clicked automatically (e.g. for cookie messages). Control permissions for camera, microphone and sensor usage. Pro users can even inject JavaScript and CSS code into websites to customize them to their liking. EXPORT/IMPORT: All data can be exported/imported (for creating backups, data synchronization with other devices/apps) WIDGETS: Widgets allow you to control the App and open bookmarks directly from the home screen. Websites can also be displayed directly there. APPLE WATCH: Open websites directly on the Apple Watch (albeit limited). Remotely control iCab Mobile on the iPhone from the Watch. FURTHER FEATURES: - Quick starter - Configurable browser ID (UserAgent) - Full support for international domain names - Simple built-in RSS reader - Kiosk mode - a more limited version of the full-screen mode for kiosk systems. The app includes a store where you can give us a tip via InApp purchase to additionally support the further development of the app. The development of the app takes a lot of time and is a lot of work, which the low purchase price cannot cover. Te sources of income used by the big popular browsers, such as advertising, deals with search engines, tracking etc. are not an option for iCab Mobile. Tipping is completely voluntary and you won't miss out on any important features if you don't tip. However, users who tip will be given the option to change the app icon as a thank you.

About

Private Browser

This app provides a secure, password-protected browsing experience. It automatically clears history, cookies, and cache upon exit, while allowing you to save private collections of visited pages.

Highlights
  • Password-protected private area
  • Saves private collections of pages
  • Deletes history, cookies, and cache on exit
  • Full screen mode
  • Fast exit to false viewing mode
  • Hides screen on notifications
Features
Read full description

PrivateBrowser is a personal secret browser with your personal collections of visited pages that are PASSWORD PROTECTED. Only you have access to your private area. When the app starts, it opens a false simple web browser with a standard page, e.g. wikipedia.org, for the next access to the private area of ​​the browser you need a password, set it and use it! You now have access to a private browser. Save your secret pages in a secret folder for future use. The browser deletes the history, all cookies, cache and data when you exit and close the app, leaving only the personal and confidential visited pages you saved in a special secret folder protected by a password! - Full screen mode! See every pixel of the Web page! - Fast exit from the Private mode and its replacement by the mode of false viewing of web pages! Using only one button! - Save and personalize your collections of visited pages! - Automatically hides the viewing screen when other device widgets or notifications appear! - Deletes history and Cookies when you exit the app! - PASSWORD PROTECTION!

Screenshots

iCab Mobile (Web Browser)4 screens
Private Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: iCab Mobile (Web Browser) at 66% against Private Browser's 0%. iCab Mobile (Web Browser) also leads on ratings volume (468 vs 15) and chart position (#194 vs unranked). Private Browser's advantage is rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 10). On ads, monetization model and device support 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

iCab Mobile (Web Browser) costs $3.99 and Private Browser $2.99 up front. iCab Mobile (Web Browser) sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Private Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Private Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iCab Mobile (Web Browser) has 468 ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of iCab Mobile (Web Browser)'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Private Browser's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
iCab Mobile (Web Browser) versus Private Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriCab Mobile (Web Browser)Private Browser
Price$3.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.0 (468 ratings)4.5 (15 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings468 — better15
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#194 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size44 MB2 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperAlexander ClaussQMonte Studio

Customer experience

iCab Mobile (Web Browser)

All ratings468 ratings
Positive71.6%
Neutral4.5%
Negative23.9%
Written reviews1,052 reviews
Positive66.0%
Neutral9.2%
Negative24.8%

Private Browser

All ratings15 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative6.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bugs and requests

iCab Mobile (Web Browser)

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Broken or unreliable video playback
  • Issues with bookmarks, history, and other data persistence
  • Problems with user agent spoofing and desktop site rendering

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved tab management and organization
  • Easier integration with cloud storage and other apps
  • Enhanced ad-blocking and content filtering capabilities
  • Streamlined user interface and onboarding experience
  • Syncing of settings and data across devices

Private Browser

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

iCab Mobile (Web Browser)

One-time10
  • Upgrade$0.99
  • Small additional Tip$0.99
  • Small Tip$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Upgrade plus Tip$1.99
  • Upgrade plus Generous Tip$2.99
  • Medium additional Tip$2.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
  • Large additional Tip$4.99
  • Large Tip$4.99
  • Upgrade plus Extra Generous Tip$5.99
None

Private Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is iCab Mobile (Web Browser) free?
iCab Mobile (Web Browser) costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Private Browser free?
Private Browser costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, iCab Mobile (Web Browser) or Private Browser?
Private Browser is rated higher. iCab Mobile (Web Browser) averages 4.0 out of 5 from 468 ratings, while Private Browser averages 4.5 from 15 ratings.
Do iCab Mobile (Web Browser) or Private Browser have ads?
Neither iCab Mobile (Web Browser) nor Private Browser shows ads.

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