# iPrivateBrowser vs Sidefari

iPrivateBrowser and Sidefari both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of Sidefari's written reviews are positive against 31% of iPrivateBrowser's. Sidefari also leads on ratings volume (146 vs 14) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iPrivateBrowser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sidefari sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for iPrivateBrowser against 4.0 for Sidefari. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sidefari has 146 ratings behind it against 14, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of iPrivateBrowser's written reviews are positive against 66% of Sidefari's.

iPrivateBrowser ships an update every 2 months, Sidefari every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | iPrivateBrowser | Sidefari |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iprivatebrowser/id314281847/reviews) | **[4.0 (146 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidefari/id1046968235/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **146** |
| Positive reviews | 31.4% of reviews | **65.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 20 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Shmoopi LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/314281850) | [Francisco Cantu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1535386076) |

## What reviewers say

### 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 |


### Sidefari

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidefari/id1046968235)

This app acts as a companion to Safari, offering a "mini" version of the browser within other applications. It allows for convenient access to Safari features and content blockers, enhancing privacy and user experience.

**Highlights:** Safari View Controller integration, Content blocker support, Open Modally in Safari extension, Side-by-side browsing on iPad, Privacy-focused browsing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Giant Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gargantuan Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and direct app opening
- 👍 Useful for sharing between browsers
- 💡 Fills a gap for apps without SVC support
- 👍 Great for multitasking on iPad
- 👍 Works well with content blockers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😞 Broken and doesn't work
- 😞 Unclear how to use
- 😞 Not very useful
- 😞 Very limited functions
- 😞 Causes phone reboots

**Reported bugs**

- Won't do anything for iPad Gen/Air
- Flat out broken
- Unable to use
- Won't Install on iPhone
- Causes phone to reboot

**Requested features**

- iPhone X update
- Ability to have two Safari apps open simultaneously
- Improve keyboard input focus
- Add bookmarks or a Safari homescreen
- Send Safari page to Sidefari as well as the other way


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iPrivateBrowser free?

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

### Is Sidefari free?

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

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

Sidefari is rated higher. iPrivateBrowser averages 3.9 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Sidefari averages 4.0 from 146 ratings.

### Do iPrivateBrowser or Sidefari have ads?

Neither iPrivateBrowser nor Sidefari shows ads.

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

iPrivateBrowser ships an update every 2 months, and Sidefari every 3 weeks. Most recently, iPrivateBrowser was updated on October 6, 2026 and Sidefari on October 6, 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.*