Comparison

Secret Browser vs Startpage

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

Head to head
About

Secret Browser

Browse the web privately and securely. This app automatically clears your history, cookies, and cache, offering a clean interface and optional full-screen browsing. Enjoy fast browsing with WebKit and basic ad blocking.

Highlights
  • Automatic history, cookie, and cache clearing
  • Optional full-screen browsing
  • Fast WebKit rendering engine
  • Basic ad blocking
  • Tabbed browsing
  • Home and Lock reset options
  • Share sheet integration
Features
Read full description

Browse the web secretly and with ease of mind! History, cookies and cache are cleared for automatically! Secret Browser has a FAST, simple, familiar interface that gets out of your way when you want it to allowing for (optional) full screen browsing. Secret Browser does one simple thing and does it well. Browse the web (in secret). And it does it all for FREE! Use your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad to browse the web without worrying about your history or cookies leaving a trail that can be traced from anyone else who might pick up your device. - Clean and familiar interface is there when you need it but knows the get out of the way when you don't. Updates to work with any sized screen you throw at it! - Dark mode supported - Uses Apple's super fast WebKit framework giving you the same rendering and javascript engines that Safari uses so you know it's fast! - Basic Ad Blocking support with the open source Ka-Block! content rule list! - Tabbed Browsing. Supports as many tabs as your device can handle with 3D Touch support for devices that allow it! - Home Reset. By default, any time Secret Browser gets sent to the background the browser is cleaned and reset automatically so next time it's launched, your history, cookies and cache will be completely gone! - Lock Reset. Optionally, you can set Secret Browser to wipe everything and start over any time your device is locked! - Rotation Lock. Setup the orientation lock and keep your device in portrait or landscape modes, only. - Share sheet support. Browsing a website somewhere else and want to take things a little more private? Hit the share button and open it in Secret Browser. - Share sheet search. Find some text you want to search for in another app? Select the text and tap Share to search for it instantly in Secret Browser! - Hide the Status Bar on your smaller iPhones and iPod Touch devices to save those precious pixels and browse in FULL SCREEN! - Disable Javascript. Make things a little more light weight. - Custom User-Agent. Optionally select one of many pre-made User-Agent strings or use a custom string. Trick (most) websites into thinking you're using a different web browser or device! (Pro Mode subscription required) - Custom Start Page. Optionally setup a custom startup page for every time Secret Browser loads up. (Pro Mode subscription required) - Custom Search Providers. Switch between some default, provided search providers or use any URL you'd like! Search right from the address bar! (Pro Mode subscription required) - Custom 3D Touch Shortcuts. If you have a 3D Touch capable device, you can 3D touch the Secret Browser icon to bring up a list of shortcuts! Customize them inside the Settings.app! (Pro Mode subscription required) - Printing Support. Print pages right from Secret Browser to any printer that supports printing from your iOS device. (Pro Mode subscription required) - Easy to customize! Plenty of options available and all stored away in your devices Settings.app to keep Secret Browser's interface clutter-free and easy to use. NOTE: Secret Browser CAN NOT hide your browsing activity from your Internet Service Provider or local network. * Subscription payments will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase or after your trial ends. Any unused portion of a free trial will be forfeited if you purchase a subscription before the trial ends. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal of the same duration subscription within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after purchase. EULA: https://secretbrowserapp.com/eula.txt Privacy: https://secretbrowserapp.com/privacy.txt LOVE SECRET BROWSER? If you enjoy using Secret Browser, please take a second when you have time to leave a review. It helps a lot!

About

Startpage

Browse the web and search privately with a built-in search engine that protects your data. It clears your history and tabs with one tap, masks your location and IP address, and provides unprofiled search results. Enjoy a secure and private online experience.

Highlights
  • Private search engine
  • Clear tabs and history
  • Anonymous website visits
  • Private tabs and maps
  • Unprofiled search results
  • Avoid targeted ads
Features
Read full description

Rocket into the future of online privacy with the Startpage Private Browser app. This free app is the easiest way to search with Startpage on your mobile device. With Startpage as your built-in, default search engine, you're assured that every search is protected. Trusted by millions worldwide, Startpage ensures your privacy by deleting all personal data and IP addresses with each search, every single time. KEY FEATURES: - Default Private Search: Startpage's private search engine provides users with detailed knowledge panels, instant answers, localized maps, and comprehensive image, video, and news search results—all without tracking or storing any search history. - Clear All Tabs & Browsing History: Prevent privacy risks and cover your tracks with Zap by closing all open tabs and clearing browsing history with one button. - Private Browsing: Startpage's Anonymous View feature lets you visit websites anonymously from your search results. Confidently browse in total privacy. Your location, IP address, DNS masked. - Private Tabs: Securely open and manage multiple private tabs. - Private Maps: Explore local results without revealing your actual location. - Unprofiled Search Results: Experience search without biases. Startpage delivers unprofiled results, ensuring a fair and impartial exploration of the web. - Avoid Targeted Ads: Startpage prevents targeted search ads and invasive 3rd-party retargeting ads. - Strict European Privacy Standards: Trust in privacy that adheres to the highest European standards. Startpage prioritizes your data protection in line with rigorous GDPR privacy regulations. Take control of your online privacy today! Startpage has been trusted since 2006 by millions of users worldwide to protect privacy and provide best-in-class search results. Download the Startpage private browsing app for free and redefine your private search and browsing experience.

Screenshots

Secret Browser4 screens
Startpage4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Startpage at none against Secret Browser's 3. Startpage also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). Secret Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (13.5 vs 15.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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

Both are free to download. Secret Browser sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Startpage asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Startpage holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.5K and 6.9K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Secret Browser's written reviews are positive against 70% of Startpage's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Secret Browser ships an update every 2 months, Startpage monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Secret Browser versus Startpage: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSecret BrowserStartpage
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2.5K ratings)4.8 (6.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews74.8% of reviews — better70.2% of reviews
Number of ratings2.5K6.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.5 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size156 MB237 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSteve EhrenbergStartpage BV

Customer experience

Secret Browser

All ratings2,473 ratings
Positive87.4%
Neutral4.6%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews218 reviews
Positive74.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative17.0%

Startpage

All ratings6,914 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral2.0%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews326 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral11.7%
Negative18.1%

User reviews

Secret Browser

From 2.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Keeps browsing history private
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 👍 Great for secret/private browsing

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Loses browsing data when exiting app
  • 💸 Ads and in-app purchases
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

Startpage

From 6.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Lightning-fast and responsive
  • 🔒 Robust privacy and security features
  • 👍 Clean and user-friendly interface
  • 🔍 Accurate and relevant search results
  • 🕊️ Preserves user privacy and anonymity

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔍 Limited search customization options
  • 🔌 Lack of built-in ad blocker
  • 🔍 Inconsistent search engine behavior across platforms

Bugs and requests

Secret Browser

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Browsing history not fully cleared when exiting app
  • Compatibility issues with iOS updates

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add bookmarking and tab management features
  • Improve compatibility with older devices
  • Implement ad-blocking capabilities

Startpage

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Pages not loading properly
  • Inconsistent behavior when searching from iOS home screen
  • Anonymous view failing to load images/thumbnails

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to export bookmarks and reading lists
  • One-tap history/data clearing
  • Option to set default private browsing mode
  • StartMail app integration

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Secret Browser

Subscriptions3
  • 1 Month Recurring7 Days trial$0.991 Month
  • 3 Month Recurring1 Month trial$2.493 Months
  • 1 Year Recurring1 Month trial$4.991 Year
None

Startpage

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Secret Browser free?
Secret Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Startpage free?
Startpage is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Secret Browser or Startpage?
Startpage is rated higher. Secret Browser averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while Startpage averages 4.8 from 6.9K ratings.
Do Secret Browser or Startpage have ads?
Secret Browser shows ads; Startpage does not.
Which is updated more often, Secret Browser or Startpage?
Secret Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Startpage monthly. Most recently, Secret Browser was updated on September 23, 2026 and Startpage on September 24, 2026.

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