# Secret Browser vs Startpage

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.

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.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Secret Browser | Startpage |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-browser/id337346574/reviews) | **[4.8 (6.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.5K | **6.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.8% of reviews** | 70.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 156 MB | 237 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.5** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Steve Ehrenberg](https://appshunter.io/developer/309728606) | [Startpage BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/632832985) |

## What reviewers say

### Secret Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/secret-browser/id337346574)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Recurring | $0.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Recurring | $2.49 | per 3 months |
| 1 Year Recurring | $4.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


### Startpage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430)

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:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*