# Private Browsing Web Browser vs Brave Browser & Search Engine

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Private Browsing Web Browser at none against Brave Browser & Search Engine's 5. Private Browsing Web Browser also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 73%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Brave Browser & Search Engine's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months) and chart position (#17 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Brave Browser & Search Engine sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Private Browsing Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Private Browsing Web Browser against 4.8 for Brave Browser & Search Engine. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Brave Browser & Search Engine has 667K ratings behind it against 128K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of Private Browsing Web Browser's written reviews are positive against 73% of Brave Browser & Search Engine's.

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, Brave Browser & Search Engine every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browsing Web Browser | Brave Browser & Search Engine |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (128K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462/reviews) | **[4.8 (667K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brave-browser-and-search-engine/id1052879175/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 128K | **667K** |
| Positive reviews | **82.6% of reviews** | 73.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#17** |
| Size | 11 MB | 356 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SavySoda](https://appshunter.io/developer/373730331) | [Brave Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1052874328) |

## What reviewers say

### Private Browsing Web Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462)

Browse the internet privately and in full screen for free. This no-frills browser automatically deletes your history, cookies, and cache upon exiting. It maximizes viewing area by hiding status bars and navigation controls, offering a familiar interface with enhanced screen real estate.

**Highlights:** Complete private browsing, Full screen viewing, History, cookies, cache deleted on exit, Maximizes screen real estate, Safari-based browsing engine, Fast startup and shutdown, No auto-suggest or auto-fill

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Provides privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for private browsing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Settings and bookmarks reset frequently
- 🐛 Compatibility issues with certain websites
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data collection
- 👎 Limited functionality compared to other browsers

**Reported bugs**

- Bookmarks randomly deleted
- Crashes when trying to save images
- Inability to uninstall the app

**Requested features**

- Ability to have multiple tabs open
- Option to set custom search engine
- Improved bookmark management
- Faster page loading speeds


### Brave Browser & Search Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brave-browser-and-search-engine/id1052879175)

**Currently charting:** #17 Top Free · Utilities, #118 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

A fast, private web browser with built-in ad blocking and a VPN. It offers an AI assistant, a crypto wallet, and a privacy-focused search engine. Enjoy offline media playback and enhanced security features.

**Highlights:** Built-in Adblock and Pop-up Blocker, Firewall + VPN, AI Assistant (Brave Leo), Secure Crypto Wallet (Brave Wallet), Privacy-Focused Search Engine (Brave Search), Offline Media Playback (Brave Playlist), Voice Search

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Firewall + VPN | $9.99 | per month |
| Brave Leo AI (monthly) | $14.99 | per month |
| Annual Firewall + VPN | $99.99 | per year |
| Brave Leo AI (annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Brave Origin | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient browsing
- 🔒 Strong privacy and security features
- 👍 Customizable settings and options
- 💰 Earning potential with Brave Rewards

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive UI changes
- 🚫 Lack of full sync capabilities across devices

**Reported bugs**

- Disappearing tabs and lost browsing data
- Compatibility issues with certain websites
- Problems with the Brave Playlist feature

**Requested features**

- Ability to clear browsing history and data in bulk
- More customization options for the home screen and UI
- Improved integration with other apps and services
- Expanded Brave Rewards program and payouts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browsing Web Browser free?

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

### Is Brave Browser & Search Engine free?

Brave Browser & Search Engine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Private Browsing Web Browser or Brave Browser & Search Engine?

Brave Browser & Search Engine is rated higher. Private Browsing Web Browser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 128K ratings, while Brave Browser & Search Engine averages 4.8 from 667K ratings.

### Do Private Browsing Web Browser or Brave Browser & Search Engine have ads?

Neither Private Browsing Web Browser nor Brave Browser & Search Engine shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Browsing Web Browser or Brave Browser & Search Engine?

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Brave Browser & Search Engine every 2 weeks. Most recently, Private Browsing Web Browser was updated on October 23, 2026 and Brave Browser & Search Engine on October 23, 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.*