# Private Browsing Web Browser vs Search Ace

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Private Browsing Web Browser at none against Search Ace's 6. Private Browsing Web Browser also leads on ratings volume (127K vs 590) and review sentiment (83% vs 60%). Search Ace's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Search Ace sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 4.6 for Search Ace. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Browsing Web Browser has 127K ratings behind it against 590, 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 60% of Search Ace's.

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, Search Ace every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browsing Web Browser | Search Ace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462/reviews)** | [4.6 (590 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/search-ace-ai-browser/id1510267499/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127K** | 590 |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 59.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 288 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SavySoda](https://appshunter.io/developer/373730331) | [kimihiro kubota](https://appshunter.io/developer/500031798) |

## 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


### Search Ace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/search-ace-ai-browser/id1510267499)

This app offers a faster, more private web browsing experience by cross-searching multiple websites and AI tools with a single query. It blocks ads to improve loading speed, reduce data usage, and conserve battery, while also providing privacy features and Apple Watch compatibility.

**Highlights:** Cross-search websites and AI tools, Ad blocking, Generative AI search, Apple Watch browsing, Save battery and data, Privacy protection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (1 Month) | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium (3 Month) | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (12 Month) | $17.99 | per year |
| Thesaurus for iOS | Free | one-time |
| English Thesaurus for WatchOS | Free | one-time |
| Search Ace Premium | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Robust security and privacy features
- 💡 Innovative search capabilities
- 🎨 Great for finding images and media

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive features
- 🔍 Limited search engine options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for some users
- Incompatible with certain iPad models
- Location services not working as expected
- Persisting issues even after uninstallation

**Requested features**

- Add support for landscape mode
- Implement background audio/video playback
- Improve customization options
- Enhance Apple Watch integration
- Optimize app size and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browsing Web Browser free?

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

### Is Search Ace free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Private Browsing Web Browser or Search Ace?

Private Browsing Web Browser is rated higher. Private Browsing Web Browser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127K ratings, while Search Ace averages 4.6 from 590 ratings.

### Do Private Browsing Web Browser or Search Ace have ads?

Neither Private Browsing Web Browser nor Search Ace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private Browsing Web Browser or Search Ace?

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Search Ace every 3 weeks. Most recently, Private Browsing Web Browser was updated on September 25, 2026 and Search Ace on September 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.*