Comparison

Private Browsing Web Browser vs Onion Browser

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

Head to head
About

Private Browsing Web Browser

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
Read full description

Finally, you can view all your websites PRIVATELY and in FULL SCREEN for FREE! This is the simple, no frills web browser you've been waiting for. • COMPLETE PRIVATE BROWSING • FULL SCREEN (13% MORE VIEWING AREA) • FASTER NO FRILLS and: FREE How it works: - History, Cookies, Cache, All completely deleted when you exit the app. No one will know where you've been. - Uses EVERY SINGLE PIXEL available to show websites in BEAUTIFUL FULL SCREEN! That's 13% more viewing area than standard Safari! Thanks to hiding of Status bars and auto hiding of all navigation controls when required. - Same back end safari browsing engine which means maximum speed, security, and reliability. Familiar Interface. In addition this app is COMPLETELY FREE and works on iPhone, iPod and iPad! so get it now and start browsing those websites in beautiful full screen without worrying about family members snooping your history! Some other features and Details: - Portrait and Landscape mode support. - Orientation Locking Support for iPad. - Similar UI to Safari. - Hidden status bar to make more space. - Overlay controls to maximise screen real-estate. - Safari based backend engine. - Lightning fast startup and shutdown. - Always starts in Google, Yahoo or Bing search homepage. - No auto suggest or auto-fill in. - Very discrete icon and presentation. - Completely FREE (and no annoying ads bar!) - Dark Mode support. - Tiny download so you can get it quickly. more apps: http://www.savysoda.com

About

Onion Browser

This app provides a secure and private way to browse the internet using the Tor network. It protects your privacy from trackers, secures your traffic on public Wi-Fi, and allows access to .onion sites. It also offers features to block scripts and clear cookies automatically.

Highlights
  • Browse internet over Tor
  • Protect privacy from website tracking
  • Secure traffic on insecure networks
  • Access .onion sites
  • Block scripts
  • Automatically clear cookies and tabs
Features
Read full description

Onion Browser is the original free and open-source Tor-powered web browser for iOS. Onion Browser helps you access the internet with more safety and privacy, and no extra cost to you. “The best Tor-related offering on iOS right now is Onion Browser” - The Daily Dot, October 14, 2015. Featured in: The New York Times, The Guardian, Salon, TechCrunch, Gizmodo, Boing Boing, Lifehacker, Macworld, The Daily Dot, & others. FEATURES: • Browse the internet over Tor: - Protect your privacy from website tracking - Secure your traffic from insecure wireless networks and ISPs - Access .onion sites that are only accessible over Tor. • Fight online tracking: block scripts and automatically clear cookies and tabs, based on your preferences. • And more privacy-enhancing features! DISCLAIMERS: - Web browsing is much slower than through a normal web browser or a VPN because your traffic is encrypted and relayed through the Tor network. - Onion Browser might not work on networks with advanced network restrictions. If the app does not connect, try using bridges (or a different type of bridge), force-quit, and then restart the app. - Use of Onion Browser is at your own risk; remember that sensitive data does not always belong on a mobile device. ** Onion Browser is free and open-source software. You can read more about Onion Browser and how to support development of Tor on iOS by visiting onionbrowser.com **

Screenshots

Private Browsing Web Browser4 screens
Onion Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Private Browsing Web Browser at 4.7 against Onion Browser's 3.2. Private Browsing Web Browser also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 41%) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Onion Browser's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads 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. Onion Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Private Browsing Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Private Browsing Web Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Browsing Web Browser has 127K ratings behind it against 2.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Private Browsing Web Browser's written reviews are positive against 41% of Onion Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, Onion Browser monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Private Browsing Web Browser versus Onion Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Browsing Web BrowserOnion Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (127K ratings) — better3.2 (2.1K ratings)
Positive reviews82.8% of reviews — better41.2% of reviews
Number of ratings127K — better2.1K
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB83 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperSavySodaMike Tigas

Customer experience

Private Browsing Web Browser

All ratings127,494 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews1,617 reviews
Positive82.8%
Neutral5.1%
Negative12.1%

Onion Browser

All ratings2,120 ratings
Positive52.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative39.3%
Written reviews425 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative51.8%

User reviews

Private Browsing Web Browser

From 127K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Onion Browser

From 2.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and stable
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 Recommended by Tor Project
  • 💡 Customizable security settings

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnections
  • 🐛 Unstable and unreliable
  • 🐛 Endless permission loops
  • 🐛 Bookmarking issues
  • 🔋 Drains battery quickly

Bugs and requests

Private Browsing Web Browser

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Bookmarks randomly deleted
  • Crashes when trying to save images
  • Inability to uninstall the app

Requested features

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

Onion Browser

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fails to connect to Tor network
  • Crashes or freezes when switching apps
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to disable JavaScript completely

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add option to disable JavaScript
  • Improve tab management and browsing experience
  • Integrate with more privacy-focused search engines
  • Allow setting custom default search engine

In-app purchases

None

Private Browsing Web Browser

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Onion Browser

One-time3
  • Small Onion Browser Tip$0.99
  • Medium Onion Browser Tip$4.99
  • Large Onion Browser Tip$9.99

Questions

Is Private Browsing Web Browser free?
Private Browsing Web Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Onion Browser free?
Onion Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Browsing Web Browser or Onion Browser?
Private Browsing Web Browser is rated higher. Private Browsing Web Browser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127K ratings, while Onion Browser averages 3.2 from 2.1K ratings.
Do Private Browsing Web Browser or Onion Browser have ads?
Neither Private Browsing Web Browser nor Onion Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Browsing Web Browser or Onion Browser?
Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Onion Browser monthly. Most recently, Private Browsing Web Browser was updated on September 24, 2026 and Onion Browser on September 22, 2026.

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