# Private Browsing Web Browser vs Onion Browser

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.

Both are free to download. Onion Browser sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Private Browsing Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browsing Web Browser | Onion Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462/reviews)** | [3.2 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser/id519296448/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127K** | 2.1K |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 41.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 83 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SavySoda](https://appshunter.io/developer/373730331) | [Mike Tigas](https://appshunter.io/developer/519296451) |

## 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


### Onion Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/onion-browser/id519296448)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Onion Browser Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Onion Browser Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| Large Onion Browser Tip | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

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


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