# Private Browsing Web Browser vs Desktop Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Private Browsing Web Browser at none against Desktop Browser's 6. Private Browsing Web Browser also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (83% vs 52%). Desktop Browser's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Private Browsing Web Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

Private Browsing Web Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Browsing Web Browser has 127K ratings behind it against 16K, 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 52% of Desktop Browser's.

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, Desktop Browser fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private Browsing Web Browser | Desktop Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (127K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browsing-web-browser/id368483462/reviews)** | [4.4 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **127K** | 16K |
| Positive reviews | **82.8% of reviews** | 52.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 11 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [SavySoda](https://appshunter.io/developer/373730331) | [Spicy Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/299136020) |

## 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


### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212)

Access full desktop versions of websites on your mobile device, overcoming content limitations and enhancing productivity. Enjoy a customizable browsing experience with tabbed browsing and bookmarks, seamlessly integrated with other apps.

**Highlights:** View desktop website versions, Tabbed browsing, Bookmarks, Customizable settings, Seamless app integration, Enhanced productivity

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly | $1.49 | per 7 days |
| monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| yearly | $7.49 | per year |
| remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| browse plus | $1.99 | one-time |
| all features pack | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for desktop browsing on mobile
- 🚀 Reliable in forcing desktop mode
- 💡 Helpful for accessing desktop-only features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on some websites
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many toolbars

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to upload images
- Reloads pages unexpectedly when interacting with text fields
- Fails to properly display desktop versions of certain websites

**Requested features**

- Add PDF export/download functionality
- Improve tab management and background browsing
- Provide more customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private Browsing Web Browser free?

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

### Is Desktop Browser free?

Desktop Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

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

Private Browsing Web Browser is rated higher. Private Browsing Web Browser averages 4.7 out of 5 from 127K ratings, while Desktop Browser averages 4.4 from 16K ratings.

### Do Private Browsing Web Browser or Desktop Browser have ads?

Desktop Browser shows ads; Private Browsing Web Browser does not.

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

Private Browsing Web Browser ships an update every 2 months, and Desktop Browser fortnightly. Most recently, Private Browsing Web Browser was updated on September 24, 2026 and Desktop Browser 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.*