Comparison

Puffin Cloud Browser vs Vivid Browser

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

Head to head
About

Puffin Cloud Browser

This app provides access to a cloud-based web browser, allowing users to view web content rendered on remote servers. It offers features like browser isolation, data saving, and full desktop mode, but does not render web content directly on the device.

Highlights
  • Browser Isolation
  • Cloud Acceleration
  • Data Saving
  • Download to Cloud
  • Flash Game Support
  • Full Desktop Mode
  • Internet Access Protection
Features
Read full description

DISCLAIMER: Puffin Cloud Browser is NOT a web browser. Puffin Cloud Browser is the client app that accesses the cloud server which runs the web browser. The Puffin client app and the Puffin cloud server do not communicate in HTTP protocol and the data exchange is not in HTML format. The Puffin client app is like the remote desktop client and the Puffin cloud server is like the remote desktop server. Puffin Cloud Browser gives the audience the illusion of a web browser but it is not, in reality, a web browser. Puffin Cloud Browser can only "display" the web content rendered on the cloud servers but can't "render" the web content itself on the client devices. ==== Differentiating Features ==== * Browser Isolation * Cloud Acceleration * Data Saving * Download to Cloud * Flash Game * Full Desktop Mode * Internet Access Protection * Virtual Gamepad/Mouse/Trackpad ==== Important Limitations ==== * Only works on websites that are publicly accessible from the US -- Does not work for private IP, corporate Intranet, and geo-restricted websites * Only works in countries that are not excessive in censorship -- Does not work in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates * For some websites, Puffin server IP blocks need to be white-listed -- Puffin can bring an excessive load to some websites More info at Puffin FAQ https://help.puffin.com/faq

About

Vivid Browser

Browse the web at your iPhone's maximum screen brightness, ideal for reading articles or social media in sunlight. An action extension allows quick opening and returning from other apps.

Highlights
  • Full brightness web browsing
  • Action extension for quick access
  • Optimized for reading in sunlight
  • Seamless switching between apps
Features
Read full description

Use Vivid to browse the web at your iPhone's full brightness.  Wether you're reading a long article in the sun or you're browsing through your Twitter feed, with Vivid you'll be able to utilise the full brightness of your screen. Use the Action Extension to quickly open pages in Vivid from Safari or other apps and quickly go back to Safari as well. Note that Vivid Browser does not work make full screen videos brighter.

Screenshots

Puffin Cloud Browser3 screens
Vivid Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Vivid Browser at none against Puffin Cloud Browser's 2. Puffin Cloud Browser's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 8 months) and ratings volume (6.7K vs 17). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Puffin Cloud Browser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Vivid Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Puffin Cloud Browser against 3.9 for Vivid Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Puffin Cloud Browser has 6.7K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 61% of Puffin Cloud Browser's written reviews are positive against 64% of Vivid Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Puffin Cloud Browser ships an update every 6 weeks, Vivid Browser every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and August 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Puffin Cloud Browser versus Vivid Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPuffin Cloud BrowserVivid Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (6.7K ratings)3.9 (17 ratings)
Positive reviews61.4% of reviews64.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings6.7K — better17
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.5
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB1 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperCloudMosa, Inc.Lumen Digital

Customer experience

Puffin Cloud Browser

All ratings6,701 ratings
Positive71.8%
Neutral6.5%
Negative21.7%
Written reviews526 reviews
Positive61.4%
Neutral7.8%
Negative30.8%

Vivid Browser

All ratings17 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral11.8%
Negative17.6%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive64.3%
Neutral14.3%
Negative21.4%

Bugs and requests

Puffin Cloud Browser

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Gamepad controls crashing the app
  • Inability to type or log in to certain websites
  • Sudden loss of network connectivity

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved stability and reliability
  • Seamless integration with popular websites
  • Customization options for user interface
  • Ability to save progress in Flash games

Vivid Browser

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Puffin Cloud Browser

Subscriptions2
  • Puffin Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Puffin Yearly Subscription$4.991 Year
None

Vivid Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Puffin Cloud Browser free?
Puffin Cloud Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Vivid Browser free?
Vivid Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Puffin Cloud Browser or Vivid Browser?
Puffin Cloud Browser and Vivid Browser are both rated 3.9 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6.7K and 17 ratings respectively.
Do Puffin Cloud Browser or Vivid Browser have ads?
Neither Puffin Cloud Browser nor Vivid Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Puffin Cloud Browser or Vivid Browser?
Puffin Cloud Browser ships an update every 6 weeks, and Vivid Browser every 8 months. Most recently, Puffin Cloud Browser was updated on September 25, 2026 and Vivid Browser on August 20, 2026.

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