Comparison

Puffin Cloud Browser vs Desktop 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

Desktop Browser

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
Read full description

Desktop Browser displays the mobile or the desktop version of a website. In their mobile version some websites hide content, display different content or event present a payable content to the user. Desktop Browser let you surf the web the way you want. Desktop Experience on Mobile: With Desktop Browser, say goodbye to limitations. Enjoy the full desktop browsing experience on your iPhone, complete with tabbed browsing and bookmarks. Whether you're researching, shopping, or simply browsing the web, you'll have all the features you need at your fingertips. Enhanced Productivity: Boost your productivity with the ability to access desktop versions of websites on your iPhone. No more struggling with mobile-optimized layouts that lack functionality. With Desktop Browser, you can work more efficiently, seamlessly switching between tabs and accessing all the tools and features you need to get things done. Customization Options: Tailor your browsing experience to suit your preferences. Desktop Browser offers customizable settings, allowing you to adjust everything from font sizes to default search engines. Make your browsing experience truly your own with personalized options that enhance usability and convenience. Seamless Integration: Desktop Browser seamlessly integrates with other apps and services on your iPhone. Whether you're sharing links with friends, saving articles for later, or accessing web-based resources within other apps, Desktop Browser ensures a smooth and cohesive user experience. Continuous Updates and Support: Rest assured that you're always getting the best experience possible. Desktop Browser is regularly updated with new features, performance enhancements, and security patches to ensure optimal performance. Plus, our dedicated support team is always available to assist you with any questions or issues you may encounter. Experience the future of mobile browsing with Desktop Browser. Download the app today and unlock a world of possibilities right from your iPhone. --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Puffin Cloud Browser3 screens
Desktop Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Desktop Browser at 4.4 against Puffin Cloud Browser's 3.9. Desktop Browser also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Puffin Cloud Browser's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (61% vs 52%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 and Desktop Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Desktop Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.7K and 16K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 61% of Puffin Cloud Browser's written reviews are positive against 52% of Desktop Browser's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Puffin Cloud Browser ships an update every 6 weeks, Desktop Browser fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Puffin Cloud Browser versus Desktop Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPuffin Cloud BrowserDesktop Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (6.7K ratings)4.4 (16K ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.4% of reviews — better52.3% of reviews
Number of ratings6.7K16K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size85 MB18 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperCloudMosa, Inc.Spicy Apps

Customer experience

Puffin Cloud Browser

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

Desktop Browser

All ratings16,020 ratings
Positive85.5%
Neutral3.3%
Negative11.2%
Written reviews664 reviews
Positive52.3%
Neutral3.5%
Negative44.3%

User reviews

Puffin Cloud Browser

From 6.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and responsive browsing
  • 👍 Allows access to desktop websites
  • 🔍 Supports Flash content
  • 💻 Provides desktop-like experience on mobile

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔄 Constant reconnection issues
  • 🤖 Unreliable captcha system
  • ⚠️ Websites blocked or not loading properly
  • 💰 Subscription model and additional fees

Desktop Browser

From 16K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

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

Desktop Browser

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • 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

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

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Puffin Cloud Browser

Subscriptions2
  • Puffin Monthly Subscription$0.991 Month
  • Puffin Yearly Subscription$4.991 Year
6 purchases

Desktop Browser

Subscriptions3
  • weekly3 Days trial$1.497 Days
  • monthly3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • yearly3 Days trial$7.491 Year
One-time3
  • remove ads$1.99
  • browse plus$1.99
  • all features pack$2.99

Questions

Is Puffin Cloud Browser free?
Puffin Cloud Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Desktop Browser free?
Desktop Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Puffin Cloud Browser or Desktop Browser?
Desktop Browser is rated higher. Puffin Cloud Browser averages 3.9 out of 5 from 6.7K ratings, while Desktop Browser averages 4.4 from 16K ratings.
Do Puffin Cloud Browser or Desktop Browser have ads?
Desktop Browser shows ads; Puffin Cloud Browser does not.
Which is updated more often, Puffin Cloud Browser or Desktop Browser?
Puffin Cloud Browser ships an update every 6 weeks, and Desktop Browser fortnightly. Most recently, Puffin Cloud Browser was updated on September 28, 2026 and Desktop Browser on September 30, 2026.

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