Comparison

Onion Browser vs Aloha Browser

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

Head to head
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 **

About

Aloha Browser

This app offers a secure and private browsing experience with a built-in VPN and ad blocker. Enjoy media playback, background audio, and data saving features. Premium options unlock enhanced VPN capabilities and file sharing.

Highlights
  • Private browsing
  • Unlimited VPN
  • Ad blocker
  • Media player with background playback
  • Data saver
  • Private tabs with TouchID/Passcode lock
  • QR code reader
Features
Read full description

Your privacy should be the default, not a feature. Aloha Browser gives you everything you need to browse privately, block ads and trackers, and download files — in one app, with nothing extra to install. Hundreds of millions of users trust Aloha because it does what other browsers won't: it puts your privacy first by default, not as an afterthought. BLOCK ADS AUTOMATICALLY Ads slow you down and track you across the web. Aloha removes them before they load — every page is faster, cleaner, and distraction-free with no ads. No setup required. BROWSE WITH A BUILT-IN FREE VPN Protect your connection on any network with Aloha's integrated VPN. Choose from 80+ server locations worldwide, secured with 256-bit AES encryption and DNS leak protection. VPN traffic is compressed and encrypted to reduce bandwidth usage. One tap to activate — no separate app, no data caps for everyday use. DOWNLOAD VIDEOS AND FILES Save videos, music, and documents directly from any web page. Aloha's built-in downloader handles the formats other browsers can't. Play media in the background, manage files with ease, and lock sensitive downloads with biometric protection. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Aloha doesn't log your activity — ever. There's nothing to share because there's nothing stored. Combined with the VPN, automatic ad blocking, and TrafficMask, you get full-stack privacy that goes far beyond what incognito mode offers. PRIVATE AI — NO SURVEILLANCE Use AI to summarize, translate, and answer questions without your prompts being logged, profiled, or used to train models. Private by default. BUILT FOR YOUR DAILY WEB Tabbed browsing with a clean, fast interface. Sync bookmarks and tabs across devices linked to your Aloha account. Scan QR codes instantly. Explore Web3 domains and dApps with full native support. Everything works together, beautifully. ALOHA PREMIUM Upgrade for enhanced VPN country selection, device-wide VPN protection, VPN auto-start, Wi-Fi file sharing, ZIP compression support, and premium themes. Aloha Premium is available at $7.99/month or $69.99/year (USD). Prices may vary by region. Subscriptions renew automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage subscriptions in your Apple Account settings. Any unused free trial portion is forfeited upon purchase. Privacy policy: https://alohabrowser.com/policy.html Terms & Conditions: https://alohabrowser.com/terms.html ABOUT ALOHA We're a team dedicated to proving that privacy and a great browsing experience aren't mutually exclusive. While other browsers bolt on privacy features as add-ons, we built Aloha from the ground up to keep your data yours — verified by an independent third-party audit from Leviathan Security Group. Discover more: https://alohabrowser.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/alohavpnbrowser X: https://x.com/alohabrowser For feedback and support, please email support@alohabrowser.com

Screenshots

Onion Browser4 screens
Aloha Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Aloha Browser at 4.7 against Onion Browser's 3.2. Aloha Browser also leads on ratings volume (314K vs 2.1K) and chart position (#118 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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 and Aloha Browser sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Aloha Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aloha Browser has 314K ratings behind it against 2.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Onion Browser's written reviews are positive against 49% of Aloha Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onion Browser ships an update monthly, Aloha Browser fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Onion Browser versus Aloha Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnion BrowserAloha Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (2.1K ratings)4.7 (314K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.0% of reviews49.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K314K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
Best chart rank—#118 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size88 MB264 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMike TigasAloha Mobile

Customer experience

Onion Browser

All ratings2,132 ratings
Positive52.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative39.4%
Written reviews429 reviews
Positive41.0%
Neutral7.0%
Negative52.0%

Aloha Browser

All ratings313,838 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews1,557 reviews
Positive49.3%
Neutral8.0%
Negative42.7%

User reviews

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

Aloha Browser

From 314K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient browser
  • 🔒 Secure and private browsing
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🎥 Excellent video player with advanced controls
  • 💾 Reliable file downloading and management

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
  • 🔋 Concerns about high battery consumption
  • 📢 Intrusive ads and notifications
  • 🔍 Lack of search functionality within the app

Bugs and requests

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

Aloha Browser

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Video playback issues when switching between apps or locking the device
  • Inconsistent behavior when downloading files from different websites
  • VPN connection problems and disconnections

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add dark mode option
  • Improve tab management and organization
  • Implement background audio playback
  • Introduce password protection for sensitive folders

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
11 purchases

Aloha Browser

Subscriptions11
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)3 variants$3.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)$4.491 Month
Show 8 more
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)$5.491 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)2 variants$5.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)7 Days trial2 variants$6.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)$7.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)7 Days trial2 variants$7.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Aloha Premium & VPN (Monthly)7 Days trial$10.491 Month

Questions

Is Onion Browser free?
Onion Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aloha Browser free?
Aloha Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Onion Browser or Aloha Browser?
Aloha Browser is rated higher. Onion Browser averages 3.2 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Aloha Browser averages 4.7 from 314K ratings.
Do Onion Browser or Aloha Browser have ads?
Neither Onion Browser nor Aloha Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onion Browser or Aloha Browser?
Onion Browser ships an update monthly, and Aloha Browser fortnightly. Most recently, Onion Browser was updated on October 16, 2026 and Aloha Browser on October 18, 2026.

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