Comparison

Onion Browser vs Orion Browser by Kagi

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

Orion Browser by Kagi

Experience a fast and private web browsing experience on your iPhone and iPad. This browser blocks ads and trackers by default, ensuring your online activity remains confidential. It's designed with a strong focus on user privacy, preventing personal information from leaving the app.

Highlights
  • Fast web browsing
  • No ads
  • No telemetry
  • Privacy-respecting design
  • Industry-leading anti-tracking
  • Built-in ad-blocker
Features
Read full description

Orion is a fast, free, web browser for iPhone and iPad with no ads, no telemetry. Check also Orion for your Mac desktop. Orion has been engineered from ground up as a truly privacy-respecting browser. We did it by embracing a simple principle - Orion is a zero telemetry browser. Your private information will never leave Orion by default. And to protect your privacy on the web, Orion comes with industry-leading anti-tracking technology as well as a powerful built-in ad-blocker. --- Privacy Policy: https://orionbrowser.com/privacy License Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Onion Browser4 screens
Orion Browser by Kagi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Orion Browser by Kagi at 4.0 against Onion Browser's 3.2. Orion Browser by Kagi also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 42%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 3 weeks). Onion Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, 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 Orion Browser by Kagi sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $5.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Orion Browser by Kagi holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.1K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of Onion Browser's written reviews are positive against 56% of Orion Browser by Kagi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onion Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, Orion Browser by Kagi every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Onion Browser versus Orion Browser by Kagi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnion BrowserOrion Browser by Kagi
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (2.1K ratings)4.0 (1.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.8% of reviews55.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K — better1.2K
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size86 MB135 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMike TigasKagi Inc.

Customer experience

Onion Browser

All ratings2,136 ratings
Positive52.4%
Neutral8.1%
Negative39.4%
Written reviews450 reviews
Positive41.8%
Neutral7.3%
Negative50.9%

Orion Browser by Kagi

All ratings1,228 ratings
Positive72.8%
Neutral10.1%
Negative17.1%
Written reviews970 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral18.1%
Negative26.3%

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

Orion Browser by Kagi

From 1.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and snappy
  • 🔒 Great privacy features
  • 👍 Familiar Safari-like interface
  • 💡 Supports Chrome and Firefox extensions
  • 🚀 Smooth browsing experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable
  • 🐛 Extensions not always working as expected
  • 🐛 Tab management issues
  • 🐛 Crashes and freezes
  • 🐛 Rendering problems on some websites

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

Orion Browser by Kagi

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Frequent crashes and freezes
  • Extensions not working properly
  • Tab management issues (tabs disappearing, not loading correctly)
  • Rendering problems on certain websites
  • Sync issues between devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved tab management and organization
  • Better extension compatibility and customization
  • Seamless cross-device sync
  • Ability to disable specific features (e.g., ad-blocker)

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
9 purchases

Orion Browser by Kagi

Subscriptions2
  • Orion+ Monthly$5.001 Month
  • Orion+ Yearly$50.001 Year
One-time7
  • Small Tip$5.00
  • Medium Tip$10.00
  • Large Tip$20.00
Show 4 more
  • Generous Tip$30.00
  • Super Tip$50.00
  • Amazing Tip$100.00
  • Orion+ Lifetime$150.00

Questions

Is Onion Browser free?
Onion Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Orion Browser by Kagi free?
Orion Browser by Kagi is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Onion Browser or Orion Browser by Kagi?
Orion Browser by Kagi is rated higher. Onion Browser averages 3.2 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Orion Browser by Kagi averages 4.0 from 1.2K ratings.
Do Onion Browser or Orion Browser by Kagi have ads?
Neither Onion Browser nor Orion Browser by Kagi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onion Browser or Orion Browser by Kagi?
Onion Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, and Orion Browser by Kagi every 11 days. Most recently, Onion Browser was updated on October 22, 2026 and Orion Browser by Kagi on October 21, 2026.

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