Comparison

Onion Browser vs Firefox Fast & Private 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

Firefox Fast & Private Browser

A fast and private web browser that protects you by default. It blocks trackers, offers private browsing, and provides tools to help you focus on content and manage your logins securely.

Highlights
  • Enhanced Tracking Protection
  • Private browsing mode
  • Page summaries
  • Built-in password manager
  • Reader Mode
  • Sync across devices
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The internet. As it should be. Firefox is a fast, private web browser designed to protect you by default. Privacy is built in from the start, so you can focus on what matters instead of worrying about who’s watching. Why people choose Firefox: • Enhanced Tracking Protection – Blocks trackers by default to help stop companies from following you across the web. • Private browsing mode – Browse without saving your history, searches, or cookies. • Page summaries – Get the key points from long pages and move on faster. • Built-in password manager – Generate strong passwords, save them securely, and autofill logins when you need them. • Flexible search options – Choose your default search engine or switch search engines right from the search bar. • Reader Mode – Remove ads and clutter from articles so you can focus on what you’re reading. • Sync across devices – Pick up where you left off with synced tabs, bookmarks, and passwords when you sign in to your Mozilla account. Private by default Firefox is designed with privacy built in from the moment you start browsing. Enhanced Tracking Protection automatically blocks common background trackers, including social media trackers, crypto miners, and fingerprinters. When you want extra privacy, private browsing mode doesn’t save your history, searches, or cookies. Focus on what matters The web can be distracting. Firefox is designed to help you stay focused without making you manage everything yourself. Reader Mode clears clutter from articles, and picture-in-picture keeps videos visible while you multitask—without pulling focus from what you’re doing. Browse your way Customize Firefox to fit how you browse. Personalize your home screen with wallpapers and layout options, and choose your preferred search engine instead of being pushed into a single ecosystem. You can move the search bar to the top or bottom of the screen for easier one-handed browsing. Sign in to your Mozilla account to sync tabs, bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across devices, so switching feels seamless. Built for people, not profit Firefox was created in 2004 by Mozilla as a faster, more private, and more customizable alternative to other browsers. Today, Mozilla remains a nonprofit and continues working to make the internet — and the time you spend on it — better. Learn more about Mozilla: https://www.mozilla.org Terms of Use: https://www.mozilla.org/about/legal/terms/firefox/ Privacy Policy: https://www.mozilla.org/privacy/firefox Latest news: https://blog.mozilla.org

Screenshots

Onion Browser4 screens
Firefox Fast & Private Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Firefox Fast & Private Browser at 4.6 against Onion Browser's 3.2. Firefox Fast & Private Browser also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (217K vs 2.1K). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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. Firefox Fast & Private Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Firefox Fast & Private Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Firefox Fast & Private Browser has 217K 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 45% of Firefox Fast & Private Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Onion Browser ships an update monthly, Firefox Fast & Private Browser weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Onion Browser versus Firefox Fast & Private Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOnion BrowserFirefox Fast & Private Browser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (2.1K ratings)4.6 (217K ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.2% of reviews45.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2.1K217K — better
Update frequencyMonthlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#25 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size83 MB363 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperMike TigasMozilla

Customer experience

Onion Browser

All ratings2,120 ratings
Positive52.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative39.3%
Written reviews425 reviews
Positive41.2%
Neutral7.1%
Negative51.8%

Firefox Fast & Private Browser

All ratings217,373 ratings
Positive91.8%
Neutral3.1%
Negative5.2%
Written reviews2,924 reviews
Positive45.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative43.5%

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

Firefox Fast & Private Browser

From 217K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and privacy-focused
  • 👍 Great alternative to Chrome and Safari
  • 💡 Useful sync functionality across devices

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and unstable, crashes frequently
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 👎 Cluttered and confusing UI, especially on iPad
  • 🤔 Lack of customization and extension options

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

Firefox Fast & Private Browser

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Images not loading properly
  • Incompatibility with certain websites and web apps
  • Keyboard issues and unexpected behavior when switching between apps
  • Sync issues and data loss when switching devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved bookmark management and organization
  • Built-in ad blocker or support for third-party ad blockers
  • Ability to rearrange tabs and customize the UI

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
None

Firefox Fast & Private Browser

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Onion Browser free?
Onion Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Firefox Fast & Private Browser free?
Firefox Fast & Private Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Onion Browser or Firefox Fast & Private Browser?
Firefox Fast & Private Browser is rated higher. Onion Browser averages 3.2 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Firefox Fast & Private Browser averages 4.6 from 217K ratings.
Do Onion Browser or Firefox Fast & Private Browser have ads?
Neither Onion Browser nor Firefox Fast & Private Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Onion Browser or Firefox Fast & Private Browser?
Onion Browser ships an update monthly, and Firefox Fast & Private Browser weekly. Most recently, Onion Browser was updated on September 22, 2026 and Firefox Fast & Private Browser on September 24, 2026.

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