# Maxthon Browser vs Private Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maxthon Browser at none against Private Browser's 2. Maxthon Browser also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Private Browser's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 69%) and ratings volume (4.1K vs 703). On price, rating and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private Browser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Maxthon Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Maxthon Browser against 4.6 for Private Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private Browser has 4.1K ratings behind it against 703, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Maxthon Browser's written reviews are positive against 82% of Private Browser's.

Maxthon Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, Private Browser every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maxthon Browser | Private Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (703 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxthon-browser/id541052011/reviews) | **[4.6 (4.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-vpn-proxy/id1476240227/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 703 | **4.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **81.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 62 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **12.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Maxthon Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/473194919) | [Shanghai Xiangyuan Network Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1459254605) |

## What reviewers say

### Maxthon Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxthon-browser/id541052011)

A mobile web browser designed for a streamlined and personalized experience. It offers a fresh interface, enhanced features like customizable favorites, and tools for privacy and eye comfort.

**Highlights:** New UI design, Re-planned homepage layout, Optimized feature layout, Enhanced favorites with text and images, Personalized data treasure chest, Incognito mode, Night mode

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient browsing
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🔒 Secure and private browsing
- 💡 Useful features like cloud sync and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Cluttered and confusing UI after updates
- 🚫 Forced login/account creation

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and unresponsiveness
- Bookmark and history sync issues
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Problems with file downloads and attachments

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved tab management
- Ability to customize homepage and bookmarks
- Better video/audio playback support


### Private Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-browser-vpn-proxy/id1476240227)

Browse the internet securely and privately with a fast, free, and stable web browser. It offers a free VPN proxy for enhanced privacy and security, with unlimited traffic and a simple one-tap connection. Access all websites and enjoy multi-window features without registration.

**Highlights:** Free VPN proxy, Unlimited secure internet, One-tap connection, Strongest privacy and security, High-speed unlimited traffic, Multi-window and label support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP | $4.99 | per month |
| VIP for 1 Yearly | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private browsing
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Integrated VPN functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 💰 Aggressive advertising and in-app purchases
- 📵 Difficulty accessing certain features without 5-star review

**Reported bugs**

- Downloading issues
- Compatibility problems on older devices
- VPN connection instability

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support
- Dark mode option
- Improved search history and bookmarking


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maxthon Browser free?

Maxthon Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Private Browser free?

Private Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Maxthon Browser or Private Browser?

Private Browser is rated higher. Maxthon Browser averages 4.5 out of 5 from 703 ratings, while Private Browser averages 4.6 from 4.1K ratings.

### Do Maxthon Browser or Private Browser have ads?

Private Browser shows ads; Maxthon Browser does not.

### Which is updated more often, Maxthon Browser or Private Browser?

Maxthon Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, and Private Browser every 2 months. Most recently, Maxthon Browser was updated on October 20, 2026 and Private Browser on October 21, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*