# Maxthon Browser vs Search Ace

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Maxthon Browser at none against Search Ace's 6. Maxthon Browser also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 60%) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Search Ace sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 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 Search Ace. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 703 and 605 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Maxthon Browser's written reviews are positive against 60% of Search Ace's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Maxthon Browser | Search Ace |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (703 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/maxthon-browser/id541052011/reviews) | **[4.6 (605 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/search-ace-ai-browser/id1510267499/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **703** | 605 |
| Positive reviews | **69.4% of reviews** | 59.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 288 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Maxthon Technology Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/473194919) | [kimihiro kubota](https://appshunter.io/developer/500031798) |

## 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


### Search Ace

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/search-ace-ai-browser/id1510267499)

This app offers a faster, more private web browsing experience by cross-searching multiple websites and AI tools with a single query. It blocks ads to improve loading speed, reduce data usage, and conserve battery, while also providing privacy features and Apple Watch compatibility.

**Highlights:** Cross-search websites and AI tools, Ad blocking, Generative AI search, Apple Watch browsing, Save battery and data, Privacy protection

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium (1 Month) | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium (3 Month) | $7.99 | per 3 months |
| Premium (12 Month) | $17.99 | per year |
| Thesaurus for iOS | Free | one-time |
| English Thesaurus for WatchOS | Free | one-time |
| Search Ace Premium | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🔒 Robust security and privacy features
- 💡 Innovative search capabilities
- 🎨 Great for finding images and media

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Confusing or unintuitive features
- 🔍 Limited search engine options

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch for some users
- Incompatible with certain iPad models
- Location services not working as expected
- Persisting issues even after uninstallation

**Requested features**

- Add support for landscape mode
- Implement background audio/video playback
- Improve customization options
- Enhance Apple Watch integration
- Optimize app size and performance


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Maxthon Browser free?

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

### Is Search Ace free?

Search Ace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Maxthon Browser or Search Ace?

Search Ace is rated higher. Maxthon Browser averages 4.5 out of 5 from 703 ratings, while Search Ace averages 4.6 from 605 ratings.

### Do Maxthon Browser or Search Ace have ads?

Neither Maxthon Browser nor Search Ace shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Maxthon Browser or Search Ace?

Maxthon Browser ships an update every 3 weeks, and Search Ace every 3 weeks. Most recently, Maxthon Browser was updated on October 24, 2026 and Search Ace on October 27, 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.*