# Customize Search Engine vs Special Date

The clearest difference is price: Customize Search Engine at Free against Special Date's $1.99. Customize Search Engine also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 7 months). Special Date's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Customize Search Engine is free to download; Special Date costs $1.99 up front. Customize Search Engine sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Special Date asks for nothing beyond the download.

Customize Search Engine ships an update every 9 days, Special Date every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Customize Search Engine | Special Date |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $1.99 |
| Rating | **[4.4 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customize-search-engine/id6445840140/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **66** | — |
| Positive reviews | 78.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 38 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cizzuk Shihu](https://appshunter.io/developer/1674098361) | [贺 赵](https://appshunter.io/developer/1821941017) |

## What reviewers say

### Customize Search Engine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/customize-search-engine/id6445840140)

This Safari extension lets you customize your default search engine and settings. Easily switch between preferred search engines, including AI assistants, and modify options like hiding AI Overviews or changing language. It offers quick search shortcuts and emoji search functionality.

**Highlights:** Customize default search engine, Use custom search engines in Private Browse, Quick search with keywords, Emoji search on Emojipedia, Switch search engines by shortcuts

**Features:** Safari Extension

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change App icon | $0.99 | one-time |


### Special Date

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/special-date/id6757748412)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Customize Search Engine free?

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

### Is Special Date free?

Special Date costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Customize Search Engine or Special Date have ads?

Neither Customize Search Engine nor Special Date shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Customize Search Engine or Special Date?

Customize Search Engine ships an update every 9 days, and Special Date every 7 months. Most recently, Customize Search Engine was updated on September 24, 2026 and Special Date on September 7, 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.*