# Project Iris vs Fern Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Fern Browser at none against Project Iris's 1. Fern Browser also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). Project Iris's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 7 months) and ratings volume (13 vs 1). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Project Iris sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Fern Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Project Iris against 5.0 for Fern Browser. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Project Iris has 13 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Project Iris ships an update every 4 days, Fern Browser every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and July 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Project Iris | Fern Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-iris-watch-browser/id6477305403/reviews) | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fern-browser/id6743186022/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **13** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 51 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [力 雷](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746429413) | [Nobel Sam Mathew](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780637498) |

## What reviewers say

### Project Iris

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/project-iris-watch-browser/id6477305403)

This utility app offers a streamlined browsing experience with advanced engine capabilities. It allows for private browsing, history management, and customizable search engines, all optimized for accessibility and supporting multiple languages.

**Highlights:** State-of-the-art browsing engine, Keyword and URL distinction, Bookmark management, Private browsing mode, History recording, Customizable search engine, History and bookmark locking

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Iris Vision | $3.99 | one-time |


### Fern Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fern-browser/id6743186022)

Browse the web, search for information, and visit custom links directly from your wrist. This free web browser is designed for speed and simplicity on Apple Watch, offering quick access to online content without needing your phone.

**Highlights:** Quick web search, Custom URL access, AI model integration, Clean and lightweight design, Phone-free browsing

**Features:** Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Project Iris free?

Project Iris is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Fern Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Project Iris or Fern Browser?

Project Iris and Fern Browser are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 13 and 1 ratings respectively.

### Do Project Iris or Fern Browser have ads?

Neither Project Iris nor Fern Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Project Iris or Fern Browser?

Project Iris ships an update every 4 days, and Fern Browser every 7 months. Most recently, Project Iris was updated on September 23, 2026 and Fern Browser on July 20, 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.*