# Startpage vs Fileio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Startpage at none against Fileio's 2. Fileio's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs monthly). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Startpage ships an update monthly, Fileio every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Startpage | Fileio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **7.3K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 239 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Startpage BV](https://appshunter.io/developer/632832985) | [Jeongjae Lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/1890421131) |

## What reviewers say

### Startpage

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/startpage-private-browser/id6478921430)

Browse the web and search privately with a built-in search engine that protects your data. It clears your history and tabs with one tap, masks your location and IP address, and provides unprofiled search results. Enjoy a secure and private online experience.

**Highlights:** Private search engine, Clear tabs and history, Anonymous website visits, Private tabs and maps, Unprofiled search results, Avoid targeted ads

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Lightning-fast and responsive
- 🔒 Robust privacy and security features
- 👍 Clean and user-friendly interface
- 🔍 Accurate and relevant search results
- 🕊️ Preserves user privacy and anonymity

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 🔍 Limited search customization options
- 🔌 Lack of built-in ad blocker
- 🔍 Inconsistent search engine behavior across platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Pages not loading properly
- Inconsistent behavior when searching from iOS home screen
- Anonymous view failing to load images/thumbnails

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Ability to export bookmarks and reading lists
- One-tap history/data clearing
- Option to set default private browsing mode
- StartMail app integration


### Fileio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fileio/id6766760955)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fileio Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Fileio Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Startpage free?

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

### Is Fileio free?

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

### Do Startpage or Fileio have ads?

Neither Startpage nor Fileio shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Startpage or Fileio?

Startpage ships an update monthly, and Fileio every 5 days. Most recently, Startpage was updated on October 20, 2026 and Fileio on October 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.*