# Shimmer Browser vs The Browser

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Browser at none against Shimmer Browser's 4. The Browser also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 days) and iOS requirement (18.4 vs 26.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shimmer Browser sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. The Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Shimmer Browser against 5.0 for The Browser. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 2 respectively.

Shimmer Browser ships an update every 6 days, The Browser every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shimmer Browser | The Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimmer-browser/id6739163018/reviews) | [5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-browser-private-ai/id6789318190/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **18.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Jamie Froggatt](https://appshunter.io/developer/933327498) | [Cristian Camilo Arias Botero](https://appshunter.io/developer/6789318192) |

## What reviewers say

### Shimmer Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shimmer-browser/id6739163018)

This web browser offers customizable visual styles and a resizable sidebar for a personalized experience. It includes features to manage tabs, set time limits, block web annoyances, and organize saved links. Homescreen widgets provide quick access to selected tabs.

**Highlights:** Customizable visual styles, Resizable sidebar, Tab saving and organization, Time limits on saved tabs, Web annoyance blocking, Homescreen widgets

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $3.99 | one-time |
| More Tabs | $7.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $9.99 | one-time |


### The Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-browser-private-ai/id6789318190)

A fast, private web browser with on-device AI for summarizing pages and answering questions. It blocks ads and trackers by default, offers private tabs, and supports extensions.

**Highlights:** On-device AI for summarization and Q&A, Blocks ads, trackers, and fingerprinting, Private tabs with Face ID lock, Supports Chrome and Firefox extensions, Hide distracting elements on web pages, Reader mode for articles, Offline page translation

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shimmer Browser free?

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

### Is The Browser free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shimmer Browser or The Browser?

Shimmer Browser and The Browser are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 2 and 2 ratings respectively.

### Do Shimmer Browser or The Browser have ads?

Neither Shimmer Browser nor The Browser shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shimmer Browser or The Browser?

Shimmer Browser ships an update every 6 days, and The Browser every 2 days. Most recently, Shimmer Browser was updated on October 24, 2026 and The Browser on October 12, 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.*