Comparison

Max vs Private Browser

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Max

Features
Read full description

About the App Meet Max™—Australia’s private, powerful and secure browser for iOS. Max helps protect your privacy by blocking intrusive ads, trackers and unwanted content with MaxGuard™. Inspired by the echidna—private, resilient and well-defended—Max delivers a cleaner, faster browsing experience with fewer distractions. See MaxGuard working in real time, reduce unnecessary data usage and enjoy the web with greater privacy. Max does not sell or share your browsing data. Features MaxGuard content filtering Built-in ad blocking Tracker protection Private search Bookmark and favourite importing Light and dark modes Secure, encrypted connections where supported Automatic updates through the App Store Reduced data usage and improved battery efficiency Australian owned and managed Browse faster. Browse with confidence. Browse with Max™. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Private Browser

Features
Read full description

Private Browser is a fast, ad-free way to use the web on iPhone. It blocks ads and trackers before they load, keeps your browsing to yourself, and puts a lock on the whole app. No account. No profile. Nothing sold. BLOCK ADS AND TRACKERS • Over 135,000 filter rules from EasyList and EasyPrivacy, applied before a page starts loading • Pages load faster and use less data, because the ads never arrive • Cookie banners hidden automatically • A live counter shows exactly what was blocked on the page you are reading • Turn protection off for one site you trust, without turning it off everywhere PRIVATE TABS THAT REALLY ARE PRIVATE • Private tabs use a separate, temporary store — nothing is written to disk • Close the last private tab and the whole session is destroyed, not just hidden • Normal tabs keep history only for as long as you want it; clear any part of it in one tap LOCK THE APP, NOT JUST THE SCREEN • Face ID, Touch ID or a passcode to open the app • The page is covered the moment you switch apps, so nothing shows in the app switcher • Files you download are stored with iOS file protection and stay unreadable while the device is locked BUILT FOR READING, NOT FOR ADS • Reader mode strips a page down to the article • Dark mode for any website, not just the ones that support it • Toolbars get out of the way as you scroll and come straight back • Tabs, bookmarks, reading list and downloads, all where you expect them SEARCH THE WAY YOU PREFER • Choose from DuckDuckGo, Google, Bing, Brave, Startpage, Ecosia, Yahoo or Baidu • HTTPS-Only mode, so an insecure page never loads by accident • Encrypted DNS guidance built in • QR scanner, downloads manager and full backup SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE Every screen is translated into 36 languages, including Arabic and Hebrew with full right-to-left layout. PRIVATE BROWSER PRO Private Browser Pro removes every upgrade prompt, includes each new feature as it arrives, and comes with priority email support. Choose a weekly or yearly subscription, or buy Lifetime once and own it outright with no subscription at all. The price for your country, the renewal date, and the length of any free trial offered are always shown in the app before you confirm. Nothing is charged until you do, and a free trial is free. A subscription renews automatically unless it is cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your Apple Account is charged for renewal within 24 hours of the end of that period. You can manage or cancel a subscription at any time in Settings on your device. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/privacy-policy-004/home Support: https://sites.google.com/view/eteamhelp

Screenshots

Max4 screens
Private Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Private Browser at every 2 weeks against Max's every 3 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Max sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Private Browser sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Max ships an update every 3 months, Private Browser every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 5 level
Max versus Private Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMaxPrivate Browser
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size166 MB31 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperDataBenchMD. NASAR UDDIN REDOY

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Max

Subscriptions2
  • Community Monthly Subscription$5.991 Month
  • Community Yearly Subscription$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Top Up 10 Gb$2.99
3 purchases

Private Browser

Subscriptions2
  • Private Browser Pro (Weekly)$9.997 Days
  • Private Browser Pro (Yearly)3 Days trial$59.991 Year
One-time1
  • Private Browser Pro Lifetime$149.99

Questions

Is Max free?
Max is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Private Browser free?
Private Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Max or Private Browser have ads?
Neither Max nor Private Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Max or Private Browser?
Max ships an update every 3 months, and Private Browser every 2 weeks. Most recently, Max was updated on October 18, 2026 and Private Browser on October 5, 2026.

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