Comparison

Merv vs PhishGuard

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

Head to head
About

Merv

Features
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Know where you're exposed โ€” and what to do about it. Merv turns everything โ€” your accounts, devices, apps, and online footprint โ€” into one clear score you can actually understand. BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE Merv runs its intelligence on your device, so it's designed for iPhones with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 or later). WHAT MERV DOES See your exposure โ€” find out where your accounts show up in known breaches Map your digital life โ€” your accounts, services, and devices in one place Get your score โ€” see exactly where you stand across five areas of your security Build from there โ€” short, guided steps that move your score and teach as you go YOUR DATA NEVER LEAVES YOUR iPHONE Merv runs entirely on your device. We don't keep a server full of your secrets โ€” because we never collect them. Checks happen locally; only anonymous threat lists come down to your phone. Nothing personal ever goes up. That's not a promise โ€” it's how Merv is built. CLARITY, NOT ALARM Merv shows you where you stand and helps you get safer โ€” with clear explanations, not scare tactics. Understand your exposures, fix what matters, and stay independent online. WHY PEOPLE TRUST MERV "Data Not Collected" โ€” check our App Store privacy label Common Sense Privacy Seal Built on established national cybersecurity (NIST) standards FROM PERSONAL TO HOUSEHOLD Today, Merv gives you your personal score. Through 2026 we're adding partners, teens, and elders โ€” so your whole household can see its exposures and get safer, together. Smart, focused, and yours alone โ€” start with your profile today. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

PhishGuard

Features
Read full description

**Protect yourself from phishing attacks and online scams with PhishGuard.** PhishGuard is a powerful Safari extension that analyzes websites in real-time to detect phishing attempts, fake login pages, and suspicious websites before you interact with them. **KEY FEATURES** **Real-Time Protection** Automatically scans every website you visit and alerts you to potential threats before you enter sensitive information. **Multi-Layer Analysis** - Domain age verification (catches newly registered scam sites) - SSL certificate validation (detects fake certificates) - AI-powered content analysis (identifies phishing patterns) - Form security checks (warns about insecure data submission) - Brand impersonation detection (spots fake bank/company sites) **Global Coverage** - Supports international domains (.de, .co.uk, .co.in, .eu, and more) - Multi-language interface (English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, Hindi) - Works with websites worldwide **Fast & Efficient** - Instant analysis with smart caching - Minimal battery impact - No browsing slowdown - Works offline with cached results **Privacy First** - All analysis happens on your device - No browsing history collected - No personal data transmitted - No tracking or ads - Open source for transparency **Detailed Insights** Get specific reasons why a site is flagged: - "Domain registered only 5 days ago" - "SSL certificate from untrusted provider" - "Contains suspicious keywords like 'verify account urgently'" - "Form submits to insecure HTTP endpoint" **Smart Verdicts** - Green badge: Safe to browse - Orange badge: Proceed with caution - Red badge: Likely phishing - stay away **HOW IT WORKS** 1. Install PhishGuard and enable it in Safari settings 2. Browse normally - PhishGuard works automatically 3. See instant verdicts via color-coded badges 4. Click the extension icon for detailed analysis 5. Trust legitimate sites to avoid future warnings **PERFECT FOR** - Online shoppers who want to avoid fake stores - Banking customers protecting their accounts - Anyone who receives suspicious links via email - Parents protecting their children online - Businesses preventing employee phishing attacks - Privacy-conscious users who want local protection **TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE** - Uses Apple Intelligence for on-device AI analysis (when available) - Validates against 110+ trusted SSL certificate authorities - Queries authoritative WHOIS databases for domain verification - Checks Tranco rankings for website popularity - Implements multiple fallback mechanisms for reliability **NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED** PhishGuard is completely free with no hidden costs, subscriptions, or in-app purchases. **SUPPORT & TRANSPARENCY** - Comprehensive FAQ and help documentation - Open source code available for review - Active development and updates - Responsive support team **STAY SAFE ONLINE** Phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated every day. Don't wait until it's too late. Install PhishGuard now and browse with confidence.

Screenshots

Merv4 screens
PhishGuard4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Merv sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. PhishGuard asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Merv ships an update fortnightly, PhishGuard monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Merv versus PhishGuard: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMervPhishGuard
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightly โ€” betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac โ€” better
Requires iOS26.526.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size103 MB5 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperProtective IQ LimitedSatish Nagdev

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Merv

Subscriptions2
  • All Access (1 Month)$9.991 Month
  • All Access (1 Year)7 Days trial$99.991 Year
None

PhishGuard

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Merv free?
Merv is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PhishGuard free?
PhishGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Merv or PhishGuard have ads?
Neither Merv nor PhishGuard shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Merv or PhishGuard?
Merv ships an update fortnightly, and PhishGuard monthly. Most recently, Merv was updated on October 15, 2026 and PhishGuard on October 14, 2026.

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