# Emerald Browser vs Lens

The clearest difference is rating: Lens at 4.9 against Emerald Browser's 3.8. Lens also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs fortnightly) and review sentiment (100% vs 83%). Emerald Browser's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Emerald Browser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month and Lens sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lens holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 54 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Emerald Browser's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lens's.

Emerald Browser ships an update fortnightly, Lens every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Emerald Browser | Lens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emerald-browser/id6752656312/reviews) | **[4.9 (54 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-simple-private-browser/id6817076945/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **54** |
| Positive reviews | 83.3% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 218 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Dario Ortiz](https://appshunter.io/developer/1840415764) | [Maximos Angelakis](https://appshunter.io/developer/1809161226) |

## What reviewers say

### Emerald Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/emerald-browser/id6752656312)

Browse the web with a clean, distraction-free experience. This browser includes a built-in ad blocker and smart organization tools to help manage your online life. It's designed for professionals and students alike, offering enhanced privacy and customization.

**Highlights:** Ad blocker, Smart organization, No spyware, Customization options, Secure browsing

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Emerald Premium (Monthly) | $3.49 | per month |
| Emerald Premium (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |


### Lens

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lens-simple-private-browser/id6817076945)

A private web browser focused on speed and simplicity. It blocks ads and trackers by default, offers customizable search engine options, and features automatic tab archiving. Enhanced privacy controls include Face ID protection for private tabs.

**Highlights:** Search-first interface, Ad and tracker blocking, Customizable search engines, Automatic tab archiving, Face ID protected private tabs, Link preview and translation

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coffee | $3.99 | one-time |
| Coffee & Snack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lunch | $14.99 | one-time |
| Big Thank-You | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Emerald Browser free?

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

### Is Lens free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Emerald Browser or Lens?

Lens is rated higher. Emerald Browser averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Lens averages 4.9 from 54 ratings.

### Do Emerald Browser or Lens have ads?

Neither Emerald Browser nor Lens shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Emerald Browser or Lens?

Emerald Browser ships an update fortnightly, and Lens every 2 days. Most recently, Emerald Browser was updated on November 5, 2026 and Lens on November 12, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*