Comparison

Archivist Browser vs Optio

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

Head to head
About

Archivist Browser

Stream millions of films, audiobooks, music, and digital texts directly from the Internet Archive. This media player offers enhanced playback, universal TV casting, and organized file management for researchers and enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Stream films, audiobooks, music, and texts
  • Universal TV Casting (AirPlay)
  • High-resolution image viewer
  • Optimized audio with background support
  • Topic Chips for content filtering
  • Folder sharing via URL or QR code
  • On-the-fly renaming and text file cleanup
Features
Read full description

Archivist Browser: Your Portal to Digital History Archivist Browser is the ultimate media player, transforming your device into a comprehensive portal for streaming content directly from the Internet Archive's vast collections. Built specifically for researchers and enthusiasts of historical media, our app provides the fastest, most reliable way to stream millions of films, audiobooks, music and digital texts. Stop struggling with browser playback. Download Archivist Browser and experience the past, optimised for seamless, modern streaming. What the Critics Say "A really cool piece of software... I've never seen anything like this before... Highly recommend." — WILL SMITH, BRAD AND WILL MADE A TECH POD "A great idea for a very niche utility – my favourite kind these days." — FEDERICO VITICCI, MACSTORIES As featured in Cory Doctorow's Pluralistic blog. Enhanced Media Playback & Visuals Experience history in high definition with a UI designed for modern enthusiasts. Custom Themes: Personalise your experience with the new Alt Indigo Theme, a variation specifically for Dark Mode enthusiasts. Universal TV Casting: Watch films and video on your big screen! Archivist Browser supports AirPlay (on iOS) for instant, seamless video streaming to any compatible TV or streaming device. High-Res Image Viewer: Enjoy smoother navigation and better rendering when viewing high-resolution assets. Improved Subtitles: Expanded support for subtitles across more titles and languages. Optimised Audio: Enjoy full background audio support and media controls right from your lock screen, perfect for listening to historical audiobooks or music collections. Polished UI: Refined thumbnail badges offer better clarity and a more professional look. Discovery & Integration Navigate the Archive’s millions of items with ease. Topic Chips: Quickly filter and find what you want with Topic Chips now appearing on Collections. Uploader Profiles: Explore more from your favourite contributors by clicking an uploader’s name to see their full gallery. Internet Archive (IA) Integration: Seamlessly import your lists directly from your IA account for a seamless transition. Fast Content Discovery: Easily find media by title, keyword or creator, or access curated "Popular Queries" to jump straight into trending collections. File & Folder Management Organise and share your research effortlessly. Folder Sharing: Share your favourite folders with other users via URL or QR code. Smart Store Linking: If a recipient doesn’t have the app installed, shared links will automatically direct them to the store page. On-the-Fly Renaming: Keep your library organised by renaming your folders instantly. Text File Clean Up: Use a dedicated button to instantly tidy up messy OCR text files. Rapid Text Access: Cached text fetching retrieves PDFs and documents rapidly (note: cache is purged on app closure). Privacy & Reliability We prioritise your privacy: No user accounts, no mandatory login and absolutely no personal details are stored. Experience the Archive with total peace of mind.

About

Optio

This app helps you make decisions with customizable wheels and quick random tools like coin flips and dice rolls. Enjoy a unique cyberpunk aesthetic and share results via QR codes. It offers a fun and fair way to resolve everyday choices.

Highlights
  • Customizable decision wheels
  • Random number generator
  • Coin flip and dice roll tools
  • Secret magic mode for influencing outcomes
  • Cyberpunk and neon aesthetics
  • QR code sharing of results
Features
Read full description

Optio turns "I can't decide" into a game. Stuck on where to eat, what to watch, or who does the dishes? Optio gives you a whole toolbox — from pure fun to smart AI — to settle any choice fast. SPIN THE WHEEL Add your options and let the wheel decide. Export the spin as a vertical video with confetti and share it anywhere. OPSIS AI Can't even think of the options? Ask Opsis. Our AI instantly generates a smart, tailored list — and can even weigh the pros and cons for you. PROS, CONS & WEIGHTS For the choices that matter, list pros and cons or assign weights so the odds match your gut. DECIDE TOGETHER — LIVE ROOMS Create a room, invite friends, everyone swipes, and Optio finds the match. Perfect for group dinners, trips, and movie nights. QUICK TOOLS Coin flip, dice roll, number and letter pickers, and more — a one-tap answer whenever you need it. SEALED DECISIONS Lock in a choice now and reveal it later. Optio reminds you when the time comes. STREAKS & ENERGY Build a daily decision streak, complete quests, and earn energy to power Opsis. HOME-SCREEN WIDGETS Your streak and a quick decision, one tap from the home screen. 9 LANGUAGES English, Türkçe, Español, Français, Русский, 한국어, العربية, 简体中文, 繁體中文. PREMIUM Unlock unlimited lists, weighted options, decision history, magician mode, and a monthly pool of Opsis neural credits with Optio Pro — monthly or yearly. Download Optio and never get stuck on a decision again. — Subscriptions auto-renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy links are available in the app and on the product page. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Archivist Browser4 screens
Optio4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Archivist Browser at 4.9 against Optio's 3.0. Archivist Browser also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ratings volume (54 vs 2). On price, ads 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. Optio sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Archivist Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Archivist Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Archivist Browser has 54 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Archivist Browser ships an update every 3 days, Optio every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Archivist Browser versus Optio: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArchivist BrowserOptio
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (54 ratings) — better3.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings54 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 9 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB20 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRobert LothianHAKAN OZGER

Customer experience

Archivist Browser

All ratings54 ratings
Positive96.3%
Neutral1.9%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%

Optio

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Archivist Browser

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Optio

Subscriptions2
  • Optio Pro (Monthly)$2.991 Month
  • Optio Pro (Yearly)$17.991 Year
One-time3
  • 50 Neural Energy$2.99
  • 50 Neural Energy$5.99
  • Optio Pro (Lifetime)$9.99

Questions

Is Archivist Browser free?
Archivist Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Optio free?
Optio is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Archivist Browser or Optio?
Archivist Browser is rated higher. Archivist Browser averages 4.9 out of 5 from 54 ratings, while Optio averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Archivist Browser or Optio have ads?
Neither Archivist Browser nor Optio shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Archivist Browser or Optio?
Archivist Browser ships an update every 3 days, and Optio every 9 days. Most recently, Archivist Browser was updated on October 17, 2026 and Optio on October 5, 2026.

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