Comparison

Permission Browser vs HalfMoon Browser

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

Head to head
About

Permission Browser

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Permission is a family browser built to give parents clarity and control over how their children explore the web. Instead of handing a child an unrestricted browser, Permission creates a structured browsing environment where parents decide what’s allowed and how long it can be used. With Permission, parents can: β€’ Approve specific websites through a whitelist β€’ Block unwanted content before it loads β€’ Set daily browsing time limits β€’ See clear insights into browsing activity within the Permission platform β€’ Help children understand why a page was blocked Every page is checked against parent-defined rules before it renders. If something isn’t allowed, the child sees a simple explanation β€” creating consistency instead of confusion. Browsing activity inside the Permission browser powers insights across the Permission platform, helping parents understand patterns and guide healthier digital habits. Permission is designed to balance independence and oversight β€” giving kids a usable browser experience while giving parents meaningful visibility and control. No ads. No unnecessary tracking. Just structured browsing and insights built for families.

About

HalfMoon Browser

Features
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A browser that lets you do everything with one hand. HalfMoon Browser is a lightweight web browser specifically designed for one-handed operation on iPhones. It consolidates operations such as back, search, and tab switching into a "dial" accessible from the edge of the screen, aiming for ultimate comfort by allowing you to complete browsing with just your thumb. β–  Unique dial operation for one-handed use Place your finger on the left or right edge of the screen, and a semi-circular dial will unfold. Simply slide your finger up or down and release to execute the desired function. β€’ Back / Forward / Home β€’ New Tab / Tab Switch / Close Tab β€’ Search / URL Input β€’ Add Bookmark β€’ Instantly jump to the top/bottom of the page β€’ Remove Ads / Share / In-page Search / Auto-scroll / Settings (submenu) Even on larger devices, there's no need to stretch your finger to the center or top of the screen. β–  Extensive customization to create your own preferences The contents of the dial can be edited at any time from the settings. β€’ Add, delete, and rearrange items β€’ Swap left and right dials (switch between dominant and non-dominant hands) β€’ Two operation modes (hold & release / tap switching) β€’ Adjust dial size from 0.8x to 1.8x β€’ Adjust haptic feedback intensity β–  Unprecedentedly powerful ad blocking HalfMoon's ad blocking operates with a three-layer structure. β€’ Layer 1: URL filtering blocks over 200 ad-delivery domains at the communication level β€’ Layer 2: CSS hiding removes ad containers from the screen β€’ Layer 3: Detection bypass (prevents "Please unblock ads" warnings and automatic ad reloads) Furthermore, ads that were not completely blocked by the filter can be manually removed with a single tap from the "Remove Ads" submenu. Hidden selectors are remembered per site, so they will be hidden from the start the next time you open the site. β–  Other Features β€’ Private Browser (Protected by Face ID / Touch ID) β€’ Forced Dark Mode (Inverts white background sites to darker display) β€’ Super Dark (Darks the entire screen, adjustable from 10-85%) β€’ Password Save (Encrypted to Keychain on your device) β€’ Site Data / Download / History Management β–  About the Pro Version Almost all features of HalfMoon Browser are available for free. If you like it, please support us by purchasing the Pro version. The following features are unlocked with a one-time purchase: β€’ Expands the number of dial items from 6 to 12 each β€’ Favorites exclusive to Private Mode β–  Privacy This app does not send user browsing data to the developer's servers. History, bookmarks, and passwords are all stored on your device. We do not use analytics tools, crash report SDKs, or collect advertising IDs (IDFA).

Screenshots

Permission Browser4 screens
HalfMoon Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Permission Browser at none against HalfMoon Browser's 1. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice Β· In-app purchases Β· Ads Β· Monetization

Both are free to download. HalfMoon Browser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Permission Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference Β· 5 level
Permission Browser versus HalfMoon Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPermission BrowserHalfMoon Browser
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo β€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod β€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 β€” better16.0
Further details β€” not scored
Size27 MB5 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperPermission.io Inc.Kotaro Tominaga

In-app purchases

None

Permission Browser

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HalfMoon Browser

One-time1
  • Pro η‰ˆγΈγ‚’γƒƒγƒ—γ‚°γƒ¬γƒΌγƒ‰$1.99

Questions

Is Permission Browser free?
Permission Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HalfMoon Browser free?
HalfMoon Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Permission Browser or HalfMoon Browser have ads?
Neither Permission Browser nor HalfMoon Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Permission Browser or HalfMoon Browser?
Permission Browser ships an update fortnightly, and HalfMoon Browser fortnightly. Most recently, Permission Browser was updated on November 5, 2026 and HalfMoon Browser on November 9, 2026.

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