Comparison

Private Web Browser vs VanBrowser

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

Head to head
About

Private Web Browser

A secure and private web browser offering ad blocking and private tabs for a cleaner, faster browsing experience. It provides convenient tools like tab management and bookmarks to enhance everyday internet exploration while protecting your history and personal information.

Highlights
  • Private browsing mode
  • Integrated ad blocker
  • Quick page loading
  • Tab management
  • Bookmarks
  • Modern interface
  • History protection
Features
Read full description

A fast and privacy-oriented browser that gives you more control while exploring the web. Browse comfortably with built-in ad blocking, private tabs, and practical tools designed for everyday use. Key Features: - Private browsing mode for safer web sessions - Integrated ad blocker for a cleaner browsing experience - Quick page loading and smooth website navigation - Convenient tab management for browsing multiple sites - Bookmarks for fast access to your favorite pages - Clean, modern interface with simple controls - Keep your browsing history and personal information protected Explore the internet with confidence using a secure, convenient browser made for daily browsing. Payment will be charged to the credit card connected to your iTunes Account when you confirm the initial subscription purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current subscription period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and the cost of the renewal will be identified. You may manage your subscription and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Account Settings after the purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription, where applicable. Terms of Use & Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/privatebrowser-terms-of-use https://sites.google.com/view/privatebrowser-privacy-policy

About

VanBrowser

A fast, private web browser designed for Apple devices. It prioritizes user control and transparency by avoiding AI features and data collection. Offers advanced tools for inspecting web activity and managing online identities.

Highlights
  • No AI features
  • Advanced web inspection tools
  • Persona-based identity separation
  • Tracker and ad blocking
  • Local data storage
  • Optional iCloud sync
  • Native Apple device design
Features
Read full description

Fast, private, and built natively for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, VanBrowser puts you in control of your browsing experience instead of collecting data about it. Many browsers racing to add AI assistants, cloud services, and increasingly complicated and hidden interfaces. VanBrowser takes a different approach. It is a browser first, designed to help you browse the web with more transparency. NO AI. NONE. VanBrowser includes no AI features. No chatbot. No page summaries. No assistant watching what you browse. No prompts asking you to generate content. What you do in VanBrowser never becomes training data for us because we don't collect it in the first place. We don't collect data: You're not the product. Instead of monetizing your browsing activity, we rely on Pro subscriptions and optional tips to support continued development. SEE WHAT THE WEB IS DOING Most browsers hide what happens behind the scenes. VanBrowser puts that information in front of you. A live status bar shows page load times, transferred data, and resource counts as pages load. Open the Cookies, Network, and Page Info panels to inspect what a site sets, requests, and loads. Advanced users can also send and inspect raw web requests directly. PERSONAS: SEPARATE YOUR ONLINE IDENTITIES Keep work and personal accounts separate without juggling multiple browsers. Personas provide isolated browsing environments with their own cookies and device identities, making it easy to: • Stay logged into multiple accounts at the same time • Keep work and personal browsing separate • Open websites as a clean device • Automatically send specific websites to the correct Persona PRIVACY BY DEFAULT VanBrowser blocks many trackers and ads using maintained blocklists and is designed to give you greater control over your browsing data. History, bookmarks, passwords, and settings are stored locally on your Mac by default. If you use multiple devices, you can optionally enable iCloud sync to share supported data through your own iCloud account. VanBrowser is designed to minimize the collection of user data. We do not operate a cloud service for storing your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords, or synced data. BUILT NATIVELY FOR MAC, IPHONE, AND IPAD VanBrowser is designed specifically for macOS, iPhone, and iPad and feels at home here. Features include: • Tabbed browsing • Bookmarks and bookmarks bar • History and downloads • Reader View • Find in Page • Zoom controls • Built-in password vault • Built-in payment card vault • Per-site controls • Accessibility-focused design ACCESSIBILITY FIRST VanBrowser includes support for VoiceOver, Voice Control, and accessibility-focused customization throughout the app. FREE AND PRO VanBrowser is free to use. Upgrade to Pro to unlock iCloud sync, additional Personas, and other advanced features. A browser should work for you, not advertisers, data brokers, or AI companies. VanBrowser is a browser. That's the point. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Private Web Browser4 screens
VanBrowser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VanBrowser at 5.0 against Private Web Browser's 4.0. VanBrowser also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Private Web Browser sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per 7 days and VanBrowser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VanBrowser holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Web Browser ships an update weekly, VanBrowser every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Private Web Browser versus VanBrowser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Web BrowserVanBrowser
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings47 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFreemium — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size33 MB29 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperPrivacyCore LtdVertolini

Customer experience

Private Web Browser

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

VanBrowser

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Private Web Browser

Subscriptions1
  • Private Web Browser - Internet3 Days trial$5.997 Days
6 purchases

VanBrowser

Subscriptions2
  • VanBrowser (Monthly)$1.991 Month
  • VanBrowser Pro (Yearly)$19.991 Year
One-time4
  • Small Tip$2.99
  • Medium Tip$6.99
  • Large Tip$12.99
Show 1 more
  • VanBrowser Pro (Lifetime)$49.99

Questions

Is Private Web Browser free?
Private Web Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is VanBrowser free?
VanBrowser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Private Web Browser or VanBrowser?
VanBrowser is rated higher. Private Web Browser averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while VanBrowser averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Private Web Browser or VanBrowser have ads?
Neither Private Web Browser nor VanBrowser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Private Web Browser or VanBrowser?
Private Web Browser ships an update weekly, and VanBrowser every 3 days. Most recently, Private Web Browser was updated on September 25, 2026 and VanBrowser on October 1, 2026.

Other comparisons