HalfMoon Browser vs tabbrowser
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
HalfMoon Browser
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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. ■ 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. • Back / Forward / Home • New Tab / Tab Switch / Close Tab • Search / URL Input • Add Bookmark • Instantly jump to the top/bottom of the page • 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. ■ Extensive customization to create your own preferences The contents of the dial can be edited at any time from the settings. • Add, delete, and rearrange items • Swap left and right dials (switch between dominant and non-dominant hands) • Two operation modes (hold & release / tap switching) • Adjust dial size from 0.8x to 1.8x • Adjust haptic feedback intensity ■ Unprecedentedly powerful ad blocking HalfMoon's ad blocking operates with a three-layer structure. • Layer 1: URL filtering blocks over 200 ad-delivery domains at the communication level • Layer 2: CSS hiding removes ad containers from the screen • 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. ■ Other Features • Private Browser (Protected by Face ID / Touch ID) • Forced Dark Mode (Inverts white background sites to darker display) • Super Dark (Darks the entire screen, adjustable from 10-85%) • Password Save (Encrypted to Keychain on your device) • Site Data / Download / History Management ■ 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: • Expands the number of dial items from 6 to 12 each • Favorites exclusive to Private Mode ■ 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).
tabbrowser
This mobile browser prioritizes speed and privacy with built-in ad and popup blocking. It offers intuitive one-handed navigation through tab swiping and customizable gestures for enhanced control. Enjoy features like in-browser media playback and reading tools.
- One-handed tab switching via swipe gestures
- Built-in ad and popup blocking
- Customizable gestures for actions
- In-browser video and music playback
- Reader view and read-aloud functionality
- Private browsing mode
- Tab grouping and management
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A tab browser built for one hand: swipe anywhere on the screen for the next tab. Ad and popup blocking is on by default. ■ Swipe to switch tabs No need to open the tab list: swipe sideways on the page for the next tab, or from the screen edge to go back or forward. ■ Block ads and popups Banner ads and tracking scripts never load. Basic filters are free and update daily. ・Stops self-opening tabs, full-screen ads, and redirect ads; review what's blocked, or allow a site ・Hides cookie banners and social share buttons, and skips images to save on data ■ Stay in the browser Links to X, YouTube, Instagram, or LINE keep you in the browser; choose to stay or open the app, remembered per site. ■ Gestures ・L shape: close the tab. Reverse L: reopen it. Upward L: new tab or tab list. V shape: jump to the top or bottom ・U and sideways L shapes can be assigned too, to ten more actions such as reload, back, forward, or add bookmark ・Hold a link to open it in a background tab. Swipe the new tab button up to close the current tab ■ Tabs ・Group tabs by color, fold and expand them, and keep pinned tabs first even through "close all" ・Closed tabs are listed under Today, Yesterday, and Last Week, ready to restore, and a tab playing music keeps playing even when you switch away ・No limit on tabs. Relaunch, and every tab and its history comes right back, with thumbnails and reordering in the list ■ Bars and menu ・Toolbar top or bottom, hiding as you scroll; gaming mode leaves just the URL and tab bars, which can match the site's color ・Reorder menu items, pin favorites to the toolbar, or save sites as quick access buttons ・Open a page in a floating window you can move and resize while reading ■ Search and new tab ・Google, Bing, Yahoo!, DuckDuckGo, or Baidu, with suggestions, history, and bookmarks as you type ・A new tab page of tiles for favorite sites, echoed in a widget ・Open a copied URL on return to the app, or send a page here from any share sheet ■ Bookmarks and history ・Nest folders your way; reorder, edit, or swipe to delete ・History by day: clear the last hour, today, today and yesterday, or everything; cache and cookies clear separately ■ Video and music ・Keep playing when you switch apps or lock the screen, watch in Picture in Picture, and split the screen into up to six pages, stacked or side by side, even on iPhone (Premium) ■ Read and research ・Translate a page as is, or switch to a reader view for just the article ・Read aloud in a natural voice, highlighting each paragraph, with adjustable speed and a sleep timer, across tabs or with the screen off ・Night mode, text size, desktop view, full screen, find on page, sharing, AirPrint, save as PDF ・Capture an entire page as one screenshot (Premium) ・Download and manage files ■ Privacy No personal data is collected; your browsing and searches never reach the developer. Private tabs leave no history or cookies and stay hidden in the app switcher. Lock the app, or just private tabs, with Face ID or Touch ID and a delay you set; trackers are blocked with the ads. ■ iPad and external keyboards Three layouts for the bigger screen: popover menus, a side-panel tab list, and two-pane settings, plus shortcuts like ⌘T for a new tab. ■ tabbrowser Premium (monthly or yearly subscription) Basic ad blocking stays free. Premium unlocks: ・Advanced ad blocking: ads on video sites, clutter, "disable your ad blocker" walls, and tap-to-remove ads that slipped through ・Background playback, Picture in Picture, and split screen ・iCloud sync for bookmarks, history, and tabs ・Full page screenshots and 40 alternative app icons Your subscription is charged to your Apple ID at purchase and renews unless canceled at least 24 hours before the period ends. Manage it in your App Store account settings. Terms of use: https://dkit.jp/en/terms/ Privacy policy: https://dkit.jp/en/privacy-policy/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: tabbrowser at every 2 days against HalfMoon Browser's fortnightly. HalfMoon Browser's advantage is iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. HalfMoon Browser sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and tabbrowser sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.89 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
HalfMoon Browser ships an update fortnightly, tabbrowser every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | HalfMoon Browser | tabbrowser |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Kotaro Tominaga | Saigen inc. |
In-app purchases
HalfMoon Browser
- Pro 版へアップグレード$1.99
tabbrowser
- Premium (Monthly)$9.891 Month
- Premium (Yearly)$88.901 Year
Questions
Is HalfMoon Browser free?
Is tabbrowser free?
Do HalfMoon Browser or tabbrowser have ads?
Which is updated more often, HalfMoon Browser or tabbrowser?
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