Comparison

Privacy Screen 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

Privacy Screen Browser

This browser offers enhanced privacy with features like Face ID lock, a screen shield, and tilt-to-hide functionality. It allows users to browse privately in public spaces, control what's visible on their screen, and set site-specific privacy rules.

Highlights
  • Face ID lock
  • Screen shield
  • Peek mode
  • Tilt to Hide
  • Panic mode
  • Site-specific privacy rules
Features
Read full description

Privacy Screen Browser is a private web browser designed for real-world screen privacy. Private browsing is not only about clearing history. Sometimes you also need to protect what is visible on your screen — in public places, shared spaces, while commuting, or whenever someone is nearby. Privacy Screen Browser combines a clean web browser with privacy tools like Face ID lock, screen shield, Peek mode, Panic mode, Tilt to Hide, tabs, bookmarks, history controls, and site-specific privacy rules. PRIVATE BROWSER Browse with a clean, familiar web experience. • Search or open URLs from one address bar • Choose your preferred search engine • Use tabs, bookmarks, favorites, and history • Quickly share pages or save websites SCREEN PRIVACY SHIELD Protect what is visible on your screen. • Cover your browsing content instantly • Use Peek mode to reveal only a small movable area • Adjust shield opacity up to full coverage • Choose whether the address bar stays visible, hidden, or protected • Keep gestures working while your screen shield is active TILT TO HIDE Privacy Screen Browser can react when your iPhone is tilted. • Enable Tilt to Hide for Cover and Peek modes • Choose Low, Medium, or High sensitivity • Increase shield opacity as the device angle changes • Protect your screen quickly without searching for a button PANIC MODE Switch to a discreet privacy screen when you need an instant cover. • Choose from multiple cover styles • Hold to return with a smooth progress animation • Use Panic mode as a fast privacy layer for sensitive moments FACE ID LOCK Add an extra layer of protection before opening the app. • Lock the app with Face ID • Cover content in the app switcher • Protect the screen when the app becomes inactive • Get a warning when a screenshot is detected SITE-SPECIFIC PRIVACY RULES Create privacy rules for websites you choose. • Auto-enable Shield for selected domains • Include subdomains when needed • Override address bar privacy per site • Hide tab titles for private sites • Prevent history saving for selected sites • Clear existing history for a site BOOKMARKS, FAVORITES & HISTORY Keep useful websites close while staying in control. • Add custom favorites to the Start Page • Save bookmarks for later • View and clear browsing history • Delete all browsing data from Settings • Turn automatic history saving on or off BUILT FOR SIMPLE, PERSONAL PRIVACY Privacy Screen Browser is made for people who want a private, focused, and discreet browsing experience on iPhone. No account is required. Your browser data is stored locally on your device unless you choose to share it or visit websites that use their own services.

About

VanBrowser

A private web browser that prioritizes user control and transparency. It offers features like isolated browsing environments, detailed network inspection, and built-in privacy tools without AI integration. Data is stored locally by default, with optional iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • No AI features
  • Isolated browsing environments (Personas)
  • Detailed network and cookie inspection
  • Tracker and ad blocking
  • Local data storage with optional iCloud sync
  • Native macOS, iPhone, and iPad design
  • Accessibility-focused
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

Privacy Screen Browser3 screens
VanBrowser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VanBrowser at 5.0 against Privacy Screen Browser's 3.0. VanBrowser also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (7 vs 2). Privacy Screen Browser's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. VanBrowser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Privacy Screen Browser asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VanBrowser holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 7 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Privacy Screen Browser ships an update monthly, VanBrowser every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Privacy Screen Browser versus VanBrowser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivacy Screen BrowserVanBrowser
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings27 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB29 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperHa Do Thi ThuVertolini

Customer experience

Privacy Screen Browser

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

VanBrowser

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

In-app purchases

None

Privacy Screen Browser

No in-app purchases

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 Privacy Screen Browser free?
Privacy Screen Browser is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is VanBrowser free?
VanBrowser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Privacy Screen Browser or VanBrowser?
VanBrowser is rated higher. Privacy Screen Browser averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while VanBrowser averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Privacy Screen Browser or VanBrowser have ads?
Neither Privacy Screen Browser nor VanBrowser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Privacy Screen Browser or VanBrowser?
Privacy Screen Browser ships an update monthly, and VanBrowser every 3 days. Most recently, Privacy Screen Browser was updated on October 31, 2026 and VanBrowser on November 5, 2026.

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