Comparison

VanBrowser vs Surf

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

Head to head
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/

About

Surf

Features
Read full description

Browse privately. Keep useful articles. Give your files a proper home. Surf combines a native iPhone and iPad browser with Reader, a file library and optional iCloud continuity. Start browsing for free, with no Surf account required. A BROWSER THAT FITS YOUR DAY • Multiple tabs and private browsing • Webpage ad and tracker blocking, with per-site exceptions • Bookmarks, folders and history search • Adjustable text size and desktop page layout • Find on page and familiar iPad keyboard shortcuts • Clear Browsing Data with confirmation before it removes history, cookies and cache READ NOW, KEEP FOR LATER Reader turns an article into a calmer page with adjustable type and light, sepia or dark appearance. Save an article from Reader to keep an offline archive, then open it from Reading List when you have no connection. Entries saved only as links still need the web. A FILE LIBRARY BUILT IN • Create folders, add colour tags and find files with search • Import, rename, move and share ordinary documents • Create and open ZIP archives • Preview supported files and export through Apple's Files app • Keep private files behind device authentication • Recover removed files from Recently Deleted • Use iCloud file-library storage on every plan when iCloud is available YOUR SIGN-INS, READY WHEN NEEDED Surf can remember a website username and password with your permission, then offer to fill it on a later visit. Manage saved entries in Settings. Storage is in the device keychain, with optional iCloud Keychain sync. SURF PRO, ACROSS YOUR APPLE DEVICES One subscription covers iPhone, iPad and Mac. Choose Monthly or Yearly for: • Bookmarks, history and Reading List kept in step through your own iCloud • Access to tabs open on your other devices • Unlimited saved articles and remembered sign-ins • More file-saving capacity and several files at once • Site settings that stay remembered The free plan remains a complete browser. Your membership page shows your current plan, price and renewal or expiry information when available. Restore Purchases and Manage Subscription are easy to reach. PRIVACY WITH CLEAR BOUNDARIES Surf includes no advertising or analytics SDK. Websites and the search engine you choose receive the requests needed to browse. Optional sync uses your own iCloud. Private tabs, cookies and form contents do not participate in browser-data sync. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation. Subscriptions renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in your Apple Account settings. Introductory offers are subject to eligibility. Privacy Policy: https://mwsupplylimited.github.io/surf/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

VanBrowser4 screens
Surf4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: VanBrowser at every 2 days against Surf's every 4 days. 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VanBrowser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Surf sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VanBrowser ships an update every 2 days, Surf every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
VanBrowser versus Surf: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVanBrowserSurf
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 4 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB6 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperVertoliniMatthew Wong

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
2 purchases

Surf

Subscriptions2
  • Surf Pro (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Surf Pro (Yearly)$29.991 Year

Questions

Is VanBrowser free?
VanBrowser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Surf free?
Surf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do VanBrowser or Surf have ads?
Neither VanBrowser nor Surf shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VanBrowser or Surf?
VanBrowser ships an update every 2 days, and Surf every 4 days. Most recently, VanBrowser was updated on September 13, 2026 and Surf on September 20, 2026.

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