# Desktop Browser vs Avast Secure Browser

The clearest difference is ads: Avast Secure Browser at none against Desktop Browser's shown. Avast Secure Browser also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 52%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Desktop Browser's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and ratings volume (16K vs 2.1K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Desktop Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days and Avast Secure Browser sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Avast Secure Browser holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Desktop Browser has 16K ratings behind it against 2.1K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Desktop Browser's written reviews are positive against 79% of Avast Secure Browser's.

Desktop Browser ships an update fortnightly, Avast Secure Browser every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 14, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Desktop Browser | Avast Secure Browser |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212/reviews) | **[4.7 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avast-secure-browser/id1517761023/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **16K** | 2.1K |
| Positive reviews | 52.2% of reviews | **79.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 110 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Spicy Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/299136020) | [AVAST Software s.r.o](https://appshunter.io/developer/568017534) |

## What reviewers say

### Desktop Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desktop-browser/id940076212)

Access full desktop versions of websites on your mobile device, overcoming content limitations and enhancing productivity. Enjoy a customizable browsing experience with tabbed browsing and bookmarks, seamlessly integrated with other apps.

**Highlights:** View desktop website versions, Tabbed browsing, Bookmarks, Customizable settings, Seamless app integration, Enhanced productivity

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| weekly | $1.49 | per 7 days |
| monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| yearly | $7.49 | per year |
| remove ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| browse plus | $1.99 | one-time |
| all features pack | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Useful for desktop browsing on mobile
- 🚀 Reliable in forcing desktop mode
- 💡 Helpful for accessing desktop-only features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent performance on some websites
- 💸 Aggressive monetization with ads and in-app purchases
- 🔍 Cluttered interface with too many toolbars

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when trying to upload images
- Reloads pages unexpectedly when interacting with text fields
- Fails to properly display desktop versions of certain websites

**Requested features**

- Add PDF export/download functionality
- Improve tab management and background browsing
- Provide more customization options


### Avast Secure Browser

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/avast-secure-browser/id1517761023)

This browser prioritizes your online privacy and security with built-in VPN, ad-blocking, and data encryption. It protects you from trackers and ISPs, ensuring your browsing is truly private and secure. Enjoy faster browsing without ads and sync your encrypted data across devices.

**Highlights:** Built-in VPN, Ad blocker, Data encryption, Automatic privacy protection, Faster browsing, Cross-platform sync

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avast Pro 1 Month | $4.99 | per month |
| Avast Pro 1 Month | $7.49 | per month |
| Avast Pro 1 Month | $9.99 | per month |
| Avast Pro 12 Months | $19.99 | per year |
| Avast Pro 12 Months | $29.99 | per year |
| Avast Pro 12 Months | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 User-friendly
- 🚀 Quick and responsive
- 👍 Excellent protection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 💰 Paywall for premium features
- 🔋 Can slow down device performance
- 🔍 Limited customization options
- 🤖 Aggressive ad/upsell tactics

**Reported bugs**

- Sync issues between mobile and desktop
- Compatibility problems with certain websites
- VPN disconnects unexpectedly
- Ad blocker not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- Improved tab management
- Sync bookmarks/history across devices
- More granular privacy controls
- Better integration with other Avast products


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Desktop Browser free?

Desktop Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Avast Secure Browser free?

Avast Secure Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Desktop Browser or Avast Secure Browser?

Avast Secure Browser is rated higher. Desktop Browser averages 4.4 out of 5 from 16K ratings, while Avast Secure Browser averages 4.7 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do Desktop Browser or Avast Secure Browser have ads?

Desktop Browser shows ads; Avast Secure Browser does not.

### Which is updated more often, Desktop Browser or Avast Secure Browser?

Desktop Browser ships an update fortnightly, and Avast Secure Browser every 5 weeks. Most recently, Desktop Browser was updated on October 14, 2026 and Avast Secure Browser on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*