Verdict
Firefox Focus wipes browsing data automatically and reviewers consistently praise how simple and fast that makes it feel, though a notable slice of users say it still lets ads through, including on sites like Reddit and YouTube.
Best for
Someone who wants a quick, disposable browser tab for one-off searches they don't want sitting in their main browser's history, rather than a full-time ad-blocking browser.
Dealbreaker
Multiple reviewers report ads still get through on certain sites, so it's not a reliable full ad-blocker despite the privacy framing.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand.
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.7★ (82,331)
Version
155.0
Last updated
Aug 30, 2026
Released
Dec 8, 2015
Attributes
Native app
Category
Utilities, Productivity
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Privacy and data handling15 reviews
Ease of use and design6 reviews
Blocks ads effectively3 reviews
Battery and performance2 reviews
Complained about
Misses some ads8 reviews
Privacy and data handling5 reviews
Where this comes from
15 of 200 recent reviews raised: Privacy and data handlingApp Store reviews ›
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Misses some adsApp Store reviews ›
6 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best private browsers and tracker blockers ›Browsers and blockers that cut tracking, each with the thing it does not do.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better by at least 5,000 people, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — most cost nothing to download, though the App Store price alone does not tell you whether an app later asks for a subscription. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.8★ (2,415,501) · Updated Oct 26, 2026
Verdict. DuckDuckGo's core privacy pitch — tracker blocking, no data retained across reinstalls — comes through clearly in reviews, but a meaningful chunk of users report crashes, freezing, and sluggish page loads, especially after updates.
Best for. Someone switching from Chrome or Safari mainly to stop being tracked, who can tolerate an occasional freeze in exchange for not being profiled.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers report the browser crashing or freezing mid-use and losing their work, plus complaints that deleted AI chat data reappeared and support didn't resolve it.
Free · 4.8★ (668,800) · Updated Oct 21, 2026
Verdict. Brave's reviewers consistently praise its built-in ad and tracker blocking and the privacy angle, which is what sets it apart from a generic mobile browser. But a real slice of recent reviews report crashes on iPhone and Mac, and sync between devices is flaky or broken for some users.
Best for. Someone who wants ads and trackers blocked by default on their iPhone without installing separate extensions, and who mostly uses one device so sync issues won't bite them.
Dealbreaker. Multiple recent reviewers report the app crashing or becoming unusable, and sync/bookmark import across devices is described as broken by others, so anyone relying on a seamless multi-device setup should be cautious.
Free · 4.8★ (7,390) · Updated Oct 26, 2026
Verdict. Reviewers consistently praise Startpage for its privacy focus and clean, simple interface, but a smaller group reports freezing, slowdowns, and weak ad-blocking that undercuts the privacy pitch.
Best for. Someone who wants a straightforward, privacy-oriented default browser on iPhone but doesn't need aggressive built-in ad blocking.
Dealbreaker. Some users report the browser freezes or needs its cache cleared regularly, and several say it doesn't block ads as well as competitors like Firefox.