8 Best Private Browsers for iPhone & iPad users

With cybercrime becoming an increasing threat, more and more of us are searching for ways to protect our online privacy. From using VPN services to switching to more secure mobile browsers and search engines, we’re doing what we can.

Third-party browsers cannot use their own rendering engines but must rely on Apple’s framework. The requirement limits the privacy-related features these browsers can offer. That said, they still come packed with great, customizable options, built-in VPNs, ad-blockers, detailed usage reports, and a wide range of other features to suit all needs. Take a look at our list to choose the best private web browser for your iPhone or iPad.

Updated on: April 2, 2024

Firefox Focus is yet another open-source private web browser often chosen by privacy conscious users. It deletes your browsing history every time you close the browser window. Featuring a private browsing mode, Firefox Focus provides ad blocking, tracking protection, password management, and add-on support.

Related: How to open private mode on Mac

With its user-friendly interface and long-established reputation, it’s no wonder that Firefox Focus is among the most popular web browsers. Some people are wary of the fact that Firefox Focus collects anonymized usage data and shares it with its third-party marketing vendor, a company called Adjust. 

This is nothing like the kind of data collection perpetrated by something like Google Chrome, though, and it can be disabled in the settings.

Pros:

• Automatically deletes past browsing sessions by default.
• Easy to navigate options.
• Ad and tracker blocking.
• Good speeds.

Cons:

• Does not support tabbed browsing.
• No add-ons or plug-ins.
• Some users complain about speeds.

One of the most popular browsers in the US, DuckDuckGo is arguably also one of the most private browsers available. Its privacy features include encrypting connections and hiding your IP address, blocking advertising trackers, and ensuring your browsing history remains private.

It also provides users with a privacy grade for each website they visit, making it easier to judge which sites are safe and which are best avoided. 

As for its cons, users point to the lack of advanced privacy settings and no virus or malware protection. Still, with the ability to load web pages twice as fast as Safari, many internet users opt for this alternative web browser app.

Pros:

• Does not store search history.
• Blocks ads and hidden third-party trackers.
• Unrefined search results.
• One-page search results.

Cons:

• Less comprehensive search results.
• In May 2022, an independent auditor demonstrated that DDG mobile browser made an exception for certain advertising data requests made by its search syndication partner, Microsoft, tarnishing the browser’s reputation as a fully private browser.

Ghostery Privacy Browser is a web browser known for its dedication to privacy. It offers granular control over what data and scripts are allowed to run and comes with built-in ad and tracker blockers. Ghostery privacy browser also provides real-time website tracking analysis, allowing users to see the extent of tracking attempts on visited websites. 

On top of that, the free version of this Firefox-based browser has most of its premium features present. You decide whether you want to financially contribute to the project or not.

However, it’s important to note that, like other privacy-focused browsers, Ghostery privacy browser may encounter some website compatibility issues due to its strict blocking settings, which can occasionally affect the user experience on certain sites.

Pros: 

• Comprehensive free version.
• Ad blocker which also blocks YouTube ads.
• Easy to navigate interface.
• Detailed tracker analysis (for contributors).

Cons:

• Ghostery is owned by Hubert Burda Media Holding, a German media company, raising questions about users’ browsing data privacy.

Every privacy-respecting web browser brings something different to the table. This is no less true of Aloha, a private browser app that has some pretty cool features.

As far as privacy protection goes, the Aloha browser has a free, unlimited VPN, ad blocking, and a private mode that allows you to browse privately, with no browsing history being logged.

As for additional features, Aloha comes with a built-in media player with VR support, the ability to secure your pictures, videos, and files with a passcode or fingerprint, and, as a cherry on top, an easy-to-use interface.

Unfortunately, even the best things have their cons. In the case of Aloha, it’s the fact that it isn’t open-source and that it’s reportedly slower than its competitors.

Pros: 

• Comes with a free, integrated, and unlimited VPN.
• Private browsing mode, tracking protection, and ad blocker.
• Secure downloads on iOS.

Cons:

• Users complain about slow speeds.
• By default, Aloha collects user data for UX improvements and personalized ads “from trusted partners.” You can disable these in the privacy settings. 

As the name implies, Private Browsing is a privacy-focused iOS web browser that features an interface that strongly resembles the Safari browser. It’s compatible with the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This private browser features a built-in ad blocker and password manager. Many users also appreciate how little storage space it takes up.

Its downside, according to some, is that it lacks some additional, privacy-enhancing features that other browsers have.

Pros:

• Full screen mode.
• History, cookies, and cache get deleted after each session.
• Works well even on older iPhone models.
• Free.

Cons:

• No tabbed browsing.

Possibly one of the most well-known open-source private browsers available, the Onion browser was created to ensure anonymous browsing and tracking protection when accessing the Tor network (commonly referred to as the dark web). Routing connections through the Tor network makes it nearly impossible to track and identify your online activities.

Regular updates mean it’s up-to-date with the latest security patches to provide you with the best private browsing experience. Additionally, it features iOS integration, making it that much easier to use.

As for the downsides, users often complain that the Onion browser is much slower than alternative browsers due to the many layers used to anonymize traffic. Also, JavaScript is disabled by default on the Onion browser, causing many websites to break or not load properly.

Although usable for browsing the clearnet (the regular internet), this browser is really designed with The Onion Router (Tor) network in mind.

Pros:

• Best Tor browser alternative for iOS.
• The only iOS browser recommended by the Tor project.
• Free and open source.

Cons:

• Cannot fully disable JavaScript.
• Low speeds and sometimes crashes.
• Can be hard to navigate for users not familiar with the dark web.

The last (but not least) privacy-focused browser we think is worth mentioning is also an open-source web browser, which means that its source code is publicly accessible and can be audited by anyone. Less popular than other browsers on our list, SnowHaze places a strong emphasis on user privacy. 

SnowHaze blocks ads and trackers by default and allows users to adjust settings affecting just about everything, from JavaScript blocking to requiring HTTPS before connecting to websites, and a list of search engines to choose from. On top of all this, SnowHaze adds a VPN that uses the Zero-Knowledge Auth protocol and includes Tor support for its Premium (paid) users.  

SnowHaze is a self-financed and independent project, created by privacy enthusiasts with a very transparent privacy policy.

While the amount of settings SnowHaze offers is clearly aimed at more knowledgeable users, the browser’s reporting feature lacks precision. SnowHaze will tell you how many trackers it has blocked and how many cookies it has deleted but these stats are general, not site by site. Lastly, the tool would certainly benefit from having more user reviews—–the current lack of information does not invite trust.

Pros:

• Open source.
• Transparent privacy policy.
• A ton of adjustable settings.
• Built-in VPN.

Cons:

• The number of settings can be daunting.
• Browsing data report not very granular.
• Low credibility because of lack of user reviews.
• Their VPN service infrastructure has not been audited.

Why is it important to use a private browser?

When you browse the web, your internet service provider, the websites you visit, and other parties are able to track your activity. The most concerning are data brokers and people search sites that scrape the internet searching for personal information. They can collect your personal details and find ways to monetize them. In this process, your private data becomes exposed, increasing the risk of falling victim to scammers and hackers.

The two best ways to ensure online safety are to use private browsers, both on your desktop and phone, and to get your data removed from the aforementioned data brokers and people search sites.

Once you switch to private browsing, spend some time sending opt-out requests to these third-party entities. This may sound easy, but it’s actually a very time-consuming process. So if you don’t want to spend countless hours writing removal requests, you’ll want to consider subscribing to Incogni.

Incogni is an automated personal information removal service that sends opt-out requests on your behalf. Incogni takes care of the entire process without you having to lift a finger. And at the end of the day, you can be sure your personal data is being taken off the market.

What else do you need to disappear completely from the internet? Check out this post.

How to make your phone impossible to track? Check out this post.

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