Private Browser Free 1.8.10
Nice on the outside, ugly on the inside
Although it’s advertised as being able to do all that for free, it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Private Browser Free looks as bad as it does its job (or doesn’t, depending on how you look at it).
The browser window is extremely dark and thick, the buttons are ridiculously large, it displays more ads than it does the web, and the UI overall doesn’t work as expected. Which brings us to our next point.
Not exactly the advertised downloader
Private Browser Free is first and foremost a browser, but it’s advertised as one that also includes a file downloader. It even starts off with a handy guide, giving the user some confidence that he / she has made the right choice in downloading the app.
However, the user quickly learns that Private Browser Free doesn’t display the web properly, doesn’t bring up any download links as the guide had said, and fails to display even the most common file formats, such as PNG images.
You have to really put your mind to the test to try and download audio (we discovered that by long-pressing the start-stop button to an embedded song on a site), and if you accidentally hit the Clear button in the Downloads area, everything is whisked away to the nexus of the Universe, never to be seen again. Isn’t it common sense to include “are you sure” prompts?
Security
Here’s where Private Browser Scores well (but not perfectly). Despite still posing some risks (don’t let the “Private” thing fool you, it’s not malware proof) it does include all the options you need to clear your browsing history, as well as set a passcode lock on the thing. However, you have to take care of the bookmarks manually.
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0/5
Hits & Misses
hits
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misses
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Bottom Line
Design / UI4
Private Browser Free is ugly and its UI doesn’t work as expected. It displays more ads than the Internet itself, and it feel heavy and cluttered. Not at all good. |
Function3
Everything in Private Browser Free works really bad or doesn’t work at all. The Downloads area is easy to wipe clean by accident, and the constant ads (that sometimes fill up the entire screen) make for a dreadful experience. |
Security9
Despite still posing some risks, it does include all the options you need to clear your history and set a passcode lock |
Battery8
Normal usage, but the ads drain more juice than would otherwise be necessary. |
Price2
Having ads run before your eyes on a regular basis is bad enough. But the $4.99 / €4,49 price tag is a joke. It’s not even worth a cellular download charge. |
Compatibility9
Supports iOS 6 and newer, and has an iPad version that might be more worthwhile, but we still don’t recommend it. |
Look for something else to browse the web and download stuff
Specifications
- price:
- Free with ads
- current version:
- 1.8.10
- reviewed version:
- 1.8.8
- developer:
- Mirmay Limited
- category:
- INTERNET & NETWORK
- os version req.:
- 6.0
- age rating:
- 17+
- in-app purchases:
- Yes. Premium $4,99
- hits:
- 470