So in all my years I've never actually written a review for an iPhone app before. This one made me stop and have to write.After getting increasingly frustrated with the adoption of generative ai everywhere in search engines, including DuckDuckGo and Ecosia which had previously been reliable, I did a lot of digging and found Startpage as my one search engine that preserved privacy 100%. I've been using it now for a while in Firefox on desktop and loving it!So imagine my surprise and wonder at discovering Startpage has a phone app that eliminates the need to run it in other browsers.After putting the app through its paces checking some of the most ad-ridden sites I know of, while it may not 100% block all ads, it DOES completely block all popups which makes browsing even something as bogged down as the fandom wiki a breeze. It outperforms the Firefox mobile app in this respect.It runs lightning fast, loads pages quickly, and has an easy to use interface. It also delivers search results that are FAR more accurate than Google without sponsored results shoved in first place.Some might think it bare bones, but for me, sick of every company shoving features in my face that I don't want? This app is PERFECT.Thank you, Startpage, genuinely.

Startpage is a privacy-focused search engine that aims to provide search results on par with other leading search engines while safeguarding user privacy. Here’s why it deserves a 5-star rating:Private Browsing: Startpage ensures your searches remain confidential. It doesn’t track your activity or collect personal data, making it an excellent choice for privacy-conscious users.Anonymous View: With Startpage’s “Anonymous View,” you can visit websites incognito. It acts as a privacy shield, preventing sites from tracking your identity or behavior.Secure and Untracked: Unlike Google, Startpage doesn’t use targeted ads or third-party cookies. Your data remains yours, and you won’t see invasive ads following you around the web.Great Search Results, Enhanced Privacy: Startpage delivers search results identical to Google’s, but without the privacy trade-offs. You get the best of both worlds.No User Tracking: Startpage’s commitment to privacy means no user tracking whatsoever. Your search history remains confidential.Download the Startpage Browsing app today. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s new and might need small improvements here and there but its already great. It could in the future replace my Safari and Firefox browsers. I would like to have the option to change the Startpage mobile App icon, similarly to the DuckDuckGo app. Also, it’s understandable that Startpage is the default homepage. However, Firefox allows users to set a homepage of any website, and then to add a different website for opening tabs. The Startpage mobile app is not too far off and with small improvements it can challenge other browsers, especially for people who care about privacy.

I love the whole concept of security and privacy. We’ve used SP as our home page for many years so I was excited to see an app. I used it for legal documents in portals and bills but instantly realized it can be impossible to download documents. I found the download option ONCE at the top left where the shield is. I opened another tab for another PDF link and can’t download those now. Makes no sense. The option would be easier if downloading was in the hamburger menu or something better. It also needs to allow auto fill payments like other browsers. I have to keep switching apps to pay online.