Ghostery Private Browser and Safari - a Comparison

How Private is "Private Browsing" on Safari?

Understanding Safari's Private Browsing Mode

Safari’s Private Browsing mode is a useful feature when you want to browse without leaving traces on your device. Private browsing on the iPhone prevents websites from storing your search history and personal data.

Using a private window prevents Safari from storing your browsing history, search queries, and any information entered into online forms. Your open tabs remain isolated from iCloud and won't sync across your other Apple devices.

Private Browsing might feel like it shields you completely, but it’s important to note that the feature only protects data on your local device. It won’t save your past visits or searches, which is convenient if you’re looking to keep certain activities off your browsing history.

You can also use a private browser for iPhone as a tool. For instance, shopping for gifts without site and search history on your device. Parents can also enable private browsing on iPhone when their children borrow their devices.

Users can quickly switch to Safari private browsing by tapping the tabs icon.

Read more: How to use private browsing on iPhone

Limitations of Safari’s Private Browsing

We should note that using a private browser on iPhone doesn’t make you fully invisible.

Safari’s private browsing mode does not hide your IP address from websites you visit, nor does it fully shield your online identity.

Websites and services can still collect your IP address, making it possible for them to identify your general location and some device information.

iPhone private browsing does not help protect your data when using public WiFi networks. You need a VPN to get around this. 

iPhone private browsing does not prevent all trackers. Private browsing (incognito mode) is handy for when you don't want to keep website history on your device.

Safari addresses this by implementing features like hiding your IP address from known trackers and cross-site tracking prevention. However, we'd still recommend using an ad or tracker blocker like Ghostery.

What Platforms Does Safari Browser Work On?

Safari stands as Apple's flagship browser, deeply integrated into the company's ecosystem. The browser comes pre-installed on all Apple devices, offering seamless sync across MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads.

With Safari, users can share tabs across devices, sync bookmarks, and even take advantage of features like Apple Pay and Face ID in ways that feel intuitive within Apple’s interface.

For Apple users, Safari offers a familiar, fluid experience that works natively with their devices. However, it’s important to note that Safari is exclusive to Apple’s ecosystem, meaning it is not officially available for Windows, Android, or other non-Apple platforms.

This lack of cross-platform flexibility may be limiting for users who frequently switch between different operating systems.

Ghostery and Safari: Feature Comparison

Private Browsing

Both Safari and Ghostery prioritize privacy, but they approach it differently.

Ghostery stands out for its advanced privacy features, allowing users to block more third-party trackers than using Safari alone. Ghostery also blocks ads.

Additionally, Ghostery helps prevent browser fingerprinting, a technique used by websites to identify and track you based on device identifiers.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari's web browser includes privacy features called Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) that stop websites from following your online activities across different sites.

When you browse the web, many companies try to track what you do by placing small files called cookies on your device.

Safari blocks most tracking cookies from other companies unless you've already allowed them before.

Apple's browser also keeps information from different websites separate, making tracking harder.

Safari also:

• Removes tracking data after 30 days if you haven't used the website
• Only keeps tracking information from modified web links for 24 hours
• Stops websites from disguising themselves as trusted sites to track you

So, think of ITP like a personal security guard that watches who tries to follow you around while shopping. The guard stops strangers from tracking where you go, what you look at, and what you buy.

This kind of private iPhone browsing allows users to surf the internet without saving their history or cookies.

You can enable private iPhone browsing mode in Safari by tapping the tabs icon and selecting Private.

Ad Blocking

Ghostery Browser removes ads out-of-the-box and the trackers associated with them. This active blocking not only enhances privacy but also improves page load speeds, creating a cleaner, faster experience.

Ghostery's Safari extension blocks thousands of known tracking scripts.

And our ad-blocking feature is native across all platforms it’s available on, making it a great choice for a consistent, ad-free experience on different devices.

Safari, however, does not have native ad-blocking built in. Instead, users must install third-party extensions like Ghostery to effectively block ads.

While this extra step is manageable, it’s an additional consideration for those who want immediate ad-blocking functionality without adding extra software.

When paired with Ghostery, however, Safari becomes a more powerful tool for those seeking a fast, ad-free experience. Users can block ads on Safari by installing trusted extensions like Ghostery.

The ability to block ads on Safari significantly reduces data usage as well.

Performance

Ghostery improves loading times on many websites by blocking ads and trackers. Our browser is built on Firefox.

And since Ghostery is available on a range of platforms beyond Apple’s ecosystem, it offers a broad accessibility benefit, especially for users who rely on multiple devices from various brands.

Safari, on the other hand, delivers excellent performance on Apple devices. The browser's optimization for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS means that Safari can leverage Apple’s powerful hardware and software integration for high-speed performance.

Safari is typically faster out-of-the-box on Apple devices, but Ghostery can offer comparable speed gains by removing trackers and ads on all compatible devices.

Using Ghostery’s Extension on Safari

Combining Safari's native performance with Ghostery's powerful tracking protection and ad blocking creates a robust privacy solution. The integration allows users to maintain Safari's optimization while gaining Ghostery's advanced privacy features.

How to Install Ghostery on Safari

To install the Ghostery extension in Safari, check out instructions for iPhone or just a few clicks for Mac.

Ghostery Priavate Browser

Pros

• A customized private browser for iPhone
• Native ad-blocking across platforms
• Available on multiple platforms, including non-Apple devices
• Ad blocking built-in

Cons

• May affect website functionality on certain sites due to tracker blocking
• Not natively integrated into Apple’s ecosystem, requiring installation on Safari for Apple users

Safari

Pros

• Seamless integration within Apple’s ecosystem
• Optimized performance on Apple devices
• Intelligent Tracking Prevention for cross-site tracking control

Cons

• Lacks native ad-blocking; requires extensions
• Limited to Apple devices, with no official support on non-Apple platforms
• Less customizable privacy features compared to Ghostery

Making the Best Privacy Choice: Ghostery or Safari?

Safari excels for Apple users with its seamless integration and fast performance, making it a secure choice for everyday browsing.

Adding the Ghostery extension boosts Safari's privacy and ad-blocking features.

For those who want to customize their browser, Ghostery Private Browser is the better option since it's built on Firefox. You're also not limited to Apple's ecosystem, and you won't need an extra extension for ad blocking.

Combining Safari with the Ghostery extension gives you speed, privacy, and optimized Apple performance, blending Safari's efficiency with Ghostery's ad blocking and extra tracking protection.

Summary

You can ensure that your online activities remain confidential with private iPhone browsing.

For Apple users concerned about privacy, using Safari with Ghostery's extension offers the best of both worlds: Apple's optimization and regular updates, combined with Ghostery's ad blocking.

Adding Ghostery's Safari protection improves page load speeds by reducing tracker requests.

This hybrid approach provides a balanced solution that doesn't compromise on either privacy or performance.

As always, get in touch with our team if you have any questions.