Quiche Browser is a highly modular, privacy-focused web browser for iOS, notable for its deep interface customization and integration with Apple’s new Liquid Glass design language. It offers users a powerful alternative to Safari with built-in ad/tracker blocking, full-site dark mode, and a strict commitment to zero telemetry, all without requiring an account.

Key Takeaway

Quiche Browser stands out by offering unparalleled interface customization, built-in ad and tracker blocking, full-site dark mode, and support for Apple’s Liquid Glass aesthetic—while maintaining zero telemetry and account requirements.

Overview & Availability

Quiche Browser is an indie-developed web browser for iPhone, created by Greg de Jonckheere and released in mid-2023. It has rapidly gained traction as the most customizable alternative to Safari, leveraging a privacy-first approach and a modern design.

  • Initial Launch: July 10, 2023
  • Cost: Free to download, with an optional Quiche PLUS subscription that unlocks extra icons, toolbar styles, and website darkening themes.
  • Downloads & Ratings (as of Oct 16, 2025):
    • Over 35,000 first-time downloads.
    • 400+ Quiche PLUS subscribers.
    • 4.9/5 average rating from over 1,000 reviews on the App Store.

Supported Platforms & Requirements

  • Platforms: iPhone (An iPad version is currently in beta).
  • Minimum OS: iOS 16.4 or later.
  • Languages: English, French, German, Japanese, Spanish.

Design & User Interface

Liquid Glass Integration

  • Implements Apple’s Liquid Glass material, featuring glass-like translucency, dynamic specular highlights, and real-time reactions to content and touch.
  • The toolbar can float and morph with context, designed to match the rounded-corner elements introduced in iOS 26.

Toolbar & Menu Customization

  • Toolbar Gallery: Users can select from a dozen presets or create their own unique layout. Buttons can be added, removed, resized, and reordered, making it ideal for one-handed or left-handed use.
  • Classic vs. Liquid Glass Themes: A toggle allows users to switch between traditional opaque visuals and the modern, translucent glassy style.
  • Address Bar & Menus: Context menus and the address bar are fully customizable. Options include showing the page title, favicon, estimated read time, adjusting text size, and choosing different visual styles.

Tab Management

  • Tabs can be displayed as a grid, a list, or a compact preview.
  • Tabs can be sorted by age or read time, and can also be grouped by domain.
  • A cumulative read time counter is available for all open tabs.

Core Features

Privacy & Blocking

  • Blocks ads, trackers, and cookie banners by default, with no additional extensions required.
  • Features zero analytics or usage monitoring and does not require any account signup.
  • The only third-party service used is RevenueCat for managing in-app purchases.

Dark Mode & Theming

  • Provides a dark mode for all websites, not just the browser interface.
  • Offers multiple dark theme options for users to choose from.
  • Supports any search engine, including privacy-focused options like Kagi.

Quality-of-Life Enhancements

  • Energy Savings: Background tabs are automatically suspended when Low Power Mode is enabled on the device.
  • Quick Actions: Includes features like automatically opening the keyboard on new tabs, a desktop mode toggle, the ability to disable JavaScript, page translation, and other quick-action buttons.
  • Continuity Support: Allows users to open tabs on their Mac via Handoff.

Performance & Independence

Quiche is built from scratch on WebKit, resulting in a lean, fast, and lightweight codebase with minimal design debt. It completely eschews third-party backends, ensuring all data processing stays local on the user’s device for maximum privacy and security.

Reception and Recent Developments

Critical Reception & News

  • The Verge: “My favorite iOS browser these days is Quiche Browser. It’s somehow both incredibly simple and one of the most customizable browsers I’ve ever tried.”
  • MacStories: “Quiche Browser has clearly been designed with care.”
  • Lifehacker: “Quiche Browser is unique, engaging, and fully customizable.”

Recent iOS 26 Update

  • On iOS 26, Quiche introduced a floating Liquid Glass toolbar, blending closely with Apple’s system UI and offering dynamic animations that respond to scrolling and taps.

Community Insights (Reddit Highlights)

  • Users frequently praise its fluid gestures, personalized toolbars, and robust privacy stance.
  • Common feature requests include native extension support, which the developer plans to consider once WebKit APIs mature.
  • The developer actively engages with the community, prioritizing responsive performance and core customization features before pursuing extensions.

Conclusion

Quiche Browser represents a powerful, privacy-first alternative to Safari on the iPhone—perfect for users who value granular control, aesthetic cohesion with Apple’s Liquid Glass design, and a minimal, distraction-free browsing experience.

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