Aloha Browser – private browser for mobiles: iPhone.
Sounds great, but how does it work? In this article, we’ll introduce you to the Aloha browser, walk you through its many features, and give you the final verdict on whether it’s worth using.
What Is the Aloha Browser?
Aloha is a web browser available on the Google Play Store (for Android 4.4 and up) and the App Store (for iPhone or iPad with iOS 9.0 and up). It currently has over 5 million downloads and a 4.4 star rating. There is also a desktop version that is currently in Early Access.
Aloha uses the Aloha Find search engine, which is based on Google but without data collection or tracking.
What Are the Main Features of Aloha?
Aloha is filled with features. Like a regular browser, it offers web searches, bookmarks, and typical browser features. Here, we’ll take a deep dive and explain each of Aloha’s unique features, how they work, and how great they are.
Simple and user-friendly interface
The user interface is pretty much the same as any browser. There is a search bar and a number of quick links. As you scroll down, a list of suggested content appears, such as breaking news and a few non-targeted advertisements (in the free version).
There is an icon in the search bar to activate the VPN and another one to use the built-in QR code reader.
Free Unlimited VPN
Aloha’s main marketing ploy is a built-in free VPN that can be turned on with the click of a button.
VPN provides a strong level of security with strong encryption (256 bits). It also allows you to access sites that may be blocked in your area, which many users find useful.
As with all VPNs, you can only trust them to the extent that you can trust the company that created them, as they can actively monitor and log your activity. Aloha claims that their VPN does not log your activity.
To activate VPN:
Open Aloha. Click on the shield icon to the left of the search bar.
Click OK in the popup window.
Press and hold the shield icon again to change the VPN location or change settings.
Tap the shield icon again to disable the VPN. Password or fingerprint lock
An additional layer of security: a password blocks the browser so that outsiders cannot access it. This is useful when it comes to preventing your kids from accessing sites they shouldn’t (like buying themselves a new gift from Amazon).
To enable password lock:
Tap the “Settings” icon in the top right corner of the home screen.
Select Privacy.
Enable password.
Enter your password and confirm it. Adblocking
Aloha Mobile has built-in AdBlock to prevent many ads from appearing, as well as stripping ad network code and trackers so they don’t create a user profile or target you.
Oddly enough, the free version of Aloha still contains ads, and by default, it appears as a personalized ad that tracks you. The premium version of Aloha offers a completely ad-free experience.
You can enable AdBlock in Settings > AdBlock.
Tracking Protection
Aloha provides tracking protection and claims to not track your online activity, unlike other major browsers such as Google and Safari. This includes searches, data usage, downloads, location, and websites you visit.
Aloha sends diagnostic and error reports by default, but it doesn’t. Unfortunately, by default, Aloha also allows personalized ads to its “trusted partners”. For a browser that claims to put privacy and security first, this is a strange move.
To opt-out of these tracking services:
Open Settings > Privacy.
Scroll down and turn off personalized ads, the UX improvement program, and crash reporting.
Support for uploading files and videos
A nice feature of Aloha is that it allows you to download almost any kind of file and video to your device. In fact, it’s one of the few browser apps that allows you to do this.
Private File Storage
Aloha Browser comes with a built-in file and download manager. At the same time, all downloaded files are securely stored with the ability to lock certain folders with a password.
Chromecast-enabled media player
The full-featured Aloha media player can play movies, music, VR content and supports Chromecast features.
Premium Features
The premium version of Aloha offers several additional features that enhance the overall viewing experience. These include:
Premium VPN – Always On, Faster Servers in More CountriesNo AdsAdvanced File Management – Parallel Download, Faster Download, ZIP Support.
Aloha Premium costs $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year.
Downsides of the Aloha Browser
All in all, Aloha Browser is a decent choice if you want to keep your data private and secure. But there are a few things that could be better.
The browser is slightly slower than many of its competitors such as Chrome or Firefox. But the lack of speed is primarily due to the VPN connection. Aloha is not open source. If you are a regular user, this is not necessarily a bad thing. However, many experts recommend open source software because it lets you know exactly what the program does and how private and secure it is, as claimed by the developers. As of version 3.10.2, Aloha actually uses four trackers, although it claims it doesn’t. However, you can opt-out of personalized ads in the “Privacy” section, which may disable at least two of these trackers.
Is Aloha Right For You?
Overall, Aloha is a decent mobile web browser if you’re looking for free, more private, and secure browsing. However, there are many alternatives that protect your privacy such as DuckDuckGo, Privacy Browser, Bromite, and Brave Browser.
If you’ve used Aloha, let us know what you think of it in the comments below.
Aloha Browser – private browser for mobiles: iPhone
Aloha Browser – private browser for mobiles: iPhone
The Aloha Browser: Surf with Free Built-In VPN