What is a link only browser?
A link only browser opens links sent by other apps without an address bar, general web search, or tabs. Anti Browser also offers Wikipedia and AI for lookups when you open it without a link.
It's a new category, and there's exactly one: Anti Browser invented it. Nothing else on the App Store works this way.
A text, an email, a calendar invite, or a QR code can supply the link you want to open. You can then read the page and follow links within it, without an address bar inviting you to type another destination.
How does a link only browser work?
You install it and set it as your default browser on iPhone. Links sent to your default browser open in Anti instead of Safari. Some apps use their own web views, which are separate from this setting.
Inside, the page loads like it would anywhere else. You read it, tap the links on that page if you need to, and leave. What you can't do is type a new address into the toolbar, start a general web search from it, or open a second tab to "check one more thing."
Anti Browser cannot save bookmarks. When you open it without a link, the only tools available are Wikipedia and AI. You can use on-device AI or switch to the AI service of your choice.
Wikipedia and AI give you a way to look something up without a general web search bar or a collection of saved sites. Anti also supports opening links from QR codes.
Why remove general web search from a browser?
Because search is where the rabbit hole starts. You open the browser to check one fact, and twenty minutes later you're reading about something unrelated.
Most people who try this have already deleted social apps and noticed the scrolling moved into the browser. Instagram in Safari. Reddit in Safari. Twitter in Safari. The apps were never the real problem. The open door was.
A link only browser removes the address bar and general web search while keeping links usable. You can open the link your friend sent or a payment link. Following links can still lead to more browsing. If you're specifically trying to break the search reflex, how to stop Googling everything goes deeper on that habit.
Who is a link only browser for?
It works well if you:
- Deleted social media apps and found yourself browsing the web versions instead
- Want a dumbphone-style setup but need Maps, camera, banking, and messaging
- Want to disable Safari in Screen Time and need a replacement browser for links
- Find yourself opening the browser out of boredom rather than need
- Use a laptop or desktop for real research and want the phone to be a tool, not a toy
Who is it not for?
Be honest with yourself here. A link only browser is a bad fit if:
- Your job requires researching on your phone all day
- You rely on your phone for looking things up constantly and have no laptop
- You want a blocker you can toggle off in the moment (that's a different tool, and it works differently)
You can keep Safari enabled if you need a full browser sometimes. For the four-step setup, disable Safari and protect that setting with a Screen Time passcode. The setup remains reversible with the code held by someone you trust or retrieved from Anti's vault.
How is it different from a normal browser?
| Normal browser | Link only browser | |
|---|---|---|
| Address bar | Yes | No |
| General web search bar | Yes | No |
| Tabs | Yes | No |
| Opens links from other apps | Yes | Yes |
| Bookmarks | Yes | No |
| Type a new web address | Yes | No |
A normal browser is designed to keep you on the web. A link only browser is designed to get you off it as fast as possible.
How is it different from a blocker like Opal or one sec?
Blockers restrict access to selected apps or websites. Their rules determine when access is allowed and whether a restriction can be paused.
Anti has no address bar or general web search field to re-enable inside the app. That is separate from the Screen Time settings used to disable Safari and block downloads: those can be changed with the passcode. If you want to compare the two approaches, Opal alternative: how a link only browser differs from a blocker covers it.
Where to get it
Anti Browser is the only link only browser. It runs on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It opens links from other apps and has no bookmarks, URL bar, general web search, or tabs. Without a link, it offers Wikipedia and AI, using on-device AI or the AI service of your choice. It can be set as the default browser on iPhone, which is what makes the whole setup work. There's a 3 day trial with no signup.