The release, developed by Laura Kalbag and Aral Balkan of the Small Technology Foundation , was a significant update to their independent, non-commercial privacy tool for Safari on iOS and macOS.
The primary goal of the "Better" project was to provide a "no-bullshit" alternative to mainstream ad-blockers that are often funded by the ad-tech industry. Key Features and Changes in 2018.1 Better Blocker 2018.1
: It utilized a custom "Inspector" tool to identify and block trackers that profile user behavior for behavioral advertising. Legacy and Current Status The release, developed by Laura Kalbag and Aral
: The "Better" app was eventually removed from sale and is no longer actively maintained. The developers cited challenges with Apple's developer account policies and technical shifts (humorously referred to as "fruit poisoning") as reasons for the app's closure. Legacy and Current Status : The "Better" app
: Prior to this release, Better was priced at Tier 5 ($4.99). The developers eventually adjusted pricing to be more accessible, moving toward lower tiers to increase their reach.
The 2018.1 version introduced several structural and design updates intended to make the app more sustainable and user-friendly: