You've likely spent way too much time hunting for a way to get desktop-style Chrome extensions on your iPad. It’s the dream, right? One minute you're researching on your Mac with uBlock Origin and a specific research tool running, and the next, you're on the couch with your iPad Pro, feeling like you’re browsing the web with one hand tied behind your back.
Most people searching for kiwi browser for ipad are looking for that one specific superpower: the ability to run full-blown Chrome extensions on a tablet.
But here is the cold, hard truth that most "top 10" listicles won't tell you upfront. Kiwi Browser does not officially exist for iPad. I know, it's a bummer. If you head to the App Store and search for it, you might find some apps with "Kiwi" in the name—usually a VPN or a random utility—but the legendary Chromium-based browser that revolutionized extension support on Android isn't there. Honestly, it's kinda frustrating because the iPad has the M-series chips now; it's basically a computer, yet we're still fighting for basic browser parity.
Why isn't there a Kiwi Browser for iPad?
It basically comes down to Apple's "walled garden" rules. For years, Apple forced every single browser on the App Store—Chrome, Firefox, even Kiwi if it wanted to join—to use the WebKit rendering engine. That’s the same engine Safari uses.
Kiwi Browser's entire magic trick on Android is built on the Blink engine. By using Blink, the developer, Arnaud Granal, was able to hook into the Chrome Extension API. Porting that to iOS would mean either rewriting the entire extension engine for WebKit (which is a nightmare) or waiting for Apple to allow alternative engines.
While the EU has started forcing Apple to allow non-WebKit engines, those changes haven't exactly turned into a "Kiwi for iPad" download link yet. To make matters more complicated, the original Kiwi Browser project was actually archived in early 2025. The developer moved on, and the code was largely integrated into things like Microsoft Edge Canary for Android.
If Kiwi isn't an option, what actually works?
Just because the specific "Kiwi" brand isn't on iPadOS doesn't mean you're stuck with a crippled version of Safari. You have a few legitimate alternatives that do exactly what you wanted Kiwi to do.
The Orion Browser
If you want the closest thing to Kiwi Browser for iPad, Orion is it. It’s built by the team at Kagi and it’s currently the only browser on iPad that lets you install Chrome and Firefox extensions directly.
It’s still technically in a "beta" state for extension support, so don't expect 100% of your library to work. Simple things like uBlock Origin or Dark Reader usually run fine. More complex extensions that need deep system access? Those might be hit or miss. To get it running:
- Download Orion from the App Store.
- Go into the settings and enable "Extensions."
- Navigate to the Chrome Web Store and just hit "Add to Chrome." It’s sort of surreal seeing it work on an iPad for the first time.
Safari's Native Extensions
Don't sleep on Safari. Ever since iPadOS 15, Apple has actually allowed native extensions. No, you can't just drag a .crx file from your desktop, but the "ecosystem" has grown. You can find high-quality ad blockers, password managers like Bitwarden, and even "Vinegar" (which replaces the YouTube player with a clean HTML5 version) right in the App Store.
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Inspect Browser for Developers
If you were looking for Kiwi because of its excellent developer tools, Inspect Browser is a solid (though paid) alternative. It gives you a full console, element inspector, and network tab on the iPad. It’s not for casual browsing, but for the "work" side of Kiwi, it fills the gap.
The Reality of Browsing in 2026
We’re in a weird transition period. Apple is being squeezed by regulators to open up, but the "perfect" browser that mirrors your desktop Chrome setup still doesn't exist on iPad without some compromises.
Most people give up and just use Safari because it's the most battery-efficient. But if you’re a power user, the lack of a true kiwi browser for ipad is a glaring hole in the "iPad as a laptop replacement" argument.
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If you're desperate for a specific Chrome extension that only works on desktop, your best bet isn't even a browser. It's using something like Jump Desktop or Chrome Remote Desktop to beam into a PC or Mac. It sounds like a lot of work, but sometimes it's faster than trying to find a mobile workaround that doesn't exist.
Actionable Next Steps
Instead of hunting for a non-existent Kiwi IPA file, here is how you should actually set up your iPad today:
- Download Orion Browser: If you absolutely must have a Chrome extension (like a specific crypto wallet or a niche productivity tool), this is your only real path.
- Audit your Safari Extensions: Open the App Store and search for "Safari Extensions." You might find that the tool you need has already been ported natively.
- Check Microsoft Edge: Since the Kiwi team partnered with Edge, keep an eye on the iPad version of Edge. While it doesn't support full extensions yet, it’s the most likely candidate to get them if Apple opens the floodgates further this year.
- Stop searching for "Kiwi Browser" on the App Store: Any app currently using that name is likely a clone or an unrelated tool trying to ride the coattails of the Android app's fame. Stay safe and stick to known developers.