What Dolphin Browser does

Dolphin Browser, developed by Mobotap, Inc., is a mobile web browser application for Android and iOS devices, headquartered in San Francisco, California. Founded in 2004 as one of the early mobile browsers, the company built a feature-rich alternative to default mobile browsers, distinguished by proprietary interface innovations including Dolphin Sonar (voice search and navigation across 500+ named websites), Dolphin Gesture (customizable gesture shortcuts for over 50 browser actions), and Dolphin Connect (cross-device cloud synchronization of bookmarks, history, and tabs via Chrome, Firefox, and Safari extensions). The product line has expanded to include Dolphin Express (a regional variant with localized news and weather for 15 emerging markets including Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, MENA, and Southeast Asia), Dolphin Zero (a privacy-focused iOS variant launched May 2023 that collects no browsing data), and a modular add-on ecosystem distributed through the Dolphin Web App Store.

The underlying technology rests on a proprietary Speedy Kernel architecture for Android with a separate Dolphin Jetpack performance module that historically supported Flash playback. iOS builds leverage Apple's WKWebView, which the company cites as delivering 3x faster page loads than the legacy UIWebView, with a reported 98.7% crash-free rate. The browser integrates with major third-party services including Facebook, Evernote, Dropbox, Box, Pocket, Amazon, eBay, and Groupon, alongside multiple search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, DuckDuckGo, Yandex). Translation functionality is delivered through a partnership with Yeekit MT, supporting 100+ languages. Distribution is entirely digital via Google Play and the Apple App Store, with localized regional storefronts and direct APK download.

The business model is consumer-facing freemium with advertising as the primary revenue stream. The core browser is free; monetization relies on in-browser advertising plus optional paid add-ons such as Dolphin Sonar on iOS. The company has not disclosed enterprise or B2B offerings and shows no subscription or recurring revenue streams. Funding history includes approximately $10.76M raised across 2011–2013, led by Qualcomm Ventures ($10M Series 2, January 2013) and Headline Asia (~$758K Series 1, October 2012). Founder and CEO Mason Yang leads the company, which operates with 251-500 employees.

Name

Dolphin Browser

Legal name

Mobotap, Inc.

Website

https://dolphin.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Dolphin Browser (Mobotap, Inc.) is a freemium mobile web browser for Android and iOS, serving individual consumers globally with voice/gesture navigation, cross-device sync, and localized variants across 15 emerging markets, monetized primarily through advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Advertising: Dolphin Browser generates revenue through advertising displayed within the browser interface. The browser includes ad-serving capabilities and supports ad-related features.
2. Add-on Marketplace: While many add-ons are free, some premium add-ons and features generate revenue. The Dolphin add-on ecosystem includes both free and paid extensions.
3. Dolphin Sonar (iOS): Dolphin Sonar is available as a separate purchasable add-on for iOS users, indicating a potential paid feature for voice search functionality.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dolphin Browser is a mobile web browser for Android and iOS devices built on a proprietary Speedy Kernel. It offers voice-controlled search and navigation (Dolphin Sonar), customizable gesture shortcuts for browser actions, cross-device cloud sync of bookmarks/history/tabs (Dolphin Connect), an extensible add-on framework, and complementary variants such as Dolphin Express (localized regional content) and Dolphin Zero (privacy-focused iOS browser).

Product overview

Dolphin Browser is a mobile web browser product line focused exclusively on Android and iOS platforms, offering a unified core browser experience supplemented by specialized variants and add-on modules. The core Dolphin Browser provides fast browsing with unique features like Dolphin Gesture (customizable gesture controls) and Dolphin Sonar (voice search and navigation). Supporting products include Dolphin Express (region-specific variant with local news/weather for markets including Russia, Turkey, Southeast Asia), Dolphin Zero (privacy-focused iOS variant), and Dolphin Connect (cloud sync service with browser extensions for Chrome/Firefox/Safari). The Dolphin Jetpack module enhances Flash performance. Users can extend functionality through the Dolphin Web App Store offering add-ons like Evernote, Dropbox, Pocket, and Autofill by Fillr, plus quick-access web apps for Amazon, eBay, and Groupon. The product is developed by Mobotap, Inc., headquartered in San Francisco.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dolphin Express: A localized variant of Dolphin Browser featuring real-time local news and weather information. Available in Russia, Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Products and services

• Dolphin Browser Fast, customizable mobile web browser for Android and iOS phones and tablets, offering voice search, gesture navigation, tabbed browsing, social sharing, add-ons, and cross-device synchronization for individual consumer users.
• Dolphin Express Alternative regional variant of Dolphin Browser for Android featuring a localized homepage with real-time local news and weather information, tailored for users in specific emerging-market geographies.
• Dolphin Zero Privacy-focused iOS browser variant that never collects, stores, or shares browsing data, with Do Not Track enabled by default and WKWebView-based fast page rendering for privacy-conscious individual consumers.
• Dolphin Connect Cloud-based cross-device synchronization service that syncs bookmarks, history, and tabs between Dolphin mobile browser and desktop browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari extensions), and lets users send directions, photos, web pages, and phone numbers between devices.
• Dolphin Jetpack Performance enhancement plugin for Dolphin Browser on Android that improves Flash playback, auto-fit pages, and overall browser rendering performance.
• Dolphin Web App Store Marketplace of add-ons and quick-access web apps that extend Dolphin Browser functionality, including Evernote, Dropbox, Web to PDF, themes, Autofill by Fillr, Amazon price-comparison add-on for Samsung Galaxy, and other third-party extensions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3x faster page loading compared to old UIWebView on iOS (via WKWebView in Dolphin Zero)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability4 records

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Kiwi Browser: Kiwi Browser is an Android-focused Chromium-based browser supporting extensions and customization — competing with Dolphin Browser for Android power users who value add-on extensibility.
• DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser: DuckDuckGo's mobile browser is privacy-focused with tracker blocking and no-data-collection defaults — directly competing with Dolphin Zero for iOS privacy-segment users.

Direct peers

• Mozilla Firefox: Firefox is a cross-platform mobile browser with privacy focus, add-on ecosystem, and cross-device sync — directly comparable to Dolphin's positioning on customizability, privacy (Dolphin Zero), and Connect sync features.
• Samsung Internet Browser: Samsung Internet is the default browser on Samsung Android devices and offers extensions, gesture navigation, and privacy features — competing with Dolphin for Android power users, especially given Dolphin's Amazon integration for Samsung Galaxy users.
• Brave Browser: Brave is a privacy-first mobile browser with built-in ad/tracker blocking and a crypto rewards model — competing directly with Dolphin Zero for privacy-conscious mobile users and with the broader Dolphin Browser for share of voice.
• UC Browser: UC Browser is a dominant third-party mobile browser in Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East — directly comparable to Dolphin's regional localization play across Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
• Opera Browser: Opera is a long-standing third-party mobile browser with cross-device sync, built-in VPN/privacy features, and a regional focus in emerging markets — directly comparable to Dolphin's regional Dolphin Express strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Microsoft Edge: Microsoft Edge is a cross-platform browser with cross-device sync, extensions, and AI features (Copilot) — a broad incumbent offering overlapping capabilities (sync, add-ons, gesture/voice) that competes for the same mobile browsing use cases as Dolphin.
• Google Chrome: Chrome is the dominant mobile browser on Android and a default across platforms, competing head-to-head with Dolphin for the same mobile browsing user. It benefits from deep Google integration (search, sync, autofill) that Dolphin cannot match at the OS level.
• Apple Safari: Safari is the default iOS browser and the closest direct competitor on iPhone/iPad, where Dolphin Browser and Dolphin Zero also compete. Safari's deep iOS integration and Apple Intelligence features make it the structural incumbent Dolphin must displace on iOS.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/dolphinbrowser
• Facebookfacebook.com/dolphinfans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/Dolphin-Browser-4198198

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Dolphin Browser