Two-person team from small-town China built iOS App Store's top paid browser

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Alook Browser, developed by a two-person team registered in Anguo, Hebei province, has reached the top spot on Apple's App Store paid tools chart in China. The app launched in July 2017 under the name Take Browser but was pulled within a month, later relaunching as Alook with the same App ID and package name. Unlike mainstream browsers, Alook focuses on a clutter-free experience with no ads, no news feed, and no push notifications, while bundling video playback controls, an e-book reader, and a file manager. The iOS version sells as a one-time purchase for ¥6, while the Android version released in 2020 is free, with additional revenue coming from search-engine referral commissions and homepage placement fees. The company reportedly earns ¥600,000–800,000 annually, though it has also faced a copyright lawsuit, highlighting the legal risks of its media-related features.

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