SurfPad

What is SurfPad?

SurfPad is an iPad web browser designed for touch and keyboard use. It focuses on organization and fast navigation through features like tab “spaces,” a command bar for searching and opening items, and multitasking tools such as split view.

The goal is to provide a more desktop-class browsing workflow on iPad, so you can keep different parts of your browsing separate, move between them quickly, and work with multiple pages side by side.

Key Features

• Spaces (color-coded tab organization): Group tabs into separate spaces (for example, work, personal, or projects) and switch between spaces with a swipe.
• Command bar (press ⌘K): Open a command bar with a keyboard shortcut to search tabs, bookmarks, and history, or type a URL—everything accessible from one place.
• Split view multitasking: View two pages side by side, with the ability to drag to resize the panes for tasks like referencing documentation or comparing content.
• Sidebar for quick access: Use a favorites grid, pinned tabs, and folders that are reachable via swipe; choose to keep the sidebar locked open or allow it to auto-hide.
• Keyboard shortcuts and navigation: Navigate and operate the browser using full keyboard navigation with customizable shortcuts.
• Built-in ad blocker (four levels): Block content with selectable levels: off, basic, balanced, and strict.
• Bookmarks and folders: Access quick favorites and keep them organized in bookmark folders.
• Auto archive for inactive tabs: Automatically archive inactive tabs and restore them later.
• Private browsing: Use a separate browsing environment where nothing is saved when you exit.

How to Use SurfPad

1. Open SurfPad on your iPad and start browsing normally.
2. Press ⌘K to open the command bar, then search tabs, bookmarks, or history, or type a URL to jump to a site.
3. Use Spaces to separate your browsing work (for example, one space for work and another for personal), and swipe to switch between them.
4. When you need to compare or reference two pages, use split view to show them side by side and drag to resize the panes.

Use Cases

• Separate work and personal browsing: Keep work-related sites in one color-coded space and personal sites in another, reducing the need to constantly reorganize tabs.
• Research and document referencing: Use split view to keep a source page open while you consult related documentation or notes on the other side.
• Keyboard-first navigation: Rely on the command bar and keyboard navigation to quickly find a tab, bookmark, or past page without switching away from your workflow.
• Ongoing projects with archived tabs: Let inactive tabs move to auto archive and restore them when you return to a project.
• More controlled page viewing: Adjust the built-in ad blocker between off, basic, balanced, and strict depending on how much blocking you want.

FAQ

• How do I quickly open a URL or find something I visited? Press ⌘K to open the command bar, then search tabs, bookmarks, and history or type a URL.

• Can I organize tabs into different groups? Yes. SurfPad supports Spaces, which let you group tabs into color-coded spaces and switch between them with a swipe.

• Does SurfPad support multitasking with two pages at once? Yes. It includes split view for viewing two pages side by side, with draggable resizing of the panes.

• Is there an ad blocker built in? Yes. SurfPad includes a built-in ad blocker with four levels: off, basic, balanced, and strict.

• What happens to data in private browsing? In private browsing, nothing is saved when you exit.

Alternatives

• Another iPad-first browser with tab grouping and split view: Look for browsers that offer tab organization features (such as grouped tabs) and multitasking with split view, targeting similar “desktop-like” workflows.
• Keyboard-oriented browsing apps: Consider browsers or browser setups that emphasize keyboard navigation and quick search/jump mechanisms for finding tabs and history.
• Privacy-focused or ad-blocking browsers: If your main requirement is content blocking and privacy behavior, compare alternatives that offer adjustable blocking and a private browsing mode.
• Desktop-style productivity browsing setups (workspace/tab managers): Some solutions focus on organizing browsing sessions into workspaces and maintaining quick access to favorites and frequently used pages—useful if your priority is organization over ad-block controls.