# PrivacyPro SmartVPN & Firewall — user reviews > 220 indexed App Store user reviews of PrivacyPro SmartVPN & Firewall by Disconnect, rated 4.10/5 from 1,015 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacypro-smartvpn-and-firewall/id1057771839/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/privacypro-smartvpn-and-firewall/id1057771839.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 638 · 4★ 132 · 3★ 72 · 2★ 49 · 1★ 124 ## What do users think of PrivacyPro SmartVPN & Firewall? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🚀 Blocks trackers and ads effectively - 🔒 Provides privacy protection - 👍 Easy to use and configure - 👍 Comprehensive reporting of blocked activity - 🚀 Improves page load times - 👍 Responsive customer support **Cons** - 🐛 Occasional connectivity issues - 🐛 Compatibility problems with some apps and websites - 🔋 Potential battery drain - 💰 Subscription required for advanced features **Commonly reported bugs** - Blocking functionality stops working after updates - VPN profile not removed properly on uninstall - Crashes on launch for some users - Incompatibility with iOS 16 **Most requested features** - Ability to whitelist specific sites or apps - More detailed reporting and analytics - Landscape mode support on iPad - Automatic updates without user intervention ## Newest reviews (13 of 220) ### 2/5 — Worked fine for years, now it blocks all traffic *2026-07-12, version 1.8.6* I used to like seeing all the trackers PrivacyPro blocked, and I don't like knowing I'm unprotected now. But in about April, 2026, it started blocking all internet traffic on both iPad and iPhone. Sometimes toggling airplane mode would fix it; sometimes a reboot would fix it; sometimes I'd have to reset network settings and reboot two or three times to get connectivity back. It took me a while to figure out that it was PrivacyPro, and when I did, I tried the procedure suggested by Support, reset the DNS cache and deleted the VPN profile, and it didn't help. The v1.8.6 update didn't help. I'll leave it installed but turned off for one more update and try it again, but if that doesn't fix it I'm deleting it and finding a different VPN. ### 3/5 — No Updates in 2 Years *2026-03-05, version 1.8.4* This app works, but is lagging behind. If you are going to charge a subscription fee, there should be a justification for it with new features, bug fixes, performance improvements, and UI enhancements to keep up with new OS features and designs. Strongly considering cancelling my subscription next payment cycle. ### 4/5 — Ad blockers *2025-12-18, version 1.8.4* Need more ### 4/5 — Oustanding Firewall *2025-06-27, version 1.8.4* The firewall blocks a vast amount of junk and is easy to customize. I would give that five stars. When I tried thr VPN it seemed as slow as most, so I would give that three. ### 3/5 — Failing *2024-10-16, version 1.8.4* Over the last week or so, the app closes itself multiple times a day (12+) and is consistently offline when I first check the phone in the morning. I find myself constantly checking throughout the day to see if it’s engaged, and if not, turning it back on. This app has been pretty rock solid for years, but all of a sudden something‘s not right. iPhone13 Pro iOS 18.0.1 ### 4/5 — Thx *2024-07-27, version 1.8.4* To be honest I only use this app to have no ads in crunchyroll ### 4/5 — Love it *2024-06-02, version 1.8.4* I don’t like being exposed. Wish I could block cookies within this app though. ### 3/5 — Blocking *2024-04-24, version 1.8.4* Hello Privacy Pro, I really like you guys but, I had to unsubscribe because your blocking things that should not be block like “live chat”. I had to delete the app in order to have a live chat with this company. I also disabled the block on this company called “Nextdoor” and it still wouldn’t let me see the website. I literally had to download the Nextdoor app in order to use it. ### 3/5 — Appears not to be functioning properly *2024-03-24, version 1.8.4* iOS 17.4 iPhone 12 - was functioning fine until a couple of days ago. The app is now blocking other apps from running and emails. Turning this app off, the issues stop. Have adjusted setting but to no avail. ### 3/5 — Tell me more about your company *2024-02-25, version 1.8.4* I’d like to continue my subscription, but can’t find information about who you are. ### 3/5 — Who can you trust? *2023-11-20, version 1.8.3* I want to rate this higher, because it is excellent at blocking ads and I hate ads with a passion. Yet I don’t know anything about the company that makes this app. Their website offers no clues and the VPN is not highly rated in the world of organizations that rate VPNs for security and such. I’m suspicious at best. Who doesn’t like free, but what am I giving up in order to save a few bucks. ### 5/5 — Love this app *2023-10-28, version 1.8.3* Get this, over 1 month I’ve saved 40 min of load time and 1.4 GB. Better yet, since I’ve had the app I’ve saved 5 hrs of load time and 10.5 GB of data. And google has less to know about me so that’s always better, get this app you won’t be disappointed. Oh except you can’t click the Ads on the first results from google, it will be blocked, but the regular result is there below and works just fine. ### 5/5 — Better *2023-09-18* Better now **Developer response:** So sorry to hear you're having trouble with our app! If you can, please reach out to our support team at support@disconnect.me so they can make sure the app is working properly for you. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Blocks FaceTime *2024-09-18, version 1.8.4* Can’t make FaceTime calls with it switched on ### 1/5 — it constantly hangs and halts all traffic *2024-05-26, version 1.8.4* many times it just stops allowing traffic especially when phone switches from wifi to cellular and it brought me to extremes that I had to create a Shortcuts automation that invokes turning the vpn off and on whenever the phone leaves or joins a wifi. ### 1/5 — Viafoura *2024-04-30, version 1.8.4* When I saw this website show up in the list of Recently blocked as being ALLOWED, I IMMEDIATELY added the site to my custom block list as BEING BLOCKED. Remarkably, a month after adding the block, the site DID NOT show up in the Recently blocked list AT ALL. So just now, I actually dialled in Viafoura in Safari, and lo and behold, the website loads in the browser WHEN IT SHOULD BE BLOCKED!!! What this tells me is that there is something VERY DISREPUTABLE going on! I think an explanation is due. That or a refund is due. ### 1/5 — The app is not working well. *2024-04-14, version 1.8.4* I kept reinstalling this app for the blocker to work, But it showed ads in other apps and I was tired of it. The app is blocking ads but they still show in other apps. I think the blocker stopped working. ### 1/5 — What went wrong? *2024-01-27, version 1.8.3* I’ve been using Privacy Pro for years and thought it was great. Then three months ago I got locked out of my Apple ID on all my devices and my iPhone and my iPad would each tell me to use the other to log in. After a conversation with Apple Support they blamed my VPN. I disabled Privacy Pro and all was good (except that I was forced to change my password and all my app passwords). And with all the debug I want sure that was the magic step. After three months I decided to try Privacy Pro again, just on my iPhone, and see if the problems were fixed. I turned it on yesterday, and today I’m again locked out of all my devices (not just my iPhone). Turn off Privacy Pro, reset all the devices and passwords, and I’m running again. I’ve never had an app fail so spectacularly. I’m not going through that again. ### 1/5 — No longer works consistently *2023-10-06, version 1.8.3* Every time I update my OS it is a fight to get this working again. It just blocks my internet connection without doing anything. I have remove it and reinstall it over and over again. Today it’s still not working and I’ve reinstalled 4 times. I like the concept but if they can’t get the basics right, why would I pay? ### 1/5 — Broke my IMAP, POP, & SMTP email connections!! *2023-10-02, version 1.8.3* I’ve been using Zoho mail on all my devices since 2014 and all of a sudden my email stopped flowing. I never thought it would be this app that broke my mai! It took me two weeks to determine this app was the culprit and I am infuriated!!! I won’t leave Zoho mail, but I’m sure as heck ditching this app!! ### 1/5 — Breaks your phone on uninstall *2023-06-26, version 1.8.3* Tried this out and it works but had issues. Tried to uninstall and now I cannot use any other VPN. They worked before. Now if I try and use them they cannot connect. Thanks for breaking my phone! ### 1/5 — Great when it works *2023-02-13, version 1.8.2* 2023-02-12: Nags for reviews. All apps that nag get a one star review. No exceptions. 2019-11-27 Update: App started blocking Facebook.com on its own. No I didn’t block it manually. Yes, I am absolutely sure. Saw it was being blocked in the logs & for the Facebook.com entry in the block list, it showed a “last updated” date of “Never”. History just plain stops working. Randomly. VPN always shows as on but if it’s not collecting history — what else isn’t it doing? Turning blocking off then back on in the app fixes the issue but I don’t trust the app enough to put $ into the paid version. ### 1/5 — Another bait and switch *2022-10-14, version 1.8.1* Another day, another app I paid a luxury price for that goes subscription based. Take your one star, you’ve more than earned it. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Love the features *2025-04-14, version 1.8.4* We have had Privacy Pro for several years now. When it first came out, I bought a license for it. Since it has evolved over the years, they now have a subscription service. But I would say it is very worth the price! It’s an excellent app! I cannot use my games without it! Superb! ### 5/5 — Privacy *2024-11-15, version 1.8.4* I hope this works ### 5/5 — Scroll up in “Customize” *2024-10-23, version 1.8.4* Hello, PrivacyPro team. Been using the app for almost 3 years (maybe 4). I love it for intuitive design, robust performance, selective blocking but one thing that needs to be done. “Customize” section for adding custom urls to block is not working properly. It shows top 3 custom urls. When I try to scroll up to see the rest, it just won’t. I have the app on 2 of my phones and both have the same issue. ### 5/5 — Liked it for years *2024-10-05, version 1.8.4* I've appreciated the product. My wife and I compare going to the same website. Hers is filked with junk ads. So I was going to put her on it. But I can't figure out the difference between the three main products. No matter where I look over and over, app store, developer site, I still have no idea. Some companies have created the idea of a table where each column is one of their products and each row is a feature and each cell shows whether that product has that feature. Maybe try to investigate that idea. Instead of a website with a lot of meaningless generic icons. ### 5/5 — This app works really good *2024-08-12, version 1.8.4* I had downloaded this app a little while ago and had not used it yet. I just opened and was testing out the functionality. It does exactly what it says. Checked my I.p. Gps to make sure and yup it showed the country I had picked. I’m only using the free version but it still gives you way more control options than say AdGuard vpn service with just a free account. You can control which dns service you would like to use. It’s just an all around good service. ### 5/5 — One of a kind *2024-05-24, version 1.8.4* This app actually blocks ads ### 5/5 — Fast response and fix *2024-04-19, version 1.8.4* Submitted a problem using Line, a social networking app, got a really fast response and fix. Thank you very much for your help and support. ### 5/5 — Recent Problems *2024-03-27, version 1.8.4* In the past week I cannot access AOL (mail or website) or use links from Twitter to access any website on my iPad. Is there an update coming, or is the adblocker being “managed” by those websites? Thx, Jay! Removing and reinstalling app fixed problems! ### 5/5 — The best protection I’ve ever had! *2024-03-10, version 1.8.4* This is truly amazing, I did not know how to transfer my app over to my new phone off of my old phone and all I had to do was ask how do I do it, and magically it appeared so that I could put it on my new phone! I don’t know how they did this cause I couldn’t think of how to do it. I’ll tell you one thing they are fast and they listen and they read our comments and they act on them! Thank you so much. I really appreciate this greatly because I am vision impairedand disabled military family, we appreciate any help we ever get. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2024-01-29, version 1.8.3* Great for blocking Crunchyroll ads without paying for Crunchyroll subscription no ads it is free to use and absolutely amazing!!! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*