# Private VPN Proxy vs Lantern

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Private VPN Proxy at 65% against Lantern's 23%. Private VPN Proxy also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (35K vs 13). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Private VPN Proxy sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Lantern sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Private VPN Proxy holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Private VPN Proxy has 35K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Private VPN Proxy's written reviews are positive against 23% of Lantern's.

Private VPN Proxy ships an update every 3 weeks, Lantern every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Private VPN Proxy | Lantern |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (35K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-vpn-proxy-windscribe/id1129435228/reviews)** | [4.0 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lantern-fast-secure-vpn/id1457872372/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **35K** | 13 |
| Positive reviews | **65.5% of reviews** | 22.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#87** | #204 |
| Size | 182 MB | 194 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [Windscribe Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1129435227) | [Brave New Software Project, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769431553) |

## What reviewers say

### Private VPN Proxy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/private-vpn-proxy-windscribe/id1129435228)

**Currently charting:** #87 Top Free · Productivity, #146 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers a secure and private internet connection with advanced encryption and a strict no-logs policy. It allows users to bypass geo-restrictions for streaming and access content globally, while also blocking trackers and malicious sites for a safer browsing experience.

**Highlights:** Post-quantum encryption, High-speed 10 Gbps servers, Streaming access to global content, Tracker & threat blocking, AES-256 encryption, Firewall kill switch, Anti-censorship mode

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Yearly Pro Subscription | $29.99 | per year |
| Pro yearly | $29.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Pro Subscription | $39.99 | per year |
| Pro Yearly | $48.99 | per year |
| Windscribe Pro | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and stable connection
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🌍 Works well in different countries
- 💡 Customizable plans

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection drops or issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤖 Unhelpful or rude customer support
- 🚫 Blocks some websites and apps

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- Inability to connect to certain servers
- WiFi disconnection issues

**Requested features**

- Add more server locations
- Improve compatibility with older devices
- Introduce a dark mode option
- Provide better customer support


### Lantern

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lantern-fast-secure-vpn/id1457872372)

**Currently charting:** #204 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides a secure and fast VPN connection to keep your internet activity private. It offers both a free plan and a Pro subscription with advanced features, all from a nonprofit dedicated to an open internet.

**Highlights:** Secure and private internet connection, Host your own VPN server, Global network access, Open source code, Strict no-logs policy, Built-in ad blocking (Pro), Unlimited data (Pro)

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| One Year Plan | $48.00 | per year |
| Lantern Pro: One Month Plan | $12.00 | one-time |
| Lantern Pro: One Year Plan | $55.99 | one-time |
| Lantern Pro: Two Year Plan | $100.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection
- 🔒 Secure and encrypted
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for bypassing censorship

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 👎 Unreliable and unstable
- 💸 Paid version doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- iOS version frequently fails to connect
- Paid subscription doesn't work on all devices
- Inconsistent performance across different platforms
- Confusing or missing in-app settings

**Requested features**

- Add support for more devices and platforms
- Improve customer support and responsiveness
- Provide better guidance on using the paid version
- Implement more advanced security and privacy features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Private VPN Proxy free?

Private VPN Proxy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lantern free?

Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Private VPN Proxy or Lantern?

Private VPN Proxy is rated higher. Private VPN Proxy averages 4.6 out of 5 from 35K ratings, while Lantern averages 4.0 from 13 ratings.

### Do Private VPN Proxy or Lantern have ads?

Neither Private VPN Proxy nor Lantern shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Private VPN Proxy or Lantern?

Private VPN Proxy ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lantern every 6 weeks. Most recently, Private VPN Proxy was updated on October 29, 2026 and Lantern on October 26, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Private VPN Proxy or Lantern?

Private VPN Proxy currently peaks at #87 in the App Store charts, and Lantern at #204. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*