# Firewalla vs Guardian Firewall + VPN

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Firewalla at none against Guardian Firewall + VPN's 7. Firewalla also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 46%). Guardian Firewall + VPN's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Guardian Firewall + VPN sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Firewalla asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Firewalla against 4.6 for Guardian Firewall + VPN. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 751 and 873 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 81% of Firewalla's written reviews are positive against 46% of Guardian Firewall + VPN's.

Firewalla ships an update every 6 weeks, Guardian Firewall + VPN every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Firewalla | Guardian Firewall + VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (751 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firewalla/id1180904053/reviews) | **[4.6 (873 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardian-firewall-plus-vpn/id1363796315/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 751 | **873** |
| Positive reviews | **80.6% of reviews** | 45.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 115 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rottiesoft LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/492491813) | [Sudo Security Group, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209778075) |

## What reviewers say

### Firewalla

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/firewalla/id1180904053)

Secure your home or small business network and IoT devices from cyber threats. Detect vulnerable devices, scan for infections, and block suspicious activity. Manage your network security with this powerful tool.

**Highlights:** Network security, IoT device management, Vulnerability detection, Mirai virus scanning, Port scanning, Network control

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful features
- 🔒 Robust security
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Excellent performance
- 👍 Intuitive app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Limited iPad support
- 🔍 Lack of landscape mode
- ⏱️ Slow response times
- 🔍 Confusing setup process

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after updates
- Connectivity issues with certain routers
- Inconsistent device detection
- Firmware update problems

**Requested features**

- Landscape mode support for iPad
- Web-based management interface
- Improved setup process
- Faster response times
- More detailed network monitoring


### Guardian Firewall + VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardian-firewall-plus-vpn/id1363796315)

This app provides robust protection against online trackers and hackers by blocking unauthorized data collection and securing your internet activity with a powerful VPN. It offers advanced features like customized blocklists and push notifications for enhanced privacy control.

**Highlights:** Blocks unauthorized third parties from collecting personal data, Adds security layer against hackers and insecure websites, Customizable blocklists for tailored privacy, Push notifications for connection alerts, Generates and exports VPN credentials for other devices, Masks IP address and device identifiers

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Guardian Firewall (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $26.99 | per 3 months |
| Guardian Firewall (Annual) | $99.99 | per year |
| Guardian Pro (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Guardian Firewall (Day Pass) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Guardian Day Pass (Multiple) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Introductory Offer | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and stable VPN
- 🔒 Effective at blocking trackers
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🤖 Impressive firewall capabilities
- 💡 Innovative VPN + firewall combo

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🐛 Disconnects and stability issues
- 🔌 Impacts network connectivity
- 🤔 Unclear what is being blocked
- 🤷‍♂️ Compatibility problems with some apps

**Reported bugs**

- Login failures on startup
- Randomly disables VPN protection
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

- More granular control over blocking
- Ability to whitelist apps/domains
- Location server selection
- Detailed logging and reporting
- Widget for quick on/off access


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Firewalla free?

Firewalla is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Guardian Firewall + VPN free?

Guardian Firewall + VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Firewalla or Guardian Firewall + VPN?

Guardian Firewall + VPN is rated higher. Firewalla averages 4.5 out of 5 from 751 ratings, while Guardian Firewall + VPN averages 4.6 from 873 ratings.

### Do Firewalla or Guardian Firewall + VPN have ads?

Neither Firewalla nor Guardian Firewall + VPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Firewalla or Guardian Firewall + VPN?

Firewalla ships an update every 6 weeks, and Guardian Firewall + VPN every 2 months. Most recently, Firewalla was updated on November 2, 2026 and Guardian Firewall + VPN on November 2, 2026.

---

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