# Potatso vs VirtualShield VPN

The clearest difference is rating: Potatso at 4.4 against VirtualShield VPN's 3.4. Potatso also leads on review sentiment (58% vs 32%) and ratings volume (6.1K vs 107). VirtualShield VPN's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Potatso sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $5.99 per year and VirtualShield VPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Potatso holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Potatso has 6.1K ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Potatso's written reviews are positive against 32% of VirtualShield VPN's.

Potatso ships an update fortnightly, VirtualShield VPN every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Potatso | VirtualShield VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (6.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/potatso/id1239860606/reviews)** | [3.4 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualshield-vpn/id1579077161/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **6.1K** | 107 |
| Positive reviews | **58.1% of reviews** | 31.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 86 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Potatso Lab LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1267906737) | [VirtualShield, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1246447878) |

## What reviewers say

### Potatso

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/potatso/id1239860606)

This powerful network tool enhances your mobile experience by creating a clean network environment. It supports various proxy protocols and offers smart routing rules to optimize data usage and speed, making it suitable for both new and experienced users.

**Highlights:** Supports Shadowsocks, ShadowsocksR, Socks, HTTP(s) proxy, Seamless background operation, Works on cellular data and Wi-Fi, Custom DNS support, Smart routing rules for Chinese users, QR code, URI, and manual input for proxies

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro - Ad-Free Experience | $5.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient and stable
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure connection
- 💰 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional disconnections
- 🔌 Compatibility issues with iOS 15
- 📈 Lacks speed/latency testing
- 🗑️ Difficult to delete proxies

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription links not working
- Smart routing mode causing issues
- Frequent disconnections on cellular network

**Requested features**

- Add support for V2Ray protocol
- Implement a 'delete all proxies' feature
- Introduce a speed/latency test option
- Provide macOS version


### VirtualShield VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualshield-vpn/id1579077161)

Browse the internet securely and privately with military-grade encryption and a strict no-log policy. Enjoy fast, unlimited bandwidth for seamless online activity. Simply download, log in, and connect for instant privacy and security.

**Highlights:** Military-grade encryption, Strict no-log policy, Unlimited bandwidth, Fast VPN speeds, Simple to use interface, Global network access

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VPN Personal (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| VPN Family (Monthly) | $29.99 | per month |
| VPN Personal (Annual) | $107.99 | per year |
| VPN Family (Annual) | $299.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful and patient customer service (sometimes)
- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection (when it works)
- 🔒 Keeps information safe
- 💰 Good price (for some)
- 🔄 New updates fix issues

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❌ Difficult to unsubscribe/cancel
- 🐛 App frequently disconnects/stops working
- 🐌 Slow internet connection
- 📱 Phone becomes unusable when VPN is on
- 💸 Charged after cancellation requests

**Reported bugs**

- App locks up regularly
- Phone becomes a useless brick without VPN
- Internet won't work at all
- App only works sometimes
- Doesn't work with older computers

**Requested features**

- Allow landscape mode on iPad
- Improve compatibility with Apple devices
- Provide renewal reminders
- Make cancellation process easier
- Address data collection concerns


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Potatso free?

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

### Is VirtualShield VPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Potatso or VirtualShield VPN?

Potatso is rated higher. Potatso averages 4.4 out of 5 from 6.1K ratings, while VirtualShield VPN averages 3.4 from 107 ratings.

### Do Potatso or VirtualShield VPN have ads?

Potatso shows ads; VirtualShield VPN does not.

### Which is updated more often, Potatso or VirtualShield VPN?

Potatso ships an update fortnightly, and VirtualShield VPN every 2 months. Most recently, Potatso was updated on October 14, 2026 and VirtualShield VPN on October 7, 2026.

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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.*