# Psiphon VPN vs Proton VPN

The clearest difference is rating: Proton VPN at 4.6 against Psiphon VPN's 3.8. Proton VPN also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (131K vs 8.8K). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Psiphon VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Proton VPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Proton VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Proton VPN has 131K ratings behind it against 8.8K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Psiphon VPN's written reviews are positive against 54% of Proton VPN's.

Psiphon VPN ships an update every 3 weeks, Proton VPN fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Psiphon VPN | Proton VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (8.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/psiphon-vpn-secure-access/id1276263909/reviews) | **[4.6 (131K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-vpn-fast-and-secure/id1437005085/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8.8K | **131K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **54.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | — | **#12** |
| Size | 61 MB | 278 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Psiphon Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193362443) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### Psiphon VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/psiphon-vpn-secure-access/id1276263909)

This app provides secure and private internet access, bypassing restrictions and censorship. It uses a combination of VPN, proxy, and circumvention technologies to ensure a fast and reliable connection, even on public Wi-Fi.

**Highlights:** One-tap connection, Automatic protocol selection, Global server network, Circumvention technologies, Secure browsing on public Wi-Fi, Access restricted content, Open-source technology

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium 1 week | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Psiphon Premium Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Psiphon Premium Annual | $34.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable VPN
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Helps bypass censorship and restrictions
- 💰 Free to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connection issues and frequent disconnections
- 🔍 Lack of server locations and options
- 🔋 High data consumption
- 💲 Paid version required for better performance

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnects WiFi on iOS devices
- Incompatible with some apps like Hotstar
- Doesn't work in certain regions like China

**Requested features**

- Add more server locations, especially in India
- Improve connection stability and speed
- Introduce a data usage tracker
- Offer a premium version with more features


### Proton VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-vpn-fast-and-secure/id1437005085)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Free · Utilities, #17 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This app provides a secure, encrypted, and unlimited internet connection, protecting your privacy and unblocking content. It offers advanced security features and a strict no-logs policy, with both free and premium options available.

**Highlights:** Unlimited data, no speed restrictions, Strict no-logs policy, Bypass geo restrictions, Full disk encrypted servers, Ad blocker (NetShield), Stream content from any service, Connect up to 10 devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VPN Plus | $11.99 | per month |
| Proton Unlimited (1 month) | $14.99 | per month |
| VPN Plus | $83.90 | per year |
| Proton Unlimited | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable VPN
- 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
- 👍 Seamless integration with iOS
- 🌐 Wide range of server locations
- 💰 Great value with free plan

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections and reconnection issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🔍 Limited server selection on free plan
- 🤔 Inconsistent performance across devices
- 💸 Expensive paid plans compared to competitors

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to maintain stable connections
- Unexpected disconnections and reconnections
- Incompatibility with certain iOS versions
- Inconsistent behavior when switching networks

**Requested features**

- Option to select specific server locations
- Always-on VPN mode
- Improved kill switch functionality
- Expanded server network for free users
- Better integration with iOS features (e.g., widgets)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Psiphon VPN free?

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

### Is Proton VPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN?

Proton VPN is rated higher. Psiphon VPN averages 3.8 out of 5 from 8.8K ratings, while Proton VPN averages 4.6 from 131K ratings.

### Do Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN have ads?

Psiphon VPN shows ads; Proton VPN does not.

### Which is updated more often, Psiphon VPN or Proton VPN?

Psiphon VPN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Proton VPN fortnightly. Most recently, Psiphon VPN was updated on November 10, 2026 and Proton VPN on November 10, 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.*