# Psiphon VPN vs Zire

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Zire at none against Psiphon VPN's 3. Zire also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Psiphon VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Zire asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Psiphon VPN | Zire |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.8 (8.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/psiphon-vpn-secure-access/id1276263909/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **8.8K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 61 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Psiphon Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1193362443) | [Zhi Kui Network Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/493590218) |

## 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


### Zire

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zire/id1574065850)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Psiphon VPN free?

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

### Is Zire free?

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

### Do Psiphon VPN or Zire have ads?

Psiphon VPN shows ads; Zire does not.

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

Psiphon VPN ships an update every 3 weeks, and Zire every 3 weeks. Most recently, Psiphon VPN was updated on November 6, 2026 and Zire on October 27, 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.*