Cheap VPN vs Lightning VPN
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cheap VPN
This app provides a secure and private internet connection with a fast, stable proxy. It offers unlimited access to various locations, with a free ad-supported option and a premium subscription for an ad-free experience and enhanced virtual locations.
- Free connection with ads
- Unlimited access
- Fast and stable servers
- Secure and private connection
- No registration required
- Simple to use
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Private networking with Cheap VPN. Features: • free connection (with Ads) • unlimited access • the cheapest subscription on App Store • fast and stable servers • secure and private connection • no registration or login • simple to use Monthly Subscription $3.99: • No Ads • Unlimited connection • Premium virtual locations - Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. - Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. - Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. - Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. - Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. Privacy Policy: https://lukatu.com/cheapvpn/privacy-policy Terms & Conditions: https://lukatu.com/cheapvpn/terms-conditions
Lightning VPN
Easily secure your internet connection with a single tap. Protect your privacy on public Wi-Fi and browse, work, or travel with less interruption. Offers multiple routing modes and detailed traffic overviews.
- One-tap VPN connection
- Route selection and node latency testing
- Multiple routing modes (rule-based, global, direct)
- Traffic overview and connection management
- Configuration pairing with QR code
- Account and subscription management
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Tired of complicated VPN setup or uncertain public Wi‑Fi? Lightning VPN makes private connection simple. Sign in to start your 2-day free trial, choose a route, and connect with one tap. At a cafe, airport, hotel, or on the road, Lightning VPN helps you get back to browsing, working, and traveling with less friction. Features: • VPN connection: Start or stop the VPN and check the current connection status. • Route selection: View available nodes and routes and switch routes when needed. • Node latency testing: Check node latency before selecting a route. • Plan management: View plans, service periods, usage, and renewal information. • Subscription management: Update remote profiles and route information. • Routing modes: Choose between rule-based, global, and direct modes. • Traffic overview: View upload, download, daily usage, and overall traffic. • Connection management: View active connections, connection details, and proxy chains. • Configuration pairing: Sync configuration to supported companion devices with a QR code. • Account services: View orders, service status, and account information. Lightning VPN provides VPN connections, routes, and service plans. Users need to register or sign in to a Lightning VPN account and select the service that fits their needs. The number of available routes, connection speed, and stability may vary depending on the user's region, network environment, server status, and selected plan. Please review applicable laws, network requirements, and service terms before use.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Lightning VPN at 4.7 against Cheap VPN's 4.2. Lightning VPN also leads on ads (none vs shown). Cheap VPN's advantage is review sentiment (62% vs 38%) and ratings volume (165 vs 3). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Cheap VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Lightning VPN sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Lightning VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cheap VPN has 165 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 62% of Cheap VPN's written reviews are positive against 38% of Lightning VPN's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Cheap VPN ships an update fortnightly, Lightning VPN every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cheap VPN | Lightning VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (165 ratings) | 4.7 (3 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 62.0% of reviews — better | 37.5% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 165 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 98 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | Lukatu Ltd | QG TECH PTY LTD |
Customer experience
Cheap VPN
Lightning VPN
In-app purchases
Cheap VPN
- Week$1.997 Days
- Month$2.991 Month
- Year7 Days trial$29.991 Year
Lightning VPN
- 超短7天会员$0.99
- 30天会员$3.99
- 常规 大杯 季付$14.99
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- 年度会员-365天$18.99
- 常规 超大杯 季付$19.99
- 常规 大杯 半年付$22.99
- 常规 超大杯 半年付$29.99
- 无限流量 半年付$39.99
- 常规 超大杯 年付$59.99
- 无限流量 年付$59.99









