# Guardian Firewall + VPN vs VirtualShield VPN

The clearest difference is rating: Guardian Firewall + VPN at 4.6 against VirtualShield VPN's 3.4. Guardian Firewall + VPN also leads on review sentiment (46% vs 32%) and ratings volume (872 vs 108). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Guardian Firewall + VPN sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month 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.

Guardian Firewall + VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guardian Firewall + VPN has 872 ratings behind it against 108, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 46% of Guardian Firewall + VPN's written reviews are positive against 32% of VirtualShield VPN's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Guardian Firewall + VPN | VirtualShield VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (872 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardian-firewall-plus-vpn/id1363796315/reviews)** | [3.4 (108 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/virtualshield-vpn/id1579077161/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **872** | 108 |
| Positive reviews | **45.7% of reviews** | 31.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Sudo Security Group, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209778075) | [VirtualShield, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1246447878) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### 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 Guardian Firewall + VPN free?

Guardian Firewall + VPN 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, Guardian Firewall + VPN or VirtualShield VPN?

Guardian Firewall + VPN is rated higher. Guardian Firewall + VPN averages 4.6 out of 5 from 872 ratings, while VirtualShield VPN averages 3.4 from 108 ratings.

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

Neither Guardian Firewall + VPN nor VirtualShield VPN shows ads.

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

Guardian Firewall + VPN ships an update every 2 months, and VirtualShield VPN every 2 months. Most recently, Guardian Firewall + VPN was updated on October 24, 2026 and VirtualShield VPN on October 23, 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.*