# Shadowscale vs PremierVPN

The clearest difference is rating: PremierVPN at 5.0 against Shadowscale's 4.5. Shadowscale's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ratings volume (20 vs 1). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PremierVPN sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Shadowscale asks for nothing beyond the download.

PremierVPN holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadowscale has 20 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Shadowscale's written reviews are positive against 78% of PremierVPN's.

Shadowscale ships an update every 5 weeks, PremierVPN every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and June 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadowscale | PremierVPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowscale/id1408634435/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/premiervpn/id6446838169/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **20** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | **77.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 24 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [12VPX](https://appshunter.io/developer/1721234995) | [JSR CREATE Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1677088782) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadowscale

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowscale/id1408634435)

This VPN client simplifies secure internet access by allowing users to import configurations via QR codes or manual URL entry. It provides a straightforward way to set up and manage your VPN connection for enhanced online privacy and security.

**Highlights:** VPN client, QR code configuration import, Manual URL configuration, Secure internet access, Enhanced online privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PremierVPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/premiervpn/id6446838169)

Secure your online activity with a fast and private VPN. Protect your data on any network with one-tap protection, a zero-log policy, and advanced features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection. Enjoy ad and malware blocking for a safer browsing experience.

**Highlights:** One-tap VPN connection, WireGuard protocol for speed, Zero-log policy, Built-in kill switch, DNS leak protection, Ad and malware blocking, Global server network

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Semi-annually | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Quarterly | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Annually | $29.99 | per year |
| Semmi-annually | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| Annually | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadowscale free?

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

### Is PremierVPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shadowscale or PremierVPN?

PremierVPN is rated higher. Shadowscale averages 4.5 out of 5 from 20 ratings, while PremierVPN averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Shadowscale or PremierVPN have ads?

Neither Shadowscale nor PremierVPN shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shadowscale or PremierVPN?

Shadowscale ships an update every 5 weeks, and PremierVPN every 2 months. Most recently, Shadowscale was updated on September 10, 2026 and PremierVPN on June 5, 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.*