# DOT Merlin Mobile vs VPNBaron

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DOT Merlin Mobile at none against VPNBaron's 3. DOT Merlin Mobile also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). VPNBaron's advantage is device support (5 vs 3). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPNBaron sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. DOT Merlin Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DOT Merlin Mobile | VPNBaron |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-merlin-mobile/id1418176363/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **5** | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Size | 47 MB | 75 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AVALON RISK MANAGEMENT INSURANCE AGENCY LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1418176362) | [VOIDXD SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822531906) |

## What reviewers say

### DOT Merlin Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dot-merlin-mobile/id1418176363)

Scan VIN barcodes to instantly retrieve detailed vehicle information. Access all NHTSA RI newsletters for comprehensive safety data.

**Highlights:** VIN barcode scanning, Vehicle detail decoding, NHTSA RI newsletter access, Offline access to newsletters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### VPNBaron

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpnbaron/id6751596624)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VPNBaron Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| VPNBaron 6 Months | $29.99 | per 6 months |
| VPNBaron Yearly | $44.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DOT Merlin Mobile free?

DOT Merlin Mobile is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is VPNBaron free?

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

### Do DOT Merlin Mobile or VPNBaron have ads?

Neither DOT Merlin Mobile nor VPNBaron shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DOT Merlin Mobile or VPNBaron?

DOT Merlin Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and VPNBaron every 2 months. Most recently, DOT Merlin Mobile was updated on November 2, 2026 and VPNBaron on October 25, 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.*