Comparison

Lantern vs Ding Ontime

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Lantern

This app provides a secure and fast VPN connection to keep your internet activity private. It offers both a free plan and a Pro subscription with advanced features, all from a nonprofit dedicated to an open internet.

Highlights
  • Secure and private internet connection
  • Host your own VPN server
  • Global network access
  • Open source code
  • Strict no-logs policy
  • Built-in ad blocking (Pro)
  • Unlimited data (Pro)
Features
Read full description

A nonprofit building tools for an open internet We're a nonprofit with one mission: keeping the internet open for everyone, everywhere. We've spent 12 years developing connection technologies in the world's most demanding network environments. Every Pro subscription directly funds access for people who need it most. Most "free" VPNs want your email before you've even tried them. We don't. No account. No credit card. Just download and connect. Your server, your rules Want zero middlemen? Host your own VPN server on infrastructure you control. Your traffic, your hardware, your rules. Setup takes minutes. Or connect through Lantern's global network. Either way, you're in control. Engineered for reliability We've spent 12 years building connection tools for the hardest network conditions on the planet. That work shows up everywhere: more protocols than typical VPNs, smarter routing, fewer dropped connections. When standard approaches don't work, Lantern has alternatives ready. Privacy you can verify • Open source code, publicly available • Strict no-logs policy • Strong encryption on all connections • Nonprofit structure with transparent funding Honest about what VPNs do We don't sell fear. VPNs protect your privacy and help you access the internet freely. No hype. Just protection that works. Pro features • Unlimited data • Connect up to 5 devices • Built-in ad blocking • Premium server access • Private Server hosting at no extra cost Why a nonprofit VPN? We're funded by subscriptions, not by selling data or running ads. We're accountable to our mission, not shareholders. • 12+ years of proven reliability • Tested in demanding environments worldwide • Research-driven development • Community-supported and mission-focused Free plan available Try Lantern without creating an account or entering payment info. Just download and connect. Pro subscriptions unlock unlimited data and directly support accessible internet worldwide. Try the VPN built by a nonprofit that believes in an open, accessible internet for everyone. Terms of Use: https://lantern.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://lantern.io/privacy Service availability may vary by region due to local regulations.

About

Ding Ontime

This app offers a cloud-based solution for small to medium businesses to track employee time and attendance using smartphones. It allows for quick check-ins and check-outs, provides real-time attendance reports, and simplifies timesheet management without the need for traditional hardware or software.

Highlights
  • Contactless time and attendance system
  • Instant employee check-in/out notifications
  • Location-specific check-in/out
  • Selfie-based check-in/out
  • Live attendance reporting
  • Offline mode via SMS
  • Cloud-based with no software installation
Features
Read full description

Ding Ontime app with wireless companion device is the perfect solution for small and medium businesses looking to track time and attendance without the usual costs and overhead of traditional systems. Using our wireless device, employees can Check In & Out in less than a second via their smartphone, and because Ding runs in the cloud, there’s no software or servers to maintain. Managers have a simple but powerful way to Instantaneously stay on top of who's present and who's been skipping out and can see attendance reports anytime, anywhere. Timesheets shouldn't be so hard anymore! the best solution you found for staff time tracking. Easy online setup, powerful online timesheets, no timesheet delays. Features: • Get up and running in minutes • Turn your iPhone into a contactless Time & Attendance System • Receive notification on Employees Check In & Out and requests in a second • Check In & Out at specific location • Check In & Out by taking selfie pictures • Live report to see who's present • Defining multiple workhours for each day of week • Defining Internal holidays • Submit leave/time off requests • Cloud-based solution means there's no software or hardware to install and maintain • Off-Line Mode allows employees to Check In & Out even when there's no internet connectivity via SMS • Advanced Reporting - Managers have access to a full range of online reports to track attendance • Employees Can see their own report and timesheet • Security, All connections are encrypted

Screenshots

Lantern4 screens
Ding Ontime4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ding Ontime at none against Lantern's 5. Ding Ontime also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Lantern sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. Ding Ontime asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, Ding Ontime every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Lantern versus Ding Ontime: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLanternDing Ontime
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.8 (20 ratings) — better
Positive reviews22.9% of reviews — better16.7% of reviews
Number of ratings—20 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.69.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB68 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrave New Software Project, IncAPPSUN Inc

Customer experience

Lantern

Written reviews332 reviews
Positive22.9%
Neutral10.5%
Negative66.6%

Ding Ontime

All ratings20 ratings
Positive65.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative30.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive16.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative66.7%

Bugs and requests

Lantern

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • iOS version frequently fails to connect
  • Paid subscription doesn't work on all devices
  • Inconsistent performance across different platforms
  • Confusing or missing in-app settings

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for more devices and platforms
  • Improve customer support and responsiveness
  • Provide better guidance on using the paid version
  • Implement more advanced security and privacy features

Ding Ontime

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Lantern

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$12.991 Month
  • One Year Plan$48.001 Year
One-time3
  • Lantern Pro: One Month Plan$12.00
  • Lantern Pro: One Year Plan$55.99
  • Lantern Pro: Two Year Plan$100.99
None

Ding Ontime

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Lantern free?
Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Ding Ontime free?
Ding Ontime is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Lantern or Ding Ontime have ads?
Neither Lantern nor Ding Ontime shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Lantern or Ding Ontime?
Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, and Ding Ontime every 5 days. Most recently, Lantern was updated on October 20, 2026 and Ding Ontime on October 17, 2026.

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