Lantern vs Ding Ontime
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lantern
This app provides secure and private internet access through a global network or by hosting your own server. It offers robust encryption and a strict no-logs policy, with a mission to keep the internet open and accessible for everyone.
- Host your own VPN server
- Connect through global network
- Open source code
- Strict no-logs policy
- Strong encryption
- Unlimited data (Pro)
- Ad blocking (Pro)
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Lantern at 4.7 against Ding Ontime's 3.6. Lantern also leads on ratings volume (221 vs 22) and chart position (#109 vs unranked). Ding Ontime's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks). 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
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.
Lantern holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lantern has 221 ratings behind it against 22, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 24% of Lantern's written reviews are positive against 17% of Ding Ontime's.
Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, Ding Ontime every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lantern | Ding Ontime |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (221 ratings) — better | 3.6 (22 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 24.0% of reviews — better | 16.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 221 — better | 22 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | #109 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 198 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Brave New Software Project, Inc | APPSUN Inc |
Customer experience
Lantern
Ding Ontime
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
Lantern
- Lantern Pro — 1 Month$12.991 Month
- Lantern Pro — 1 Year$48.001 Year
- Lantern Pro: One Month Plan$12.00
- Lantern Pro: One Year Plan$55.99
- Lantern Pro: Two Year Plan$100.99
Ding Ontime
No in-app purchases








