# Lantern vs Ding Ontime

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.

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 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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lantern | Ding Ontime |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.8 (20 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ding-ontime/id1481187205/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **20** |
| Positive reviews | **22.9% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 194 MB | 68 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **9.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brave New Software Project, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769431553) | [APPSUN Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1231916857) |

## What reviewers say

### Lantern

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lantern-fast-secure-vpn/id1457872372)

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:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| One Year Plan | $48.00 | per year |
| Lantern Pro: One Month Plan | $12.00 | one-time |
| Lantern Pro: One Year Plan | $55.99 | one-time |
| Lantern Pro: Two Year Plan | $100.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection
- 🔒 Secure and encrypted
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 💡 Useful for bypassing censorship

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and connection issues
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- 👎 Unreliable and unstable
- 💸 Paid version doesn't work as expected

**Reported bugs**

- 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**

- 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

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ding-ontime/id1481187205)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*