Comparison

Lantern vs HaloVPN Pro

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

HaloVPN Pro

Access geo-restricted content and browse anonymously with this fast VPN proxy. It offers unlimited bandwidth and usage time, ensuring a secure and private online experience with a simple one-tap connection.

Highlights
  • Unrestricted content access
  • Anonymous browsing
  • Fast and reliable connection
  • Unlimited traffic and usage
  • One-tap connect
  • IP address masking
Features
Read full description

Meet the dawn of private internet. HaloVPN shields every connection the moment you tap - private, fast, and free of trackers. No accounts to create, no settings to learn. Open the app, tap once, done. ONE TAP. FULLY PROTECTED. Military-grade AES-256 encryption wraps your traffic the instant you connect - on public Wi-Fi, at school, at work, anywhere. Your IP address and location stay hidden from trackers, snoopers, and hackers. SERVERS ACROSS THE GLOBE. Fast, stable locations on every continent. Smart Connect reads the network and picks the fastest, most stable route automatically - or pick your city from the list. Streaming, gaming, browsing: smooth, wherever you are. NO LOGS. NO TRACKING. We never record what you browse, when, or from where. Your activity belongs to you - full stop. UNLIMITED, EFFORTLESS. - Unlimited traffic and usage time - no data caps, no clock - One-tap connect - protected before the screen dims - Ultra-fast private browsing on our optimized backbone GO PRO. UNLOCK EVERYTHING. HaloVPN Pro removes ads, unlocks full speed and every Pro location, and covers all your devices - with a 7-day free trial. Trusted by millions of users worldwide. Download HaloVPN and meet the internet at its best: private, fast, yours. SUBSCRIPTION TERMS This app offers auto-renewable HaloVPN Pro subscriptions to unlock Pro features: - Monthly: $9.99 / month - 7-day free trial for new users - Yearly: $58.99 billed once a year, or $4.99 / month with a 12-month commitment - 7-day free trial for new users Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the cost of the chosen package. Subscriptions may be managed and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to your Apple ID Account Settings after purchase. Any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a subscription. Terms of Service: https://myhalo.online/terms Privacy Policy: https://myhalo.online/policy

Screenshots

Lantern4 screens
HaloVPN Pro4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HaloVPN Pro at 78% against Lantern's 23%. HaloVPN Pro also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (19K vs 17). Lantern's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and chart position (#136 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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 and HaloVPN Pro sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HaloVPN Pro holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HaloVPN Pro has 19K ratings behind it against 17, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 23% of Lantern's written reviews are positive against 78% of HaloVPN Pro's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, HaloVPN Pro every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Lantern versus HaloVPN Pro: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLanternHaloVPN Pro
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (17 ratings)4.6 (19K ratings) — better
Positive reviews23.1% of reviews77.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1719K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#136 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size194 MB106 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrave New Software Project, IncHalo Online Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Lantern

Written reviews333 reviews
Positive23.1%
Neutral10.5%
Negative66.4%

HaloVPN Pro

All ratings18,513 ratings
Positive88.5%
Neutral3.3%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews399 reviews
Positive77.9%
Neutral2.8%
Negative19.3%

User reviews

Lantern

From 17 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

HaloVPN Pro

From 19K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 🔒 Secure and private
  • 👍 User-friendly
  • 💡 Innovative features
  • 🌟 Great overall experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 📢 Excessive ads

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

HaloVPN Pro

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent disconnections
  • App crashes on launch
  • Compatibility issues with older devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Automatic server selection
  • More server locations
  • Ability to bypass content restrictions

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
2 purchases

HaloVPN Pro

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$58.991 Year

Questions

Is Lantern free?
Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is HaloVPN Pro free?
HaloVPN Pro is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Lantern or HaloVPN Pro?
HaloVPN Pro is rated higher. Lantern averages 4.2 out of 5 from 17 ratings, while HaloVPN Pro averages 4.6 from 19K ratings.
Do Lantern or HaloVPN Pro have ads?
HaloVPN Pro shows ads; Lantern does not.
Which is updated more often, Lantern or HaloVPN Pro?
Lantern ships an update every 6 weeks, and HaloVPN Pro every 5 days. Most recently, Lantern was updated on November 2, 2026 and HaloVPN Pro on November 4, 2026.

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