# S3 AEC vs HaloVPN

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: S3 AEC at none against HaloVPN's 6. S3 AEC also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). HaloVPN's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (15K vs 1). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HaloVPN sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. S3 AEC asks for nothing beyond the download.

S3 AEC holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: HaloVPN has 15K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

S3 AEC ships an update every 2 months, HaloVPN every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on June 20, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | S3 AEC | HaloVPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s3-aec/id1474783130/reviews)** | [4.7 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halovpn-fast-secure-vpn-proxy/id1495112322/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **15K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 73.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 34 MB | 55 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [SOFTTECH NETWORK COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1095604731) | [Halo Online Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1495112321) |

## What reviewers say

### S3 AEC

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/s3-aec/id1474783130)

Enhance your TV experience by connecting to your S3 AEC device. This free application offers a new way to interact with your television.

**Highlights:** Improve device performance, New TV interaction methods, Free to download and use, Connects to S3 AEC devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### HaloVPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/halovpn-fast-secure-vpn-proxy/id1495112322)

This app provides a fast and secure VPN connection to protect your online privacy and ensure safe browsing, especially on public Wi-Fi. It offers a simple one-tap connection and allows you to hide your IP address for a more private internet experience.

**Highlights:** Fast VPN connection, Secure browsing on public Wi-Fi, Private internet access, One-tap connect, Smart Connect, Server location selection, Kill Switch (Premium)

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Week Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month Plan | $7.99 | per month |
| 1 Month Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| 6 Months Plan | $27.99 | per 6 months |
| 12 Months Plan | $47.99 | per year |
| 1 Year Subscription | $47.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and stable connection
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💰 Free and affordable
- 🌍 Wide range of server locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of advanced features
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔌 Disconnection issues
- 🇨🇳 Doesn't work in certain regions

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes or fails to launch
- Connectivity problems
- Incorrect location detection

**Requested features**

- More server locations
- Ability to bypass content restrictions
- Improved stability and reliability
- Better customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is S3 AEC free?

S3 AEC is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is HaloVPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, S3 AEC or HaloVPN?

S3 AEC is rated higher. S3 AEC averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while HaloVPN averages 4.7 from 15K ratings.

### Do S3 AEC or HaloVPN have ads?

HaloVPN shows ads; S3 AEC does not.

### Which is updated more often, S3 AEC or HaloVPN?

S3 AEC ships an update every 2 months, and HaloVPN every 3 days. Most recently, S3 AEC was updated on June 20, 2026 and HaloVPN on September 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.*