# Orchid vs Acurast

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Acurast at none against Orchid's 8. Acurast also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 67%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). Orchid's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Orchid sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Acurast asks for nothing beyond the download.

Acurast holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 226 and 204 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Orchid's written reviews are positive against 96% of Acurast's.

Orchid ships an update every 5 weeks, Acurast every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Orchid | Acurast |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (226 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orchid-secure-networking/id1474884867/reviews) | **[4.8 (204 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acurast-depin-node/id6517361921/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **226** | 204 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **96.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 85 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Orchid Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1474884866) | [Acurast](https://appshunter.io/developer/1755921188) |

## What reviewers say

### Orchid

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/orchid-secure-networking/id1474884867)

This application provides a secure and private internet connection through a decentralized VPN network. It allows users to pay only for the data they use, offering flexibility without monthly fees. The app prioritizes user privacy with an open-source design and no tracking.

**Highlights:** Decentralized VPN network, Pay-per-use credits, No monthly subscription fees, Disguises internet traffic, Open Source and privacy-focused, Local traffic monitoring

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Orchid Service $0.99 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Orchid Service $4.99 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Orchid Service $10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Orchid Service - $19.99 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Tier 1 PAC | $39.99 | one-time |
| Tier 2 PAC | $79.99 | one-time |
| Orchid Service - $99.99 | $99.99 | one-time |
| Tier 3 PAC | $199.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Decentralized VPN
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and efficient

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- 🐛 Unreliable performance
- 🐛 Slow speeds
- 🔋 High data usage

**Reported bugs**

- Disconnects randomly
- Freezes and crashes
- Wallet integration problems

**Requested features**

- Server location selection
- Improved user interface
- Better documentation and support
- Staking functionality


### Acurast

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/acurast-depin-node/id6517361921)

This app allows you to contribute your phone's unused processing power to a decentralized cloud network. You can earn cryptocurrency by providing compute resources and even deploy NodeJS applications directly on your device.

**Highlights:** Contribute phone compute power, Earn cryptocurrency (cACU), Deploy NodeJS applications, Tap into decentralized cloud, Utilize underutilized phone resources

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to set up and use
- 🔒 Secure and stable app
- 💰 Opportunity to earn crypto
- 🌐 Contributes to decentralized network
- 🔋 Minimal impact on battery life

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 🔒 Requires app to be open, no background mode

**Reported bugs**

- Recent update causing app to crash after extended use
- Inconsistent earnings reporting

**Requested features**

- Background mode to continue earning while device is locked
- More device compatibility (older/Android)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Orchid free?

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

### Is Acurast free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Orchid or Acurast?

Acurast is rated higher. Orchid averages 4.6 out of 5 from 226 ratings, while Acurast averages 4.8 from 204 ratings.

### Do Orchid or Acurast have ads?

Neither Orchid nor Acurast shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Orchid or Acurast?

Orchid ships an update every 5 weeks, and Acurast every 3 weeks. Most recently, Orchid was updated on September 29, 2026 and Acurast on October 1, 2026.

---

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