Comparison

RostamVPN vs Orbot

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

RostamVPN

This app provides a secure private tunnel for your internet traffic and actively checks destinations against a threat list to block malware and phishing sites. It offers customizable block profiles and a clear traffic view, all without ads or requiring an account.

Highlights
  • Private traffic tunnel
  • Malware and phishing site blocking
  • Customizable block profiles
  • Traffic destination analysis
  • One-tap VPN connection
  • Automatic connection recovery
Features
Read full description

RostamVPN now does two jobs. It carries your traffic through a private tunnel, and it checks where that traffic is going. PROTECT MODE While the VPN is on, Protect Mode checks the places your phone connects to against our threat list. Known malware and phishing destinations are blocked before your phone reaches them. It looks at network destinations. It does not scan your phone, your photos or your files. - See every blocked destination, when it happened, and why it was flagged. - Turn on block profiles for ads and trackers, adult content, or whole countries and regions. - A traffic view shows where your phone connects, busiest first. - Ask a plain question about your own traffic and get a plain answer. - One switch on the Home screen turns all of it off. YOU AGREE BEFORE ANYTHING IS CHECKED Protect Mode explains what leaves your phone before it leaves. While the VPN is on, the destinations your phone connects to and a device identifier are sent to RostamVPN so they can be checked. They are used for that check. We keep no browsing history. You can decline and keep using the VPN, and you can turn Protect Mode off at any time on the Home screen. THE VPN - One tap. No account, no email address, no password. - Connects on Wi-Fi, cellular and public networks. - Recovers on its own when a connection drops, and finds another route if one stops working. - Choose which region you come out in, or let the app pick the fastest one that works. - No ads, anywhere in the app. WHAT IT COSTS Your first three days are free. After that, RostamVPN Premium is a subscription billed monthly or yearly, at the price shown in the app in your own currency before you confirm anything. In Iran, Russia, Cuba and Syria the app is free. No payment screen is shown, nothing is counted, and there is nothing to decline or dismiss. The app works this out by itself — you do not have to ask, prove anything, or enter a code. That is a standing decision rather than a promotion; subscribers elsewhere cover it. If the app is meant to be free where you are and it asks you to pay, tell us. We would rather fix it than take the money. NOTHING TO HAND OVER No account, no email, no phone number, no name. We do not keep a record of the sites you visit. There is no sign-up to undo and no profile to delete. Removing the app removes everything on your phone. Privacy Policy: https://www.rostam.app/en/privacy/ SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS Payment is charged to your Apple ID when you confirm. It renews automatically unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel it in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. The Terms of Use and the Privacy Policy are both inside the app, on the subscription screen, so you can read them without leaving the app and without waiting for a website to load. Lost Premium after changing phone? An account code restores it. It creates no account and asks nothing else about you. iPhone and iPad. Requires iOS 15.6 or later. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Support: https://www.rostam.app/en/

About

Orbot

This app provides a free and open-source Tor-powered VPN for enhanced internet safety and privacy. It allows users to browse the web over Tor, secure their traffic, and access .onion sites. While it offers increased privacy, users should be aware that browsing speeds may be slower than a standard VPN.

Highlights
  • Browse internet over Tor
  • Secure traffic from insecure networks
  • Access .onion sites
  • Free and open-source
Features
Read full description

Orbot is the original free and open-source Tor-powered VPN for iOS and macOS. Orbot helps you access the internet with more safety and privacy, and no extra cost to you. FEATURES: - Browse the internet over Tor. - Secure your traffic from insecure wireless networks and ISPs. - Access .onion sites that are only accessible over Tor. DISCLAIMERS: - Web browsing is much slower than through a normal VPN because your traffic is encrypted and relayed through the Tor network. - Orbot might not work on networks with advanced network restrictions. If the app does not connect, try using bridges (or a different type of bridge). - Use of Orbot is at your own risk; remember that sensitive data does not always belong on a mobile device. ** Orbot is free and open-source software. You can read more about Orbot and how to support development of Tor on iOS by visiting orbot.app **

Screenshots

RostamVPN3 screens
Orbot4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: RostamVPN at 4.3 against Orbot's 3.0. RostamVPN also leads on review sentiment (66% vs 25%) and ratings volume (4.7K vs 975). Orbot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. RostamVPN sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Orbot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RostamVPN holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.7K and 975 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of RostamVPN's written reviews are positive against 25% of Orbot's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

RostamVPN ships an update every 2 months, Orbot monthly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
RostamVPN versus Orbot: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRostamVPNOrbot
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (4.7K ratings) — better3.0 (975 ratings)
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews — better25.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4.7K — better975
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationSubscriptionFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.615.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size47 MB119 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperRostamThe Tor Project

Customer experience

RostamVPN

All ratings4,682 ratings
Positive80.9%
Neutral5.7%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral4.0%
Negative30.3%

Orbot

All ratings971 ratings
Positive47.4%
Neutral6.0%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews473 reviews
Positive25.4%
Neutral7.2%
Negative67.4%

User reviews

RostamVPN

From 4.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and efficient
  • 💡 Culturally relevant name
  • 👍 Works great in Iran
  • 🔒 Secure and reliable

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🔥 Stopped working after updates
  • 🤔 Inconsistent performance
  • ⚠️ Potential security concerns

Orbot

From 975 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable connection
  • 🔒 Secure and private browsing
  • 👍 Easy to use and intuitive
  • 🌐 Bypasses censorship and internet restrictions

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections and unstable connection
  • 🔋 High battery drain
  • ⚠️ Incompatible with some iOS versions and devices
  • 🕰️ Slow connection speeds

Bugs and requests

RostamVPN

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Unable to connect or reconnect
  • Sudden disconnections
  • Incompatibility with certain devices or networks
  • Issues with email verification and profile updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved stability and reliability
  • Faster and more consistent connectivity
  • Regular updates and maintenance
  • Clear communication on service status

Orbot

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Fails to connect at 50% or gets stuck in a connection loop
  • Causes Wi-Fi or mobile data connection issues
  • Randomly disconnects without warning
  • Onion Browser integration is unreliable

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add manual bridge configuration options
  • Implement a kill switch to block internet access when VPN disconnects
  • Improve compatibility with other iOS apps and services
  • Provide more detailed connection logs and diagnostics

In-app purchases

2 purchases

RostamVPN

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
None

Orbot

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RostamVPN free?
RostamVPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Orbot free?
Orbot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, RostamVPN or Orbot?
RostamVPN is rated higher. RostamVPN averages 4.3 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while Orbot averages 3.0 from 975 ratings.
Do RostamVPN or Orbot have ads?
Neither RostamVPN nor Orbot shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RostamVPN or Orbot?
RostamVPN ships an update every 2 months, and Orbot monthly. Most recently, RostamVPN was updated on November 3, 2026 and Orbot on November 3, 2026.

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