# Mullvad VPN vs ZZ.surf

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZZ.surf at none against Mullvad VPN's 4. ZZ.surf also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs monthly). Mullvad VPN's advantage is chart position (#50 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.5). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mullvad VPN sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. ZZ.surf asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mullvad VPN ships an update monthly, ZZ.surf every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mullvad VPN | ZZ.surf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mullvad-vpn/id1488466513/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **1.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | — |
| Best chart rank | **#50** | — |
| Size | 56 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.0** | 26.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Mullvad VPN AB](https://appshunter.io/developer/1507150430) | [Pierre Carrier](https://appshunter.io/developer/1686133517) |

## What reviewers say

### Mullvad VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mullvad-vpn/id1488466513)

**Currently charting:** #50 Top Grossing · Utilities (US App Store)

This service encrypts your internet traffic, masking your identity and location to protect your online privacy. It offers anonymous accounts, no activity logs, and uses a secure VPN protocol. Enhance your privacy further by using it with a companion browser.

**Highlights:** Anonymous account creation, No activity logs, Anonymous payment options, WireGuard protocol, Encrypted traffic tunnel, Blocks third-party cookies (with companion browser)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30 day subscription | $5.69 | one-time |
| 30 days subscription | $5.89 | one-time |
| 90 day subscription | $16.90 | one-time |
| 90 days subscription | $17.49 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection
- 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 💰 Affordable pricing
- 🌐 Wide server selection

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnects and reconnection issues
- 🔋 High battery drain
- ⚠️ Blocked by some websites and services
- 🌍 Limited server availability in certain regions

**Reported bugs**

- App freezes or becomes unresponsive
- Inability to connect or reconnect after device idle or network changes
- Inconsistent behavior across iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Split tunneling support
- Favorite/frequently used server options
- Automatic server selection based on performance
- Integration with iOS features (e.g., Control Center, Shortcuts)


### ZZ.surf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zzsurf/id6773672030)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mullvad VPN free?

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

### Is ZZ.surf free?

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

### Do Mullvad VPN or ZZ.surf have ads?

Neither Mullvad VPN nor ZZ.surf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mullvad VPN or ZZ.surf?

Mullvad VPN ships an update monthly, and ZZ.surf every 11 days. Most recently, Mullvad VPN was updated on October 27, 2026 and ZZ.surf on October 7, 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.*