# VPN vs SmartShield VPN

The clearest difference is rating: VPN at 4.1 against SmartShield VPN's 3.0. VPN also leads on ratings volume (55 vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). SmartShield VPN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. SmartShield VPN asks for nothing beyond the download.

VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN has 55 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

VPN ships an update every 2 weeks, SmartShield VPN every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN | SmartShield VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.1 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-super-smart-proxy-vpn/id1580338705/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartshield-vpn/id1619755501/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **55** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 28 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Xienhag Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1637813146) | [Chengdu Xuhuai Ruogu Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1602346856) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-super-smart-proxy-vpn/id1580338705)

This app provides a secure and fast VPN proxy service to protect your online privacy and access restricted content. It offers a simple interface, numerous global servers, and anonymous browsing for streaming, gaming, and social media.

**Highlights:** One-click VPN connection, Stable and high-speed network, Simple and easy-to-use interface, Global VPN servers, No log policy, Anonymous browsing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| proxy 1 month | $11.99 | per month |
| proxy 1 year | $65.99 | per year |


### SmartShield VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartshield-vpn/id1619755501)

This app encrypts your internet activity, unblocks websites, and spoofs your location for secure and anonymous browsing. It protects your device from hackers and provides a fast, unrestricted web surfing experience.

**Highlights:** Full internet activity encryption, Unblock websites and apps, Change IP address and spoof location, Protect from hackers, Fast and stable connection, Zero activity logs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VPN free?

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

### Is SmartShield VPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VPN or SmartShield VPN?

VPN is rated higher. VPN averages 4.1 out of 5 from 55 ratings, while SmartShield VPN averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do VPN or SmartShield VPN have ads?

Both VPN and SmartShield VPN show ads.

### Which is updated more often, VPN or SmartShield VPN?

VPN ships an update every 2 weeks, and SmartShield VPN every 10 days. Most recently, VPN was updated on October 24, 2026 and SmartShield VPN on October 30, 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.*