# BigBearVPN vs PathLive

The clearest difference is rating: PathLive at 4.4 against BigBearVPN's 2.8. PathLive also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 4) and review sentiment (67% vs 40%). BigBearVPN's advantage is ratings volume (336 vs 5) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. BigBearVPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. PathLive asks for nothing beyond the download.

PathLive holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: BigBearVPN has 336 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of BigBearVPN's written reviews are positive against 67% of PathLive's.

BigBearVPN ships an update every 3 weeks, PathLive every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | BigBearVPN | PathLive |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.8 (336 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigbearvpn/id1594060308/reviews) | **[4.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathlive/id1624643891/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **336** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 39.6% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 77 MB | 7 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hangzhou Nawang Information Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1592055142) | [Pathlive Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823143237) |

## What reviewers say

### BigBearVPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bigbearvpn/id1594060308)

This app provides a secure and anonymous internet connection, ensuring your online privacy. It offers stable connections with dedicated lines and real-time node updates. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices.

**Highlights:** Dedicated lines for stable connection, Complete anonymity, No user logs stored, Real-time node updates, Supports iPhone, iPad, Mac

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 60GB Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| 200GB Monthly Plan | $6.99 | per month |
| 60GB of data, valid for one month. | $3.99 | one-time |
| 消耗性VIP | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💡 Innovative features
- 👍 User-friendly
- 🔒 Secure

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues
- ⚠️ Unstable after updates
- 🔍 Difficulty loading ads
- 🕰️ Slow performance

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to load ads
- Frequent disconnections
- Compatibility issues with newer OS versions

**Requested features**

- Lower system requirements
- More reliable node connections
- Improved ad integration
- Consistent performance


### PathLive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathlive/id1624643891)

Stream live content with a robust global network for dedicated bandwidth and IP addresses. This application enhances live broadcasting experiences.

**Highlights:** Live streaming capabilities, Global SD-WAN network, Dedicated bandwidth, Dedicated IP address

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is BigBearVPN free?

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

### Is PathLive free?

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

### Which has better reviews, BigBearVPN or PathLive?

PathLive is rated higher. BigBearVPN averages 2.8 out of 5 from 336 ratings, while PathLive averages 4.4 from 5 ratings.

### Do BigBearVPN or PathLive have ads?

Neither BigBearVPN nor PathLive shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, BigBearVPN or PathLive?

BigBearVPN ships an update every 3 weeks, and PathLive every 6 weeks. Most recently, BigBearVPN was updated on October 15, 2026 and PathLive on October 5, 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.*