Comparison

Orbot vs Pocket Subly

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

Head to head
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 **

About

Pocket Subly

Effortlessly manage all your recurring bills and subscriptions in one place. Avoid forgotten payments and overspending with smart reminders, spending insights, and AI-powered receipt scanning.

Highlights
  • AI Receipt Scanner
  • Smart Payment Reminders
  • Spending Insights & Reports
  • Calendar View of Billing Dates
  • Shared Billing Options
  • iCloud Sync
Features
Read full description

Stop wasting money on subscriptions you forgot about. Subly helps you track every recurring bill in one place, so you always know what you are paying for. Features: - AI Receipt Scanner: snap or pick a receipt and auto-fill the service name, amount, and billing date. - Smart Reminders: get notified before a payment is due, plus a monthly spending report. - Spending Insights: see monthly totals, category breakdowns, and your most expensive subscriptions. - Calendar View: every billing date at a glance. - Shared Billing: split costs with family or roommates. - iCloud & CloudKit Sync: keep your data in sync across your devices. - Multiple Languages: English, 中文, 日本語, 한국어, Deutsch, Français, Русский. Subly Pro: - Unlimited subscriptions - AI photo scan - CSV export - Cost optimization insights - iCloud sync Subscriptions auto-renew until cancelled. Prices are set in the App Store. Your data stays private: everything is stored locally and in your iCloud account. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Orbot4 screens
Pocket Subly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Subly at 5.0 against Orbot's 3.0. Orbot's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (970 vs 1). On price, update cadence and ads 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. Pocket Subly sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Orbot asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pocket Subly holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbot has 970 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orbot ships an update monthly, Pocket Subly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Orbot versus Pocket Subly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrbotPocket Subly
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (970 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings970 — better1
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size116 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Tor ProjectShenzhen Yuanbei Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Orbot

All ratings970 ratings
Positive47.3%
Neutral6.0%
Negative46.7%
Written reviews473 reviews
Positive25.4%
Neutral7.2%
Negative67.4%

Pocket Subly

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

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

Pocket Subly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Orbot

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Pocket Subly

Subscriptions2
  • Subly Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Subly Monthly$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Subly Lifetime$49.99

Questions

Is Orbot free?
Orbot is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pocket Subly free?
Pocket Subly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Orbot or Pocket Subly?
Pocket Subly is rated higher. Orbot averages 3.0 out of 5 from 970 ratings, while Pocket Subly averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Orbot or Pocket Subly have ads?
Neither Orbot nor Pocket Subly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orbot or Pocket Subly?
Orbot ships an update monthly, and Pocket Subly every 2 weeks. Most recently, Orbot was updated on October 9, 2026 and Pocket Subly on September 25, 2026.

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