# SmartShield VPN vs Nostalgic VPN

The clearest difference is rating: Nostalgic VPN at 4.0 against SmartShield VPN's 3.0. SmartShield VPN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nostalgic VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. SmartShield VPN asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nostalgic VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

SmartShield VPN ships an update every 10 days, Nostalgic VPN every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartShield VPN | Nostalgic VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartshield-vpn/id1619755501/reviews) | **[4.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nostalgic-vpn/id6465893154/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Chengdu Xuhuai Ruogu Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1602346856) | [Shenzhen Xinhuo Culture Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1649675074) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Nostalgic VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nostalgic-vpn/id6465893154)

This VPN service offers secure and fast internet access, protecting your online activities and providing free access to websites. It utilizes advanced encryption for maximum data security, making it suitable for general browsing and public Wi-Fi use.

**Highlights:** Secure online activity protection, Free access to favorite websites, State-of-the-art encryption, Fast connection speeds, Public Wi-Fi protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One week | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| One Month | $5.99 | per month |
| One year | $29.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartShield VPN free?

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

### Is Nostalgic VPN free?

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

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

Nostalgic VPN is rated higher. SmartShield VPN averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Nostalgic VPN averages 4.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SmartShield VPN or Nostalgic VPN have ads?

Both SmartShield VPN and Nostalgic VPN show ads.

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

SmartShield VPN ships an update every 10 days, and Nostalgic VPN every 2 months. Most recently, SmartShield VPN was updated on October 12, 2026 and Nostalgic VPN on October 10, 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.*