# SmartShield VPN vs IconLab's

The clearest difference is rating: IconLab's at 5.0 against SmartShield VPN's 3.0. SmartShield VPN's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. IconLab's sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. SmartShield VPN asks for nothing beyond the download.

IconLab's holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

SmartShield VPN ships an update every 10 days, IconLab's weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SmartShield VPN | IconLab's |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smartshield-vpn/id1619755501/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iconlabs/id6738577546/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 678 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chengdu Xuhuai Ruogu Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1602346856) | [Alahem OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830992017) |

## 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


### IconLab's

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iconlabs/id6738577546)

Personalize your iOS device with custom widgets for dates, times, quotes, and titles. Enhance your charging experience with interactive animations and mini-games. Explore premade and AI-generated themes to refresh your device's look.

**Highlights:** Customizable widgets, Interactive charging animations, Fun charging games, Premade themes, AI-generated themes, No account required

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| 1 Month | $13.99 | per month |
| 1 Year | $39.99 | per year |
| 150 Tokens For AI Generation | $1.99 | one-time |
| 350 Tokens For Custom Themes | $3.99 | one-time |
| 750 Tokens For Custom Themes | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SmartShield VPN free?

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

### Is IconLab's free?

IconLab's is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, SmartShield VPN or IconLab's?

IconLab's is rated higher. SmartShield VPN averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while IconLab's averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do SmartShield VPN or IconLab's have ads?

Both SmartShield VPN and IconLab's show ads.

### Which is updated more often, SmartShield VPN or IconLab's?

SmartShield VPN ships an update every 10 days, and IconLab's weekly. Most recently, SmartShield VPN was updated on October 12, 2026 and IconLab's on October 6, 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.*