# Apps Connect vs XCTL

The clearest difference is chart position: Apps Connect at #15 against XCTL's unranked. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Apps Connect ships an update monthly, XCTL every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Apps Connect | XCTL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (130 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **130** | — |
| Positive reviews | 60.9% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Best chart rank | **#15** | — |
| Size | 148 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [CITY OF THE SKY NETWORK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643688880) | [SmartBuildGo Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/6783409745) |

## What reviewers say

### Apps Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/apps-connect/id1643688878)

**Currently charting:** #15 Top Free · Developer Tools (US App Store)

This app provides a one-click connection to various proxy protocols like Shadowsocks, Vmess, and Trojan. It offers a lighter, simpler interface with custom themes and aims for faster, more secure connections.

**Highlights:** One-click connection, Supports multiple proxy protocols, Lighter and simpler interface, Customizable themes, Faster connection speeds, Secure kernel

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### XCTL

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xctl/id6783409743)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Apps Connect free?

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

### Is XCTL free?

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

### Do Apps Connect or XCTL have ads?

Neither Apps Connect nor XCTL shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Apps Connect or XCTL?

Apps Connect ships an update monthly, and XCTL every 2 months. Most recently, Apps Connect was updated on September 29, 2026 and XCTL on September 18, 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.*