# VPN Hotspot Shield vs VPN

The clearest difference is ads: VPN Hotspot Shield at none against VPN's shown. VPN Hotspot Shield also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks). VPN's advantage is review sentiment (84% vs 76%). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPN Hotspot Shield sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and VPN sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for VPN Hotspot Shield against 4.6 for VPN. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 365K and 178K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of VPN Hotspot Shield's written reviews are positive against 84% of VPN's.

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, VPN every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN Hotspot Shield | VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (365K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807/reviews) | **[4.6 (178K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-fast-vpn-proxy/id1282216562/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **365K** | 178K |
| Positive reviews | 75.7% of reviews | **84.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#59** | #159 |
| Size | 146 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AnchorFree Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309076084) | [Mobile Jump Pte Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1484585154) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN Hotspot Shield

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807)

**Currently charting:** #59 Top Free · Productivity, #69 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

This app provides fast, secure, and private internet access with industry-leading encryption. It shields your IP address and offers lightning-fast speeds for browsing, gaming, and streaming. Connect with one tap to encrypt traffic and block threats.

**Highlights:** Industry-leading VPN encryption, Lightning-fast speeds, One-tap VPN connection, No-logs policy, Military-grade encryption, Connect up to 10 devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month VPN subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango | $12.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango | $12.99 | per month |
| 1 month VPN subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| 1 month VPN subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| 1 year VPN subscription | $95.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 😄 THE BEST VPN
- 🔒 MAKES MY PHONE SECURE
- 🚀 FAST CONNECTION
- 👍 EASY TO USE
- 💯 HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 CONNECTION ISSUES
- 🔌 DISCONNECTS FREQUENTLY
- 💰 REQUIRES PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION
- 📺 DOESN'T WORK WITH STREAMING SERVICES
- 🤖 MANY FAKE REVIEWS

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections
- Inability to turn off VPN
- Compatibility issues with certain devices

**Requested features**

- More free server locations
- Better compatibility with streaming services
- Improved stability and reliability


### VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-fast-vpn-proxy/id1282216562)

**Currently charting:** #159 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Access apps and websites securely with a fast VPN proxy. Enjoy a private browser for enhanced online safety and anonymity. Connect instantly with unlimited bandwidth and a wide server network.

**Highlights:** Private Browser, Ultra-fast connection, Global server network, No logs kept, Unlimited bandwidth, No sign-up required

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| 3 Days Trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| 7 Days Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly 3 days Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly 30% Discount Offer | $9.99 | per month |
| Monthly 15% Discount Offer | $9.99 | per month |
| Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| 3 Days Trial Yearly | $49.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection
- 👍 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💯 Works great for bypassing restrictions
- 🌐 Wide selection of server locations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection issues
- 📺 Doesn't always work with streaming services
- 💤 Disconnects after inactivity
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔌 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Freezes or crashes on some devices
- Inconsistent server availability
- Incorrect server location display

**Requested features**

- Automatic reconnect option
- More server locations
- Ability to favorite/bookmark servers
- Improved streaming support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VPN Hotspot Shield free?

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

### Is VPN free?

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

### Which has better reviews, VPN Hotspot Shield or VPN?

VPN is rated higher. VPN Hotspot Shield averages 4.6 out of 5 from 365K ratings, while VPN averages 4.6 from 178K ratings.

### Do VPN Hotspot Shield or VPN have ads?

VPN shows ads; VPN Hotspot Shield does not.

### Which is updated more often, VPN Hotspot Shield or VPN?

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, and VPN every 6 weeks. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on November 7, 2026 and VPN on November 7, 2026.

### Which is more popular, VPN Hotspot Shield or VPN?

VPN Hotspot Shield currently peaks at #59 in the App Store charts, and VPN at #159. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*