# VPN Hotspot Shield vs Hotspot VPN

The clearest difference is ratings volume: VPN Hotspot Shield at 365K against Hotspot VPN's 9K. VPN Hotspot Shield also leads on chart position (#41 vs unranked) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Hotspot VPN's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 14.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPN Hotspot Shield sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Hotspot VPN sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. 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 4.7 for Hotspot VPN. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN Hotspot Shield has 365K ratings behind it against 9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 76% and 75% positive.

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, Hotspot VPN every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN Hotspot Shield | Hotspot VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (365K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807/reviews) | **[4.7 (9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotspot-vpn-secure-proxy/id1323486315/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **365K** | 9K |
| Positive reviews | **75.7% of reviews** | 75.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#41** | — |
| Size | 146 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AnchorFree Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309076084) | [Hotspot VPN, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1323486314) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN Hotspot Shield

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

**Currently charting:** #41 Top Free · Productivity, #64 Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

Secure your internet connection with a fast and reliable virtual private network. Protect your online privacy, encrypt your traffic, and shield your IP address from threats, especially on public Wi-Fi. Enjoy faster speeds and unlimited bandwidth.

**Highlights:** Fast VPN speeds, Unlimited bandwidth, One-tap connection, Military-grade encryption, Global server locations, Multiple VPN modes, Connect up to 10 devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $8.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month VPN subscription | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month VPN subscription | $10.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango | $12.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly VPN Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| Hotspot Shield Premium Bundle | $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 | $69.99 | per year |
| 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


### Hotspot VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotspot-vpn-secure-proxy/id1323486315)

This app provides a secure and private internet connection with a single tap. It offers a vast network of fast servers across many countries to protect your online activity from cyber threats and ensure anonymity.

**Highlights:** One-tap VPN connection, Fastest server auto-selection, Secure and encrypted traffic, No-log policy for user privacy, Access to 5000+ servers in 30 countries, Anonymous browsing, Protection on public Wi-Fi

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 month | $9.99 | per month |
| 1 month, with 3-day free Trial | $9.99 | per month |
| 3 months premium subscription | $26.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 months premium subscription | $39.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year | $55.99 | per year |
| LIFELONG VIP | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast connection
- 🔒 Works in China
- 👍 Free to use
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Disconnects randomly
- 🔋 Slow connection
- 👎 Limited to one server
- 👎 Unreliable customer support

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to log in or reset password
- Blocks access to certain websites

**Requested features**

- Add more server options
- Improve connection stability
- Enhance customer support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VPN Hotspot Shield free?

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

### Is Hotspot VPN free?

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

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

Hotspot VPN is rated higher. VPN Hotspot Shield averages 4.6 out of 5 from 365K ratings, while Hotspot VPN averages 4.7 from 9K ratings.

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

Neither VPN Hotspot Shield nor Hotspot VPN shows ads.

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

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, and Hotspot VPN every 2 weeks. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on November 1, 2026 and Hotspot VPN on November 1, 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.*