# 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 iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). VPN's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 76%) and ratings volume (2.1M vs 361K). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPN Hotspot Shield sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and VPN sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 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. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN has 2.1M ratings behind it against 361K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of VPN Hotspot Shield's written reviews are positive against 91% of VPN's.

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update every 10 days, VPN every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN Hotspot Shield | VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (361K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807/reviews) | [4.6 (2.1M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-super-unlimited-proxy/id1370293473/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 361K | **2.1M** |
| Positive reviews | 76.1% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 10 days | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #58 | **#12** |
| Size | 120 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| 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:** #58 Top Free · Productivity, #66 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 (14)**

| 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 |
| 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


### VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-super-unlimited-proxy/id1370293473)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Free · Productivity, #14 Top Grossing · Productivity, #76 Top Free, #192 Top Grossing (US App Store)

This app provides a free, unlimited VPN service with no activity logs and military-grade encryption. It offers access to content from over 40 server locations and supports multiple VPN protocols. Premium plans are available for enhanced features.

**Highlights:** Unlimited speed, bandwidth, and time, Access content from 40+ server locations, 5,000+ servers for free users, No activity logs, Military-grade encryption, No registration needed

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Week Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1-Week Plan Discount | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| 1-Month Plan | $12.99 | per month |
| 1-Month Plan Discount | $12.99 | per month |
| 3-Month Plan | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| 3-Month Plan Discount | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| 3-Month Plan SG-2 | $24.99 | per 3 months |
| 6-Month Plan | $59.99 | per 6 months |
| 12-Month Plan | $79.99 | per year |
| 12-Month Plan Discount | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable connection
- 👍 Easy to use interface
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 💡 Wide selection of server locations
- 👍 Effective for bypassing geo-restrictions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional connection drops
- 🔋 Can drain battery quickly
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔍 Ambiguous privacy policy

**Reported bugs**

- Freezes and crashes on older devices
- Fails to connect to certain servers

**Requested features**

- More Netflix-compatible servers
- Automatic reconnect option
- Ability to favorite/bookmark servers


## 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 Hotspot Shield and VPN are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 361K and 2.1M ratings respectively.

### 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 every 10 days, and VPN every 6 days. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on September 24, 2026 and VPN on September 24, 2026.

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

VPN Hotspot Shield currently peaks at #58 in the App Store charts, and VPN at #12. 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.*