# VPN Hotspot Shield vs VPN

VPN Hotspot Shield and VPN both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 76% of VPN Hotspot Shield's written reviews are positive against 37% of VPN's. VPN Hotspot Shield also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 2 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model 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 $4.99 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 — 363K and 79K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of VPN Hotspot Shield's written reviews are positive against 37% of VPN's.

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update every 10 days, VPN every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 21, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN Hotspot Shield | VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (363K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807/reviews) | **[4.6 (79K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-proxy-master/id1456731716/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **363K** | 79K |
| Positive reviews | **76.4% of reviews** | 37.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 10 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#53** | — |
| Size | 144 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [AnchorFree Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309076084) | [Dream Downloader Infotech Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1126686428) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN Hotspot Shield

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

**Currently charting:** #53 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 (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-proxy-master/id1456731716)

This app provides a secure and private internet connection for your iPhone and iPad. It encrypts your network, shields you from online threats, and allows anonymous browsing with global server access. Enjoy faster speeds and unrestricted access to content.

**Highlights:** Unlimited VPN data, Global server locations, No registration required, Hide IP address, Faster connection speeds, Anonymous web browsing

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VPN VIP | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| VPN VIP | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP Weekly | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| VPN VIP | $9.99 | per month |
| VPN VIP | $11.99 | per month |
| VPN VIP | $11.99 | per month |
| VPN VIP | $11.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| VPN for iPhone | $49.99 | per year |
| VPN VIP | $71.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and useful
- 🔒 Secure and private browsing
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Helpful for school/work

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent disconnections
- 💰 Paywall for full functionality
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly
- ⚠️ Unreliable connection

**Reported bugs**

- Login/subscription issues
- Inconsistent performance
- Inability to unsubscribe

**Requested features**

- Add more server locations
- Improve stability and reliability
- Provide a free version with limited features
- Simplify subscription management


## 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 363K ratings, while VPN averages 4.6 from 79K 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 every 10 days, and VPN every 2 months. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on October 21, 2026 and VPN on October 21, 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.*