# VPN Hotspot Shield vs SoftVPN

The clearest difference is rating: VPN Hotspot Shield at 4.6 against SoftVPN's 3.7. VPN Hotspot Shield also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 33%) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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 SoftVPN sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

VPN Hotspot Shield holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN Hotspot Shield has 364K ratings behind it against 119, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of VPN Hotspot Shield's written reviews are positive against 33% of SoftVPN's.

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, SoftVPN every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN Hotspot Shield | SoftVPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (364K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-hotspot-shield-wifi-proxy/id443369807/reviews)** | [3.7 (119 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softvpn-safe-fast-proxy/id1658448580/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **364K** | 119 |
| Positive reviews | **75.7% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#32** | — |
| Size | 146 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [AnchorFree Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/309076084) | [Xian Xinxinan Information Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624838374) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN Hotspot Shield

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

**Currently charting:** #32 Top Free · Productivity, #69 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


### SoftVPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/softvpn-safe-fast-proxy/id1658448580)

This service offers secure and convenient internet access with high-quality connections. It allows users to browse anonymously with a simple one-key connection and multiple server options for peace of mind.

**Highlights:** Anonymous browsing without account registration, One-key connection for ease of use, Multiple server nodes, Enhanced online security, Continuous product optimization

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Month-Vip | $9.99 | per month |
| Quarterly-vip | $19.99 | per 3 months |
| Year-Vip | $39.99 | per year |
| One Month | $15.00 | one-time |
| Three Month | $25.00 | one-time |
| One Year | $60.00 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VPN Hotspot Shield free?

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

### Is SoftVPN free?

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

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

VPN Hotspot Shield is rated higher. VPN Hotspot Shield averages 4.6 out of 5 from 364K ratings, while SoftVPN averages 3.7 from 119 ratings.

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

Neither VPN Hotspot Shield nor SoftVPN shows ads.

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

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, and SoftVPN every 3 weeks. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on October 29, 2026 and SoftVPN on October 24, 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.*