Comparison

VPN Hotspot Shield vs Online Shield

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

VPN Hotspot Shield

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
Read full description

Hotspot Shield VPN is the fastest VPN for secure, private internet access on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Protect your online activity with industry-leading VPN encryption and protocols, shield your IP address, and enjoy lightning-fast speeds whether browsing, gaming, streaming movies, or using public WiFi. Activate our VPN with one tap to encrypt your traffic and block threats while maintaining a lightning-fast connection. Hotspot Shield VPN delivers superior privacy and performance with patented technology that automatically connects you to the fastest VPN server. Free VPN Features: • Industry-leading speed - up to 2.2x faster vs. other VPN apps • Unlimited bandwidth and data with our free VPN • Simple one-tap VPN connection • Secure proxy VPN with no-logs policy and military-grade encryption • Multiple VPN plans — use free with ads or upgrade to premium • Optimized for latest iOS on Apple devices • Advanced patented VPN protocols for reliable connections • 24/7 customer support Premium VPN Features (with subscription): • 1800+ ultra-fast VPN servers up to 1 Gbps • 125+ premium VPN locations across 80+ countries • Auto-connect VPN on startup with IKEv2 • Specialized VPN modes for gaming, browsing, and video streaming • Connect up to 10 devices simultaneously • Fully ad-free VPN experience Choose from flexible VPN subscription plans: monthly, 6-month, or annual. Unlock full VPN access with a premium subscription — 45-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime. Payments via App Store; subscriptions auto-renew unless turned off 24 hours before renewal. Unused trial portions are forfeited upon purchase. Privacy Policy: https://www.hotspotshield.com/privacy-policy/ Terms of Service: https://www.hotspotshield.com/terms/

About

Online Shield

Enhance your online privacy and device security with a comprehensive suite of tools. This app offers a VPN, ad blocker, photo locker, and storage cleaner to protect your data and free up space. Enjoy a secure and private web experience with advanced encryption and a no-log policy.

Highlights
  • VPN connection for online privacy
  • Ad blocking on websites
  • Photo and video duplicate search/delete
  • Contact duplicate organization/delete
  • Smart cleaning for storage
  • Internet speed test
  • Content and website blocking
Features
Read full description

We are glad to roll out Online Shield — an amazing mobile security app that will help you to make your data private and stay secure on the web! Right now, huge amounts of data circulating online and privacy is very important. We developed a unique app that can make your privacy & security protected. Online Shield has rich functionality and you may use it all within one app. We spent a lot of time adapting all the main security and privacy functions into 1 app All of these are available with one subscription. You will pay only for 1 app and will have access to the functionality for so many things: -- Search & Delete Photos & Video Duplicates. -- Organize your contacts cards & Delete contacts duplicates -- Increase your online privacy -- Free up your device storage with a Self Developed Smart Cleaning feature • Check your Internet Speed Connection -- Block Ads on your iPhone and iPad on any websites -- Prevents malware and tracking that can hide behind ads on websites -- Reduces the risk of malware/adware infection, with the functionality blocking features and database -- Improves your privacy with a VPN connection -- Save your data internet package with blocking ads -- 500+ VPN servers -- Protect your privacy and anonymity on public Wi-Fi hotspots with a VPN connection -- Best VPN for school, home, and office WiFi -- Turbo servers for streaming content -- High-level encryption protocols: OpenVPN, IPsec, V2Fly, Auto Mode -- Super Easy Setup, only one tap connect to VPN -- Strictly completely no-log policy -- Display Network Data, such as MAC address & Device IP Address (Internal IP) -- Able to see your real Public IP (Auto Detect & Get access to Real Public IP Address) -- IP address Analysis Detailed Report: -- Block any unwanted/adult content on your children's devices -- Functionality to block some websites completely -- Feature to make your media content private with the ability to put it in a secret folder Start a free trial to try all the app’s features. UNLIMITED ACCESS MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION TO ALL FEATURES • You can subscribe for unlimited access to all features within Online Shield • Subscriptions are billed weekly, annually, or through a one-off upfront payment at the rate selected depending on the subscription plan. By using Online Shield you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: https://web30soft.com/privacy.html

Screenshots

VPN Hotspot Shield4 screens
Online Shield4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: VPN Hotspot Shield at freemium against Online Shield's subscription. VPN Hotspot Shield also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (365K vs 8K). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. VPN Hotspot Shield sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Online Shield sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for VPN Hotspot Shield against 4.5 for Online Shield. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN Hotspot Shield has 365K ratings behind it against 8K, 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 55% of Online Shield's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, Online Shield fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
VPN Hotspot Shield versus Online Shield: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVPN Hotspot ShieldOnline Shield
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (365K ratings) — better4.5 (8K ratings)
Positive reviews75.8% of reviews — better55.2% of reviews
Number of ratings365K — better8K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium — betterSubscription
Best chart rank#69 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS14.014.0
Further details — not scored
Size146 MB49 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAnchorFree Inc.WEB 3.0 SOFT LIMITED

Customer experience

VPN Hotspot Shield

All ratings365,384 ratings
Positive89.4%
Neutral3.0%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews4,513 reviews
Positive75.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative19.3%

Online Shield

All ratings7,981 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral5.5%
Negative7.0%
Written reviews29 reviews
Positive55.2%
Neutral6.9%
Negative37.9%

User reviews

VPN Hotspot Shield

From 365K App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Online Shield

From 8K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 🚀 Efficient
  • 💖 Wonderful
  • 👍 Good
  • 🚀 Effective

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paid subscription required
  • 🤬 Forced to use
  • 💰 Stole money
  • 🐛 Doesn't work
  • 🦠 Gives virus

Bugs and requests

VPN Hotspot Shield

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

3 requests
  • More free server locations
  • Better compatibility with streaming services
  • Improved stability and reliability

Online Shield

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Impossible to cancel subscription
  • Freezes on login screen
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Cancel subscription option
  • Free version

In-app purchases

9 purchases

VPN Hotspot Shield

Subscriptions9
  • Hotspot Shield Premium$9.991 Month
  • Hotspot Shield Premium7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • 1 month VPN subscription7 Days trial$9.991 Month
Show 6 more
  • Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango$12.991 Month
  • Hotspot Shield VPN with Pango14 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • 1 month VPN subscription7 Days trial2 variants$12.991 Month
  • 1 month VPN subscription$12.991 Month
  • Hotspot Shield Premium7 Days trial$79.991 Year
  • 1 year VPN subscription7 Days trial$95.991 Year
8 purchases

Online Shield

Subscriptions8
  • 1 Week Premium$5.997 Days
  • Hide Lock & Password Manager3 Days trial$7.997 Days
  • 1 Week access to all features3 Days trial$8.997 Days
Show 5 more
  • 1 Week access to all features3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • 1 Month Premium$11.991 Month
  • Vault Password Manager (month)7 Days trial$14.991 Month
  • 1 Year Premium$75.991 Year
  • Data & Contact transfer (year)7 Days trial$84.991 Year

Questions

Is VPN Hotspot Shield free?
VPN Hotspot Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Online Shield free?
Online Shield is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, VPN Hotspot Shield or Online Shield?
VPN Hotspot Shield is rated higher. VPN Hotspot Shield averages 4.6 out of 5 from 365K ratings, while Online Shield averages 4.5 from 8K ratings.
Do VPN Hotspot Shield or Online Shield have ads?
Online Shield shows ads; VPN Hotspot Shield does not.
Which is updated more often, VPN Hotspot Shield or Online Shield?
VPN Hotspot Shield ships an update weekly, and Online Shield fortnightly. Most recently, VPN Hotspot Shield was updated on November 11, 2026 and Online Shield on November 7, 2026.

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