NetShade vs Uplinks NOW!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
NetShade
This application provides a secure and private internet connection using VPN and proxy servers. It allows users to access global content, change their IP address, and protect their online activity with encryption. The service has been a trusted provider since 2004.
- VPN and proxy client
- Change IP address
- Access global content
- Online privacy protection
- Traffic encryption
- Manage proxy lists
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This app is a VPN and proxy client for the NetShade service. Fast and easy to use. Access the world's content through some of the best VPN and proxy servers available. Route your Internet connection through another server to change your IP address. Visit websites from different parts of the world, and protect your privacy online. NetShade has been a trusted service provider since 2004. Using VPN and proxy servers allows you to access overseas web content while traveling. It also helps protect your privacy and anonymity by masking your IP address from the sites you visit. Optional VPN enables strong encryption of all your network traffic, to secure your activity from prying eyes on the network. Subscribers can access all of NetShade's fast, secure proxy and VPN servers around the world. Choose to use a proxy when you need a quick, reliable proxy-backed web connection, or use VPN when you require maximum security. NetShade is a subscription service. With an account, you can use all of NetShade's dedicated proxy and VPN servers, as well as a list of public proxies. You can also manage your own lists of proxies. The NetShade app lets you quickly enable and disable your proxies and switch between them. A free 10 day subscription to the NetShade servers is provided for new users of the app.
Uplinks NOW!
This VPN service offers instant connection without requiring any personal information. Simply install and start using the service on your device for secure and private internet access.
- Anonymous connection
- No username required
- No email required
- No phone number required
- Instant setup
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Uplinks NOW! is a VPN service application, require NO username, NO e-mail, NO phone number, absolutely NOTHING but only a device to start.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is monetization model: Uplinks NOW! at free against NetShade's subscription. Uplinks NOW! also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 3 months vs every 13 months). NetShade's advantage is ratings volume (177 vs 6) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads 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
Both are free to download. NetShade sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Uplinks NOW! sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Uplinks NOW! holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NetShade has 177 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of NetShade's written reviews are positive against 56% of Uplinks NOW!'s.
NetShade ships an update every 13 months, Uplinks NOW! every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | NetShade | Uplinks NOW! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (177 ratings) | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 54.4% of reviews | 55.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 177 — better | 6 |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Every 3 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 14 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Rayner Software LLC | Unpopular Ideas, LLC. |
Customer experience
NetShade
Uplinks NOW!
Bugs and requests
NetShade
Reported bugs
10 issues- VPN expired unexpectedly
- Proxy and socks not working
- Won't connect to UK
- UK server disappears
- Stability problems in new version
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- VPN connection drops frequently
- Cannot connect on mobile version
- Certificate expired error
- App doesn't work on iPhone 4s
- Cannot connect on iPhone or iPad
Requested features
4 requests- Add an Australian VPN location
- Improve iOS notifications for VPN drops
- More server choices
- Update http pro and socks
Uplinks NOW!
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
NetShade
- Proxy 1 Year$26.99
- Proxy & VPN 1 Year$59.99
Uplinks NOW!
- 7-Day Pass$0.99
- 28-Day Pass$2.99
