# NetShade vs Uplinks NOW!

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | NetShade | Uplinks NOW! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (177 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netshade/id443928838/reviews) | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uplinks-now/id6478897668/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **177** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 54.4% of reviews | **55.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rayner Software LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/443317806) | [Unpopular Ideas, LLC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1734327661) |

## What reviewers say

### NetShade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/netshade/id443928838)

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.

**Highlights:** VPN and proxy client, Change IP address, Access global content, Online privacy protection, Traffic encryption, Manage proxy lists

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Proxy 1 Year | $26.99 | one-time |
| Proxy & VPN 1 Year | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use and setup
- 🚀 Fast and clean VPN
- 🔒 Provides security on public Wi-Fi
- 🌐 Enables access to region-sensitive sites
- 💻 Works well on Mac

**What reviewers complain about**

- 👎 Service is bad now
- 📉 Server availability issues
- 💸 Waste of money
- 🔌 Connection problems
- 🐌 Slow performance

**Reported bugs**

- VPN expired unexpectedly
- Proxy and socks not working
- Won't connect to UK
- UK server disappears
- Stability problems in new version

**Requested features**

- Add an Australian VPN location
- Improve iOS notifications for VPN drops
- More server choices
- Update http pro and socks


### Uplinks NOW!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/uplinks-now/id6478897668)

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.

**Highlights:** Anonymous connection, No username required, No email required, No phone number required, Instant setup

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7-Day Pass | $0.99 | one-time |
| 28-Day Pass | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NetShade free?

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

### Is Uplinks NOW! free?

Uplinks NOW! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, NetShade or Uplinks NOW!?

Uplinks NOW! is rated higher. NetShade averages 4.5 out of 5 from 177 ratings, while Uplinks NOW! averages 5.0 from 6 ratings.

### Do NetShade or Uplinks NOW! have ads?

Neither NetShade nor Uplinks NOW! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NetShade or Uplinks NOW!?

NetShade ships an update every 13 months, and Uplinks NOW! every 3 months. Most recently, NetShade was updated on September 22, 2026 and Uplinks NOW! on September 18, 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.*