Comparison

NetGuard vs Guardian Firewall + VPN

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

Head to head
About

NetGuard

This app allows remote viewing of DVRs and IP cameras. It offers multi-view capabilities, including a quad view upon connection and full-screen multi-view when the device is tilted. Users can easily switch between channels and identify DVRs with auto-generated thumbnails.

Highlights
  • Multi-view quad screen
  • Full-screen multi-view
  • Slide-to-channel navigation
  • Auto thumbnail identification
  • Transparent event list
Features
Read full description

NetGuard is a new surveillance app for remote DVR and IP camera viewing. What's unique about NetGuard? 1. Multi-View: Why save the best for last? As soon as you connect to the DVR, the app is in quad view! 2. Full Screen Multi-View: Tilt your iPhone to the side and you will see 4 channels of beautiful video in full screen! 3. Slide-to-Channel: Channel keys are so 2010. Switch channels like you are browsing photos on your iPhone. Slide left or right everywhere even full screen mode! 4. Auto Thumbnail: Can't remember which site you want to access? Don't worry, we got your back. With Auto Thumbnail you will always know which DVR is which! 5. New Event List: Like many things we wished for in life, the Event List is transparent! You will never miss any action again! Don't let me bore you with the detail. Download and try for yourself today!

About

Guardian Firewall + VPN

This app provides robust protection against online trackers and hackers by blocking unauthorized data collection and securing your internet activity with a powerful VPN. It offers advanced features like customized blocklists and push notifications for enhanced privacy control.

Highlights
  • Blocks unauthorized third parties from collecting personal data
  • Adds security layer against hackers and insecure websites
  • Customizable blocklists for tailored privacy
  • Push notifications for connection alerts
  • Generates and exports VPN credentials for other devices
  • Masks IP address and device identifiers
Features
Read full description

Take back control of your personal data with the protection of Guardian Firewall and VPN. We believe people should be able to use apps on their digital devices without their data being sold to unknown third parties. Data that you’re not always aware that you’re sharing, such as confidential information, travel patterns, and lifestyle. Guardian Firewall blocks unauthorized third parties from secretly collecting your personal information while adding an extra layer of security from hackers and insecure websites with our powerful VPN, protecting passwords, search history, and other sensitive data. Our Guardian Pro subscription service is the protection of Guardian with the following additional features: • Customized Blocklists: Add individual hosts or IP addresses to be effectively blocked, as well as try our experimental Guardian-curated firewall rules, for a privacy experience tuned to your needs • Push Notifications: Instant notifications when your device attempts to connect to an unwanted connection to further assist in identifying a culprit app or website. Easily filter notifications by type of Alert • Generate & Export Credentials: Create additional sets of VPN credentials to secure your other devices capable of establishing IKEv2 or WireGuard connections (includes ability to export preset .mobileconfig or .conf files for IKEv2 or WireGuard respectively) • Family Sharing of subscriptions is now available to Pro users. Share your subscription to 5 additional family members (5 different Apple IDs) with no additional cost. Guardian Day Passes are available for $0.99 each in 24 hour increments. Purchase as many Day Passes as you’d like, choose to activate some right away, or share a few with friends and family. Guardian subscription service is available for $9.99 per month, or $99.99 per year Guardian Pro subscription service is available for $149.99 per year. Highlights: • Firewall: Block unwanted connections to location trackers, mail trackers, generic data trackers, and other online nuisances. • VPN: All internet activity is sent through a persistent, fast, and secure, IKEv2 or WireGuard based tunnel, keeping internet service providers, hackers, and other unwanted entities from accessing your personal data. • Privacy: Your VPN connection is authenticated with an automatically generated random identity, enabling access only by using the digital In-App Purchase receipt stored on your mobile device after purchase. (No personal information needed) • Best In-Class IKEv2 Encryption: Data sent through the VPN tunnel using IKEv2/IPsec is encrypted using AES-256 to protect against interception by unauthorized parties. • Support For Modern Standards: WireGuard connections are available on every server allowing you to freely choose which transport protocol to use without any compromises. • Mask your IP: Your IP address and other device identifiers will be masked from third-parties in order to help protect your identity. • Region Selection: Control your connection by selecting regions such as the United States, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, Singapore and many more, that cover our global network of servers. • Safe Browsing: Aggressive ads and web page hijackers are blocked by the Firewall, giving you an uninterrupted web browsing experience in any browser, without the need for browser extensions with direct access to your web browser. • Alerts and Alert Filtering: Swipe up on the Alert menu to view all blocked, unwanted connections. Easily filter by type, or tap an Alert for more detailed information. • Fast Connection: No impact on speed or performance. • Support up to five iOS devices using the same AppleID • Contact Technical Support available in-app for any questions or issues Privacy Policy & Terms of Service: https://guardianapp.com/privacy-policy/ Please contact support@guardianapp.com with any questions, concerns, or reports of potential security issues.

Screenshots

NetGuard4 screens
Guardian Firewall + VPN4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Guardian Firewall + VPN at 4.6 against NetGuard's 2.8. Guardian Firewall + VPN also leads on ratings volume (873 vs 4). NetGuard's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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. Guardian Firewall + VPN sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. NetGuard asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Guardian Firewall + VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Guardian Firewall + VPN has 873 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of NetGuard's written reviews are positive against 46% of Guardian Firewall + VPN's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NetGuard ships an update every 3 months, Guardian Firewall + VPN every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
NetGuard versus Guardian Firewall + VPN: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNetGuardGuardian Firewall + VPN
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (4 ratings)4.6 (873 ratings) — better
Positive reviews39.2% of reviews45.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4873 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS12.1 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB18 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPOLARIS ELECTRONICSudo Security Group, Inc

Customer experience

NetGuard

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive39.2%
Neutral8.2%
Negative52.6%

Guardian Firewall + VPN

All ratings869 ratings
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.3%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews164 reviews
Positive45.7%
Neutral14.0%
Negative40.2%

User reviews

NetGuard

From 4 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Works well
  • 👍 Easy to use
  • 👍 Good for surveillance
  • 👍 Useful for remote checking
  • 👍 Picture perfect audio and visual

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Disconnects often
  • 🐛 Fails to connect
  • 🐛 Not working after update
  • 🐛 Sluggish connection

Guardian Firewall + VPN

From 873 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and stable VPN
  • 🔒 Effective at blocking trackers
  • 👍 Simple and easy to use
  • 🤖 Impressive firewall capabilities
  • 💡 Innovative VPN + firewall combo

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription
  • 🐛 Disconnects and stability issues
  • 🔌 Impacts network connectivity
  • 🤔 Unclear what is being blocked
  • 🤷‍♂️ Compatibility problems with some apps

Bugs and requests

NetGuard

Reported bugs

32 issues
  • App disconnects after 10 seconds
  • App not working after update
  • Cameras not visible after update
  • App crashes
  • Cannot re-enter app for several minutes
Show 27 more
  • Cannot consult from multiple phones simultaneously
  • Another admin online error
  • App not working on iOS 14.4
  • App not working on iPhone XS after iOS update
  • App not working on iPhone 6 Plus
  • App not working on iPhone X
  • App not working on iPhone 7
  • App not working on iOS 10
  • App freezes and turns off phone
  • App not connecting after August 1st download
  • App not connecting after recent update
  • App stopped working since update
  • App won't work on iPhone or iPad after update
  • Phone won't connect after recent update
  • App not working since update
  • App buffering and timing out
  • Cannot access camera systems since update
  • App not working since last update
  • App crashes with T-Mobile SIM card
  • No audio while on WiFi
  • App closes with Vodafone
  • Cannot connect remotely
  • Motion event loading and viewing issues
  • Green dots/pixelation on single channels
  • App not opening after last update
  • Failed to connect message
  • Playback shows "no playback data on the device"

Requested features

8 requests
  • Fix connection issues on 3G
  • Improve playback functionality
  • Add camera name display
  • Allow searching recordings in single channel view
  • Fix bugs related to audio playback
Show 3 more
  • Increase camera list limit
  • Make app compatible with other UK 3G networks
  • Improve password security

Guardian Firewall + VPN

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login failures on startup
  • Randomly disables VPN protection
  • Crashes and freezes on certain devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • More granular control over blocking
  • Ability to whitelist apps/domains
  • Location server selection
  • Detailed logging and reporting
  • Widget for quick on/off access

In-app purchases

None

NetGuard

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Guardian Firewall + VPN

Subscriptions4
  • Guardian Firewall (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Quarterly$26.993 Months
  • Guardian Firewall (Annual)$99.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Guardian Pro (Annual)$149.991 Year
One-time3
  • Guardian Firewall (Day Pass)$0.99
  • Guardian Day Pass (Multiple)$0.99
  • Introductory Offer$0.99

Questions

Is NetGuard free?
NetGuard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Guardian Firewall + VPN free?
Guardian Firewall + VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NetGuard or Guardian Firewall + VPN?
Guardian Firewall + VPN is rated higher. NetGuard averages 2.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Guardian Firewall + VPN averages 4.6 from 873 ratings.
Do NetGuard or Guardian Firewall + VPN have ads?
Neither NetGuard nor Guardian Firewall + VPN shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NetGuard or Guardian Firewall + VPN?
NetGuard ships an update every 3 months, and Guardian Firewall + VPN every 2 months. Most recently, NetGuard was updated on November 1, 2026 and Guardian Firewall + VPN on November 2, 2026.

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