# Encrypt.me vs Guardian Firewall + VPN

The clearest difference is ads: Guardian Firewall + VPN at none against Encrypt.me's shown. Encrypt.me's advantage is ratings volume (5.8K vs 873). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Encrypt.me sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Guardian Firewall + VPN sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Guardian Firewall + VPN holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Encrypt.me has 5.8K ratings behind it against 873, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Encrypt.me's written reviews are positive against 46% of Guardian Firewall + VPN's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Encrypt.me | Guardian Firewall + VPN |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encryptme/id473835722/reviews) | **[4.6 (873 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardian-firewall-plus-vpn/id1363796315/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **5.8K** | 873 |
| Positive reviews | **52.4% of reviews** | 45.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 17 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Cloak Holdings LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1244168275) | [Sudo Security Group, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1209778075) |

## What reviewers say

### Encrypt.me

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/encryptme/id473835722)

This app provides a simple and secure way to protect your online data, especially on public Wi-Fi. It automatically secures your connection when you use untrusted networks, offering peace of mind for your on-the-go activities. Enjoy effortless online security with a minimal interface and cloud-synced preferences across your devices.

**Highlights:** Auto-secure on untrusted networks, Effortless online security management, Cloud-synced preferences, Data encryption, Minimal user interface

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Week Pass | $3.99 | one-time |
| Month Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Year Pass | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Provides security on public WiFi
- 👍 Automatic connection on untrusted networks
- 🚀 Fast and reliable
- 👍 Seamless integration across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 Buggy, crashes often
- 🐛 Fails to detect network changes
- 🐛 Unreliable performance
- 💰 Expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Certificate expiration issues
- Inability to connect to home/trusted networks
- Disconnects frequently, requires constant reconnection

**Requested features**

- Pause/resume VPN functionality
- Improved compatibility with hotel/public WiFi logins
- Ability to bypass VPN for specific apps or websites


### Guardian Firewall + VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/guardian-firewall-plus-vpn/id1363796315)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Guardian Firewall (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Quarterly | $26.99 | per 3 months |
| Guardian Firewall (Annual) | $99.99 | per year |
| Guardian Pro (Annual) | $149.99 | per year |
| Guardian Firewall (Day Pass) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Guardian Day Pass (Multiple) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Introductory Offer | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Login failures on startup
- Randomly disables VPN protection
- Crashes and freezes on certain devices

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Encrypt.me free?

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

### Is Guardian Firewall + VPN free?

Guardian Firewall + VPN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Encrypt.me or Guardian Firewall + VPN?

Guardian Firewall + VPN is rated higher. Encrypt.me averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5.8K ratings, while Guardian Firewall + VPN averages 4.6 from 873 ratings.

### Do Encrypt.me or Guardian Firewall + VPN have ads?

Encrypt.me shows ads; Guardian Firewall + VPN does not.

### Which is updated more often, Encrypt.me or Guardian Firewall + VPN?

Encrypt.me ships an update every 2 months, and Guardian Firewall + VPN every 2 months. Most recently, Encrypt.me was updated on October 23, 2026 and Guardian Firewall + VPN on October 29, 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.*