# Smile Guard vs Start Explorer

The clearest difference is update cadence: Smile Guard at every 5 days against Start Explorer's every 11 days. Smile Guard also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Smile Guard ships an update every 5 days, Start Explorer every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on June 7, 2026 and December 27, 2025 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Smile Guard | Start Explorer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smile-guard/id6504009783/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **3** | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 days** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 38 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Seho Energy Co., Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1743631086) | [SMALL RED CAT LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1726873360) |

## What reviewers say

### Smile Guard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smile-guard/id6504009783)

Secure your online activities with a VPN that offers stable connections and robust encryption. Browse privately with an incognito mode and protect sensitive data locally. Enjoy optimized modes for streaming and gaming, ensuring a safer digital experience.

**Highlights:** Stable and secure VPN connectivity, Strong encryption for online privacy, Incognito mode with third-party tracking prevention, Local storage for sensitive data, Ad-Block mode, Optimized modes for streaming and gaming

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Start Explorer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/start-explorer/id6651836398)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Smile Guard free?

Smile Guard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Start Explorer free?

Start Explorer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Smile Guard or Start Explorer have ads?

Both Smile Guard and Start Explorer show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Smile Guard or Start Explorer?

Smile Guard ships an update every 5 days, and Start Explorer every 11 days. Most recently, Smile Guard was updated on June 7, 2026 and Start Explorer on December 27, 2025.

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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.*