# VPN vs Shadowsocks by Icegate

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shadowsocks by Icegate at 100% against VPN's 50%. Shadowsocks by Icegate also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). VPN's advantage is ratings volume (15 vs 3). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. VPN sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Shadowsocks by Icegate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shadowsocks by Icegate holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of VPN's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shadowsocks by Icegate's.

VPN ships an update monthly, Shadowsocks by Icegate weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VPN | Shadowsocks by Icegate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-cap-fast-secure-proxy/id6747114142/reviews) | **[4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowsocks-by-icegate/id6758450942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **15** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 79 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [TAZLIO NETWORKS LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1815935611) | [IcegateVPN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1750864906) |

## What reviewers say

### VPN

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vpn-cap-fast-secure-proxy/id6747114142)

This app offers a fast, secure, and unlimited free VPN proxy service for mobile devices. It utilizes advanced protocols to bypass network restrictions and encrypt your internet traffic with military-grade security, ensuring private browsing and anonymous streaming.

**Highlights:** Unlimited free VPN proxy, Military-grade AES-256 encryption, Advanced protocols (WireGuard, Hysteria2, VLESS Reality), Bypass firewalls and network restrictions, Strict no-logs policy, Kill Switch and Split Tunneling, Low-ping gaming servers

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Plan | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Plan | $24.99 | per year |


### Shadowsocks by Icegate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowsocks-by-icegate/id6758450942)

This app provides a secure and private proxy connection for unrestricted internet access. It offers fast performance, enhanced privacy through encryption, and a simple one-tap connection process. The client is battery efficient and supports multiple protocols.

**Highlights:** Fast performance, Enhanced privacy, One-tap connection, Battery efficient, Multi-protocol support, Import configuration via QR code or URL

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VPN free?

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

### Is Shadowsocks by Icegate free?

Shadowsocks by Icegate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VPN or Shadowsocks by Icegate?

Shadowsocks by Icegate is rated higher. VPN averages 4.4 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Shadowsocks by Icegate averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do VPN or Shadowsocks by Icegate have ads?

VPN shows ads; Shadowsocks by Icegate does not.

### Which is updated more often, VPN or Shadowsocks by Icegate?

VPN ships an update monthly, and Shadowsocks by Icegate weekly. Most recently, VPN was updated on September 19, 2026 and Shadowsocks by Icegate on September 25, 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.*