# Freedom DNS vs CST Pulse

The clearest difference is ads: CST Pulse at none against Freedom DNS's shown. CST Pulse also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). Freedom DNS's advantage is ratings volume (28 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Freedom DNS sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and CST Pulse sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CST Pulse holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Freedom DNS has 28 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Freedom DNS ships an update every 3 weeks, CST Pulse daily. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Freedom DNS | CST Pulse |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-dns-fast-and-secure/id6760475696/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cst-pulse/id6801555615/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 1 |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 57 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Piiko Apps OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/1884630750) | [Christopher Simons](https://appshunter.io/developer/6801555617) |

## What reviewers say

### Freedom DNS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/freedom-dns-fast-and-secure/id6760475696)

This app helps you regain focus by blocking distracting apps and websites. It offers customizable focus sessions, daily time limits, and ad/tracker blocking through DNS filtering. Enhance your productivity and online safety with its robust features.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps and categories, Customizable focus sessions, Daily time limits for apps, Block inappropriate websites and categories, Filter ads, trackers, and malware via DNS, Encrypted private DNS, PIN lock for security

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Freedom: Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Freedom: Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Freedom: Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


### CST Pulse

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cst-pulse/id6801555615)

Monitor the health and connectivity of your Cato network environment in real-time. Get instant visibility into sites, WAN links, and users to quickly identify and resolve issues before they impact your users. Offers detailed network analysis and event tracking.

**Highlights:** Real-time site and WAN link status, Remote user connectivity monitoring, Network throughput graphs, Searchable connectivity event timeline, SDP user details and search, Customizable alerts and notifications, Multi-tenant monitoring

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ProMonthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Pulse Pro Annual | $79.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Freedom DNS free?

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

### Is CST Pulse free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Freedom DNS or CST Pulse?

CST Pulse is rated higher. Freedom DNS averages 4.7 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while CST Pulse averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Freedom DNS or CST Pulse have ads?

Freedom DNS shows ads; CST Pulse does not.

### Which is updated more often, Freedom DNS or CST Pulse?

Freedom DNS ships an update every 3 weeks, and CST Pulse daily. Most recently, Freedom DNS was updated on November 9, 2026 and CST Pulse 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.*