Stellar VPN vs HotspotCheck
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side β with what reviewers say about each.
Stellar VPN
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Stellar VPN keeps your online activity private and secure with one-tap connectivity to servers worldwide. FAST & SECURE CONNECTIONS Connect to the fastest server automatically or choose from locations around the world. STELLAR RELAY Enhanced routing technology for an additional layer of privacy and performance. AUTO-ROTATING SERVERS Automatically switch between servers to maintain optimal performance and privacy without lifting a finger. MULTI-DEVICE SUPPORT Use Stellar VPN across your devices with a single account. Monitor connected devices from your profile. FLEXIBLE PLANS Choose a subscription that works for you β Monthly, Quarterly, Half-Yearly, or Yearly. All plans include full access to every server location and feature. KEY FEATURES β’ One-tap VPN connection β’ Global server network with live latency indicators β’ Auto-connect on app launch β’ Account number sign-in β no email required β’ Built in Switzerland Your privacy matters. Stellar VPN is built with security-first architecture to protect your connection at every step. Terms of Use (EULA): https://stellarvpn.org/term-condition Privacy Policy: https://stellarvpn.org/privacy-policy
HotspotCheck
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HotspotCheck helps you understand the Wi-Fi network you are connected to right now β before you log in, pay, work, or share anything sensitive. It is a defensive, educational safety advisor built for iPhone: you choose when to scan, you see plain-English results, and you decide what to do next. Whether you are at a cafΓ©, hotel, airport, Airbnb, campus, office, or home, HotspotCheck turns visible network signals into a clear safety score, practical findings, and context-aware recommendations. It is designed to build confidence through transparency β not fear. WHAT HOTSPOTCHECK CHECKS When you tap "Check this Wi-Fi", HotspotCheck runs user-initiated checks on the network you are already using. Depending on permissions and what iOS exposes, your report may include: β’ Wi-Fi name and security type (where iOS allows) β’ Gateway and DNS posture β’ Captive portal and login-page behaviour β’ TLS and certificate consistency across Wi-Fi vs mobile data β’ Visible devices and services on the local network (Bonjour/mDNS) β’ Router and smart-home exposure indicators β’ DNS rebinding and interception-style risk signals β’ Plain-language limitations so you know what could not be verified Every scan ends with a safety score, ranked findings, recommendations tailored to your situation, and an honest list of what the app could and could not see. BUILT FOR REAL-WORLD SITUATIONS Choose a context β Home, Work, University, Hotel, CafΓ©, Airport, Airbnb, or Other β and HotspotCheck adjusts its guidance to match how you are likely using the network. Travel and public Wi-Fi get stronger caution; home scans focus on router hygiene and device exposure. Learn as you go with built-in explanations of common Wi-Fi risks: captive portals, client isolation, suspicious DNS, visible printers and cameras, and more. PRIVACY-FIRST BY DESIGN β’ Scans run on your iPhone β no developer backend for your scan data β’ No ads and no third-party analytics SDK β’ Scan history stays on your device unless you export it β’ Delete your latest report or wipe all history from Settings β’ Optional PDF export with redaction for sharing HotspotCheck requests Local Network access only when you start a scan, and Location (While Using the App) only where iOS requires it to show the current Wi-Fi name. You stay in control. FREE TO TRY, SIMPLE TO UNLOCK Your first 3 full Wi-Fi checks are free β including the complete report, export, recommendations, and local history. After that, choose: β’ Annual access β unlimited scans while your subscription is active β’ Lifetime unlock β one-time purchase, no renewal Both unlock unlimited full scans, detailed reports, scan history, PDF export, and advanced checklists for travel and home networks. EXPORT AND SHARE Generate a PDF report to keep for your records or share with someone helping you troubleshoot a network. Reports summarise findings, evidence, recommendations, and limitations in one readable document. IMPORTANT β EDUCATIONAL TOOL HotspotCheck is for learning and awareness. It is not a penetration test, professional security audit, or guarantee of safety. Scores and labels reflect what can be observed from your iPhone on that network at that moment. Hidden risks may still exist. Always use your own judgment before entering passwords, banking details, or confidential work information. HotspotCheck does not crack passwords, exploit routers, scan unrelated Wi-Fi networks, or run hidden background scans. REQUIREMENTS β’ iPhone with iOS 17 or later β’ An active Wi-Fi connection to check Subscriptions are governed by our Terms of Use and Appleβs Standard End User License Agreement (EULA) for licensed applications: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
Stellar VPN and HotspotCheck are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters β price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them β neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price Β· Rating Β· Positive reviews Β· Number of ratings Β· Update frequency Β· Ads Β· In-app purchases Β· Monetization Β· Best chart rank Β· Devices Β· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Stellar VPN sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and HotspotCheck sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Stellar VPN | HotspotCheck |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | β |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details β not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | North Star Swiss SA | Hassan Chizari |
In-app purchases
Stellar VPN
- 1 Month$3.991 Month
- 3 Months$9.993 Months
- 6 Months$17.996 Months
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- 12 Months$29.991 Year
HotspotCheck
- Annual access$4.991 Year
- Lifetime unlock$9.99
Questions
Is Stellar VPN free?
Is HotspotCheck free?
Do Stellar VPN or HotspotCheck have ads?
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