Comparison

Shadowrocket vs Kitsunebi

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Shadowrocket

This utility client captures and redirects all device traffic to a proxy server. It records requests, allows rule-based configuration, and measures network performance. It also supports ad blocking, local DNS mapping, and advanced proxy features.

Highlights
  • Capture and redirect all device traffic
  • Record HTTP, HTTPS, and DNS requests
  • Configure rules by domain, IP, and GeoIP
  • Measure traffic usage and network speed
  • Import rule files from URL or iCloud
  • Block ads by domain and user agent
  • Local DNS Mapping
Features
Read full description

Rule based proxy utility client for iPhone/iPad. - Capture all HTTP/HTTPS/TCP traffic from any applications on your device, and redirect to the proxy server. - Record and display HTTP, HTTPS, DNS requests from your iOS devices. - Configure rules using domain match, domain suffix, domain keyword, CIDR IP range, and/or GeoIP lookup. - Measure traffic usage and network speed on WiFi, cellular, direct and proxy connections. - Import rule files from URL or iCloud Drive. - Block ads by domain, user agent rules. - Local DNS Mapping. - Work on cellular networks. - Decrypt HTTPS traffic. - Perform URL rewrite. - Fully IPv6 supports. - Script filter supports. - Multi-level forward proxy. - Support kcptun, cloak, gost, v2ray plugins. - Support DNS over HTTPS, DNS over TLS, DNS over QUIC.

About

Kitsunebi

Browse the internet more safely and easily with this versatile proxy utility. It functions as a full-featured V2Ray client, supporting multiple proxy and transport protocols. Advanced rule-based routing gives you granular control over your outgoing internet traffic.

Highlights
  • V2Ray client
  • SOCKS, Shadowsocks, VMess support
  • TCP, KCP, WebSocket, HTTP(H2), QUIC transport
  • Rule-based routing
  • Control outgoing traffic
Features
Read full description

A versatile proxy utility that helps you browser the internet safer and easier. It's a fully-featured V2Ray client, supports SOCKS, Shadowsocks and VMess proxy protocols, with TCP/KCP/WebSocket/HTTP(H2)/QUIC as transport protocols. It's rule-based, allows you control outgoing traffic easily by adding routing rules.

Screenshots

Shadowrocket4 screens
Kitsunebi4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Shadowrocket at 4.5 against Kitsunebi's 3.4. Shadowrocket also leads on ratings volume (12K vs 177) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Kitsunebi's advantage is iOS requirement (10.2 vs 13.0). On ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Shadowrocket costs $2.99 and Kitsunebi $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Shadowrocket holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadowrocket has 12K ratings behind it against 177, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Shadowrocket's written reviews are positive against 46% of Kitsunebi's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shadowrocket ships an update weekly, Kitsunebi fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Shadowrocket versus Kitsunebi: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShadowrocketKitsunebi
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.5 (12K ratings) — better3.4 (177 ratings)
Positive reviews57.5% of reviews — better45.6% of reviews
Number of ratings12K — better177
Update frequencyWeekly — betterFortnightly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidFree — better
Best chart rank#1 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.010.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size53 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperShadow Launch Technology LimitedKits Labs

Customer experience

Shadowrocket

All ratings11,998 ratings
Positive86.6%
Neutral3.5%
Negative9.9%
Written reviews1,422 reviews
Positive57.5%
Neutral10.1%
Negative32.5%

Kitsunebi

All ratings177 ratings
Positive60.5%
Neutral4.5%
Negative35.0%
Written reviews90 reviews
Positive45.6%
Neutral8.9%
Negative45.6%

User reviews

Shadowrocket

From 12K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent VPN performance
  • 👍 User-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Robust security features
  • 💡 Useful customization options

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues after updates
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🤔 Confusing setup process for some users

Kitsunebi

From 177 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Best v2ray client for iOS
  • 🚀 Supports UDP forwarding
  • 👍 Good for customizable proxy needs
  • 👍 Can see blocked websites
  • 👍 Can use specified DNS

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Unstable connections and frequent disconnections
  • 🐛 Poor performance and slow speeds
  • 🐛 App crashes frequently
  • 🐛 VPN connection drops
  • 🐛 Cannot connect on jailbroken devices

Bugs and requests

Shadowrocket

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS versions
  • Unreliable server connections leading to timeouts
  • Subscription management and customer support issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add support for more protocols (e.g. SSTP, L2TP)
  • Implement auto-connect and load balancing features
  • Develop a native macOS version

Kitsunebi

Reported bugs

75 issues
  • Cannot read configs properly on iPhone
  • Cannot work as a VPN on iPhone
  • Local share not found or enabled
  • App not updated
  • App stopped working as proxy
Show 70 more
  • JSON configuration does not work with dokodemo-door
  • v2ray-core version is outdated
  • Latest v2ray core version adds breaking new features
  • App crashes under high throughput during Speedtest
  • Performance is poor
  • Connection crashes
  • Direct connection cannot access external network
  • Does not support aes-256-gcm
  • 5 months without updates
  • iOS12 causes phone to disconnect from network
  • Speedtest is slow and disconnects
  • Unstable and performance really bad
  • App not maintained
  • Developer seems to have abandoned the project
  • Cannot work on tcp
  • App has stopped updating
  • Direct connection cannot access external network
  • Does not support aes-256-gcm
  • 5 months without updates
  • iOS12 causes phone to disconnect from network
  • Speedtest is slow and disconnects
  • Unstable and performance really bad
  • App not maintained
  • Developer seems to have abandoned the project
  • Cannot work on tcp
  • App has stopped updating
  • App crashes
  • VPN cannot be turned off in system settings
  • Unresponsive, cannot connect to VPN
  • VPN connection is very unstable
  • Frequently switches between on and off
  • Wi-Fi disconnects when service is enabled
  • Screen off causes Wi-Fi to disconnect
  • Cannot connect on jailbroken device
  • No logs left on jailbroken device
  • QUIC not working
  • QR code recognition not working
  • Widget logs not scrolling
  • Widget shows loading errors
  • Cannot install for iPad
  • Buggy
  • Cannot import/export Vmess link
  • Cannot share with QRCode
  • UI is ugly
  • Repeated purchases required
  • Cannot use with cellular
  • VPN auto-reconnect and disconnect, stuck in a loop
  • Slow speed compared to Android v2rayNg
  • Network errors during speed tests
  • Tap switch from widget opens the app instead of just enabling/disabling
  • App crashes
  • Wi-Fi disconnects when service is enabled
  • Screen off causes Wi-Fi to disconnect
  • Cannot connect on jailbroken device
  • No logs left on jailbroken device
  • QUIC not working
  • QR code recognition not working
  • Widget logs not scrolling
  • Widget shows loading errors
  • Cannot install for iPad
  • Buggy
  • Cannot import/export Vmess link
  • Cannot share with QRCode
  • UI is ugly
  • Repeated purchases required
  • Cannot use with cellular
  • VPN auto-reconnect and disconnect, stuck in a loop
  • Slow speed compared to Android v2rayNg
  • Network errors during speed tests
  • Tap switch from widget opens the app instead of just enabling/disabling

Requested features

23 requests
  • Add Apple TV app support
  • Local share or LAN share
  • Update v2ray core to newest version
  • Add v2fly support
  • Add more nodes from USA and Canada
Show 18 more
  • Add dark mode
  • Add load balancing
  • Add on-demand connection like Shadowrocket
  • Add Websocket transport for Shadowsocks
  • Add rc4-md5 encryption for Shadowsocks
  • Add iOS13 dark mode
  • Update to support vless protocol
  • Update to support tls1.3
  • Update to support AES-256-GCM
  • Update to support latest v2ray
  • Add support for Android updates
  • Add dark mode
  • Fix configuration issues with dokodemo-door
  • Add on-demand connection
  • Add load balancing
  • Add dark mode for iOS13
  • Add Websocket transport for Shadowsocks
  • Add rc4-md5 encryption for Shadowsocks

In-app purchases

None

Shadowrocket

No in-app purchases

None

Kitsunebi

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Shadowrocket free?
Shadowrocket costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kitsunebi free?
Kitsunebi costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Shadowrocket or Kitsunebi?
Shadowrocket is rated higher. Shadowrocket averages 4.5 out of 5 from 12K ratings, while Kitsunebi averages 3.4 from 177 ratings.
Do Shadowrocket or Kitsunebi have ads?
Neither Shadowrocket nor Kitsunebi shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Shadowrocket or Kitsunebi?
Shadowrocket ships an update weekly, and Kitsunebi fortnightly. Most recently, Shadowrocket was updated on October 1, 2026 and Kitsunebi on September 28, 2026.

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