Comparison

VPN by Private Internet Access vs Towerly

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

Head to head
About

VPN by Private Internet Access

Enhance your online privacy and security with a robust VPN service. Enjoy fast, secure connections, ad blocking, and the ability to stream content without limitations. Protect all your devices with a single subscription.

Highlights
  • Ultra-fast 10-Gbps servers
  • Independently audited no-logs policy
  • Built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker (MACE)
  • Smart Kill Switch
  • Split Tunneling
  • Wireguard protocol for speed and security
  • Open-source applications
Features
Read full description

PIA VPN puts you in control of your online experience with unparalleled privacy features and ultra-fast servers. Trusted by Tom's Guide, TechRadar, and millions of users worldwide! Why PIA VPN Is a Top Choice For The USA? ▶ 7-Day Free VPN Trial Test PIA risk-free for seven days and explore the full feature set with our 30-day money-back guarantee. ▶ Stream Sports Without Limits Catch every game, race, and match with lightning-fast 10-Gbps servers across all 50 US states and 90+ countries. Enjoy lag-free sports streaming in UHD, no matter where you are. ▶ Advanced Privacy with No-Logs Policy Stay private with PIA’s independently audited no-logs policy. Your browsing history and online activity are never tracked or stored. ▶ Block Ads With MACE Enjoy faster, safer browsing by blocking ads, trackers, and malware using PIA’s built-in MACE feature. ▶ One Subscription, Multiple Benefits Protect your phone, tablet, laptop, and more with one PIA subscription. Works on iOS, macOS. Top Features to Enhance Your Online Freedom: ■ Transparent and Open Source PIA’s apps are 100% open-source, so you can trust and verify the code that protects your privacy. ■ Smart Kill Switch Automatically block internet traffic if your VPN connection drops, ensuring your data stays protected at all times. ■ Split Tunneling Customize your VPN use by routing certain apps through the VPN while others connect directly to the internet. ■ Better Speed & Security Our Wireguard protocol ensures faster VPN speeds and more secure connections. ■ Download PIA VPN Today Join millions of satisfied users and experience the ultimate blend of privacy, speed, and security. Privacy Policy https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/privacy-policy Terms of Service https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/terms

About

Towerly

This app gamifies focus sessions by letting you build a virtual tower with bricks earned through concentration. Stay off your phone to grow your skyline, earn rent from your completed floors, and unlock new building styles and renovations.

Highlights
  • Earn bricks for focus sessions
  • Build and renovate virtual towers
  • Strict Mode to prevent app switching
  • Unlockable building styles
  • In-app arcade game
  • Daily work orders and to-do list
Features
Read full description

Towerly turns the time you spend concentrating into something you can see. Start a focus session. Stay off your phone. When the timer runs out, the site pays you in bricks — and bricks are the only way your tower grows. Every floor in your skyline is an hour you actually concentrated. THE LOOP • Focus to earn bricks. Longer sessions and longer streaks pay more. • Spend bricks on blueprints and add a floor to your tower. • Floors pay rent every minute, even while the app is closed. • Spend the rent on renovations, crew and equipment that make the next round faster. A REAL FOCUS TIMER • Any length from 5 to 120 minutes • Optional Strict Mode — leave the app mid-session and the scaffolding comes down • Weekly focus chart, lifetime stats, and a day streak that multiplies what you earn • The clock is wall-based, so a session survives a phone call or a locked screen • One optional daily nudge. No spam, no badges you did not ask for. A REAL GAME • Seven building styles to unlock, from a cosy cottage to a glass sky office • Renovate any floor ten times over • Crane Drop, a quick arcade stacker for when you need a break. Land blocks dead centre for perfects; let the tower lean too far and it all comes down. • 25 trophies, three fresh work orders every day, and your own to-do list that pays bricks A WORLD THAT KEEPS YOUR TIME The sky runs on your clock — sunrise, midday, golden hour, and a starry night, with drifting clouds and a sun that arcs overhead. Your tower looks different every time you open it. Leave for a few hours and your tenants keep paying rent while you are gone. Twenty-five minutes of real attention, and the skyline is one storey taller. Build something today.

Screenshots

VPN by Private Internet Access4 screens
Towerly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: VPN by Private Internet Access at 4.7 against Towerly's 1.0. VPN by Private Internet Access also leads on ratings volume (150K vs 1) and chart position (#110 vs unranked). Towerly's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 10 days). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. VPN by Private Internet Access sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Towerly asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

VPN by Private Internet Access holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: VPN by Private Internet Access has 150K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VPN by Private Internet Access ships an update every 10 days, Towerly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
VPN by Private Internet Access versus Towerly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVPN by Private Internet AccessTowerly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (150K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews87.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings150K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#110 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPrivate Internet Access, Inc.DONAT QUIR SALAMAT

Bugs and requests

VPN by Private Internet Access

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to connect or stay connected
  • Inconsistent performance across devices
  • Broken features after recent updates

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Improved server selection and location information
  • Automatic reconnection when network changes
  • Better integration with other apps and services

Towerly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

VPN by Private Internet Access

Subscriptions6
  • Month of VPN Service$6.991 Month
  • Month of VPN Service$9.991 Month
  • Month of VPN Service$11.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Year of VPN Service7 Days trial2 variants$39.991 Year
  • 12-month plan7 Days trial$47.991 Year
  • Year of VPN Service7 Days trial$49.991 Year
One-time3
  • Month of VPN Service$6.99
  • Month of VPN Service$9.99
  • Year of VPN Service$39.99
None

Towerly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is VPN by Private Internet Access free?
VPN by Private Internet Access is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Towerly free?
Towerly is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, VPN by Private Internet Access or Towerly?
VPN by Private Internet Access is rated higher. VPN by Private Internet Access averages 4.7 out of 5 from 150K ratings, while Towerly averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do VPN by Private Internet Access or Towerly have ads?
Neither VPN by Private Internet Access nor Towerly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VPN by Private Internet Access or Towerly?
VPN by Private Internet Access ships an update every 10 days, and Towerly every 3 days. Most recently, VPN by Private Internet Access was updated on November 4, 2026 and Towerly on October 31, 2026.

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