Lantern vs Ultrasurf (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Ultrasurf grades higher than Lantern: 3.2 against 2.6 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Ultrasurf grades higher on value for money and the free plan. They get the same grade on features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Lantern
Nonprofit, open-source VPN built to get past censorship
Ultrasurf
Free censorship-circumvention VPN from UltraReach
Which one is for you
Pick Lantern if
- Fits if you live somewhere that blocks sites and apps and need something free to try first
- Works for people who want a VPN from a nonprofit and are fine with open-source code
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a free VPN with a stated data allowance, because the daily limit isn't given
- Not for you if you want everything tunnelled out of the box, since Full Tunnel is a setting you turn on
- Tight if you're staying free: server choice, faster speeds, ad blocking and 5 devices are all Pro
- Watch out: the 2-year price doesn't say what it renews at, and the yearly total is shown as a calculated figure
Pick Ultrasurf if
- Fits if your network blocks much of the open internet
- Works for Windows users who want a portable program with nothing to install
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you use a Mac or Linux, as the download page lists neither
- Watch out: the Android app is described as in beta testing
- Watch out: iOS subscriptions of $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year were read from the US App Store only
- Watch out: the quoted reviews on the site date from 2007 to 2022
How we grade them
| 2.6GPALanternGood | 3.2GPAUltrasurfVery good | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B$3.63 a month on the 2-year Pro plan and $4 a month billed yearly, which is inside the cheaper quarter of VPNs ($3.99). The monthly plan is $12, and the page doesn't say whether the 2-year price renews the same. | AThe Windows client and Chrome extension are described as free. The iOS in-app subscription is $6.99 a month or $49.99 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | CFree forever with no sign-up, on all five platforms. But there's a daily data limit in most countries and the pricing page doesn't say how much, so you'll find the edge by hitting it. | AThe Windows client and extension are free with no paid tier shown, and the iOS app is free to download. |
| Features | CSmart Routing, switching between protocols when one is blocked, an optional private-server mode and ad blocking on Pro. The gap is that it only protects blocked and sensitive traffic until you turn on Full Tunnel. | CCircumvention through a TLS tunnel, optional safe browsing, and no location picking listed. It is a smaller job than a full VPN. |
| Ease of use | BNo store rating on record, but it's an app you install and use with no account. Pick a mode and connect. | BNo store rating on record, but the Windows client is a portable program with nothing to install. |
| Platforms and integrations | BAndroid, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux. Phones and computers covered, but no API or integrations are listed. | BWindows, iOS, Android (beta) and a Chrome extension; no Mac or Linux app. |
| Best for | a free VPN for getting past blocked sites | getting past censorship with a small free tool |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Lantern and Ultrasurf. How we grade
Price against what you get
Lantern starts at $3.63 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Ultrasurf starts at $4.17 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.7.
They score the same, and Lantern starts $0.54 a month lower. Of the other VPNs on the chart, 2 score higher than Lantern for less, and 3 score higher than Ultrasurf for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- Lantern is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Lantern also covers ad and tracker blocking.
- Ultrasurf also covers malware protection.
At a glance
| Lantern | Ultrasurf | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free plan |
| Starts at | $3.63 per month on the 2-year Pro plan, billed every 2 years | $6.99 per month, or $49.99 per year, as in-app purchases on iOS |
| Free plan | Free forever with no sign-up. In most countries it has a daily data limit; the pricing page does not give the amount, and the vendor says the free version is not capped where paying is blocked or unsafe. | The Windows client and the Chrome extension are described as free, and the iOS app is free to download with in-app purchases. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Brave New Software Project, Inc. | UltraReach Internet Corp. |
| Price read from | lantern.io | apps.apple.com |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Lantern
- The free version has a daily data limit in most countries, and the pricing page does not state it.
- Server selection, ad blocking and use on up to 5 devices need Pro.
- By default Lantern protects only blocked and sensitive traffic; Full Tunnel has to be switched on to cover everything.
- Payment depends on where the app came from: Google Play and the App Store use in-app purchases, while desktop and direct Android downloads use cards or UnionPay through Stripe.
Ultrasurf
- The Windows client runs on Windows only; the download page lists no Mac or Linux app.
- The Android app is described on the download page as in beta testing.
- Subscription prices were read from the US App Store listing only; the Windows client and extension show no paid tier on the pages read.
- The vendor's own site publishes no pricing page, and its quoted reviews date from 2007 to 2022.
Key features
Lantern
- Smart Routing
- Sends blocked and sensitive traffic through Lantern and lets everything else connect directly. A Full Tunnel mode routes all traffic.
- Censorship circumvention
- Supports several protocols and switches automatically when one is blocked, which is what the product is built for.
- Private Server mode
- Lets you run Lantern on your own hardware or cloud account, paying only your own server costs.
- Built-in ad blocking
- Pro includes blocking of ads and trackers inside the app.
- Open source
- The code is public on GitHub, and the vendor says it keeps no logs of browsing activity and has been reviewed by independent security experts.
Ultrasurf
- Censorship circumvention
- Built to let people reach blocked sites; the vendor says it was first designed for internet users in mainland China.
- TLS tunnel
- The iOS listing says the app uses TLS 1.3, so the traffic looks like ordinary HTTPS to a network observer.
- No-install Windows client
- The Windows version is a single executable that opens a tunnel and the default browser when double-clicked; no installation is needed.
- Mobile apps and extension
- An iOS app covering all apps on an iPhone or iPad, an Android app in beta, and a Chrome extension.
- Optional Safe Browsing
- The Chrome Web Store listing describes an optional feature in the extension that checks visited URLs and blocks sites known for phishing, malware or scams.
Plans
Lantern
Free$0
Secure VPN with a daily data allowance and the anti-censorship protocols, on all five platforms.
Pro, 1 month$12
per month
Server location choice, faster speeds and unlimited bandwidth, premium servers, up to 5 devices and built-in ad blocking.
Pro, 1 year$4
per month, billed yearly
The same Pro plan billed once a year; the page shows the yearly total as a calculated amount, not a fixed figure.
Pro, 2 years$3.63
per month, billed every 2 years
The same Pro plan billed every 2 years. The page does not say whether it renews at the same price.
Ultrasurf
Free$0
The Windows client, Chrome extension and the iOS app's free use. The vendor's site says Ultrasurf is free to users.
iOS Monthly Subscription$6.99
per month, as an in-app purchase in the iOS app
The App Store listing says the subscription adds optimized servers in 60 countries, faster speeds and an ad-free experience.
iOS Yearly Subscription$49.99
per year, as an in-app purchase in the iOS app
The same subscription benefits as the monthly option, billed once a year.
Ways to pay less
Lantern
- Annual discount
Longer Pro terms cost less per month
Pro is $12 a month, $4 a month billed yearly and $3.63 a month billed every 2 years.
Ultrasurf
No public discounts listed.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Lantern or Ultrasurf?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Lantern is cheaper to start with: $3.63 a month, against $4.17 a month when paid by the year for Ultrasurf. Lantern starts at $3.63 per month on the 2-year Pro plan, billed every 2 years, and Ultrasurf starts at $6.99 per month, or $49.99 per year, as in-app purchases on iOS.
Which has a free plan, Lantern or Ultrasurf?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both Lantern and Ultrasurf have a free plan.
Which platforms do Lantern and Ultrasurf run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Lantern lists macOS and Linux apps and only Ultrasurf lists a browser extension. Both list Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.