Compare Psiphon VPN and ChatOn AI: Which App is the Best?
ChatOn AI is a comprehensive AI assistant powered by multiple advanced models including GPT-4o and Claude 3.7. It offers text generation, AI image creation, document analysis, and YouTube video summarization in one platform. | Psiphon VPN is an open-source circumvention tool with 100M+ downloads and 4.5/5 rating, offering internet freedom and bypassing censorship, though it has faced some recent connection issues and forced app installations. | |
| Key Features A summary of the most important features offered by each app. |
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| Our Rating Prod Apps's expert review score for each app, based on hands-on testing and research. | 6.8 | 7.1 Winner in this category |
| Total users Total active users across all major browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari. | 0 | 0 |
| Total ratings Total number of user ratings received across all supported browsers. | 0 | 0 |
| Average rating Average user rating across all browsers, calculated from available store ratings. | — ⭐ | — ⭐ |
| Entry Level Price The minimum price required to start using the app. "Free" means a free tier is available. | Free | Free |
| Android User rating and stats for the app on Android browser. |  Downloads | Downloads |
| iOS User rating and stats for the app on iOS browser. |  | |
| Features Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Features' aspect of each app. | 8.0 ChatOn AI has a really impressive set of features that goes way beyond just chatting with AI. We found it can handle text generation, image creation, document analysis, and lots more - basically everything you'd want from an AI assistant. Here's what we liked most:
But we did run into some issues. Recent updates seem to have caused performance problems - the app sometimes freezes up or needs to be restarted to work properly. Also, the image generation feature, while cool in theory, doesn't always give you what you ask for. The free version is pretty limited, which makes sense but might be frustrating if you want to test everything before paying. We give features an 8.0 - great variety and innovation, but the reliability could be better. Winner in this category | 8.0 Psiphon VPN offers a comprehensive set of features that justify its circumvention positioning. The service includes open-source transparency, automatic protocol selection, and constantly changing servers. The service also includes advanced features like multi-language support and NGO partnerships, making it more than just a basic VPN. What sets Psiphon VPN apart is its open-source nature and internet freedom focus. The service also includes advanced features like research-backed security and NGO partnerships, making it more than just a basic VPN. However, unlike Proton VPN, it lacks some advanced privacy features like kill switch and split tunneling. However, the service lacks some advanced features found in dedicated VPN providers, such as specialized servers for specific use cases and some cutting-edge privacy features. The service also doesn't offer some advanced features like obfuscated servers or specialized streaming servers that some competitors provide. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN offers good features, but the connection issues make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives. The service provides good value for users who need circumvention features. Winner in this category |
| Performance Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Performance' aspect of each app. | 5.5 ChatOn AI's performance is the biggest problem we found. Recent user feedback shows serious reliability issues that make the app frustrating to use, and these problems seem to have gotten worse after recent updates. What works well when it's running:
But there are major performance issues:
These performance problems have been going on for weeks, and some users say the app has become basically unusable. The developers don't seem to be responding quickly to fix these issues. While ChatOn AI has the potential to perform well based on its features and user base, the current reliability problems make it hard to use. We give performance a 5.5 - below average due to persistent stability issues. | 6.0 Psiphon VPN's performance is inconsistent, with good circumvention capabilities when working but frequent connection issues that significantly impact usability. The service offers decent connection speeds and automatic protocol selection, but the frequent disconnections and loading delays make it difficult to use reliably. The service works well for basic circumvention protection when connected, but many users report VPN connection failures and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The connection issues are particularly concerning given the circumvention positioning. The service's performance issues are particularly concerning given the circumvention positioning. Users expect reliability and performance from a circumvention tool, but Psiphon VPN's connection problems make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives that offer similar features with better performance. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's performance is below average. The connection issues make it difficult to justify the circumvention positioning, and users might find better value with alternatives that offer similar features with better reliability. Winner in this category |
| Design Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Design' aspect of each app. | 7.5 ChatOn AI has a clean, modern look that does a good job organizing all its features. The interface is easy to navigate and looks professional, though there are a few areas that could be improved. What we liked about the design:
Some things could be better though. The interface can feel a bit crowded when you're using advanced features, and some users say the image generation interface could be more intuitive. The transitions between different AI models and features could be smoother too. Overall, the design is solid and functional, though not particularly groundbreaking compared to other AI apps. We give design a 7.5 - it works well and looks good, but could use some polish. Winner in this category | 6.5 Psiphon VPN's interface strikes a basic balance between functionality and circumvention usability. The main screen provides quick access to connection controls and key settings. The interface is functional but not particularly polished, with basic attention to detail and user experience. The app's design is functional and well-organized, with clear navigation between different features. The connection status is clearly displayed, and the settings menu is basic. The interface doesn't overwhelm users with complex options while still providing access to advanced features. The interface is generally user-friendly and provides good visual feedback about connection status and app performance. The design reflects the circumvention positioning of the service, making it suitable for users in restricted regions. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's design is functional but not as polished. The interface is basic and functional, with adequate attention to detail for circumvention users. |
| Value for Money Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Value for Money' aspect of each app. | 6.0 ChatOn AI's value is complicated and really depends on your experience with the app. Some users get great value, while others feel ripped off due to performance issues and subscription problems. What makes it good value:
But there are some real problems:
The value really depends on whether you run into the performance issues. If everything works smoothly, the features justify the cost. But the combination of reliability problems and subscription issues really hurts the overall value. We give value for money a 6.0 - potentially good value when it works, but the problems make it hard to recommend confidently. | 7.5 Psiphon VPN's value proposition is good for circumvention users, with open-source transparency and internet freedom features. The service offers competitive pricing compared to other circumvention tools, with the ability to get open-source circumvention for free being a significant advantage. The service's pricing is competitive with other circumvention tools, and the open-source nature makes it particularly attractive for users who want complete control and transparency. The comprehensive features and privacy protection add value beyond basic circumvention functionality. However, the service's value is impacted by connection stability issues and forced app installations. Many users report frequent disconnections and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The connection issues make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives like Proton VPN or NordVPN. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN offers good features but at a similar cost. The connection issues make it difficult to recommend over circumvention alternatives that offer similar performance with better reliability. Winner in this category |
| Ease of Use Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Ease of Use' aspect of each app. | 7.0 ChatOn AI is generally pretty easy to use, especially for an app with so many features. It does a good job making advanced AI capabilities accessible to everyone, though recent performance issues have made it less reliable. What makes it easy to use:
But we ran into some problems during testing. Recent updates seem to have made the app less reliable - it often freezes up or needs to be restarted to work properly. This really hurts the ease of use since you can't count on it to work consistently. Some of the more advanced features like image generation and document analysis have interfaces that could use better tutorials or guides. The free vs premium feature split can also be confusing. When it's working properly, ChatOn is very easy to use. But the current reliability issues make it frustrating. We give ease of use a 7.0 - good when it works, but the performance problems really get in the way. Winner in this category | 6.0 Psiphon VPN is moderately easy to use for basic circumvention functionality, but requires some technical knowledge for optimal use. The app's design is functional, but most users need to understand circumvention concepts to get the best results. The service works well for most circumvention use cases and provides good performance when functioning properly. The service offers automatic protocol selection and constantly changing servers, making it accessible to users with technical knowledge. The app doesn't require complex configuration, and the circumvention connection process is straightforward. The service works well for most circumvention use cases and provides good performance when functioning properly. However, the service's ease of use is compromised by recent connection issues and forced app installations. Many users report VPN connection failures and the need to manually reconnect multiple times. The app can be frustrating to use due to connection issues and loading delays. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's ease of use is similar but not significantly better. The connection issues can be frustrating for users who expect reliability from a circumvention tool. |
| Security & Privacy Prod Apps's expert score for the 'Security & Privacy' aspect of each app. | 6.5 ChatOn AI's approach to security and privacy is a mixed bag, which is pretty typical for AI assistant apps. There are some good things, but also some concerns you should know about. The good stuff:
But there are some privacy concerns to be aware of:
The app could be more transparent about its privacy policy and how it handles data. You should be careful about what sensitive information you share, since your conversations and files get processed by third-party AI services. We give security and privacy a 6.5 - okay for an AI assistant, but be careful with sensitive information. | 8.5 Psiphon VPN takes security and privacy seriously, with open-source transparency and research-backed security technologies. The service includes automatic protocol selection and constantly changing servers. The service also includes advanced features like NGO partnerships for enhanced privacy protection. The service's privacy features are comprehensive for a circumvention solution, with open-source transparency and research-backed security. The service also includes advanced features like NGO partnerships for enhanced security and privacy protection. Psiphon VPN has an excellent security record, with open-source transparency and community oversight. The circumvention focus ensures complete transparency, and the NGO partnerships mean the highest security standards are maintained. Compared to other circumvention tools like Proton VPN or NordVPN, Psiphon VPN's security practices are excellent. The service provides the highest level of protection for users who prioritize circumvention and transparency. Winner in this category |
| Conclusion A summary of our findings and final thoughts for each app. | ChatOn AI is a solid all-in-one AI assistant that brings together multiple AI models in one app. It's got text generation, image creation, document analysis, and more - basically everything you'd want from an AI helper. Lots of users love it for its features and ease of use, but there are some concerns about recent performance problems and how accurate the image generation really is. The free version gives you a taste of what it can do, but you'll need to pay to unlock the good stuff. If you're looking for a multi-purpose AI assistant that can handle both text and images, ChatOn is worth checking out. Just keep in mind that your experience might vary depending on how the app is running when you use it. | Psiphon VPN offers good circumvention capabilities and open-source transparency, but its value proposition is compromised by recent connection issues and forced app installations. The service provides excellent internet freedom features and NGO partnerships, but the connection problems and loading delays make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives.
For users who prioritize internet freedom and are willing to work within the service's limitations, Psiphon VPN offers a solid feature set with good circumvention capabilities when working properly. However, those seeking specialized VPN functionality or experiencing connection issues might find better value with alternatives that offer similar features with better reliability, such as Proton VPN for general VPN needs.
Ultimately, Psiphon VPN's open-source approach and internet freedom focus make it a good choice for users seeking circumvention tools, but the connection stability issues and forced installations make it difficult to recommend over more reliable alternatives that offer similar features with better performance. For general VPN usage, consider NordVPN or ExpressVPN for more reliable connections. |
| Our Recommendation | ||
