The Apple and Google app stores continue to offer private browsing apps that are surreptitiously owned by Chinese companies, more than six weeks after they were identified in a Tech Transparency Project report. Apple and Google may also be profiting from these apps, which put Americans’ privacy and U.S. national security at risk, TTP found.
The apps are virtual private networks (VPNs), which promise to mask a user’s identity as they browse the internet. But Chinese-owned VPNs raise serious privacy and security concerns for Americans because Chinese companies can be forced to share user data with the Chinese government under the country’s national security laws. VPNs have access to particularly sensitive user data since they see all of a person’s web activity.
TTP’s April 1 report found that more than 20 of the top 100 free VPNs in the U.S. Apple App Store in 2024 showed evidence of Chinese ownership. None of these apps clearly disclosed their Chinese ties, and some obscured their origins behind layers of shell companies. Several of the apps were linked to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity firm that has been sanctioned by the U.S. over its ties to China’s People’s Liberation Army, TTP found.
After the Financial Times asked Apple for comment on these findings, two of the apps linked to Qihoo 360—Thunder VPN and Snap VPN—were pulled from its app store. When TTP checked again in early May, another Qihoo 360-connected app called Signal Secure VPN had been quietly removed. But two other apps linked to Qihoo 360—Turbo VPN and VPN Proxy Master—remained available in the U.S. Apple App Store, along with 11 other Chinese-owned apps identified in TTP’s report.
The Google Play Store, meanwhile, offered four Qihoo 360-connected apps—Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Snap VPN, and Signal Secure VPN—as well as seven other Chinese-owned VPNs identified in TTP’s initial report.
Two apps connected to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity company under U.S. government sanctions, remain available in the U.S. Apple App Store.
Two apps connected to Qihoo 360, a Chinese cybersecurity company under U.S. government sanctions, remain available in the U.S. Apple App Store.
Apple, Google, Qihoo 360, and most of the listed developers of the apps did not respond to TTP's request for comment.
A company called Autumn Breeze Pte. Ltd., which is listed as the developer of Snap VPN in the Google Play Store, said it is incorporated in Singapore and "operates independently." It said it "has no affiliation with Qihoo 360," adding, "Protecting user privacy is our highest priority. We strictly enforce a no-log policy and do not record, monitor, or retain any user online activity."
TTP's earlier report detailed how Qihoo 360 at one point acquired Autumn Breeze Pte. Ltd. Qihoo 360 later appeared to sell Autumn Breeze and two other companies to unnamed parties in 2020, shortly after it got hit with U.S. sanctions. But Autumn Breeze's corporate records continued to list a director whose name matches an individual who ran Qihoo 360's mobile security unit. The records give this director's "nationality/citizenship" as Chinese.
All of the VPNs identified in this report are listed as free in the app stores. But during TTP’s May spot check, researchers observed that some of the VPNs offered in-app purchases on top of whatever users get with the “free” app.
In the Apple App Store, the apps specified that users could purchase subscription plans. That means Apple and Google may be profiting from these Chinese owned-VPNs when Americans pay for subscriptions or other add-ons. Both companies take a cut of in-app purchases: Apple charges a 30% fee (15% for those enrolled in its small business program), and Google charges 15% up to $1 million in sales each year and 30% above that. For auto-renewing subscriptions, Apple charges 15% after the first year, and Google charges 15%.
Despite being listed as "free," many of the Chinese-owned VPNs offer paid subscription plans. Apple would take a cut of any sales made inside the app.
Despite being listed as "free," many of the Chinese-owned VPNs offer paid subscription plans. Apple would take a cut of any sales made inside the app.
Some of the Chinese-owned VPNs in the Google Play Store also indicate they contain advertisements. That means Google may be helping these Chinese-owned VPNs to make money off ads and profiting from the ad revenue.
Several of the Chinese-owned VPNs in the Google Play store also show they contain ads.
Several of the Chinese-owned VPNs in the Google Play store also show they contain ads.
Apple's guidelines state that apps offering VPN services “may not sell, use, or disclose to third parties any data for any purpose,” but any China-based app developer can be compelled to share user data with the Chinese government.
TTP could not determine if Google Play has a specific developer policy for VPNs, but it does require apps to be “transparent” about how they share user data. Google did not respond to questions about its policies.
Following are the 13 China-owned VPN apps identified by TTP that remain available in the Apple App Store. The estimated rankings and revenue figures are from mobile intelligence firm AppMagic, collected on May 8, 2025:
X-VPN - Super VPN & Best Proxy
Listed Developer: Free Connected Limited
Ranked #4 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
The app offers in-app purchases
Ranked #7 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Apple App Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$10,000,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: GeWare Technology Limited
Ranked #13 in free VPN apps for U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases.
Listed Developer: ALL Connected Co., Ltd. (linked to Qihoo 360)
Ranked #17 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases
Ranks #20 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Apple App Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$5,000,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: INNOVATIVE CONNECTING PTE.LIMITED (linked to Qihoo 360).
Ranked #18 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
The app offers in app purchases.
Ranked #35 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Apple App Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$5,000,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: Neonetworks solutions Ltd.
Ranked #24 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #64 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Apple App Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$100,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: WCOMES TECHNOLOGIES CO., LIMITED
Ranked #34 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #76 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Apple App Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$50,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: WEILAI NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED
Ranked #36 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Listed Developer: world creation technology limited
Ranked #64 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: Hefei Single Machine Placement Technology Co., Ltd
Ranked #94 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: WCOMES TECHNOLOGIES CO., LIMITED
Ranked #99 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Apple App Store
Offers in-app purchases.
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$20,000 (minus app store fees/taxes)
HulaVPN - Best Fast Secure VPN,
Listed Developer: Hula Link Technology Co., Ltd.
Listed Developer: freevpn Ltd.
Offers in app purchases
Listed Developer: Xian YuanChuangYouPin Network Tech Limited
Offers in-app purchases
Following are 11 China-owned VPN apps identified by TTP that are available in the Google Play Store. The estimated rankings and revenue figures are from AppMagic, collected on May 8, 2025:
Listed Developer: Innovative Connecting (linked to Qihoo 360)
Ranked #10 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #10 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Google Play Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$5,000,000 (minus app fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: LEMON CLOVE PTE. LIMITED (linked to Qihoo 360)
Ranked #27 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #30 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Google Play Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$500,000 (minus app fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: Free Connected Limited
Ranked #37 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #20 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Google Play Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$10,000,000 (minus app fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: VPN - Fast Master Proxy Inc.
Ranked #46 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #56 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Google Play Store
Listed Developer: VPNIFY
Ranked #56 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases.
Ranked #62 in top grossing VPN apps in U.S. Google Play Store
Lifetime Revenue from U.S.: >$10,000 (minus app fees/taxes)
Listed Developer: Geware VPN Pro
Ranked #72 in free VPN apps downloaded from U.S. Google Play Store
The app contains ads
Snap VPN: Super Fast VPN Proxy
Listed Developer: AUTUMN BREEZE PTE. LIMITED (linked to Qihoo 360)
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: AUTUMN BREEZE PTE. LIMITED (linked to Qihoo 360)
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: WCOMES TECHNOLOGIES CO.,LIMITED
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: Hula Link
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases
Listed Developer: WCOMES TECHNOLOGIES CO.,LIMITED
The app contains ads and offers in-app purchases
Note: After publication of this report, a Slovenian man contacted TTP to state that he had founded the company behind the VPNIFY app, even though his Chinese wife was listed as the sole director and shareholder on the company’s incorporation papers in Hong Kong. He said the company was not controlled from mainland China and did not log, store, or share user data.
