VLESS Apps: Incy, Happ, Hiddify, v2RayTun, v2rayNG, and Which to Choose

Why you need a separate app for VLESS

Built-in VPN settings on iOS, Android, and Windows support IKEv2 and some older protocols, but not VLESS. That is why you need a separate client. It downloads a server list via your subscription, creates a VPN connection on your device, and routes traffic through the VLESS server. To learn how the protocol works and why it needs Reality, check out our guide on VLESS.

Most clients rely on one of two open-source cores. Incy, Happ, v2rayNG, and v2RayTun (based on its Google Play description) use Xray. Hiddify and NekoBox run on sing-box. Both cores support VLESS with Reality, so they perform similarly with the same subscription. The differences lie in platforms, interfaces, and extra features like split tunneling.

You only need one subscription for all clients. Read our article on VLESS keys and subscriptions to see how they work and differ.

What to look for in a client

We compared the clients across six key factors that matter to regular users.

• Platforms. Using the same app on your phone, laptop, and TV is much easier: buttons have similar names, and you do not have to learn new interfaces.
• Installation source. Apps from Google Play or the App Store update automatically. A GitHub APK requires manual updates, but nobody can arbitrarily remove it from the store by request.
• Auto-updating subscriptions. Providers occasionally change server IPs or add new ones. A client with auto-update handles this without your input.
• Split tunneling. Without it, you have to turn off the VPN to use local services like banks or Gosuslugi (Russia's public services portal).
• Open-source code. While not a silver bullet for security, it lets anyone inspect what the app does. With closed-source apps, you just have to trust the developer.
• Update frequency. Cores and protocols evolve. A client that hasn't updated in six months might fail to read new server settings. Always check the release page or version history before installing.

We intentionally excluded speed. Server performance, distance, and your network dictate speed. Clients running on the same core with the same subscription will perform almost identically.

VLESS clients comparison table

'Split tunneling' lets you route specific sites or apps outside the VPN (like banking apps or Gosuslugi). On iPhone, system limits prevent selecting specific apps, so clients rely purely on domain and IP-based rules.

On computers, Happ and Hiddify offer two modes. In system proxy mode, only browsers and apps that respect system network settings go through the VPN. In VPN (or TUN) mode, it creates a virtual network adapter routing all traffic—including games and custom network apps—through the tunnel. Hiddify requires administrator privileges for this mode.

All seven clients are free. You only pay your VPN provider for the servers. Paid clients do exist (like Shadowrocket for iPhone), but we didn't include them here.

Which client fits you best

Incy

An Xray-based client from LLC ITDEV, designed mainly for phones and TVs. It features auto-updating subscriptions, routing profiles, Android app selection, and a kill switch to cut traffic if the tunnel drops. Add your subscription via the '+ Add' button, then 'Paste'. You can send it to your TV using a QR code or pairing code. The desktop version exists but is in pre-alpha. It is closed-source and free.

Best if you want a single, simple app for your phone and TV. The main downside involves the App Store. On October 27, 2026, Incy disappeared from the Russian store, as reported by iPhones.ru. It remains available in other regions' App Stores, Google Play, and GitHub. Already installed iPhone copies still work.

Happ

A client from Flyfrog LLC running on almost everything: phones, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android TV, and Apple TV. Add your subscription via the '+' icon and paste from your clipboard. You can send it to your TV via a code on tv.happ.su. Split tunneling uses routing profiles across all platforms and app selection on Android and PC. As of October 2026, the desktop version saw updates several times a week. The app's code is closed.

Perfect if you want an identical interface across all devices, especially on Mac and TV. Happ has been removed from the Russian App Store several times. Read our Happ guide for setup details.

Hiddify

An open-source sing-box client, highly popular on Windows. On a PC, it works as a system proxy without admin rights or in VPN mode with them. A single setting bypasses Russian websites, and on Android, you can select which apps bypass the VPN. The latest stable release, 4.1.1, launched in March 2026.

Great for Windows users, especially if open-source software is a priority. Check our Hiddify guide for installation and troubleshooting common errors.

v2RayTun

An Xray-based client from DATABRIDGES TECHNOLOGIES LTD with over 10 million Google Play downloads. Add configurations via QR code, clipboard, deep link, or manually. Apple removed the iPhone version from the Russian App Store in late March 2026. The developer doesn't list split tunneling or desktop features, so we can't evaluate them.

A solid Android option if your VPN provider explicitly recommends it.

v2rayNG

An open-source Android client on Xray with over 60,000 GitHub stars. Subscriptions are organized into groups and update automatically. It features routing rules and 'Per-app proxy' with a bypass mode. Download it from its GitHub releases page; we couldn't find it on Google Play.

v2rayNG has no iPhone or Windows versions. The same author develops v2rayN for Windows, macOS, and Linux. App Store apps with 'v2ray' in their names belong to different developers. Ideal for users who love tinkering with settings.

Streisand

A free iPhone and iPad client from ARCADIA ODYSSEY INC. Beyond VLESS with Reality, it supports VMess, Trojan, Shadowsocks, SSH, Hysteria 2, TUIC, and WireGuard. It includes proxy rules and custom DNS settings. It was pulled from the Russian App Store in late March 2026 but continues receiving updates in other regions.

Great if you already have it installed. You currently cannot download it fresh with a Russian Apple ID.

NekoBox

An open-source Android sing-box client. It supports subscriptions, routing rules, and bypassing specific apps. The latest version, 1.4.2, came out in February 2026 and should be downloaded from its GitHub releases page. The developers abandoned NekoRay, the desktop version: its final release was in December 2024, and the repository is archived.

Best for those who already use NekoBox and know their way around its settings.

Choosing the right client for your device

• iPhone and iPad. If Incy, Happ, or Streisand is already installed, keep it. For a fresh install, ask your provider's support team which app currently works best. As of October 30, none of these clients are in the Russian App Store, and the landscape changes weekly. We track the App Store situation in our VPN on iPhone guide.
• Android. Incy, Happ, Hiddify, or v2RayTun from Google Play all work well. If you want open-source software, grab Hiddify, v2rayNG, or NekoBox.
• Windows. Hiddify or Happ. The Windows version of Incy is still in pre-alpha.
• Mac. Happ: the GitHub release supports macOS 13 and newer. Hiddify also offers a Mac version.
• Linux. Happ (deb, rpm, and pkg packages) or Hiddify (AppImage and deb). Incy has a Linux version, but it is in pre-alpha.
• Android TV. Happ or Incy. Both transfer the subscription to the TV via a pairing code, saving you from typing URLs with a remote. Apple TV has a dedicated Happ for TV app. See our VPN on TV article for details.

On October 30, the Russian App Store still had apps like the free Karing and the premium Shadowrocket (249 ₽). We didn't compare them here. Before buying or installing, check their descriptions or ask your provider if they support VLESS with Reality.

If your VPN provider has a guide for a specific client, start there. It makes getting support much easier: their team knows the interface and can resolve issues faster. You can switch clients later anytime.

Not every client has a built-in kill switch to block internet access when the VPN drops. On Android, a system setting handles this for any app: go to your phone's VPN settings, tap the gear next to the client, and enable 'Always-on VPN' and 'Block connections without VPN'. The exact names depend on your device.

For context: the Byte VPN dashboard recommends Incy for iPhone and Android, Happ for macOS and Android TV, and Hiddify for Windows. Our guides are tailored to these three, but you can paste our subscription link into any other compatible client from the table.

How to switch apps without losing your subscription

Your VPN provider stores your subscription. The client just uses it to fetch the server list, so you can switch apps whenever you want without losing anything.

1. Copy your subscription link from your provider's dashboard or bot. You can also export it from your old app, but getting it from the source is safer.
2. Install the new client from an official source, tap '+', and paste the link.
3. Turn off the VPN in your old app. A phone only handles one active VPN connection, and on a PC, two tunnels will conflict.
4. Connect in the new client and verify your IP address changed. Check out our guide on how to test your VPN to see how.
5. Set up split tunneling again. Routing rules and app lists don't carry over between clients.
6. Uninstall the old app or keep it as a backup. On iPhone, don't rush to delete: if an app is missing from the Russian App Store, you can't get it back.

Some providers cap the number of active devices per subscription and track them by a client-generated ID. If you get a 'device limit exceeded' error after switching, delete the old device in your dashboard or contact support.

Having a second client is great for troubleshooting. If the VPN stops connecting, paste the subscription into another app. If it works, the first client is the problem—update or reconfigure it. If neither works, the issue is with the subscription, server, or network. Contact your provider's support team immediately.

How to avoid fake apps

Every time a popular client vanishes from the App Store, copycats with similar names and icons pop up in search results. On October 30, searching for 'happ' in the Russian App Store showed a third-party app called 'Happ Plus'. The only safe method is to follow links directly from the developer's website or repository and verify the publisher name in the store.

Even official clients need updates. In April 2026, Kod Durova cited a Habr user's research showing Happ, v2rayNG, Hiddify, NekoBox, and others spun up a password-less local proxy, allowing third-party apps to see your real IP. Happ also exposed an internal Xray interface with server addresses and keys, which the developers later patched.

If you install a client via an APK file, Android will ask you to allow your browser or file manager to install from unknown sources. Grant this permission only temporarily, only for a file from the developer's official page, and disable it right after.

The clients are free, but servers cost money, and somebody is paying for them. Keys and 'free subscriptions' found in Telegram channels belong to people you know nothing about. We explain why using them is risky in our article on free VPNs.