Apple’s closed ecosystem and regular software updates help make your iPhone highly secure, but Apple’s strong emphasis on security shouldn’t stop you from doing more to protect your privacy. One way to do this is with a VPN, which encrypts all of the data traveling from your iPhone to the internet, securing it from prying eyes.
You’ll find plenty of VPNs for iOS but many fall short in key areas. Often this means they perform poorly in speed tests, leak identifying data, or keep extensive browsing logs that can be linked to you and your iPhone. The best VPNs for iPhone can help you avoid these issues, all of which provide your device with security and speed while still being simple to use.
TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs For iPhone:
When you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you connect to a VPN server in your preferred location. In doing so, your iPhone is provided with a new, temporary IP address. Not only does this let you browse and stream on your iPhone anonymously, it means you can sidestep geo-blocking, allowing you to access your usual websites and services from home even when traveling abroad.
1. NordVPN
Best VPN for iPhone
NordVPN is not only the best VPNs for iPhone, but the best VPN for gaming – and for good reason. Compatible with iOS 15.0 and later, its fast proprietary protocol NordLynx makes it easy to browse, stream, and play online games on your iPhone. It also makes light work of streaming platforms like Netflix that other VPNs struggle to access. NordVPN has significantly expanded its server network to 7,000+ servers in 118 countries – more than most VPNs.
The VPN market moves fast, as evidenced by NordVPN’s many recent additions. This includes Threat Protection which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious websites. Not only can you use NordVPN to secure your iPhone, but you can connect it on up to nine other devices at once. NordVPN has plenty of other security features that keep your iPhone safe, including specialty Double VPN servers for two layers of encryption.
2. Proton VPN
Best iPhone VPN With a Free Tier
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs for iPhone and also topped our list of the best free VPNs for PC. Its free plan is unique in that it doesn’t impose speed or data limits and offers users access to 240 servers in five countries. Opting for a Proton VPN paid plan sees this increase to over 9,000 servers in 117 countries, which is one of the biggest VPN networks offered by any provider, and allows for 10 simultaneous device connections. Speeds are impressive too, in large part thanks to Proton VPN’s Accelerator feature which reduces latency and congestion.
When it comes to privacy protection, Proton VPN is as good as it gets. It’s headquartered in Switzerland where there are no mandatory data retention laws. Proton VPN doesn’t keep connection logs and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. There’s no shortage of extra security features either, be it Secure Core (Double VPN) servers or its NetShield ad blocker.
3. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for Streaming
ExpressVPN is strong in all areas, making it not only a great VPN for iOS, but one of the best VPNs, period. Despite the simple, user-friendly iOS app design, it’s packing impressive performance. Its proprietary Lightway protocol enables fast speeds for streaming and gaming. I’ve also found ExpressVPN to be reliable for accessing popular streaming services from abroad, Netflix included – one of the many reasons why it’s the best VPN for streaming.
You’re not short of server locations with ExpressVPN, which has roughly 3,000 servers in 105 countries. This helps to bypass geo-blocking and means there’s always a high-speed server nearby. Although ExpressVPN doesn’t offer quite as many extras as NordVPN, it has added numerous high quality extras, including a tracker blocker and password manager. All in all, it’s a great VPN for beginners, especially because its 24/7 live chat and email support is excellent.
4. Surfshark
Best VPN for Extra Features
Surfshark has far more features than most iOS VPNs and this makes its long-term subscriptions particularly good value, making our list of the best cheap VPNs. Subscriptions are priced from as little as $2.19 a month and include access to over 3,000 servers in 100 countries. As such, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a fast server wherever you’re using your iPhone. In fact, Surfshark allows unlimited simultaneous connections so you can secure all of your devices.
Thanks to Surfshark’s use of the WireGuard protocol, you can expect very good speeds. That it’s also adept at unblocking popular streaming services makes it popular among streamers. As for security features, you’ll have access to CleanWeb which blocks ads and malicious websites, and Surfshark’s MultiHop servers for an extra layer of encryption. This is one of the few iPhone VPNs to provide split tunneling, letting you choose which traffic can bypass the VPN connection.
5. CyberGhost
Best Free Trial VPN
CyberGhost has an excellent iOS app that’s compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod for versions 13.0 and newer. If you’re also on MacOS, you can take advantage of the best free trial in the VPN market. Available for 24 hours, it provides access to all features with no need to provide a credit card. You can then try out CyberGhost’s vast server network which covers 100 countries, so it’s always easy to find a fast, low-load server in your preferred location.
Thanks to its fast speeds and streaming-optimized servers, CyberGhost is one of the best VPNs for streaming. It’s hard not to be impressed with its privacy protection too: 256-bit AES encryption hides your traffic from your ISP. CyberGhost publishes quarterly transparency reports, detailing information requests received from authorities. CyberGhost can’t comply with such requests because it simply doesn’t collect identifying data, as per its strict no-logs policy.
6. IPVanish
Best VPN for Unlimited Devices
IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which is ideal if you have more than just your iPhone to secure. Each of your devices will benefit from IPVanish’s fast connection speeds – it uses the popular WireGuard protocol – so you can stream lag-free and play games with low ping. Its growing network stands at over 2,400 servers, some 1,400+ of which are in the U.S. It’s little wonder then that IPVanish works so well with so many U.S. streaming platforms.
The IPVanish iOS app gives you the option to favorite specific servers and even see each server’s ping and load – this isn’t something you see with every VPN for iPhone. With 256-bit AES encryption and its zero-logs policy, IPVanish lets you browse and stream anonymously. You won’t need to worry about ads and trackers either thanks to its Threat Protection feature. Newer additions to the IPVanish feature lineup include a secure browser and cloud storage.
Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, IGN’s parent company.
7. Mullvad
Best VPN for Anonymity
Mullvad is one of the only VPNs that accepts cash payments. It also doesn’t require you to sign up with an email address, instead using an account number system. It’s things like this that make Mullvad the best privacy VPN, allowing for anonymous signup. Mullvad is also our best cheap VPN with a flat subscription rate of €5 a month (~$5.65).
You might think that with such a focus on privacy, Mullvad’s performance might be found lacking but it’s not. It implemented the WireGuard protocol in 2017 and is currently one of the fastest VPNs on the market. It does leave something to be desired with its unblocking, struggling to access streaming platforms compared with my top pick, ExpressVPN. Mullvad operates a strict no-logs policy and recently subjected its apps to an independent security audit.
What to Look for in a VPN for iPhone
You might be wondering why the above VPNs for iPhone made the cut (or why other VPNs didn’t). When testing VPNs for iPhone, I look at everything from how easy they are to install to how intelligible their privacy policies are. I also carry out a battery of tests including measuring server speeds and checking for DNS leaks.
During testing, I looked for iPhone VPNs that fulfill the following criteria:
User-friendly iOS appFast, unthrottled connectionsGlobal server networkHigh level of encryptionSupports multiple VPN protocolsAbsolutely no identifying logs of usersMultiple simultaneous connectionsMoney-back guarantee of at least 30 daysLive chat and email support
How to Use a VPN on an iPhone
First time using a VPN for iPhone? Getting a VPN set up and connected on your iOS device is super easy:
Go to the Apple App store and search for your preferred VPN.Select Get followed by Install to download the VPN’s iOS app.Tap on Open and follow the steps to sign up for an account.Select Allow when prompted to add VPN configurations. Enter your passcode to confirm.Choose the server in your preferred location and click to connect.
Best VPNs for iPhones FAQs
Why do I need a VPN for my iPhone?
It’s well known that the iPhone is a highly secure device. However, a VPN ensures that when data leaves the safe confines of your iPhone (such as when you browse the web), it’s encrypted. This prevents hackers and snoopers from seeing what you’re doing online. A VPN also helps you bypass geographic restrictions on content. This may be your favorite streaming service when on vacation, or even a news site blocked by an authoritarian government.
Does an iPhone have a built-in VPN?
No, the iPhone doesn’t have a built-in VPN, but it does provide a way for you to activate one via its settings. Although Apple introduced Private Relay, this feature is only available for iCloud+ subscribers. Like a VPN, Private Relay encrypts web traffic and hides your IP address but only protects you while in Safari browser. The best iPhone VPN encrypts all of your traffic regardless of the browser or apps you’re using.
Can I use a free VPN for my iPhone?
Free VPNs for iPhone are very limited in terms of both server locations and speed. A free VPN may not properly encrypt your iPhone’s traffic and may even log and sell your data. The best free VPNs I found in testing are the rare exceptions. Regardless, all of the best VPNs for iPhone offer money-back guarantees, so you can try them risk-free. Just remember that when purchasing a VPN via the App Store, you’ll need to request a refund from Apple.
Can I get a free trial VPN on iOS?
Yes! The good news is that you can get a seven-day free trial of all of the best VPNs for iPhone simply by downloading them via the Apple App Store. You just need to remember to cancel before the trial period is up. However, you can try out all of these iOS VPNs for even longer thanks to their very generous money-back guarantees, all of which are at least 30 days. This is risk-free but requires upfront payment.
Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs.
