Best free VPN for iPhone and other iOS devices in 2025
With extensive analysis and hands-on VPN testing, our cybersecurity experts collaborated with the research team to craft 750+ articles over the years.
Using first-hand expertise, our main goal is to help our readers make the most informed purchasing decisions.
Learn more
Nowadays, VPNs are irreplaceable for maintaining online privacy and accessing geo-restricted content. Since we spend a lot of time on our phones online, it’s no surprise that a smartphone VPN is necessary. However, most smartphones don’t have a built-in VPN.
iPhones don’t have a built-in VPN, either. While Apple’s Private Relay may seem like a VPN, it’s not, as it can neither change your virtual location to bypass geo-restrictions nor encrypt your device’s internet traffic. So, a third-party app is the way to go.
Naturally, not everyone has money to spare for a VPN subscription. But even a free VPN service is better than none. To help you find the best option for your iOS device and avoid unreliable service providers, I collaborated with our research team and prepared this article on the best free iPhone VPNs of 2025.
Best premium VPN for iPhone
- NordVPN offers lightning-fast speeds and robust security. Test it out for free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Surfshark offers unlimited connection and great speeds. Try it out for free with a 7-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee.
- NortonVPN is a secure iPhone VPN that you can try using its impressive 30-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
What are the limitations of using a free VPN on my iPhone?
A free service will never be as good as a paid one. After all, maintaining a quality VPN requires expertise and resources. These costs can be covered either by direct payment or by selling user data. That’s why, privacy-oriented VPNs usually have a premium version to cover the expenses. To encourage users to get the paid version, these VPNs implement certain restrictions on the free version.
The restrictions often include server and location limitations. You probably won’t find a reliable free service that would offer as many servers as a paid VPN.
Data caps are another way a VPN’s free version can be less advanced than a paid one. Providers ensure that the service they offer for free won’t consume too many resources, thus limiting how much you can use a free VPN.
Finally, a trustworthy free VPN might impose speed restrictions to motivate users to subscribe to a paid version. If a free VPN has fewer servers than a paid one, speeds might be slower due to server overload. Proton VPN’s free version, for example, is slower due to limited servers, but the service itself doesn’t limit speed. Bandwidth limitations can also cause the speed to slow down.
I specified reliable free VPNs because some free providers cover the cost of service by selling your data to advertisers or other third parties. This defeats the whole purpose of a VPN, so I recommend choosing more private alternatives. Then again, not every provider that shows ads automatically breaches your privacy. For example, Hotspot Shield shows ads but is fairly secure.
How we tested free iOS VPNs
Our research team and I conducted numerous tests on free and free-trial VPNs to determine which ones are the best for iOS devices. The testing was conducted on an iPhone 12 (iOS 17.2.1) device. For speed tests, the baseline network speed was 240Mbps download and 272Mbps upload, with 4ms ping. Once the tests were completed, I rated the best-performing VPNs based on the following criteria:
- Privacy and security (30%). I examined VPN encryption and protocols, logging policies, and leak protection to determine each VPN's security level. I prioritized VPNs that offer AES-256 encryption, WireGuard or OpenVPN tunneling protocols, a no-logs policy, and a kill switch.
- Performance (30%). Our research team and I conducted speed tests and checked for data limits to evaluate overall performance. We tested speeds in various locations and compared the performance to servers offered in the paid version. We also took the data limits into account.
- Usability and support (20%). I checked the app for each provider, assessing its ease of navigation, the customer support users can expect and receive, and overall user-friendliness.
- Features and functionality (20%). I evaluated what features each VPN provider can offer to users, such as ad-blocking, malware protection, a double VPN, or Onion over VPN.
Best free iPhone VPNs – detailed list
Having tested numerous VPNs and found out which are best suited for iOS devices, I ranked each provider based on the testing criteria. Below, you will find the best free iPhone VPNs, their reviews, test results, and relevant information for choosing the one that suits your needs.
1. Proton VPN – the best free VPN for iPhone & IOS
-
Privacy and security
-
Performance
-
Features and functionality
-
Usability and support
Proton VPN’s extensive security and privacy features, as well as no data, speed, and bandwidth limits, make it the most reliable and overall best free VPN option for iPhones.
Privacy and security
Proton VPN offers many security and privacy guarantees. For starters, it uses market-leading AES-256 data encryption. As for protocols, you have three choices: WireGuard, Stealth, and Smart. Proton VPN also adheres to an independently audited no-logs policy, so your online activity is guaranteed to be private.
Proton VPN’s IP leak test showed perfect results, with the IP address matching the one assigned on the VPN app. Furthermore, the system-level kill switch worked exactly as intended. So, overall, this VPN can offer private and secure connectivity.
Performance
Proton VPN showed excellent speed test results, especially considering its limited number of servers. The download speed was 220Mbps, and the upload speed was 209Mbps, making its average speed retention rate 83.7%. This is particularly impressive, considering that Proton VPN is free.
Proton VPN speed remained consistent across all of its freely available servers, so you can definitely expect a lag-free performance. Overall, while servers are automatically assigned, you can reconnect until you get the one you need. There are 5 locations in total: the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Romania, and Poland. There are no data, bandwidth, or speed limits.
Features and functionality
Proton VPN’s iPhone app doesn’t have a split tunneling feature. This is pretty common for most iOS VPNs, so I wouldn’t consider it a disadvantage. However, after testing both Proton VPN’s premium and free versions, it became apparent that the premium version is deliberately better. For example, ad-blocker and double VPN features are available only with the paid subscription.
The app does show features like NetShield and more servers, but you can only unlock them with the paid version. Overall, there aren’t any free security features besides encryption, a kill switch, and a regular VPN.
Usability and support
I didn’t notice any issues with the Proton VPN app. It was remarkably easy to download and use and didn’t require a lengthy registration. While the premium features can be a bit distracting, overall, the app is very simple to navigate. During my testing, I didn’t experience noticeable bugs or glitches.
However, the customer support options are limited. While there is an extensive knowledge base and email support, no phone or 24/7 live chat options are available. However, after emailing customer support, it didn’t take long for me to get a response.
If you would like to learn more about the difference between free and paid versions, you can read our detailed Proton VPN review.
2. Hotspot Shield – fast free iPhone VPN with manual server selection
-
Privacy and security
-
Performance
-
Features and functionality
-
Usability and support
With unlimited bandwidth and great speed test results, Hotspot Shield is one of the best free VPNs for smooth, lag-free use. The option to manually select a server location makes it a worthy competitor to VPNs like Proton VPN, which doesn’t have this option.
Privacy and security
According to an independent study, Hotspot Shield is one of the most secure VPNs on the market. This is because it’s part of the Aura cybersecurity company, uses strong data encryption, and utilizes the Hydra protocol. However, Hotspot Shield’s free version really struggles with privacy.
As you know, some free VPNs can use your activity to gain third-party advertiser money, and no other VPN on this list makes this as apparent as Hotspot Shield. This VPN doesn’t keep logs of your activity, but you can expect ads every 15 minutes. On top of that, the kill switch and split tunneling are available only with the premium version. There is no ad-blocker, Onion over VPN, or double VPN features. On the plus side, no IP or DNS leaks were detected during our tests.
Performance
During the in-house test, Hotspot Shield had a download speed of 203Mbps and an upload speed of 233Mbps. Its average baseline speed retention rate was 85%, which is better than Proton VPN. It doesn’t enforce any speed or bandwidth limitations. Such a result is very impressive given that Hotspot Shield only has 4 server locations in three countries (not counting the automatically assigned option): Los Angeles, New York City, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Features and functionality
Hotspot Shield's best features are behind a paywall. Premium subscribers get a kill switch, split tunneling, and an ad-free experience. Free version users only get a VPN that can somewhat unblock streaming services. On the plus side, there are 800+ servers across three countries that you can manually select.
Usability and support
Hotspot Shield has a pretty intuitive and straightforward interface. The main issue, however, is the unbelievably intrusive ads. I could only examine the app for about 7 minutes before my use was interrupted with a premium-plan ad. While a regular user wouldn’t need that long to select a server, attempting to explore the app can get very frustrating.
On the plus side, the customer support options are quite decent. There’s an extensive knowledge base and email support. There is no phone line, and the free version doesn’t have 24/7 live chat support; instead, it offers a support center helpline. If it does get too frustrating to use the free version, you can learn what to expect from the premium in our Hotspot Shield review.
3. Hide.me – secure and simple to use free VPN for iOS devices
-
Privacy and security
-
Performance
-
Features and functionality
-
Usability and support
Hide.me showed the privacy, security, transparency, and simplicity essential for a reliable free VPN, making it one of the best options for iPhone.
Privacy and security
I found that Hide.me offers robust privacy and security. Its free version has an independently audited no-logs policy, multiple available VPN protocols (WireGuard, OpenVPN, TCP, and UDP), and a functional kill switch. While the free version doesn’t have a double VPN, Onion over VPN, or split tunneling, our tests showed no IP or DNS leaks.
Performance
While I appreciate that Hide.me doesn’t hide that it enforces speed limitations for its free version, those limitations do result in very slow connectivity. Its baseline speed retention is just 1% – the absolute worst result out of all VPNs tested. Needless to say, that will make gaming or streaming very complicated. On the plus side, it offers more free server locations than Hotspot Shield and Proton VPN. Users can manually select one of 7 locations in Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, or the US.
Features and functionality
Hide.me doesn’t show ads or require users to register an account, making it very convenient for the user. While most of its best features are only available with a paid subscription, such as a double VPN and ad-blocker, a functional kill switch and the ability to manually select server location are definite advantages.
Usability and support
The Hide.me app is very intuitive and easy to use. Even complete beginners will find everything they need. While using a VPN can cause videos or streaming platform content to lag, using Hide.me mainly for privacy and security shouldn’t result in decreased performance. Another benefit of Hide.me is its customer support. It has an extensive knowledge base and 24/7 live chat support, available even for the free version users.
4. TunnelBear – the most beginner-friendly VPN for iPhones
-
Privacy and security
-
Performance
-
Features and functionality
-
Usability and support
TunnelBear is a very user-friendly VPN with a fun and interactive interface. Where it lacks in data allowance and features, it makes up with server count and an unforgettable app interface.
Privacy and security
TunnelBear is very private and secure. Its free version has strong data encryption, a seven-times confirmed no-logs policy, a functional kill switch, and even split tunneling for websites. Our IP and DNS leak test also showed no leaks. The only disadvantages are the absence of a double VPN, Onion over VPN, and an ad blocker.
Performance
Since our last speed test, TunnelBear has shown a massive improvement, going from a 32% average speed retention rate to 71%. Unlike most free VPNs, all its premium version servers are available to free users. This means you can explore over 8000+ servers across 49 countries. However, its 2GB a month data cap means that you probably won’t be able to use this VPN a lot, especially for gaming and streaming.
Features and functionality
While it’s great that TunnelBear doesn’t impose server or feature limitations on free users, there aren’t that many features in general. Even the premium version doesn’t have a double VPN or an ad blocker. The only way you can upgrade to a better VPN is to either pick another provider or accept that the only improvement will be no data caps. TunnelBear also didn’t work with some streaming services, most notably Disney+ and YouTube TV.
Usability and support
I loved using the TunnelBear iPhone app. Its fun and interactive design makes it one of the best-looking and user-friendly VPNs I have ever tested. However, when it comes to customer support, there’s only a knowledge base and email support. There is no phone line or 24/7 live chat.
Free VPNs for iPhone – comparison
| Free iPhone VPN | Rating | Speed | Compatibility | App store rating | Description |
| Proton VPN | 220Mbps download, 209Mbps upload | iOS 16.0 or later | 4.8 | The best reliable VPN for iPhone | |
| Hotspot Shield | 203Mbps download, 233Mbps upload | iOS 14.0 or later | 4.7 | The best free iPhone VPN for security | |
| hide.me | 5Mbps download, 1Mbps upload | iOS 12.0 or later | 4.9 | The best free iPhone VPN for unlimited bandwidth | |
| TunnelBear | 170Mbps download, 193Mbps upload | iOS 13.0 or later | 4.8 | The best user-friendly free VPN for iPhone |
Conclusion
As this article proves, you don’t need to spend money to get a VPN for your iPhone. There are quality providers that don’t require compromising data privacy and security. A VPN for an iOS device can help access geo-restricted content, protect your information from invasive data harvesting, and keep your activity private. So, it’s great that you can get all of it without spending a penny.
While our team’s testing showed that there are multiple great options to choose from, Proton VPN stood out due to its unlimited bandwidth, reliable security, and privacy features. Despite limited servers, it works great for unblocking streaming in the available locations. It’s also ad-free and use your data for profit since it offers a premium version.
Of course, if you want a service with more extensive features and a wider server network, nothing can beat a premium VPN. NordVPN, for example, is a reliable choice for maintaining security and privacy while accessing a wider array of content.
FAQ
Are VPNs on iOS effective?
Yes, an iOS VPN can help keep your online activity private, secure your identity, and change your virtual location for better privacy and geo-unblocking. As Apple devices don’t have an equivalent that could do the same things that a dedicated VPN can, it’s definitely worth getting a third-party app.
What free iPhone VPN has the most servers?
TunnelBear has over 8000 servers in 49 countries – the same number as its premium subscription offers. The only issue is that it doesn’t allow you to pick a specific one, so you would need to keep switching to get the one you want or just go with whichever one is automatically assigned.
Is ExpressVPN free for iPhone?
No, ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free iPhone version. It does, however, have a 7-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but after these periods end, you’d need to pay the regular subscription price starting from $4.99/month. For a fully free VPN, I would recommend Proton VPN, which is just as reliable with only some limitations.
What is the best free VPN with unlimited data for iPhone?
The best free VPN with no data caps for iPhones is Proton VPN. That’s because it’s quite effective at unblocking geo-restricted content, has a reliable no-logs policy, and is very secure. Besides, it doesn’t show ads, so using it shouldn’t be annoying.
Can using a free VPN affect my iPhone’s battery life or performance?
While your iPhone’s performance shouldn’t be affected by the use of a VPN, you may notice that your battery drains a bit faster. With most free VPNs, this difference shouldn’t be severe. VPNs that have limited servers are more resource-light, so they’re less likely to drain your battery fast.
Can you get a free VPN on an iPad?
Yes, if your operating system is supported by the chosen free VPN. For example, if your iPad is an iOS device, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a suitable free VPN. But for iPadOS, you’d need to check specific VPN system requirements.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are markedmarked