Best VPN for iPhone in 2023

iPhones are known for ensuring high-class privacy and security, but they’re not threat-proof. Every time you connect to public wifi or browse insecure online sites, you put your personal data at risk, ISP can track your online footprints, various trackers can collect your personal information. Plus, the content that you can access depends on your location. Hence, you cannot reach geo-blocked platforms.
But there’s an easy solution – getting a VPN service. With a VPN, your traffic will be encrypted and the IP address hidden. It can also protect you from malicious threats and help bypass geo-restrictions.
For this reason, we’ve armed ourselves with iPhones running on the latest versions of iOS. Since many VPN providers aren’t iOS-focused and have certain limitations in terms of security features, we’ve done a thorough research and tested dozens of services that have key features for iOS devices. Here’s a list of the best VPNs for iPhone in 2023:
Top 5 best VPNs for iPhone
- NordVPN – best VPN for iPhone
- Surfshark – best value iPhone VPN
- IPVanish – great beginner friendly iOS VPN
- ExpressVPN – strong security features and performance
- CyberGhost – feature-rich iOS VPN
What features should you look for in the Best iPhone VPN?
Looking an iPhone VPN? Here are some of the top features that separate the excellent options apart:
Fast tunneling protocols: | WireGuard |
Encryption: | AES-256 |
Security features: | Kill switch, Threat protection |
Servers: | Obfuscated |
- Super fast tunneling protocols – you want your iPhone VPN to be fast. Options like WireGuard guarantee you lightning-fast connection speeds matched with top security.
- Threat protection – the best VPNs for iPhone offer extra security features to enhance protection. This includes threat protection. It blocks annoying ads, pop-ups, and malicious websites from interfering with your browsing experience.
- AES-256 bit encryption – encryption is a crucial VPN feature. It's what hides your data from the eyes of your ISP or malicious actors. The best iPhone VPNs have to ensure some of the most high-grade encryptions, such as AES-256.
- Kill switch feature – when you’re connected to a VPN, you want to make sure your data is protected at all times. On rare occasions, it may happen that your VPN connection drops. In that case, the kill switch feature will temporarily shut off the internet and protect your iPhone’s data from leaking.
- IP rotator – some iPhone VPNs also offer an IP rotator. It changes your given IP address every other minute. This ensures online anonymity as your traffic isn’t tied to one IP address.
- Obfuscated servers – certain locations heavily try to track and crack down VPN connections. Obfuscated server option on your iPhone VPN app will hide the fact you’re using the VPN. This will let you browse with no interruptions and with a peace of mind.
Best VPNs for iPhone – our detailed list:
We tested various VPN apps on iPhones and ranked them taking into consideration the features they offer, their usability, privacy, speeds, and more. Without further ado, here are the best VPNs for iPhone devices in 2023:
1. NordVPN – the best iOS VPN overall

Based in: | Panama |
Works with: | iOS 11.0 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get NordVPN with 63% OFF + 3 months FREE! 🔥 |
NordVPN is the best VPN for iPhone devices purely because of its capabilities. This includes all-rounded security features, guaranteed privacy, and ability to unblock streaming services.
In fact, NordVPN is one of the most secure VPN options you could find. Aside from a functional kill switch feature, you also get Threat Protection. It’s a relatively new NordVPN feature that shields your device from malware, ads, and trackers. In terms of security, there are also features like Dark Web Monitoring, double VPN, and more.
NordVPN’s policy claims to not collect or log any information. The only exception is data related to crash errors and app diagnostics. But you can opt out of it. Not to mention that its no-logs policy is audited by the PwC auditing firm. All of this shows that your activities are for your eyes only.
On iOS, you also get to choose from IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), and NordLynx tunneling protocols. The latter is NordVPN’s proprietary protocol. It’s one of the reasons why NordVPN is one of the fastest VPNs on the market. During our speed tests, it showed only around a 6% speed drop compared to the initial internet speed.
NordVPN’s interface on iOS is highly-functional and smooth. The intuitive navigation adds to a great user experience (we tested Quick Connect functionality, Favorite tab, Recent connections, and more). Therefore, NordVPN definitely belongs to the best VPNs for iOS in the market.
With the selection of over 5500 servers in 60 countries, we got to unblock many libraries of streaming services. NordVPN was capable of accessing various geo-restricted platforms, such as Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus – you name it.
NordVPN prices are one of the best in the VPN market. The cheapest subscription starts from $3.29/month. If anything, there’s a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
Make sure to visit NordVPN review to learn more.
- Feature-rich iOS apps
- Excellent security
- Reliable kill switch
- Impressive speeds
- Threat Protection
- Audited no-logs policy
- Massive server fleet
- Great for streaming
- No free version for iOS
2. Surfshark – extra secure VPN for Apple for multiple devices

Based in: | The Netherlands |
Works with: | iOS 10.3.3 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get 82% OFF Surfshark + 2 months FREE 🔥 |
Surfshark is another great VPN option whether you have an iPhone 14, 13, or older. It lets you connect an unlimited number of devices and ensures great performance. Plus, it enhances device security thanks to its advanced features.
Aside from a market-standard kill switch, you can also get the Surfshark Antivirus. That's if you pay an extra dollar or so per month. The antivirus ensures 100% malware detection rates according to independent lab tests. In fact, there’s even an IP rotator, changing your IP address every now and then.
Even though Surfshark is based in a country, which belongs to a 9-Eyes alliance, we found that Surfshark itself collects none of your data. Except, of course, information that they use for improving their website and app. Even so, you have a choice to opt out of it.
Our speed tests show that Surfshark is one of the most competitive VPNs out there. iOS users can choose from IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), or WireGuard tunneling protocols. On average, Surfshark's WireGuard shows around a 11% speed drop from initial Internet speeds.
Surfshark’s interface on iOS devices is solid and impressive, light and dark interfaces can be customized by the user. Even though Surfsharks iOS app lacks certain features, it’s still highly-functional.
If you’re looking to stream geo-restricted content on your iPhone, Surfshark is a great pick. It lets you unlock and access Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus, HBO Max, and other platforms and their libraries. And one of the reasons is its massive server fleet of 3200+ servers in 100 countries.
Surfshark is a wallet-friendly option – ideal for those on a budget. The prices start from $2.30/month, and you can use it on as many devices as you wish. And if anything, there’s a 30-day refund policy and a 7-day free trial.
To learn more, visit our Surfshark review.
- Great security features
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- User-friendly iOS app
- Audited no-logs policy
- Excellent speeds
- Huge server fleet
- Unblocks most popular streaming platforms
- No split tunneling on iOS
3. IPVanish – secure VPN for bypassing geo-restrictions

Based in: | United States |
Works with: | iOS 12 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get 72% OFF IPVanish!🔥 |
IPVanish is a solid VPN solution for iPhone users. It guarantees good performance and lets you connect an unlimited number of devices.
While the iOS app doesn’t have a kill switch available, there are some other useful features. This includes IPv6 leak protection and the split tunneling feature. The latter lets you choose which apps go through a VPN connection and which don’t.
Although IPVanish logs your email address and billing information, it doesn’t log your online activities. They only gather information that is useful for improving their website performance.
IPVanish provides you with OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols on the iOS app. When using WireGuard, IPVanish retained 80% of initial internet speeds. That’s a loss of 20% on average – a good result in the VPN market.
Moving on, IPVanish has over 2000 servers in 50 server locations, giving you a massive selection of worldwide options. The vast list of countries can also come in handy when trying to unblock Netflix libraries. It's helpful for accessing geo-blocked YouTube videos as well.
In terms of the interface, IPVanish offers quite comfortable and nice-looking app with customizable functionalities and tools.
Compared to some other VPN providers, IPVanish is not expensive. That's thanks to the fact that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections. Additionally, there's a 30-day money-back guarantee. The cheapest monthly option is the 1-year plan for $3.33/month.
To learn more, visit our IPVanish review.
- AES encryption
- IPv6 leak protection
- Split tunneling feature
- Keeps no logs
- Great speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- No free version
- No kill switch
4. ExpressVPN – an excellent combination of security features and performance

Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
Works with | iOS 12 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get ExpressVPN, now 49% OFF the 1-year plan! 🔥 |
ExpressVPN and iPhones are a great match. The provider improves your device's security, guarantees high-level privacy, and provides excellent streaming capabilities.
Even though the iOS version looks very similar to the desktop version, it has some differences. For example, it lacks a kill switch feature. But that doesn't make the ExpressVPN iPhone app any less secure. The provider is packed with security features.
Your traffic is encrypted using the strongest cipher today — AES-256 encryption. If you need to hide your VPN connection, obfuscated servers will help you. Let's not forget the Threat Manager that blocks trackers and malicious websites for well-rounded protection.
ExpressVPN boasts thousands of servers in 93 countries. The massive selection allow you to unblock geo-restricted streaming services worldwide. It works with Netflix libraries, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and many others.
Since the provider is based in the British Virgin Islands, you don't have to worry about data retention laws. ExpressVPN doesn't log your online activity.
When it comes to the overall user experience, ExpressVPN clearly knows what it's doing. The iPhone app design is clean, sleek, and modern. It's easy to set up and even allows you to unblock geo-restricted streaming services.
You can get all of these features for $6.67/month. You can try the provider out with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- AES-256 encryption
- Great speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- No data logs policy
- Threat Protection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No kill switch
- No free trial
5. CyberGhost – feature-rich provider for excellent iPhone security

Based in: | Romania |
Works with: | iOS 12 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get CyberGhost VPN, now 83% OFF + 2 months FREE 🔥 |
CyberGhost is another great provider for iPhone users. Not only is this VPN fast, secure, and features a trustworthy privacy policy, but it also has one of the biggest server fleets on the market.
CyberGhost boasts 9700 servers in 91 countries. With a fleet of this size, the provider ensures you won't get stuck with slow and crowded servers. They also aid in accessing geo-restricted content. With CyberGhost, you'll get smooth access to Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and others.
But servers are not the only reason that makes CyberGhost so fast. The provider has implemented two tunneling protocols, WireGuard and IKEv2. WireGuard is known as the fastest protocol on the market. On top of that, it is also very secure.
Since the WireGuard protocol is paired with AES-256 encryption and a solid kill switch, the provider guarantees well-rounded security. It encrypts your traffic and protects your IP even when the connection drops.
Speaking of other features — CyberGhost has plenty of them. The provider comes with NoSPY servers that the company fully manages without any third parties involved. There are also specialized servers for gaming, torrenting and other purposes.
When it comes to the user interface, CyberGhost delivers a pleasant experience. It's very user-friendly and features a simple VPN setup. You'll be able to connect to a VPN in a matter of seconds.
CyberGhost offers a free 7-day trial that doesn't require any payment information. The price for a subscription starts at $2.19/month, and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Kill Switch
- Great speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- Ad blocker
- WireGuard tunneling protocol
- Free 7-day trial
- No Automatic Wi-Fi Protection in the iOS app
- No OpenVPN tunnel in the iOS version
6. Atlas VPN – VPN for iPhone with great security features

Based in: | United States |
Works with: | iOS 13 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get Atlas VPN, now 83% OFF + 3 months FREE! 🔥 |
Atlas VPN is an excellent contender when it comes to iPhone VPNs. That’s especially because it’s more focused on its mobile rather than desktop apps. Plus, it offers unlimited simultaneous connections and even a pretty solid free version.
The iOS app of Atlas VPN provides you with a system-wide kill switch and an IP rotator called SafeSwap. You also get the SafeBrowse functionality. It works as an extra security layer and blocks malicious websites.
Atlas VPN privacy policy states that it doesn’t log or store any of your private information. The only thing they collect is some basic analytics, as many other VPN services.
The service has over 750 servers in 38 countries. While the server fleet isn’t the biggest, you’ll have plenty of servers to find ones that aren’t overcrowded. Plus, during our tests, Atlas VPN’s servers unblocked Netflix libraries, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer.
iPhone users get two tunneling protocols – IKEv2/IPsec and WireGuard. Our speed tests showed that Atlas VPN dropped an average of 20% of the initial internet speed, which is a very solid result.
In terms of interface and ease of use, Atlas VPN offers a sleek and functional app for iPhone users and is great for both beginners and advanced users.
This VPN has a free version available but it’s fairly limited in terms of speeds and servers. If you want a full-on VPN service, its prices start from $1.82/month. And of course, there’s a standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
To learn more, visit our Atlas VPN review.
- AES encryption
- Reliable kill switch
- IP rotator
- Keeps no logs
- Great speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- Small server fleet
- Limited free version
7. Proton VPN – easy-to-use VPN for iPhone with unlimited data

Based in: | Switzerland |
Works with: | iOS 14 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get up to 50% OFF Proton VPN! 🔥 |
Another great VPN pick for iOS is Proton VPN. It’s privacy-focused, has great compatibility with iPhones, and is a serious contender to other top VPNs. Also, Proton VPN’s app for iPhone keeps most of the functionality of the desktop app, so it’s an easy transition.
Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly country, so this provider assures high online safety and anonymity. It also has a strict no-logs policy and offers hacker-proof protection, especially when it comes to iOS users. Proton VPN uses the unbreakable AES-256 encryption and a powerful kill switch, in case your VPN connection drops.
If you usually stream content on your iPhone or iPad devices, Proton VPN will do the trick of unblocking quite a generous number of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and more.
Proton VPN iOS app’s interface is pretty smooth – you’ll be pleased with easy navigation through settings to select different tunneling protocols, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2. You’ll also find features like a VPN Accelerator, Secure Core, Profiles, and more.
Proton VPN prices start from $4.99/month for 10 simultaneous connections and you can try the service with a limited free version. This provider also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
To learn more, visit our Proton VPN review.
- Easy iOS navigation
- Class-leading encryption
- Excellent for streaming on iOS
- Powerful free version
- Unblocks Netflix
- Support anonymous payments
- Premium pricing
- Potential speed issues
8. PureVPN – privacy-guaranteeing iOS VPN

Based in: | British Virgin Islands |
Works with: | iOS 12.3 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get PureVPN, now 81% OFF + 3 months FREE! 🔥 |
PureVPN could be considered one of the more underrated VPNs for iPhone. It has a modern and minimalistic app for iOS devices and ensures high-grade security. Plus, its streaming functionality goes toe to toe with some of the market’s biggest names.
But speaking of security – iOS users will find the kill switch feature that works as a last security resort and ensures none of your data leaks. If you wish, you can also invest an additional dollar per month and get the port forwarding feature.
What’s different about PureVPN is that it’s the first Always-on audit VPN service. So they don’t log any of your internet activities, and the claims are backed up by independent firms’ audits.
One downside is that iPhone users won’t get the WireGuard protocol. However, there’s the OpenVPN (UDP and TCP), IPSec, and IKEv2 protocols available. In fact, PureVPN’s OpenVPN protocol dropped by around 29% from the initial internet speed.
PureVPN’s huge fleet of 6500+ servers in 78 countries will allow you to enjoy content on various libraries. When we put it to a test, we were successful at unlocking many streaming platforms. This includes some libraries of Netflix (including the US), Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
PureVPN provides you with a 7-day free trial so you could test it out without instant long-term commitment. If you end up purchasing it (prices start from $2.08/month), the 31-day money-back guarantee still stands.
To learn more, visit our PureVPN review.
- AES encryption
- Functional kill switch
- Always-on audit
- Solid speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- No WireGuard for iOS users
- No free version
9. Ivacy VPN – cheap and long-term solution for iPhone users

Based in: | Singapore |
Works with: | iOS 11 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get Ivacy VPN, now 90% OFF + gift!🔥 |
A big win for Ivacy VPN is its simple to use app that not only enhances security but also comes at a very cheap price. Plus, you can use this VPN for iPhone on 5 devices simultaneously.
Although a kill switch isn’t available on the iOS platform, Ivacy VPN provides you with a Secure download feature. It checks your files for malware after downloading them.
Like most reputable providers, Ivacy VPN privacy policy states that they don’t log any of your online activities. And since the service allows anonymous payments, you can sign up for the VPN without leaving any trace of information.
One thing worth noting is that Ivacy VPN now supports the WireGuard protocol, even on the VPN’s iOS app. But there are also some other protocols available, such as IKEv2.
Ivacy VPN is one of those services with huge server networks available. 5700+ servers in 68 countries mean you won’t have trouble finding fast performing ones as there won’t be much overcrowding happening.
And while we couldn’t unblock many streaming sites, we had a smooth experience with the ones we did access. This includes the US library of Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube.
This VPN is a great option for those who are looking for a long-term plan. When purchasing 5 years of Ivacy VPN, you have to pay only $1.00/month. And since there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee, you’re not instantly committing and can test the VPN out.
To learn more, visit our Ivacy VPN review.
- AES encryption
- Keeps no logs
- Solid speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- No kill switch
- No WireGuard for iOS users
10. VyprVPN – secure VPN with a selection of tunneling protocols

Based in: | Switzerland |
Works with: | iOS 13 and up |
Compatible with: | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS |
Current deal: | 🔥 Get VyprVPN, now 50% OFF the 1-year plan! 🔥 |
With a simple app for iOS devices, VyprVPN is a great solution for iPhone users who are online privacy-cautious. Its unbreakable protection and a list of tunneling protocols are a guarantee of high-class protection.
Public wifi protection is one of the features that prove VyprVPN’s security grade. It automatically connects you to a server once you connect to an unknown wifi spot. Automatic reconnect options will also let you seamlessly get back to VPN browsing when the connection drops.
VyprVPN also doesn’t compromise on privacy. It’s strictly a zero-logs provider that doesn’t collect any of your online activities. And the fact that it has an independent audit performed only strengthens the claims.
VyprVPN has a variety of tunneling protocols available on the iOS app. This includes the famous WireGuard protocol as well as OpenVPN, IKEv2, and Chameleon. The speed reductions with WireGuard varied between 86-99% depending on the location.
You can find VyprVPN servers in 64 countries. There are over 700 servers – and while that’s not as much as with other services, there’s plenty to find some with optimal speeds.
Plus, using those servers, you can easily unblock geo-restricted content. We were successful at unblocking content on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, YouTube, or Hulu.
You can try VyprVPN with a 3-day free trial. And if you end up liking the product, you can get it for $5.00/month. Either way, there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee.
To learn more, visit our VyprVPN review.
- AES encryption
- Public wifi protection
- Great speeds
- Unblocks popular streaming sites
- No kill switch
- No WireGuard for iOS users
- Relatively expensive plans
How we selected and tested these VPNs
Finding great VPNs for iPhones is no small task because of limitations of iOS itself. All third-party apps are sandboxed by Apple and can't easily modify parameters.
In turn, it also makes choosing a VPN more problematic. Yet, here are the criteria that we selected when choosing the best ones:
- Security. Although Apple's App Store is much better curated than Google's, it doesn't make all apps safe. We made sure that each selected service uses a strong encryption, such as AES-256. We also only included VPNs with secure tunneling protocols, like WireGuard or OpenVPN. Using the correct security features combination ensures that you stay untraceable online whether you’d be in your home network or using a public wifi.
- Privacy. The business location and collaborations with law enforcement can be serious red flags. We paid attention to whether the service has audited its privacy policy.
- iOS client. Most VPN iOS apps are low-quality, especially compared to desktop versions. Still, there are some notable VPNs that grant you with essential features. We have tested each provider’s app to guarantee they give the best iOS VPN experience.
- Servers and locations. It’s useful for a VPN to have many server options. It helps with unblocking geo-restricted content and prevents bumping into overcrowded ones. We've looked for services that offer the best selection of server locations.
- Performance. You don’t want to sacrifice speeds for the sake of security and privacy. Therefore, we used our speed test tool to measure the performance of VPNs with different tunneling protocols.
- Censorship circumvention. The ability to access restricted websites is one of the reasons why people are looking into VPNs. Only the best VPNs are compatible with Netflix and other streaming platforms. This, we have tried unblocking a variety of geo-restricted content with each VPN.
- Price. There should be a healthy ratio between the price and the things that you get. If there is an imbalance, this isn't something that gets you higher up the best VPN for iPhone list. To learn whether the service offers a fair money and quality ratio, we have summed up each result from performed testing and compared them to the price.
App Store overview
The App Store is full of promising VPN services, which you can get without paying anything. However, not all the services are trustworthy – it’s essential to make sure you choose the VPN providers from the App Store with caution.
Our selected VPN providers are verified on the App Store and have a rating, based on user reviews, which you can check out in our iPhone VPNs comparison table.
We encourage users to choose only legit and audited VPN services, such as NordVPN, Surfshark, or other premium VPN for iOS.
How to set up a VPN app on iPhone or iOS
Setting up a VPN for iPhone devices is as simple as with any other app. To help you out, here’s a quick step by step guide:
- Head to the Apple Store on your iPhone and search for the VPN service of your choice. We recommend the best VPN for iPhone – NordVPN, now 63% OFF.
- Download the app, launch it, and log in. You’ll be asked to allow NordVPN to add VPN configurations in your iPhone Settings – click “Allow.”
- Connect to a server and that's it!
Check out the detailed guide on how to set up a VPN on iOS or other devices.
What is the fastest VPN for iPhone?
All the iPhone VPNs on this list are genuinely fast – but which one's the fastest? For this test, we put the highest-rated VPNs to the test, checking their speeds from various international locations.
If all you care about on a VPN is speed, the fastest server will be the one that’s closest to your physical location. However, if you're interested in unlocking international streaming content and geo-restricted sites, international performance will also be crucial. So, we tested both.
- Baseline: 300 Mbps download/300 Mbps upload
VPN service | Closest server | Average international speed |
NordVPN | 281 Mbps | 249 Mbps |
Surfshark | 272 Mbps | 263 Mbps |
IPVanish | 172 Mbps | 161 Mbps |
The top 3 providers were surprisingly close to one another. NordVPN was the best all-around option, Surfshark had the best international speeds, and IPVanish came third because both close and further locations were less speedy.
Does using a VPN slow down your connection?
Yes, a VPN does slow down the Internet connection speed. However, reliable VPNs, such as NordVPN or Surfshark, use top-notch tunneling protocols. This can be in-house solutions or the famous WireGuard. These VPNs make sure that your connection drop would be so low that you would barely notice it.
Of course, there are other VPN services that also use the WireGuard tunnel. Yet, they can’t maintain stable and fast connection speed. That’s because the tunneling protocol is not the only factor that matters. The server fleet is important too. The bigger the number of servers is the better connection speed you get to enjoy.
Is it safe to use a VPN on an iPhone?
Yes, it’s perfectly safe to use a VPN on an iPhone. Just make sure the app is trustworthy. A reputable VPN service will mask your IP address as well as your data and won’t log any of your internet traffic.
Meanwhile, unsafe VPNs can end up selling your data. For instance, some free-forever VPN services give up your information to gain profit. The worst part is that you may not even be aware of it, which is defeating the purpose of having a VPN in the first place.
To help increase security, Apple offers its own VPN solution for iPhone devices. It’s called Private Relay and it’s still in beta. Plus, it comes on a premium version of iCloud+. However, it’s not even close to what reputable market-leading VPNs can offer. Private Relay works with Safari browser only, and you can’t choose your preferred server or region.
So the best option is going for a reliable premium VPN for iPhone devices, such as NordVPN. Trustworthy VPNs help you stay anonymous from your ISP and secure you from hackers. Not to mention that they let you explore online content without restrictions.
iOS versions comparison: what changed over the years and how have VPNs adapted?
Both iOS devices and VPNs have faced numerous bugs and security flaws in the past years, such as not being able to ensure that your data is being sent via the VPN on iOS devices with certain VPN services.
This applies for iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, SE, XS, XR, and other models.
Recent research has shown that iOS can leak your traffic outside the VPN tunnel because of the vulnerabilities that exist on the newer iOS versions (13.3.1 and later). The first vulnerability was discovered with Proton VPN in March 2020.
For older iOS versions, VPNs work fine and are not susceptible to the VPN tunnel to be unreliable. To ensure a top-tier security and encryption, we recommend using only premium providers like NordVPN or Surfshark.
Are free iPhone VPN apps worth it?
The short answer is no, free VPNs for iPhone devices are not worth it. For starters, forever-free VPNs are often unreliable. Because they don’t get money from you, they can end up selling your data to earn a profit. In such cases, it’s safer to have no VPN than to have a free one.
As a matter of fact, you might find numerous free VPNs on the App store offering free trials but ending up with spammy intrusive ads, fees for premium features, and unreliable security.
Alternatively, there are completely free iPhone VPNs of premium VPN providers available. You know they’re reliable as their intent is to lure you into buying the premium version. However, they’re fairly limited in servers, speeds, and features. Plus, you’re not likely to bypass geo-restrictions with them.
The best solution is making use of money-back guarantees of premium VPN services for iPhone devices.
- NordVPN – enjoy advanced security, unmatched speeds, and ability to effortlessly bypass geo-restrictions. You can get NordVPN for $3.29/month and make use of its 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN also offers a 7-day free trial for Android (you can share the connection to other devices).
- Surfshark – excellent performance and guaranteed privacy are just some of the things you get. Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for annual plans, which start from $2.30/month. Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial too.
Video review: best iPhone VPNs
Conclusion
Although iPhone devices are known for being secure, they’re not threat proof. Plus, they don’t ensure your ISP doesn’t peek at what you’re doing online.
For this reason, a VPN for iPhone is a great solution security-wise. It hides your IP address as well as all of your data, so no one but you are aware of what you’re doing online. Plus, a VPN lets you bypass geo-restrictions of various streaming sites and websites.
Our top pick for iOS devices is NordVPN. It ensures unbreakable security, doesn’t show visible speed reductions, and lets you effortlessly bypass various restrictions.
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FAQ
How do I keep my iOS VPN connection always on?
To pull this off, you'll need to reset your iPhone completely and put it into supervised mode as if you were an organization administrating the device. Then, you'll also need to create an always-on VPN configuration profile using Apple Configurator.
Does a VPN work on an iPad?
iPhones and iPads share the same operating system (currently, iOS 14.5). This makes them identical, which means that the apps are cross-compatible. So, naturally, VPN apps for iPad are the same as VPN apps for iPhones. There might be some icon size tweaks, but generally, you're getting a very similar product.
Do iPhone devices have a built-in VPN?
No, iPhones don't have a built-in VPN. Despite marketing its newest "Private Relay" function as a built-in security option, it doesn't have the same functions and security as a dedicated VPN. However, iPhone has built-in support for IKEv2, IPSec, and L2TP tunneling protocol, letting you easily and securely set up a third-party VPN.
What is the best VPN for iPhone?
The best VPN for iPhone is NordVPN. It includes the kill switch feature and supports IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), and NordLynx tunneling protocols. Also, you can use it to unblock the most popular streaming platforms, like Netflix. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the services.
Can you use a VPN on an iPhone?
Yes, you can and should use a VPN on your iPhone device. While iOS devices are relatively safe, they’re not threat-proof. That’s why using a VPN is useful. It protects your data by encrypting it. Plus, such services as NordVPN even include threat protection, so your iPhone is secured from malware.
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