The trouble with shopping for a VPN nowadays is that there are so many providers competing for your attention. With VPNs often claiming to offer the fastest speeds or strongest security, it can be difficult to tell some services apart, at least at first glance. It’s with this in mind that we’ve tested various VPNs and their iOS apps to find the best VPNs for iPhone.
TL;DR – These Are the Best VPNs For iPhone
A VPN offers numerous benefits, from protecting your personal information to helping you navigate geo-restrictions on content. Not all VPNs are of equal quality however. Some VPNs, particularly free VPNs, throttle bandwidth and even log and sell user data. The best VPN services are those that offer not only fast speeds for streaming, but strong privacy protection.
1. ExpressVPN
Best VPN for iPhone
Pros:
- Excellent iOS app
- Fast proprietary protocol
Cons:
- On the expensive side
ExpressVPN is strong in all areas, making it not only the best VPN for iPhone, but one of the best VPNs, period. Despite the simple, user-friendly app design, it’s packing impressive performance. Its lightweight Lightway protocol enables fast speeds for streaming and gaming. We’ve also found ExpressVPN to be reliable for accessing popular streaming services from abroad, Netflix included.
You’re not short of server locations with ExpressVPN which has roughly 3,000 servers in 105 countries. This helps you bypass geo-blocking and means there’s always a high-speed server nearby. ExpressVPN is secure with 256-bit AES encryption, and recently introduced threat protection and a password manager. ExpressVPN doesn’t keep identifying logs and its 24/7 support performs superbly in our recent tests.
2. NordVPN
Best VPN for unblocking
Pros:
- Very strong unblocking
- Bypasses strict censorship
Cons:
- App tries to pack too much in
NordVPN is probably the best known VPN, and for good reason. It makes light work of streaming platforms that other VPNs struggle to access. As such, it’s particularly popular with streamers. NordVPN can even navigate strict internet censorship, and is one of the few VPNs that works in China. Streaming is lag-free thanks to NordVPN’s fast proprietary protocol and unlimited bandwidth.
The VPN market moves fast, as evidenced by NordVPN’s recent additions. In particular, it’s expanded its server network (6,000+ servers in 110 countries). It also now lets you connect 10 devices simultaneously, and the latest version introduces ad, tracker, and malicious website blocking. NordVPN has plenty of other security features that keep your iPhone safe including Double VPN servers for two layers of encryption.
3. Surfshark
Best budget VPN for iPhone
Pros:
- Plenty of plans to choose from
- Servers in 100 countries
Cons:
- Apps look cluttered with extra features
Surfshark offers three subscription tiers to suit all budgets. Depending on the plan and subscription length you choose, you’ll pay anything from $2.49 to $17.95 a month. The former (a Surfshark Starter two year subscription) is particularly good value and includes an ad blocker and MultiHop (Double VPN) servers. There’s no connection limit so you can use Surfshark not only on your iPhone, but all of your devices.
Surfshark uses the WireGuard protocol and, with over 3,000 servers covering 100 countries, you shouldn’t have trouble finding a fast server where you are. The generous server network helps unblock geo-restricted streaming sites. This includes many Netflix libraries and BBC iPlayer. Surfshark is a no-logs VPN with secure encryption and a kill switch in all of its apps. 24-hour live chat support is available.
4. CyberGhost
Best VPN for streaming
Pros:
- Huge number of servers
- Good speeds for streaming
Cons:
- No traffic obfuscation
CyberGhost removed its server count but has confirmed that this now exceeds 11,000 servers in 100 countries (one of the largest VPN server networks). It’s always easy to find a fast, low-load server in your preferred location. CyberGhost fares well when accessing popular streaming services and is the best VPN for streaming (the fast speeds can also allow for low ping gaming).
It’s hard not to be impressed by CyberGhost’s privacy protection. 256-bit AES encryption ensures your data is hidden from your ISP and its no-logs policy has been independently audited by Deloitte. CyberGhost publishes quarterly transparency reports, detailing information requests received from authorities. CyberGhost can’t comply with such requests because it simply doesn’t collect or store identifying data.
5. IPVanish
Best VPN for multiple devices
Pros:
- Huge number of servers
- Good speeds for streaming
Cons:
- No anonymous payment options
IPVanish allows unlimited simultaneous connections which is ideal if you have a lot of devices to secure (or if you plan on sharing your VPN with others at home). 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 US.
The IPVanish apps are now much improved and clearly laid out. You have the flexibility to favorite specific servers and even see each server’s ping and load which isn’t something you see with every VPN iOS app. 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 new Threat Protection feature.
6. Proton VPN
Best VPN with a free tier
Pros:
- Huge number of servers
- Good speeds for streaming
Cons:
- No live chat support
Proton VPN is unique in that it offers a free tier. What’s more, it’s arguably the best free VPN you can use, because it doesn’t impose speed or data limits. Free users receive access to 240 servers in five countries but if you opt for one of Proton VPN’s paid plans, this increases to nearly 5,000 servers in 85 countries. Proton VPN’s speeds are impressive, ranking among the fastest we’ve tested.
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 even keep connection logs and its no-logs policy has been independently audited. With Proton VPN, you can secure 10 devices simultaneously and you’ll also have access to intriguing extras including split tunneling and port forwarding.
7. Mullvad
Best VPN for privacy
Pros:
- Anonymous signup
- Simple flat rate
Cons:
- Relatively small server network
Mullvad is one of very few 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 VPN for privacy because it’s possible to sign up anonymously. Another area in which Mullvad differs is that it has a flat subscription rate of €5 a month ($5.43).
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. Admittedly, it does leave something to be desired with its unblocking, struggling to access some popular streaming platforms. Mullvad doesn’t keep logs, offers the highest level of encryption, and has MultiHop servers.
How to pick the best VPN for iPhone
You might be wondering why the above VPNs made the cut (and why others didn’t). After all, there’s no shortage of VPNs for iPhone. When we test VPNs, we look at everything from ease of installation to the smallprint of their no-logs policies. We also carry out various tests including measuring server speeds and checking for DNS leaks. During our testing, we’re looking for a VPN to fulfill the following criteria:
- User-friendly iOS app
- Fast, unthrottled connections
- Global server network
- High level of encryption
- Absolutely no identifying logs of users
- Multiple simultaneous connections
- Money-back guarantee of at least 30 days
- Live chat and email support
How to use the best VPN for iPhone
First time using a VPN? Getting a VPN set up and connected on iPhone couldn’t be easier:
- 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
Can I use a free VPN for my iPhone?
Free VPNs are very limiting in terms of server locations and speed (most will throttle your bandwidth). A free VPN may not properly encrypt your traffic and may even log and sell your data. Besides, 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.
Why do I need a VPN for my iPhone?
A VPN encrypts your data, keeping it safe from cybercriminals and ensuring your ISP (and others) can’t see what you’re doing online This doesn’t have to be anything nefarious – privacy is a fundamental right. 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 although 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 in Safari browser. A VPN encrypts all traffic regardless of the browser or apps you’re using.
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.
