The best VPNs for iPhone provide robust security, an extensive network of servers, and excellent speeds. App resource usage is not an issue, thanks to leaps in hardware technology.
The best VPN for iPhone goes to ExpressVPN. It’s been in the market long enough to prove itself and goes far above and beyond traditional VPN services. There aren’t many brands who can claim the same achievements while treading the fine line between cutting-edge technology and stability.
Still, ExpressVPN isn’t alone, and it faces stiff competition. Other brands, including newer ones like Surfshark, are doing an excellent job. Regardless of your brand preference, a VPN on your iPhone is necessary, so here are five of the best to consider.
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There’s a great breadth of choice in VPNs available for iPhone users. Some of the best are ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and NordVPN. These services offer dedicated iOS apps and can help protect your privacy when using your iPhone.
Note
We’ve tested each extensively over long periods for speed, reliability, and overall effectiveness before making our recommendations.
The best VPNs for iPhones are easy to use and allow you to connect quickly with just one tap on the screen. In addition, they provide high speeds so that your internet connection does not slow down when streaming services like Netflix or Hulu Plus.
Overall score
Speed
Security & Privacy
Price
Key Features
"ExpressVPN isn’t cheap, but the quality and consistency of the service is undisputed.”
When it comes to iPhone VPNs, ExpressVPN is also one of the best choices possible. Not only does it provide excellent security and privacy for your internet traffic, but it also has a ton of great features that make using it on your iPhone easy.
Whether traveling or at home, ExpressVPN offers many features that will help keep your phone (and data) safe, secure, and anonymous. The service encrypts all data that leaves your device, so hackers and marketers can’t see what you’re doing online.
Here are some of our favorite reasons to use ExpressVPN on iPhone:
ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive in the market. There’s no getting around this fact. The only reason this might be so is their across-the-network stable performance that not many brands can rival.
Connection Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$2.21 /mo
Key Features
“If you’ve spent your entire budget on an iPhone, Surfshark’s great value will make up for that hit.”
Surfshark is a VPN service that has been making waves in the VPN industry. It was launched on the market in 2018 and has gained much popularity since. The service offers many features, including excellent security, fast speeds, and outstanding customer support.
If you’re considering a VPN for iPhone, then Surfshark would come close to the top of my list. There are many reasons why I love Surfshark. It’s a competent service that comes at a pretty awesome price tag.
Here are other reasons you should consider Surfshark for your iPhone;
The one small blooper in Surfshark’s blotter seems to be the lackluster Linux support. While it doesn’t affect the iPhone app, some cross-platform users may encounter challenges.
Connection Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$4.99 /mo
Key Features
“NordVPN is the cream of the crop for those who want a solid VPN for their iPhone.”
We believe NordVPN is one of the best VPN services for iPhone users. The app has a simple and easy-to-use interface and offers all the essential features you need to keep your online activity secure. Yet that’s not all it’s capable of, and many factors contribute to its high ranking.
For example, the company boasts over 5,000 servers worldwide, making it a good choice for unblocking content — even if hundreds of other users are connected simultaneously. It’s one of the earliest VPN brands I tested, and I remain a firm fan.
Here are some reasons it’s an excellent choice for iPhone users;
NordVPN prices have increased over the years in line with its better capabilities. However, given its quality, I see it as motivation to grab a subscription before the prices rise even more. NordVPN is simply one of the top choices for iPhone users in any scenario.
Connection Speed
Excellent
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$3.29 /mo
Key Features
“AtlasVPN works on iPhones, and it’s pretty fast - albeit still young and has room to improve.”
Using AtlasVPN on your mobile device has several benefits, including protecting your identity, keeping you safe from cyber threats, and unblocking websites. The only concern I had in recommending this service is that it seems to have a few teething problems.
Still, the price is shockingly low, and it’s a fantastic time to sign up before they perfect the service and prices increase. So far, they’ve been doing well and are on the move in that direction.
Here are some reasons why I recommend AtlasVPN for iPhone users;
Again, if you use a broad range of devices, you should note that AtlastVPN won’t work on Windows 11 – for now. I do not doubt they will support it in the future, but distant water is no cure for a present thirst.
Connection Speed
Very Good
Overall Rating
Price (USD)
$3.33 /mo
Key Features
“IPVanish blows apart the theory that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.”
IPVanish is one of the most popular and reliable brands worldwide, so it’s worth considering when protecting your privacy online. It’s had some hiccups in the past, but under the new management has kept its nose clean.
Today, they offer an impressive service that includes a range of great features, making it perfect for anyone who wants to improve their online privacy. They’ve forged a new reputation for offering fast speeds, excellent customer service and top-tier security measures.
Here are some reasons to choose IPVanish for your iPhone:
IPVanish offers many advantages, but nothing stands too far out when compared to others on this list. It lacks the “oomph” that makes the service a must-choose, especially when better options are available. Prices are also a concern since rates hike significantly from the second year onward.
iPhones are one of the most popular smartphones in the world. With its many features and large screen, it’s a perfect device to stream movies and TV shows, play games, and surf the web. It’s also highly mobile so you can take it anywhere you go.
Like the rest of the world, your iPhone is susceptible to hackers, malware, and other cyber threats. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can help protect your data from snooping. We’ve done up a whole beginner’s guide to VPN to cover this in depth, but if you aren’t sure if you need a VPN on your iPhone, here are some important reasons why;
Public WiFi (and even your cellular data connection) comes with many risks. Data is often easily intercepted, meaning criminals can easily steal your passwords, IDs, or banking information. That’s where a VPN comes in handy.
Running a VPN on your iPhone encrypts all your data automatically, making it useless even if someone could intercept it. It even prevents your ISP from knowing the sites you visit.
If you live in or travel to countries where the government or ISPs block websites, a VPN allows you to bypass these restrictions and access them freely. VPNs are also helpful in accessing blocked social media sites like Facebook or Twitter in certain countries where they’re banned.
Some media streaming services like Netflix also restrict content depending on your location. A VPN can also help you bypass this – if you choose the right one. Not all VPNs will work for unblocking media streaming services.
In the past, the only ones who wanted to steal data were cybercriminals. Everyone wants a slice of the pie today, and even legitimate companies and websites are tracking your online activities and trying to get as much data as possible.
Websites can track where you go and what you do when using a browser like Safari or Chrome on your iPhone. A VPN prevents this kind of tracking because all the information gets reputed through secure servers that control direct access to your iPhone.
One of the most common reasons people use a VPN is to protect their online privacy. A VPN will encrypt your data as it travels between your device and the internet, making it much more difficult for anyone to snoop on what you’re doing.
Yet choosing a VPN for your iPhone often goes beyond that. After all, regardless of new iPhones’ computing power, they remain mobile devices. That form factor itself limits how services might work on them.
Remember the following when choosing the Best VPN for your iPhone:
Speed is the most crucial feature to look for when picking the best iPhone VPN. You can’t always trust a VPN’s speed claims, but if you see a discrepancy between what they advertise and what you experience, it probably means something went wrong along the way.
Speed affects how fast you can stream videos, download files and play games on your iPhone (or any other mobile device). If a service doesn’t provide enough bandwidth to support these activities at high speeds, this will impact their overall performance—and your overall experience with them.
We’ve run extensive speed tests with all VPNs featured in this article (make sure to check the individual reviews for the test results) and they’ve passed with flying colors.
VPNs used to be somewhat slower on mobile devices due to the older protocols available. Today that’s out the window, thanks to WireGuard. However, it does mean that you must ensure that your VPN pick for iPhone supports this new protocol.
WireGuard is fast, lightweight, and runs on iPhones, giving you all the speed you need. And that’s regardless of where you’re on a data connection or WiFi.
The best VPNs offer a wide range of features and services without breaking your bank. Free VPNs can be helpful for occasional use, but they tend to have limited features and can sometimes even pose a danger to your data. Expect to pay somewhere between $3 to $5/mo for a reputable VPN brand.
Some free VPNs offer a paid service you can upgrade to, but these are often much more expensive than typical. Avoid the “upgrade trap” and sign on with a commercial option right from the start. They mostly come with money-back guarantees anyway.
Battery drain is a serious concern regarding VPNs and their effect on your phone’s battery life. This phenomenon is especially true if you want to use your iPhone all day long, which is why so many people are looking for ways to minimize the amount of power their VPN uses.
To determine which VPN will be best for you, test it out by using it without a power bank or wall socket nearby. If you feel the drain is excessive, see if any optimizations are available for your iPhone and the VPN app.
Platform support is an important factor many forget about when choosing a VPN for iPhone. Remember that you can use a VPN with multiple devices. For example, you can use the same VPN subscription on your iPhone, Mac, Windows laptop, or even FireTV and Roku.
The key here is to broaden your mindset at the beginning so you don’t end up paying for a VPN that’s too limited in scope. All the VPNs on the list above support multiple platforms and can handle most use-cases.
Running a VPN on your iOS device (iPhone or iPad) is straightforward and can be done in a few simple steps.
Step 1: Sign up for a VPN service.
Step 2: Download the VPN app from the App Store.
Step 3: Install and launch the app, then sign in to your account.
Step 4: Select a server and click connect.
And that’s it! The VPN will now protect your device and data.
There is a misconception that VPNs will slow down your Internet connection. However, this is not an accurate statement. Many things affect VPN performance, and the part that impacts you will likely be latency.
Latency is the time taken for data to travel over a distance. If the VPN server you choose is far from your physical location, your speed will be lower than a connection with a nearby server. For example:
Assuming your physical location is in New York, a VPN connection to a server in Seattle will be faster than connecting to a server in Japan. The reason is that your data takes longer to transit the extra few thousand miles to the Japan server and back.
Here’s the recap of our best VPN for iPhone:
It’s a buyer’s market with many excellent VPN options today. Thanks to WireGuard, performance barriers are out the window. I firmly believe that ExpressVPN offers the best service at its price class for iPhone users. However, if you prefer one of the other brands on the list above, there’s no harm.
When making your choice, remember that it’s not always about the VPN and your iPhone. Even if you only use it on that platform, you can share the VPN with a family member who might be on Android.
When installed on your iPhone, a VPN helps protect your data and keep your iPhone hidden from prying eyes. Your data gets encrypted and routed via a VPN server. That server acts as a wall, shielding your iPhone.
iOS does not come with a VPN service included. However, it does have settings where you can do a manual configuration for an external VPN service. The process is generally unnecessary since most reputable VPNs have dedicated apps designed for use on iOS.
Most free iPhone VPNs are simply not worth your time or risk. Many come with strict bandwidth restrictions that don’t allow you to do much. In addition, free VPNs are risky since they need to recoup the service cost somehow. They sometimes do this by selling the data it’s meant to protect.
I highly recommend ExpressVPN for iPhone users. It’s reputable, fast, and highly secure. If you prefer an alternative, my second choice would be Surfshark, thanks to its excellent features and reasonable pricing.
