The Independent’s journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?
- CAR INSURANCE
- CAR INSURANCE
- TOOLS
- PROVIDERS
- GUIDES
- BROADBAND
- HOME SERVICES
- VPN
- HEALTH
We’ve come up with a shortlist of the best Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for iPhone users, featuring blistering speeds, streaming access, and a long list of interesting features to pick from.
The best VPN for iPhones – both paid and free VPNs – will provide a secure and encrypted connection, and mask your real IP address in the process. An iPhone VPN can enhance your security with features such as split tunnelling, optimised servers, and robust kill switches. Some can be used for secure streaming, while others should definitely be avoided.
Most iPhones contain a lot of sensitive information, and it’s common to use the internet for online shopping, banking and email services. Whether you’re using your mobile data or wifi, without a VPN, your connection might not be secured and you could be at risk of cybercrime.
We’ve tested over 100 iPhone VPN apps to establish which ones have super fast performance, can successfully bypass geo-restricted content and protect your online identity with robust security features.
All three of our recommended VPNs for iPhone have best-in-class security and high download and streaming speeds, making them all ideal for using on the go. All three apps are intuitive and easy to set up too. Whichever you choose, you’ll get a top-notch VPN.
We’ve narrowed it down to a top five list of the best VPNs for iPhone available right now.
NordVPN for iOS offers users a secure and private method to access the internet, protecting their online activities from hackers, surveillance, and potential data breaches. With fast download speeds, it’s ideal for online gaming and torrenting, while advanced security features and privacy protocols make NordVPN a good choice for journalists and reporters in more restrictive locations.
Streaming is a breeze, thanks to features like SmartPlay, which can be used to access a long list of geo-restricted sites and services found in regions like the US and the UK. SmartPlay works automatically in the background, while you’ll also find support for Onion over VPN connections, alongside a sturdy kill switch.
Threat Protection works to keep you safe from ads, unsafe connections, and malicious sites while connected to NordVPN. Meshnet is a free feature that is perfect for file sharing, work collaborations, and multiplayer gaming, as it allows secure connections between several devices.
Performance is another plus, with faster connection speeds available via the proprietary NordLynx protocol. You’re unlikely to see any slowdown while connected to NordVPN servers, and there are 6,100+ to pick from in 74 countries. Our speeds all exceeded 200Mbps on every server we tested, which is ideal for streaming and gaming on iPhone.
| Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) | Latency (ping)(ms) | Percentage of base download speed | Percentage of base upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 391 | 401 | 4 | ||
| UK to UK | 231 | 16.5 | 50 | 59% | 4% |
| UK to US | 276 | 35.8 | 120 | 71% | 9% |
| UK to Aus | 240 | 23.9 | 241 | 61% | 6% |
NordVPN has three payment tiers – Standard, Plus, and Complete – and each is available as a monthly, yearly, or two-year plan. The monthly fees are billed every month, while the others require payment up front. For the most significant savings, NordVPN’s two-year deal currently comes with a 70 per cent discount, along with three extra months for free as an added incentive.
NordVPN for iOS uses AES-256. The provider says it doesn’t retain any user information or record online activities, and PwC and Deloitte have independently verified its no-logs policy.
The NordVPN app is available on the App Store and can be quickly installed on your iOS device with a simple sign-up process. It features a modern and visually appealing design with a map-based interface.
Users can easily connect to a VPN server by tapping on a country pin, selecting a specific server from the list, or using the Quick Connect button. Customisable settings allow users to tailor their app’s functionality, add Siri commands, quickly contact in-app support, and access their favourite features.
Overall, the NordVPN iOS app offers a smooth and user-friendly experience with robust security features, streaming support, and solid performance.
Although NordVPN is at the higher end of the price band, we feel the quality of its iOS app easily justifies paying more. The provider continues to diversify, broadening its range of innovative features with additions such as Meshnet and NordLynx. Its user-friendly app appeals to both VPN novices and experienced users seeking the complete package of online security and privacy.
Score: ★★★★½
Read our full NordVPN review.
ExpressVPN’s iOS app offers reliable online privacy and security for mobile users. While it predominantly focuses on streaming and gaming, ExpressVPN is likely to be popular with anyone who wants to hide their IP address, unblock censored websites, and safeguard data. It’s excellent at accessing geo-restricted content, which is why it’s the best VPN for iPhone in China – a jurisdiction renowned for its robust firewall.
The iOS app allows users to customise their experience by selecting the ideal protocol for their needs, including the company’s proprietary Lightway protocol, which is the default option for most devices. ExpressVPN’s advanced features include a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and dynamic encryption keys. RAM-only servers found in a total of 105 countries makes for an impressive network, which can’t be matched by any of the other providers on this list.
With ExpressVPN’s iOS app, users can turn on an ad blocker, allowing them to browse the web uninterrupted. The advanced protection tool safeguards users from ads, trackers, malicious sites, and adult sites. The provider uses AES-256 encryption to keep your data safe and secure. ExpressVPN also has a solid no-logs policy, which KPMG has independently audited for the avoidance of doubt.
Speeds are decent, if not the fastest you’ll find on the market. Results were still in excess of 200Mbps during the latest round of testing, so you won’t have to worry about lag or slowdown while using the Lightway protocol.
| Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) | Latency (ping)(ms) | Percentage of base download speed | Percentage of base upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 471 | 375 | 4 | ||
| UK to UK | 216 | 89.2 | 53 | 46% | 24% |
| UK to US | 214 | 9.55 | 126 | 45% | 3% |
| UK to Aus | 198 | 30.3 | 304 | 42% | 8% |
Streaming is another strong point, as ExpressVPN has a knack for gaining access to the majority of platforms worldwide. This is the case for BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and a string of iOS-compatible services.
ExpressVPN’s iOS app is very user-friendly, with a stylish interface and easy-to-find tools. However, it lacks a few extras available on its other apps, such as split tunnelling, and it isn’t as feature-packed as NordVPN’s app. Even so, it’s another worthy option, if you’re willing to pay a little more each month.
Score: ★★★★½
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
Surfshark has designed an iOS app that’s ideal for VPN newbies. It features descriptions for everything, creating an instructional interface that can be toggled off as the user becomes savvier.
The iOS app includes some nice features, such as an effective kill switch, protocol options, IP Rotator, and the CleanWeb ad and malicious site blocker. However, it lacks split tunnelling and the variable encryption option, which is only available on Surshark’s VPN for Android.
Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. It offers fantastic value for money given the level of security, which is why it’s been named by our researchers as the best cheap VPN on the market.
Surfshark’s iOS app uses AES-256 encryption – the same as the other VPNs on this list. It also uses obfuscated, RAM-only servers and has a strict no-logs policy, which Deloitte has verified.
The iOS app is particularly straightforward to use and customise, with attractive light or dark themes. Packed with features, the logical navigational paths are clearly marked, and it offers one-click connection and a helpful search function to locate the ideal server for your needs.
Surfshark was able to come up with the goods during our speed tests, hovering well over 400Mbps when connected to US and UK server locations. It matches up to more expensive options in this respect, proving to be on the faster end of the scale.
| Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) | Latency (ping)(ms) | Percentage of base download speed | Percentage of base upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 477 | 392 | 4 | ||
| UK to UK | 457 | 82.9 | 48 | 96% | 21% |
| UK to US | 414 | 15.5 | 129 | 87% | 4% |
| UK to Aus | 320 | 26 | 245 | 67% | 7% |
As such, it’s another solid option for secure streaming, working well with a long list of popular platforms like BBC iPlayer. The same goes for iOS gaming, and more.
Although missing several features seen with the Android version, we found Surfshark’s iOS app uncomplicated and aesthetically crisp. Simple for VPN novices, we particularly liked the signposting and descriptive labelling, making a quick start super easy.
Score: ★★★★
Read our full Surfshark review.
CyberGhost’s app for iOS lacks many of the features found on Android, such as split tunnelling and access to OpenVPN. This is the case with many iOS VPN apps, in our experience. However, there’s the usual choice of protocols and several robust security features on offer.
For example, the Best Location feature works well, offering a one-click connection, as does Smart Rules, which allows users to customise the VPN settings. It also provides a dedicated IP address for an additional monthly fee, bypassing annoying CAPTCHAs and identity verification.
Streaming is undoubtedly CyberGhost’s main selling point, as it’s especially easy to access the majority of popular services while connected to the provider. You’ll find labelled apps to access specific platforms, removing any guesswork while connected to the iOS app. It also happens to be one of the speediest providers on the market, with a massive network of 11,000+ servers to pick from in 100+ countries. Even on the Australian server, we saw speeds well over 300Mbps.
| Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) | Latency (ping)(ms) | Percentage of base download speed | Percentage of base upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 460 | 339 | 5 | ||
| UK to UK | 426 | 87.9 | 58 | 93% | 26% |
| UK to US | 414 | 42.3 | 122 | 90% | 12% |
| UK to Aus | 351 | 8.07 | 285 | 76% | 2% |
CyberGhost offers an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee – two weeks longer than most other providers. However, this is only applicable for longer subscriptions, with one-month deals coming with a 14-day money-back guarantee instead.
It uses AES-256 for encrypting user data, and has a solid no-logs policy. This has been verified by Deloitte.
CyberGhost’s app for iPhone is missing several features available on the Windows app, such as split tunnelling and OpenVPN protocols, and it lacks the intuitive navigation that NordVPN and ExpressVPN excel at. However, it’s still easy to use, and our connection remained stable throughout.
In our iPhone tests, CyberGhost managed some fast speeds (426Mbps), which, taken in isolation, should place the app higher in our ranks, but with a lack of key features, the iOS app misses out on the top spots. In any case, it’s still a great option for secure streaming.
Score: ★★★★
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review.
Proton VPN is one of the few providers to offer a free tier with no bandwidth cap, however, some features – such as the NetShield ad blocker – are only available with a paid account. The always-on feature is an effective kill switch, and Secure Core servers are a useful option for added privacy.
The provider offers monthly, 12-month, and 24-month subscriptions. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. Proton VPN Free is helpful in a pinch, but you won’t get streaming support or the full range of server locations on offer. In comparison, paid Proton VPN plans give users access to 3,800+ servers in 85 countries, including support for P2P, Tor over VPN, and much more.
Proton VPN uses AES-256 to encrypt user activity and data. It also has an audited no-logs policy, verified by Securitum. The provider offers a ‘VPN Accelerator’, which is used to boost connection speeds. To that end, it performed well during testing, coming in at 444Mbps via US servers. UK to UK connections saw speeds of 432Mbps, so Proton VPN definitely uses WireGuard to great effect.
| Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) | Latency (ping)(ms) | Percentage of base download speed | Percentage of base upload speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No VPN | 438 | 370 | 4 | ||
| UK to UK | 432 | 9.32 | 72 | 99% | 3% |
| UK to US | 444 | 5.88 | 126 | 101% | 2% |
| UK to Aus | 431 | 12.7 | 234 | 98% | 3% |
Connecting to most of Proton VPN’s servers took the longest time of all our VPNs tested on iOS – around 10 seconds. The Proton VPN iPhone app presents a busy interface, which could appear confusing for VPN newbies. It has some nice touches, such as country flags on the map screen, but with so many icons, it’s hard to isolate the one you require. Once familiar with the controls, customisation becomes simple.
We found that the kill switch didn’t always send alerts or reconnect, meaning that, although we were safely disconnected from the internet, a manual connection was required before continuing to browse safely. As we’ve mentioned, streaming support is included, but only for paid subscriptions.
Proton VPN’s iPhone app allows access to its speedy specialised servers, including Secure Core. However, there were flaws with the kill switch reconnection. It did block access to the internet, preventing IP exposure. However, without remembering to manually reconnect, there could be privacy issues.
Score: ★★★★
Read our full Proton VPN review.
To compare the best iPhone VPNs, we considered several key factors:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| Price | From £2.49/m | From £6.92/m | From £1.79/m | From £1.78/m | From £3.88/m |
| Free version | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Max number of connected devices | 6 | 5 | Unlimited | 7 | 10 |
| Number of servers | 5500+ | 3000+ | 3200+ | 9000+ | 2700+ |
| AES-256 encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audited no-log policy | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Where to buy |
Below, we’ve charted the download speeds we achieved with each VPN on various servers. In our latest round of testing, Surfshark maintained the best download speeds across all servers compared to our baseline results.
| VPN | No VPN Download speed (Mbps) | No VPN Upload speed (Mbps) | UK to UK Download speed (Mbps) | UK to UK Upload speed (Mbps) | UK to US Download speed (Mbps) | UK to US Upload speed (Mbps) | UK to Aus Download speed (Mbps) | UK to Aus Upload speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surfshark | 477 | 392 | 457 | 82.9 | 414 | 15.5 | 320 | 26 |
| Proton VPN | 438 | 370 | 432 | 9.32 | 444 | 5.88 | 431 | 12.7 |
| CyberGhost | 460 | 339 | 426 | 87.9 | 414 | 42.3 | 351 | 8.07 |
| NordVPN | 391 | 401 | 231 | 16.5 | 276 | 35.8 | 240 | 23.9 |
| ExpressVPN | 471 | 375 | 216 | 89.2 | 214 | 9.55 | 198 | 30.3 |
Using a VPN on your iPhone enhances privacy and security by encrypting your internet traffic, masking your IP address, and allowing access to geo-restricted or censored content. It also protects you from the security flaws of public wifi networks, which can leave you vulnerable to identity theft, malware, and data theft. Mobile banking, online shopping accounts, and messaging apps are all valuable to hackers; using a VPN protects your personal information to a greater extent.
An iPhone VPN will change your IP address, encrypting your connection in the process. This allows the user to access various sites and services, including streaming platforms, and blocked social media sites. You’ll be able to avoid throttling, censorship, and it will provide a boost to online privacy.
Here’s a step-by-step guide if you’d like to install a VPN on iOS devices:
When selecting a VPN for your iPhone, consider the following factors:
A free VPN often provides less security and privacy for iOS devices. Typically, a free VPN won’t have a no-logs policy that ensures users’ data is never stored or logged. A free service from the Apple App Store usually lacks key features, such as split tunnelling and a kill switch, and comes with a limited data allowance. However, if you do decide to download a free VPN from the App Store, we would recommend Proton VPN Free. It comes with an unlimited amount of data and an independently audited no-logs policy – which is very rare for free services. With Proton VPN free, users can connect to one of 22 servers in three locations and all web activity will be encrypted by AES-256 encryption.
The majority of free iPhone VPNs should be avoided, given they can’t be trusted with your personal data. It’s not unheard of for free providers to sell user data in an effort to monetise the service. Others come with malware attached, hoping to trick unsuspecting users into infecting their own devices. Lastly, some free VPNs lack basic encryption, and will be leaking your IP address while connected.
This section will help you understand how to use VPN on iPhone settings. If you ever change VPN provider, this method will also show you how to change VPN on iPhone. Once you’ve downloaded a VPN app onto your phone and registered with the provider, follow these steps to set up a VPN on your iPhone:
This will enable the VPN in your iPhone settings. Now you’ll need to activate it when you want to use the VPN:
If you’re wondering how to turn off VPN on iPhone, then just repeat the steps one to four above.
A VPN works by routing your traffic through an encrypted server in a location of your choice. This is much the same on iOS, where you’ll be able to use an app to connect to VPN servers in various locations. You can download various iOS VPNs via the Apple App Store.
No, iPhones don’t currently have any true built-in VPNs – but there are a number of good VPN apps compatible with iPhones available for download on the Apple App Store. The best iPhone VPN apps will support automatic and manual configuration and conceal your real IP address to bypass geo-restrictions. iCloud+ subscription holders do have access to a Safari feature called Apple Private Relay, but while the service can keep your browsing data private using proxy servers, it is not a true VPN.
In all honesty, it depends on what you’re planning to use your iPhone VPN for. For instance, NordVPN is our top recommendation for the average iOS user, but alternatives like Surfshark might be better if you’re looking for a cheap solution. If you’re more interested in streaming support, CyberGhost or ExpressVPN will be helpful. Anyone in need of a decent free tier or advanced privacy features will be well served by the likes of Proton VPN.
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll see improved connection speeds while using an iOS VPN. The manner of encryption tends to lead to slower speeds, although the majority of premium providers will be able to negate any loss in performance.
It’s never a good idea to blindly trust any online services with your personal data, but an audited VPN is a better option than entrusting your data to your ISP and the sites you visit. Once again, we’d strongly recommend avoiding the use of random free VPN services, especially if it lacks an independently audited no-logs policy.
An iPhone VPN can save money when shopping online by allowing you to change your virtual location to access different prices or deals. Some e-commerce websites display prices based on the user’s location or IP address. Connecting to a VPN server in a different region or country can potentially find lower prices for the same products or services, ultimately saving money on your purchases.
Our VPN for iPhone review scores are determined the following categories:
We research and test a total of 25 elements within these categories including:
All of our VPN articles are verified by our in-house team of fact-checkers, so you can be assured our content is as accurate and current as possible. Learn more about our methodology for reviewing VPNs here.
The data in this review is reported from a neutral stance and should be used for informational purposes only. We review VPN services from the perspective of:
Independent Advisor strongly recommends that you follow the local laws in your region whilst using a VPN. We do not condone the use of a VPN to bypass copyright restrictions, or to stream content without a valid subscription in your current region. Make sure to comply with any and all applicable laws and regulations whilst using a VPN with streaming services, and any other relevant platforms.
