While iOS might be considered secure, mobile data breaches and leaks are rising. You need a VPN to protect your online privacy from hackers and advertisers. However, finding a reliable, privacy-focused VPN for iPhone and iOS devices is challenging. Some VPN apps in the App Store leak your personal information (like your iPhone IP address), while others excessively drain your iPhone’s battery and slow down your device.
My team and I tested 85 iOS VPNs to find the best ones. We ensured all the VPNs on this list are safe and easy to use, have robust security features, and have superfast speeds (and won’t noticeably affect your iPhone’s performance).
I recommend ExpressVPN for iPhone. Its military-grade security features protect your online data, while its high-speed global network can help you access your favourite streaming platforms and websites worldwide. You can test ExpressVPN on iOS risk-free because a 30-day money-back guarantee backs it. I tried its refund policy to ensure it’s trustworthy and got my money back in 3 days without hassle.
Best VPNs for iOS and iPhone — Full Analysis (Updated 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best VPN for iOS: Secure, Lightweight, and Fast
Lightning-fast speeds are ideal for streaming on your iOS device
3,000 servers in 94 countries to bypass geo-restricted apps on your iPhone
Connect up to 5 iOS devices simultaneously
Can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, and more
Compatible with: iOS (12.0 or later), Mac, Apple TV, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
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ExpressVPN’s secure iOS app protects your online data. It uses military-grade (AES 256-bit) encryption with Perfect Forward Secrecy. This means that it’s almost impossible to decode your data, as the encryption key changes frequently. In addition, it also offers IP/DNS/WebRTC leak protection. I tested 10 of its servers on ipleak.net with my iPhone 12 and found no leaks. Your actual iPhone IP address will remain concealed.
You can choose between multiple security protocols on ExpressVPN’s iOS app (Lightway – UDP, Lightway – TCP, and IKEv2). The app offers a convenient “automatic” option, where ExpressVPN picks the protocol most appropriate for your network. However, I preferred using the Lightway – UDP protocol. Lightway was the fastest, and its lightweight design optimizes battery life on your iPhone.
It safeguards your online privacy on your iOS device as well. ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy, audited and verified by independent security companies. Its headquarters are in the privacy-friendly British Virgin Islands (outside the 5/9/14 Eyes Alliance), so it’s not legally obligated to log or share your data. However, this would be impossible anyway, as ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology. This means that all servers are RAM-based and thus wipe all your data with every reboot.
I had superfast speeds during my tests on my iPhone 12. Its local servers in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the UK, had average speeds of 65.4 Mbps. You only need 25 Mbps to stream in Ultra HD, which is more than enough. I was even more impressed when I tested its long-distance servers, and my speeds only dropped by 4%. You don’t have to worry about annoying slowdowns while streaming or gaming with your iOS device.
ExpressVPN also has 3,000 servers in 94 countries (all supporting torrenting). I could easily access my US Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ accounts. With many reliable servers, you can always find a stable connection to browse, stream, or even torrent on your iOS device. In addition, ExpressVPN has servers that work in China and other countries with strict censorship (like Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia). However, we don’t condone any illegal activity and recommend you always check the local laws before using a VPN somewhere they are regulated.
The iPhone and iPad app is user-friendly and supports 17 different languages. All you have to do is select a country from the drop-down menu and click the connect button. It even has a “Smart Location” feature, automatically connecting you to the fastest nearby server. And although the iOS app doesn’t come with a kill switch or split tunnelling feature like with Mac, it does offer unique features such as a “Password Generator” and “Threat Manager”. The latter gives you the option to block trackers and malicious sites. ExpressVPN receives an excellent 4.7-star rating on the App Store with over 197 thousand reviews.
The VPN is compatible with iOS 12 and up; however, you can manually configure L2TP VPN on iOS 11 and below. ExpressVPN also comes
ExpressVPN’s intuitive interface is great if you’re new to VPNs
2. CyberGhost — Optimized Servers for Streaming on Your iOS Devices
9,236 servers in 91 countries, including servers designed to unblock streaming app
Superfast speeds to watch your favourite shows on your iPad without buffering
7 simultaneous device connections to cover all your iOS devices
Can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more
Compatible with: iOS (13.0 or later), Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
CyberGhost has an extensive server network of 9,236 servers in 91 countries, including streaming-optimized servers. I was even more impressed when I saw that the iOS app has dedicated servers for tons of specific streaming platforms in different countries (such as a UK server optimized for BBC iPlayer, and an Italy server optimized for Netflix IT). I could easily access Netflix US, Hulu, and Disney+ during my tests. This means you don’t have to waste time searching for a reliable streaming server on your iPhone.
It protects your iOS device with advanced security features such as AES 256-bit encryption, Perfect Forward Secrecy, a kill switch, and IP/DNS leak protection. Plus, I liked its WiFi Auto-Protect feature, as it detects when your device is connected to public WiFi and automatically connects for added assurance. It also has an ad and malware blocker that is always active while connected to the VPN.
CyberGhost also offers multiple security protocols. When I tested its iOS app, I could choose between IKEv2 and WireGuard. My recommendation is to use WireGuard, as it’s a highly secure protocol. Moreover, when I tested the speeds using both protocols, WireGuard was faster and drained less battery.
The VPN has a strict zero-logs policy as well. While reading through it, I found that it offers special NoSpy servers. These servers are located in CyberGhost’s headquarters and are only accessible to its staff members. If you’re worried about privacy, CyberGhost will keep you well protected.
I was impressed with its lightning-fast speeds. When I tested 15 of its servers on my iPhone 12, my speeds averaged 59.6 Mbps. Although CyberGhost’s speeds are not as fast as ExpressVPN’s, they are still quick enough for streaming your favourite shows in high quality (you only need 5 Mbps to stream in HD). You can stream and browse on your iPhone and iPad without buffering.
You don’t need to be a tech expert to use CyberGhost, as it comes with an easy-to-use app optimized for iOS. It also doesn’t take up much storage space at only 54 Megabytes. It took me less than 5 minutes to download and install the app on my iPhone 12. In addition, I could connect to a server with only 1 tap. It even offers a “Best Location” feature, so you don’t need to manually search for the fastest server. The app is compatible with iOS 13 and higher, and there is a dedicated app for Apple Watch, which I found pretty unique.
A minor con is that the VPN doesn’t work in China. However, you can still use it in other countries with strict censorship (such as Iran and Turkey).
You can get CyberGhost’s long-term plan for only $2.19/month, which makes it a pretty budget-friendly option. There’s also a monthly plan, but it’s almost 10 times more expensive. Since both give you access to the same features, I recommend signing up for a 3-year subscription.
I was impressed with CyberGhost’s money-back guarantee, as it’s 45 days (longer than most VPNs offer). If you’re unhappy with it, you can always claim a refund. After using CyberGhost for 41 days, I tested its refund policy. The 24/7 live chat agent approved my request, and I had my money back in my PayPal wallet after 4 days.
3. Private Internet Access — Large Server Network for Fast, Reliable Connections on iPhone available on:
29,650 servers in 84 countries to unblock any website with your iPhone
Fast speeds ensure no congestion when using your iOS device
Protect all your iOS devices with Unlimited simultaneous connections
Can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more
Compatible with: iOS (12.0 or later), Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, routers, and more
Private Internet Access (PIA) has an extensive network of 29,650 servers in 84 countries (all P2P-friendly). This means that you can always find a server nearby, which results in faster speeds since data doesn’t have to travel far. Plus, I was impressed that the iOS app shows the latency of each server — it allowed me to search for the fastest one manually (something that’s impossible in most iOS VPN apps). With PIA, you’ll have no problem finding a reliable server for streaming Netflix (including US, UK, Canada, and Japan) on your iOS device.
It also offers robust security features to protect your iPhone and iPad. You can choose between 2 different encryption options, including AES 256-bit encryption. It also has IP/DNS leak protection, a kill switch, and a special “Content Blocker” for Safari that blocks all ads, trackers, and malware. All these features can be turned on and off using the toggle buttons.
Additionally, you can alternate between several security protocols (IKEv2, WireGuard, and OpenVPN). Use OpenVPN if you want to maximize your security. It’s open-source and thus continuously being improved, but it uses up much battery life. If you want to optimize your speeds, using the WireGuard protocol is better (it’s faster and more lightweight than OpenVPN).
With PIA’s iOS app, I could even choose between 2 different encryption standards
With PIA’s iOS app, I could choose between 2 different encryption standards.
The PIA app is compatible with iOS 12 and higher. It’s user-friendly, mirrors iOS’ light and dark modes, and can be used with iOS’ Shortcuts. It even has a widget for iOS versions 14 and 15 to connect directly from your home screen. Moreover, the setup process was easy — it only took me 5 minutes to download the app and connect to a server.
A minor con is that PIA is headquartered in the US, which could be better for privacy. However, while reading through its logging policy, I found that PIA doesn’t log any personal information (only your email address and payment info when you sign up). Moreover, PIA’s logging policy has been proven in 2 court cases — the VPN had to appear in court to provide data logs but had none to share.
PIA offers a long-term plan for only $2.03/month. Short-term plans are also available, but the plans get more expensive when the subscription period gets shorter. This means that you’re better off with the 3-year plan.
In addition, it also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this after 24 days by emailing customer service to cancel my subscription (you cannot ask for a refund through its live chat). My money was refunded after 5 business days.
4. NordVPN — NordLynx Protocol Gives You Fast Speeds Worldwide on iOS
Fast NordLynx protocol ensures smooth performance on iOS
5,615 servers in 60 countries to change your IP on iOS
6 simultaneous connections to secure your iOS devices
Can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Vudu, and more
Compatible with: iOS (13.0 or later), Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, routers, and more
NordVPN offers its proprietary NordLynx protocol on iOS, a very fast WireGuard alternative. It gave me consistent speeds on local and faraway servers during testing, and I only experienced around an 8% drop. For reference, the average drop range is up to 20%, so this was an impressive result. You can expect uninterrupted streaming or browsing on your iOS device, no matter which server you connect to.
It has a network of 5,615 servers in 60 countries to change your IP on iOS safely. All of them are RAM-only, meaning all your data is wiped off after each reboot, which protects your privacy. I tested servers in different locations, and my connection was always stable. Plus, you get some speciality servers for P2P file-sharing, Double VPN (for extra encryption), and Onion Over VPN (for Tor).
I liked the Dark Web Monitor feature in combination with the Onion Over VPN servers. It sends you an alert if it finds sensitive data linked to your email address, passwords, or other personal information. That way, you can protect your accounts right away.
NordVPN’s iOS app is intuitive, and you can easily find the different optimized locations under “Specialty Servers” on the main screen. Close by, under them, you can also see the whole list of countries worldwide. Or you can use the search bar to look for a specific one, as I did. It also lets you favourite your most-used servers and saves them in a separate tab for easy access.
You can find the settings icon in the top left corner of the profile menu
The VPN’s headquarters are in Panama, which is outside the 14 Eyes Alliance. Thus, it isn’t required to share any user data. It also adheres to an audited no-logs policy. This further strengthens your data privacy since it doesn’t collect or store identifiable information.
NordVPN protects your data with industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption. Aside from the NordLynx protocol, it offers OpenVPN (UDP and TCP) and IKEv2 on iOS, which are fast and secure options. There’s also a Threat Protection feature that I found handy. It ensures you remain safe while browsing the internet by blocking access to malicious websites.
It has a kill switch on iOS, but it’s not ideal because you can’t enable/disable or test it manually. However, customer support confirmed that the feature works automatically and correctly by cutting off your internet if your VPN connection suddenly drops.
The lowest-priced plan costs $3.29/month. This is for a long-term subscription, which gives you the best value for your money. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, cryptocurrency, and more. If you live in the US, the UK, Canada, or Germany, you can also buy a NordVPN subscription from some of the local retail stores.
Both short- and long-term plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which lets you test NordVPN on your iOS device at no risk. The guarantee is legitimate — I requested a refund through the 24/7 live chat after two weeks of using the VPN. The representative approved my request, and I got all my money back a few days later.
9,236 servers in 91 countries, including servers designed to unblock streaming app
9,236 servers in 91 countries, including servers designed to unblock streaming app
