Apple’s closed ecosystem and regular software updates help make your iPhone highly secure, but Apple’s strong emphasis on security shouldn’t stop you from doing more to protect your privacy. One way to do this is with a VPN, which encrypts all of the data traveling from your iPhone to the internet, securing it from prying eyes.
You’ll find plenty of VPNs for iOS but many fall short in key areas. Often this means they perform poorly in speed tests, leak identifying data, or keep extensive browsing logs that can be linked to you and your iPhone. The best VPNs for iPhone can help you avoid these issues, all of which provide your device with security and speed while still being simple to use.
When you use a Virtual Private Network (VPN), you connect to a VPN server in your preferred location. In doing so, your iPhone is provided with a new, temporary IP address. Not only does this let you browse and stream on your iPhone anonymously, it means you can sidestep geo-blocking, allowing you to access your usual websites and services from home even when traveling abroad.
Best VPN for iPhone
Best iPhone VPN With a Free Tier
Best VPN for Streaming
Best VPN for Extra Features
Best Free Trial VPN
Best VPN for Unlimited Devices
Best VPN for Anonymity
You might be wondering why the above VPNs for iPhone made the cut (or why other VPNs didn’t). When testing VPNs for iPhone, I look at everything from how easy they are to install to how intelligible their privacy policies are. I also carry out a battery of tests including measuring server speeds and checking for DNS leaks.
During testing, I looked for iPhone VPNs that fulfill the following criteria:
- User-friendly iOS app
- Fast, unthrottled connections
- Global server network
- High level of encryption
- Supports multiple VPN protocols
- Absolutely no identifying logs of users
- Multiple simultaneous connections
- Money-back guarantee of at least 30 days
- Live chat and email support
First time using a VPN for iPhone? Getting a VPN set up and connected on your iOS device is super easy:
- 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.
Why do I need a VPN for my iPhone?
It’s well known that the iPhone is a highly secure device. However, a VPN ensures that when data leaves the safe confines of your iPhone (such as when you browse the web), it’s encrypted. This prevents hackers and snoopers from seeing what you’re doing online. 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, but 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 while in Safari browser. The best iPhone VPN encrypts all of your traffic regardless of the browser or apps you’re using.
Can I use a free VPN for my iPhone?
Free VPNs for iPhone are very limited in terms of both server locations and speed. A free VPN may not properly encrypt your iPhone’s traffic and may even log and sell your data. The best free VPNs I found in testing are the rare exceptions. Regardless, 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.
Can I get a free trial VPN on iOS?
Yes! The good news is that you can get a seven-day free trial of all of the best VPNs for iPhone simply by downloading them via the Apple App Store. You just need to remember to cancel before the trial period is up. However, you can try out all of these iOS VPNs for even longer thanks to their very generous money-back guarantees, all of which are at least 30 days. This is risk-free but requires upfront payment.
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.
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