Best VPN for iOS

As one of the best-known brands in the VPN industry, NordVPN ranks high on any top list due to its capacity to deliver the safest browsing experience to everyone, iOS users included. Thanks to its unique features, Nord has deservedly claimed a top spot among the best mobile VPNs. Even the 2015 hack that damaged its reputation for a short while couldn’t keep this company down.

Nowadays, NordVPN is stronger than ever, despite the growing competition. It services millions of users each day, many of whom are on iOS. The Panama-based company guarantees your safety, as the country is out of reach of even the “14 Eyes” international security alliance that keeps snooping on internet users. For those who don’t know, 14 Eyes is an alliance between governments headed by the United States. Its alleged purpose is the free exchange of information between those governments.

Countries belonging to the 14 Eyes have been known to contact VPN providers with a warrant to which providers must comply, in some cases without letting users know. The justification 14 Eyes offers for this is that it supposedly helps catch criminals. However, VPN protection is crucial for journalists and political dissidents, many of whom prefer to use NordVPN precisely due to the fact that Panama remains out of the 14 Eyes’ jurisdiction. Furthermore, Nord is among the rare providers that work smoothly both in China and the Middle East. If you’re looking for the best VPN for iPhone in the UAE, for example, be sure to check out NordVPN.

Apart from excellent privacy protection, NordVPN for iPhone offers a highly functional and reliable app, rich in additional features that go far beyond simply connecting you to a safe server. The app uses the IKEv2 protocol for iOS and macOS users, providing better protection against leaks with its built-in kill switch. The NordVPN app kill switch is considered to be more watertight on the IKEv2 than its OpenVPN counterpart used for Windows and Android.

Once you’ve chosen the best VPN plan for your Apple device, all that’s left to do is download the app and complete the installation process. The deal includes a 30-day guarantee that you’ll get your money back in case you’re dissatisfied with the product. This applies to the App Store, as well as other “accounts in good standing” that are purchased outside Google Play and the App Store.

Functioning on all major platforms, IPVanish ranks highly on most lists for having one of the best VPN apps for iOS and macOS devices that run on older versions of the operative systems. It’s very easy to handle and is often lauded as the best choice for people who have little or no experience with VPN software in general. The best example of this is that a visual guide leads you through each step of the installation process.

The provider allows up to 10 devices to be connected simultaneously, making it an excellent VPN for families or small offices. You can also install it directly on a router, distributing protection to all connections equally.

In terms of encryption, as the best VPN app for iPhone, IPVanish relies on the industry-standard 256-bit AES protocol. The provider includes DNS-leak prevention in case your ISP tries to probe your device through its DNS servers. Another feature that keeps all prying eyes at bay is the kill switch, which functions as a safety mechanism in case your VPN server connection accidentally drops and leaves you exposed. The excellent download speed makes IPVanish a top match for P2P activity, too, so we suggest you try torrenting with its secured connection.

Despite packing all these options, the mobile application is very lightweight. The setup is easy, and the interface allows you to quickly fine-tune the details to your personal preferences. Most importantly, IPVanish is the best VPN for an iPhone with iOS 7 and older installed. This doesn’t mean that IPVanish has any problems adjusting to the latest iOS versions - on the contrary! It’s simply reassuring to know that its system requirements make it accessible for those with older hardware.

In compliance with its very user-friendly attitude, the company offers extensive support with an abundance of FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and privacy tips. It also provides a 24/7 customer support team, available to you via live chat.

On the downside, it is a bit pricey compared to other iPhone VPN apps on our list, with no free trial.

It’s hard to look for VPN services and not bump into ExpressVPN, perhaps the most reliable and fastest VPN software currently on the market. ExpressVPN’s reputation precedes it: Hosting more than 3,000 servers in 160 locations, this British Virgin Islands-based provider takes your privacy very seriously and is considered to have the best VPN iOS app out there.

It’s pretty easy to set up your iOS client through a user-friendly interface that uses different filters for smart server selection. It literally takes a single tap on your touchscreen to launch a seamless VPN connection. There is also a built-in reconnect option should your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection suddenly fail. Furthermore, the iOS app enables you to switch between OpenVPN UDP and IKEv2 protocols according to your needs. This isn’t a significant feature, but can prove useful if you wish to replace speed with safety and vice-versa.

The biggest setback for Apple mobile device users is that the app doesn’t include a kill switch, even though its browser extension version has one. Still, ExpressVPN is one of the top VPN apps currently available, and it’s optimized for iOS 8 and newer. It’s also worth noting that the company allows P2P servers and is fully operable on Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera, as well as Macs and iPads.

The company has a no-logging policy, keeping your online activities untraceable. ExpressVPN uses standard military-grade 256-bit encryption for your data and provides the best speeds on the web, no matter where you’re from. Add top-notch customer support to the mix, and see for yourself why there isn’t a “Best VPN for iOS” list on the internet that excludes ExpressVPN.

Although it’s its Windows app that really puts CyberGhost on the map, the provider also made one of the best mobile VPNs for iOS users. This Romanian company offers a wide variety of servers and locations, although its excellent features come at a speed cost, as well as a monetary one.

Much like NordVPN, CyberGhost is based in a country that is out of the jurisdiction of the 14 Eyes coalition. Indeed, the company emphasizes security and privacy above all, thanks to its no-logs policy. What’s more, if you choose an iOS VPN subscription plan longer than six months, you get access to the company’s exclusive No Spy servers, which are said to be faster and more secure. In fact, the company claims that it runs its own operating system on those servers, which are located in Romania.

On the downside, if you’re looking for a US or UK server with an extra layer of security, you won’t find it with CyberGhost. Nevertheless, the company has garnered quite a reputation for being honest and keeping your data secure, both internally and from your ISP. Also, the VPN is well-sealed against DNS and IP leaks, meaning you’re unlikely to face unexpected disconnection issues.

App-wise, CyberGhost might not be the best iPhone VPN, but it’s undoubtedly one of the most accessible, and it has an interface to match. The pricing plans put it on the cheaper end of the VPN spectrum, and while its slow speed hampers its potential, the additional features go a long way toward making up for that drawback.

The first of these features is the ability to pick the “best server location,” which enables you to further optimize your connection, along with the “streaming-friendly” option for choosing a server location based on the streaming service you wish to use. This comes in particularly handy when avoiding elaborate geo-blocking restrictions. The interface of this VPN service for iOS has recently been redesigned and now features a simple and intuitive list-based design that will enable you to figure out even the most advanced features in no time.

Despite its limited number of servers, Windscribe has been at the forefront of the best iOS VPN app solutions since 2016. The company is based in Canada, which is far from some of the more exotic areas in which VPN providers like to set up camp. In fact, Canada is one of the core countries of the Five Eyes alliance, not to mention all its extensions.

You can count on Windscribe’s elaborate encryption to keep you safe, though, and the company’s strict no-log policy protects you from government interference, as neither the VPN provider nor your ISP can keep track of your browsing. As far as encryption goes, Windscribe is perhaps the best iOS VPN in its price range. The AES-256 cipher, constantly generating new and unique encryption, leaves only a fragment of a chance that your data ever becomes vulnerable. Even in that case, the encryption ensures that only a small amount of usually useless data falls into the hacker’s hands. Furthermore, you can choose between protocols: IKEv2 is the default, which is more suitable for iOS than OpenVPN, and known to provide better optimization in terms of speed.

The desktop/smartphone app is one of Windscribe’s stronger points, as it’s easy to set up, even easier to use, and known to work seamlessly regardless of your physical location. The quality of service makes it the best VPN for Mac and iOS, especially if you’re a beginner who has to choose your very first VPN software.

Windscribe’s Stealth Mode enables you to obfuscate your IP address. It relies on the technology provided by Stunnel, an open-source, multi-platform app in charge of handling TLS/SSL tunneling services. Although the provider is banned in China, users report that if you install it outside of the country, you’ll have no trouble connecting to it once inside.

The offer extends to Windscribe’s comprehensive iPhone antivirus and ad blocker - R.O.B.E.R.T. - which will keep your device safe from pesky ads and dangerous trackers. Windscribe offers a generous free version of its iOS VPN software, too. However, this does not include R.O.B.E.R.T. and it is limited to 1.5 GB per month. It replenishes each month, so if you need a free VPN for limited browsing, Windscribe fits the bill.

Private Internet Access is a highly versatile US-based tool that’s on par with some of the most powerful VPN blockers on the market, such as CyberGhost and NordVPN. Providing incredible speeds regardless of location, PIA’s advanced app that’s optimized for both mobile and tablet use includes a number of additional options. The company is more focused on providing security for cellular data (LTE and 3G bands) than Wi-Fi - an excellent choice if you’re looking for the best VPN app for iOS.

The premium offer includes a built-in ad blocker that also deals with trackers and known infectious websites. It contains the SOCKS5 proxy for additional speed, so it really is just about the fastest VPN for iPhone users. Moreover, port forwarding support, the choice of preferred encryption, handshaking, and various authentication methods make the software perfect for optimization-hungry users.

Of course, PIA has a no-logging policy, so you can rest assured your browsing is safe from prying eyes. Moreover, the company doesn't insert advertising into the user’s web traffic, nor does it in any way profit from user data.

Lately, PIA has undergone a makeover, refreshing its interface to fit the needs of modern users. If you’re on the lookout for a top VPN for your iPhone, be sure to try Private Internet Access. Just be quick about it - you’ll only have seven days to try out the software’s free trial before being locked out by a paywall.

This Hong Kong-based VPN service provider is rated number one on the App Store as the best VPN for iPhone. The fact that the company operates from Hong Kong enhances user security - the city has no laws requiring ISPs to retain data.

Therefore, PureVPN joins the ranks of NordVPN and CyberGhost outside the gaze of the 14 Eyes security alliance. The countries making up the 14 Eyes are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the US, and many EU countries. The alliance is based on the mutual sharing of information among member states, and has the legal power to demand user data from VPN companies. So if you’re looking for the best VPN for iPhone in the UK, for example, you should make sure that the provider is based outside of the jurisdiction of this intelligence alliance, and PureVPN is a good choice for that.

The company also employs state-of-the-art 256-bit encryption technology and protocols like OpenVPN, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, PPTP, and IKEv2 to protect you. This variety of protocols offers an array of adjustable functionality, whether you’re looking to use your VPN for gaming, streaming, online browsing, or other purposes. It also provides substantial protection against the most common cyberattacks, like session hijacking and man-in-the-middle attacks.

In terms of additional features, as one of the top-rated VPN iPhone apps, PureVPN offers a variety of options that will both enhance your security and improve user experience. For example, the company has worked hard in the last few years to perfect its kill switch and, judging by the results, that work has paid off. The kill switch on VPN apps for phones is usually a weak spot, but PureVPN has managed to create a bug-free safety mechanism that will never fail you in case of a sudden connection drop.

Furthermore, PureVPN is universally seen as the best VPN for phones, as the app is relatively lightweight and provides excellent support for iOS and Android devices, as well as Windows, Mac, and Linux desktops. Extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox, and you can install the VPN on a router as well.

Despite all these positives, it’s worth noting that, although PureVPN claims that it now has a clear no-logs policy, in 2018, the company was exposed for keeping user data logs and - even worse - giving them to the FBI. This data was allegedly used to apprehend a cyberstalker who had been using the provider’s services. Still, it was a debacle, and the leak launched a privacy debate that jeopardized this VPN provider’s reputation. For better or worse, PureVPN guarantees that it no longer stores neither connection nor usage logs.

Based in the British Virgin Islands, Surfshark is an exciting newcomer in the VPN arena. It combines innovative security technologies with affordability in what many consider to be the best VPN for your iPhone.

This mid-tier provider operates more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries. The military-grade encryption Surfshark uses is on par with other strong VPN service providers, and the ability to connect an unlimited number of devices is a neat advantage if you wish to supply your family or workplace with secure connections.

However, what makes Surfshark stand out among VPN companies is not its encryption, nor its server variety - it’s the lengths Surfshark is ready to go to ensure your web browsing remains completely untraceable. 

First of all, the MultiHop feature enables you to connect to servers in multiple countries at the same time, both on smartphones and computers. Since you’re here looking for the best VPN for iOS, this feature might tip the scale for you, as it makes you virtually invisible online. Then, Camouflage Mode, better known among veteran VPN users as “obfuscation,” makes your digital footprint less clear and even harder to trace. It also makes it impossible for anyone to determine that you are using a VPN, creating a bulletproof illusion that you are, in fact, browsing from the location you’ve selected. 

For bypassing geo-blocking on your favorite streaming platform, obfuscation is king, as it minimizes the risk of being detected.

This all sounds amazing, right? Well, there is one potential downside: using this VPN on your iPhone may result in the company recording your email ID and billing information despite insisting it has a clear no-log policy. If you choose Surfshark, consider opening a new email account, as the company may provide your email to third-party advertisers.

TunnelBear provides you with trustworthy security measures and an interface to match. Speaking of trustworthiness, we recommend you read the company’s well-written, transparent, and clear privacy policy. What’s more, as the best free VPN for iPhone users, TunnelBear is independently audited and publishes annual reports on its security status.

Although this VPN provider offers fewer servers than the top-ranking VPNs on our list, the company compensates for this with exclusively “bare metal” servers - physical devices that host networks. This way, the company keeps a tight lid on its security by not renting cloud servers from other providers. Needless to say, this makes things a lot safer, which is our main factor for evaluating the best iOS VPN on the market.

That’s not to say that TunnelBear doesn’t have a neat collection of additional features, with cute bear monikers to boot. For example, the kill switch is named VigilantBear, while the obfuscation mode is called GhostBear. Both features contribute to TunnelBear’s security obsession. While GhostBear can be a bit of an overkill if you’re an average user, it comes in handy if you’re trying to run a VPN from a country that restricts and blocks its use, like China or Iran. Also, obfuscation helps your iOS VPN provider close all potential leaks from the company’s own ISPs, leaving you completely untraceable. This does make your connection a bit slower than usual, but if absolute security is what you’re after, you can rely on TunnelBear. 

Download speeds are quite solid, given how far the company goes to provide you with protection. As for torrenting, until recently, the company was based in Canada, a country that prohibits P2P due to copyright claims. However, it has since created a way to provide its users with torrent access, establishing a position as one of the best P2P iOS or Android VPN providers out there. If you’re on the hunt for these kinds of services, the bear should be on your radar. The company supports torrenting on most of its servers, and the aforementioned privacy policy and security features make it absolutely safe for downloading.

On the downside, the free version gives you only 500 MB of protected data per month, which is relatively low compared to the three-times bigger cap you get with Windscribe. Also, TunnelBear doesn’t unblock Netflix, which is a major flaw, given the popularity of using iOS VPNs for streaming.

Ivacy has been around for quite a while, but has never managed to overtake industry giants like NordVPN and ExpressVPN. However, in more recent times, the company has managed to reinvent itself and show that it deserves our attention. 

Now arguably the best VPN for both iOS and Android, this Singapore-based company started its operations with a limited number of servers first, focusing on enhancing its security measures and providing seamless traffic at high speeds with maximum privacy. Nowadays, the company boasts 3,500+ servers at over 100 locations.

Apart from standard features like 256-bit encryption, Ivacy is provably DNS-leak-free and has a no-logs policy. Singapore is also a convenient location for a VPN provider, so you can rest assured that your data is protected not only from your ISP, but also from the company itself and the government.

Ivacy has been lauded as the best VPN for iPhone in terms of speed several times. Furthermore, the app’s design has earned favorable reviews from users who agree that it works well within the Apple ecosystem. The app interface doesn’t differ much between OSs, but the Apple version uses the IKEv2 and IPSec protocols with reinforced encryption, which are standard for Apple devices. Ivacy’s iOS app offers unlimited bandwidth, P2P optimized servers, smart purpose selection, on-demand VPN, and the smart connect feature.

On the downside, the app doesn’t have a kill-switch nor split tunneling, and the best paid VPN for iPhone should include a little extra to earn such a lofty title. Still, while Ivacy is light on several important features, it does come with a free Sticky Password subscription. The market value of this password manager is about $30/year, so the gesture is pretty generous.

As a basic tool for privacy, this VPN app won’t let you down. The price makes it very accessible, and the speeds it achieves under full armor are quite impressive. On the other hand, Ivacy still has a long way to go in order to really compete with the major iOS VPN players.