
To help you choose the most suitable VPN solution for your iOS device, we’ve made a list of the most important criteria you should take into account while comparing different offerings.
Server Number and Location
When choosing a VPN app for your iPhone, you should look for a variety of servers and, more importantly, server locations. This will be crucial for unlocking geo-restricted content and avoiding legal issues by bouncing your IP address across as many locations as possible.
However, bear in mind that the distance between a server and your physical location is negatively correlated to the speed you’ll achieve.
Privacy
Privacy is the primary reason people resort to VPNs. If you’re using iOS, the best VPN app for your device should check several boxes.
First, look out for the protocols: If a VPN doesn’t include OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and/or IKEv2 protocols, then it’s not worth your money, nor your trust. Another must-have industry standard is the AES 256-bit encryption. This military-grade protocol provides you with an almost infinite number of ciphers that make your VPN connection practically impenetrable.
When looking for an iOS VPN app, it’s also essential to factor in the no-log policy. While internet service providers cannot track your browsing once you launch a VPN, the VPN provider can still log your activity. However, in order to maintain their reputation, the highest-ranking players in this industry insist on not recording your activity and traffic. On the other hand, companies that provide you with a VPN can record some other parameters, like bandwidth, for the sole purpose of improving their service.
Speed
Speed is arguably the third-ranked important consideration when choosing your Windows, Linux, Mac, Android, or iOS VPN service. Once connected, you will inevitably be slowed down due to the encryption process. However, the best-rated VPN providers are capable of maintaining your internet speed, reducing it by only 5-6%.
Many different factors may affect your internet speed while using a VPN, and although users generally prefer their connection to be fast, this almost always comes at the cost of security. The server’s geographical location, the level of encryption, and the protocols all burden your connection, but they provide anonymity in return.
When looking for the best iOS VPN, you should first check if it includes the must-have safety components, and only then consider the speed it provides. Also, keep in mind that speed varies based on your ISP, geo-location, and several other factors that are not necessarily related to your VPN provider.