Best VPN for iPhone | Top 11 Free and Paid Apps Reviewed for 2023

The best VPN for iPhone protects you against malware, viruses, network attacks, and online scams, all without slowing down your device or draining your battery. If you want to safeguard your data, protect your privacy online, and block tracking attempts and annoying ads, a VPN is a must.

In this guide, we review and compare the best iPhone VPN service providers, looking at the level of protection they provide, their impact on the device’s performance, and their pros & cons. Read on to find out how VPNs like ExpressVPN, PureVPN, and IvacyVPN can help you protect yourself from cyber threats.

The 11 Best VPNs for iPhone Ranked

There are many excellent VPNs on the market, but not all of them offer dedicated VPN apps for iPhone. Even among those that do, some are considerably better than others. After testing the best of the bunch, we’ve concluded that ExpressVPN is the best option. Here’s a quick breakdown of the top 11 iPhone VPNs so that you can make an informed decision:

1. ExpressVPN — Rated as the best VPN overall, with fast connections and no data caps or throttling.
2. PureVPN — High-speed service with easy-to-use apps, zero-logging, and a 6,500+ server network.
3. IvacyVPN — Affordable VPN with smooth connections for torrenting and streaming and options for prioritizing traffic.
4. TotalAV — Reliable service that also comes with a full antivirus package, including malware and ad blockers, and data breach monitoring for the security-focused.
5. NordVPN — Market-leading offering with a network of 5,400+ servers across 60 countries and no bandwidth limits or throttling.
6. AtlasVPN — Affordable solution with advanced features delivering a fast, reliable service for multiple devices without slowdowns.
7. Surfshark — Lightweight app for Mac and iPhone with built-in protection against ads, trackers, and cookie pop-ups, and a double VPN.
8. PrivadoVPN — The best free VPN for iPhone, which adheres to strict user privacy rules, and that comes with lots of security features.
9. Private Internet Access — Affordable option with thousands of servers, which is perfect for streaming geo-restricted online content.
10. CyberGhost VPN — A trusted provider with strong encryption and great tools to optimize your connection for gaming and streaming online content.
11. IPVanish — A robust, high-speed service that prevents your ISP from slowing your connection speed.

Best iPhone VPN Apps Reviewed

Here are detailed reviews of the most popular iPhone VPN apps, so you can see how they compare and choose the one that’s best for you:

1. ExpressVPN — Overall, the Best VPN for iPhone in 2023

ExpressVPN is among the fastest VPNs on the market, offering lightning-fast servers in over 94 countries. Thanks to its Lightway protocol, it achieves incredible connection speed without compromising security, making it the best VPN for iPhone.

In addition to protecting your online data, ExpressVPN ensures your online privacy as well by preventing tracking attempts, masking your real IP address, and letting you use Tor (The Onion Router) to access the web without revealing personal information.

It even supports Bitcoin payments so that you can maintain complete anonymity. ExpressVPN also relies on its TrustedServer technology, which ensures that not a shred of your data is ever written on a hard drive. In other words, no information is stored on ExpressVPN’s servers, and your online logs are automatically deleted after each session. As a result, it’s impossible for anyone to monitor or track your online activity.

Alongside the VPN, you’ll also have a 24/7 Threat Manager, which will prevent all apps on your iPhones and all websites you visit from communicating with trackers and other third parties the VPN recognizes as malicious. On top of this, it’ll also protect you while you’re connected to public Wi-Fi networks, keeping you safe from network and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Pros

• Over 3,000 servers in 94 countries
• Ultra-fast Lightway VPN protocol
• TrustedServer technology to ensure no data is ever stored
• Wi-Fi network protection and tracker blocker

Cons

• Expensive

Pricing

ExpressVPN has a very straightforward pricing model. You can opt to pay monthly, quarterly, or annually and will have access to all VPN features regardless of which option you ultimately choose.

You’ll get the most value for money on the annual plan, which starts from $6.67/month, so you’ll save 49% for the first year.

2. PureVPN — Powerful Features With Futureproof Servers

PureVPN provides exceptional service for iPhone users via its user-friendly app that lets you enjoy a private, secure, and restriction-free internet experience with a single tap. Besides iPhones, it supports macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, and other devices.

It lets you simultaneously encrypt the connection of up to ten devices, making it an ideal choice if you want to use a single account for all your devices. In addition, it has multiple walkthroughs on its website to help you connect your router, Amazon Fire Stick, or other devices.

That said, it has hundreds of secure, P2P dedicated servers that ensure a high-speed connection, hiding your activities from your ISP to prevent intentional bandwidth throttling. That means you can safely download files via highly-secure channels, thanks to PureVPN’s AES 256-bit encryption.

Beyond this, PureVPN stands out from the competition with its “always-on” zero-logging policy audit, which allows third-party security experts to examine its privacy policy practices at any time. It passed multiple audits in the past, meaning the company is guaranteed not to store your private information.

All of its servers in Germany, France, and the Netherlands support 20Gbps connection speed, in addition to Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Salt Lake City US servers. That makes PureVPN a wise investment if you already have or plan to upgrade to a 1Gbps+ internet connection.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Affordable
• A great number of protocols
• Cheap add-ons
• One of the best Android VPNs

Cons

• Not enough advanced features on macOS

Pricing

PureVPN has three pricing plans, monthly, annually, and a two-year-long subscription that nets you three additional months on top for just $2.99/month.

The annual plan is also competitively priced at just $3.32/month, or you can try it on a monthly basis for $10.95.

 

Besides being one of the cheapest, what we like the most about PureVPN is how affordable its add-ons are, with port forwarding at just $0.24/month and dedicated IP at $0.99/month.

3. IvacyVPN — Affordable VPN and Great Choice for Buffer-Free Streaming 

IvacyVPN has over 15 years of experience with cybersecurity, malware protection, and online privacy services. This VPN stands out from the competition with its servers in South America and Africa, regions often ignored by other VPN providers.

That said, IvacyVPN is ideal for watching your favorite shows and movies on popular streaming services like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Video, Netflix, and others. Furthermore, with up to 10 simultaneous connections per account, your entire family can use this service to stream content and safely browse the internet.

Beyond this, it has a transparent no-logs policy, ensuring that nothing you do online is recorded or handed to third parties. In addition, it has DNS and IPv6 leak protection, meaning your ISP provider, WiFi hotspot owners, or third-party snoopers can’t log your browsing or find your IP address.

If you like playing games on your iPhone, you’ll appreciate its diverse server locations that can reduce your ping to a minimum. Once you connect to an IvacyVPN server, you won’t experience any connectivity issues, and its powerful DDoS protection won’t allow anyone to disrupt your internet traffic.

It has a beginner-friendly interface that doesn’t require you to be a tech genius to navigate and use, and it allows you to have peace of mind while you play games, watch streams, or browse the internet securely.

Pros

• Feature-rich iOS and macOS apps
• Has servers in heavily censored countries like Vietnam
• Great pricing
• Unlimited bandwidth

Cons

• Some advanced features are available on Windows only

Pricing

IvacyVPN has the lowest-per-month cost, priced at just $1 for its five-year plan, saving you 90% of your money compared to a monthly subscription.

You can try IvacyVPN risk-free for seven days via its free trial, and it has a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you plenty of time to test its service out before committing to a subscription.

4. TotalAV — Reliable Service With Advanced Security Features

TotalAV placed its Safe Browsing VPN in a bundle that contains other security solutions, such as one of the best antiviruses, data breach monitor, ad-blocker, and more. Besides keeping you safe while browsing, it can optimize your phone by removing duplicate photos, videos, contacts, and similar storage clutter.

With TotalAV apps for iPhone and iPad, you can keep your privacy and security on the highest level while on the move. Its Total WebShield will keep you safe from various cyber threats, and you can use it to check QR codes before scanning them to ensure they don’t lead to a dangerous URL, such as a phishing website.

TotalAV’s data breach monitoring continuously scours the internet for pieces of your information that could endanger your online accounts in the wrong hands. It automatically notifies you if your data is compromised, allowing you to react quickly.

Beyond this, it has impressive speeds on servers in your vicinity, allowing you to anonymously browse the internet and watch streams or listen to music uninterruptedly. In addition, it’s a lightweight solution that won’t bog your device down, meaning you can conveniently play games while it’s running in the background.

Pros

• Superb all-in-one internet security
• Intuitive interface
• Excellent customer support
• Robust encryption

Cons

• Only one paid plan is available

Pricing

Total AV has a single subscription plan that comes at an affordable price of $39/year, which is a small price to pay for all the tools you get. Try its services risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

5. NordVPN — Popular App for iPhone With Double VPN Functionality

NordVPN is perhaps the most popular VPN on the market and for a good reason. It offers over 5,000 ultra-fast servers spread all over the globe, routes your traffic through two secure VPN servers, and offers advanced security features that’ll ensure you stay protected on the web 24/7.

It offers real-time threat protection against all known forms of cyber attacks. To do this, it relies on uncrackable AES-256 encryption, offers multiple secure VPN protocols (including a proprietary NordLynx protocol), and adds another layer of security with its Double VPN functionality.

Additionally, it features a Dark Web Monitor, which scans all corners of the internet and alerts you the moment any of your personal information is detected in a data breach. This allows you to change your email password, for example, before cybercriminals get their hands on your sensitive data.

Another NordVPN feature that iPhone users love is Split Tunneling. This allows you to whitelist certain websites, like YouTube and Instagram, so the connection to trusted web pages doesn’t have to go through the VPN server. As a result, your Wi-Fi connection won’t slow down, but you’ll still be protected by the VPN when visiting other URLs or downloading files from the web.

Pros

• Real-time threat protection
• Data breach monitoring with instant alerts
• 5,000+ ultra-fast servers spread across the globe
• Your online data is routed through two secure VPN servers
• Split Tunneling to whitelist trusted websites

Cons

• A dedicated IP address is a paid add-on

Pricing

NordVPN offers three subscription tiers — Standard, Plus, and Complete. The cheapest option is the Standard plan on a two-year subscription, starting from as little as $3.49/month. That said, if you need a password manager and online storage or want protection against data breaches, we strongly recommend the Complete plan, which starts from $5.99/month.

It’s also worth noting that NordVPN accepts a wide variety of payment options, so you can purchase a subscription using Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, a variety of other credit/debit cards, and even cryptocurrency.

6. AtlasVPN — Affordable Mobile Service for the Entire Family 

AtlasVPN is a modern VPN solution that supports unlimited devices, including iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and more. Since there’s no limit on how many devices you can connect to one account, you can ensure your entire family is safe while browsing the internet.

AtlasVPN has an exceptionally functional split tunneling feature for iOS which you can use to select which apps or websites you want the VPN to encrypt.

Another helpful and unique feature you get with this VPN provider is SafeSwap which automatically swaps your IP addresses while you remain connected to the same server. That makes your online activities hard to track, even for the most intrusive third-party trackers and internet providers.

Beyond this, AtlasVPN has a high-speed WireGuard protocol that allows you to watch your favorite shows and movies from popular streaming websites like BBC iPlayer or Disney+ in HD without issues and with unlimited bandwidth.

Pros

• Multi-hop connections
• Comprehensive free plan
• Great streaming quality

Cons

• Constantly prompts free users to upgrade to a premium plan

Pricing

With its free plan, you can enjoy unlimited bandwidth, connect unlimited devices, and have an ad-free experience while browsing. However, you’ll have a 5GB data limit per month, making its paid plans superior unless all you do is light browsing.

You can subscribe to its three-year-long paid plan for as little as $1.83/month and get three additional months on top. Take advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee and try AtlasVPN risk-free today.

7. Surfshark — Fast, Lightweight App for Mac and iPhone 

Surfshark VPN is a fast, lightweight iPhone VPN that offers state-of-the-art encryption and military-grade security, all the while working silently in the background. It won’t drain your battery either, so you can leave Surfshark on and ensure you stay protected 24/7.

In addition to protecting you from malware and viruses, Surfshark ensures an uninterrupted online experience by blocking annoying ads, cookie pop-ups, and tracking attempts as well. It also protects you against phishing attempts and online scams, so you’re covered on all fronts.

Surfshark also lets you enter Camouflage Mode, allowing you to completely hide your online activity from advertisers, trackers, malicious individuals, and even your internet service provider.

Plus, it features an IP rotator that frequently changes your VPN IP address, making it virtually impossible for anyone to track your online activity or see what you do on the web.

The best part about Surfshark is that you can use it on as many devices as you want, which makes it the best VPN for Mac and iPhone since you can protect your smartphone, laptop, iPad, and any other device in your household with a single Surfshark VPN account.

Pros

• It’s incredibly lightweight
• Offers protection from malware, trackers, ads, and cookie pop-ups
• Ensures nobody can track your online activity
• Connect an unlimited number of devices to the VPN

Cons

• Real-time data breach alerts are a paid add-on

Pricing

If you’re only interested in the VPN, you can get it for just $2.49/month on a two-year plan. However, you’ll also have the option of adding real-time data breach monitoring, an antivirus, and a secure search engine to your subscription for an extra $1.49, which is a steal.

Other options include an annual plan at $3.99/month and a monthly plan at $12.95. You’ll get access to all VPN features regardless of which option you choose.

8. PrivadoVPN — Best Free VPN for iPhone, Which Adheres to Strict User Privacy Rules

PrivadoVPN is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a free iPhone VPN to occasionally access websites you’re not sure are safe or bypass online censorship and geo-restrictions. With the free plan, you’ll have access to 12 VPN servers and up to 10 GB of VPN-protected data to use each month.

If you’re more interested in 24/7 VPN protection, you can always upgrade to a paid plan to remove any limitations from your account. Doing so will give you access to over 300 secure VPN servers, real-time threat protection, and an ad blocker.

You’ll also be able to connect up to 10 devices to PrivadoVPN simultaneously, as well as take advantage of parental controls to limit what websites your children can access on the internet and ensure they don’t interact with inappropriate online content.

Another thing worth noting about PrivadoVPN is that it was developed by a Swiss-based company, so it has to abide by strict Swiss privacy laws. This means PrivadoVPN never stores any of your data or keeps logs of your online activity, so your online privacy is 100% guaranteed.

Pros

• Offers a free forever plan
• Based in Switzerland, so it falls under strict Swiss privacy laws
• Supports up to 10 simultaneous connections with a single account
• Paid plans include parental controls

Cons

• A small number of VPN servers

Pricing

In addition to the free plan, PrivadoVPN offers a premium plan which gives you access to all advanced VPN features, such as real-time threat prevention, ad blocker, and SOCKS5 Proxy.

If you opt for the annual plan, you can get PrivadoVPN for $4.99/month. The standard monthly plan starts from $7.99, which is considerably more affordable than the monthly plans of other leading VPNs.

9. Private Internet Access — Affordable Option With Thousands of Servers

Private Internet Access is one of the best iPhone VPNs for watching TV shows, movies, anime, and other online content that’s typically unavailable in your region. It offers over 11,500 VPN servers all over the world, so you’ll have no trouble finding a fast VPN server that’ll enable you to access geo-restricted content from your iPhone.

 

Another huge advantage of PIA VPN is the fact that it’s open-source, meaning anyone can inspect its source code and see just how secure it is. This level of transparency is a testament to PIA’s confidence regarding user safety, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the highest quality encryption and the best possible protection against online threats with this VPN.

PIA VPN also features a built-in ad blocker, so you can freely browse the web without interruptions. At the same time, it blocks all tracking attempts and malicious websites, ensuring that you’re protected against malware, viruses, spyware, and other forms of cyber attacks.

This VPN service provider also offers 24/7 technical support via email and Live Chat, so on the off chance that you encounter an issue with their VPN app, you can get professional support and resolve the issue in minutes.

Pros

• Features a built-in ad blocker
• Offersover 11,500 VPN servers
• Reliably unblocks geo-restricted online content
• Open-source VPN with a strict zero-logs policy
• Provides 24/7 support via email and Live Chat

Cons

• No data breach monitoring

Pricing

Private Internet Access is by far the most affordable iPhone VPN, with plans starting from as little as $2.03. However, to take advantage of this incredible offer, you’ll have to commit to a three-year subscription.

Alternatively, you can opt for the annual plan at $3.33/month or the monthly plan at $11.95/month. You’ll have access to all of VPN’s features with all three subscription plans, so you don’t have to worry about extra charges or paid add-ons.

10. CyberGhost VPN — Fast, Trusted Service Optimized for Streaming 

CyberGhost VPN is a decent choice for anyone who values complete online anonymity, and it’s a widely trusted VPN service. Thanks to its NoSpy servers, this VPN service provider ensures that your online business is solely your own — it blocks tracking attempts and invasive cookies and has a strict no-logs policy to ensure user privacy.

With CyberGhost, you’ll also have over 9,700 high-speed servers at your disposal — with some being optimized for streaming online content, which makes CyberGhost one of the best VPNs for Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other popular streaming services.

Another reason to opt for CyberGhost VPN over other alternatives is its superb Wi-Fi network protection. The VPN proactively scans all Wi-Fi networks and notifies you if the one you’re attempting to connect to is unsafe.

Pros

• Large server fleet with great global distribution
• Servers specifically optimized for streaming
• NoSpy servers to ensure complete online anonymity
• Proactive Wi-Fi network protection
• Excellent value for money

Cons

• No data breach monitoring
• Expensive monthly plan

Pricing

CyberGhost VPN frequently runs incredible discounts, so if you take advantage of its incredible 82% discount offer, you can grab this VPN for just $2.19/month on a two-year plan. If two years is too big of a commitment, there’s also a six-month plan at $6.99/month and a standard monthly plan at $12.99/month.

11. IPVanish — Robust Service That Prevents Your ISP From Slowing Your Connection Speed

IPVanish is another robust VPN that ensures user privacy and online anonymity. It also supports unmetered connections and prevents your ISP from tracking your online activity, helping you achieve even faster connection speed when connected to your home Wi-Fi network.

IPVanish employs the golden encryption standard, AES-256, and offers multiple secure VPN protocols, including WireGuard, which is widely regarded as the fastest and most secure option.

In other words, IPVanish provides state-of-the-art protection against hackers, malware, viruses, and trackers. IPVanish also protects you while you’re connected to a public Wi-Fi, ensuring that there aren’t any holes in your defense against cyber threats.

Much like every VPN on our list, IPVanish doesn’t keep any logs of your online activity, so you can rest assured that nobody can see what websites you’re visiting and what content you interact with online.

Pros

• Supports unmetered connections
• Prevents your ISP from tracking what you do online
• Employs industry-standard encryption
• Automatically suggests the fastest nearby VPN server

Cons

• Doesn’t offer real-time data breach monitoring

Pricing

IPVanish offers three pricing plans, with the most affordable one starting from $3.33/month on a two-year commitment. The annual plan starts from $3.99/month, while the monthly plan starts from $11.99.

One odd thing about this VPN’s pricing structure is that all subscription prices list “+tax” on top of the above-mentioned sums. It’s unclear what tax the VPN service provider is referring to, but you can expect your total monthly cost for this VPN to be slightly higher than what’s advertised.

Best VPN iPhone | Top 11 Compared

Here’s a quick reference table of the best VPN apps for iPhone so you have a better overview of how they compare head-to-head:

Why Should I Use a VPN On My iPhone Device?

If you’re not connected to Wi-Fi or aren’t using mobile data on your iPhone, it practically turns into a brick. Nobody under 30 sends SMS messages anymore — everything’s done through social and instant messaging apps that require an internet connection.

That said, being constantly connected to the internet means you’re constantly exposed to risks like cyber attacks, malware, spyware, viruses, and trackers. Unless you’re only visiting trusted, secure websites, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to these attacks.

A single click on an infected link can cause your device to get infected. Similarly, a single weakness in your online protection might give malicious individuals an in to steal your sensitive data and passwords. That’s why a VPN is a must-have.

In addition to online safety and anonymity, VPNs also allow you to bypass online censorship and access geo-restricted content, so you can watch your favorite TV shows and movies from anywhere in the world. Plus, they also block annoying ads, which is always a plus.

What’s the Best Free iPhone VPN?

There aren’t many free iPhone VPNs, let alone good ones. After extensive research, we’ve found that the best free iPhone VPN is PrivadoVPN, but even then, the free plan this VPN service provider offers is extremely limited.

You’ll only have access to 10 medium-speed servers and won’t be able to use the VPN at all after spending your free 10GB of monthly VPN-protected data. Plus, as is the case with most free VPNs, they won’t cut it if you want to stay safe and protected online.

Instead of looking at it as a permanent solution, you should consider a free iPhone VPN app as a free trial of the paid version. It’s a great way to test a particular VPN in practice without committing to a monthly subscription, so you can see first-hand whether it fits your needs.

All premium VPNs on our list offer money-back guarantees as well, which essentially do the same — they allow you to test a VPN for a whole month before deciding if it’s the best option. If you don’t like a particular VPN app for any reason, you can ask for a full refund.

How We Ranked the Best iOS VPN Apps 

When it comes to basic protection against malware and cyber threats, any of the VPNs on our list will do the trick. However, there are quite a few other variables you should consider before making your final choice. Here are all the criteria that we looked at when ranking the best iPhone VPNs:

• Value for money
• Wi-Fi network protection
• Connection speed and stability
• Ability to bypass geo-restrictions
• Customer support and user reviews
• Number of servers and server distribution
• Overall security and the VPN protocols supported
• Advanced VPN features (e.g., data breach monitoring)
• Ability to block ads, pop-ups, and tracking attempts

Some VPNs excel at the security aspect, while others focus on the speed and stability of servers. You should make your choice based on your priorities, budget, and the need for advanced security features like parental controls or real-time Dark Web monitoring.

If you’re not sure which provider to opt for or want a robust VPN that protects you on all fronts, we recommend ExpressVPN, as it ranks the highest on our list according to the criteria listed above.

How to Use a VPN On iPhone | Step-by-Step Guide

Here’s a step-by-step guide for downloading and installing the best VPN on iPhone — ExpressVPN. Follow the exact steps outlined below, and you’ll have ExpressVPN up and running in five minutes.

Step 1 — Get ExpressVPN

Visit the official ExpressVPN website and click the Get ExpressVPN button.

Choose one of three pricing plans and provide your payment information and email address to complete the purchase. After your payment information is confirmed, you’ll receive your ExpressVPN login credentials to the email address you provided.

Step 2 — Download and Install ExpressVPN

Go to the App Store and type “ExpressVPN” into the search bar. Tap the download button, as shown in the image below, and wait for the app to finish installing. Next, tap Open. The app will ask you to either register a new account or sign in. Choose SIGN IN and enter the login credentials you received via email to log in.

After successfully logging in, you’ll see a privacy notification. Tap Agree & Continue to proceed.

Step 3 — Connect to a VPN Server

Once you log in, you will see a QUICK CONNECT button in the middle of the screen. Tap it to connect to the fastest nearby server. Alternatively, you can tap a specific country pin to connect to a server in that country.

If it’s your first time connecting to an ExpressVPN server, you’ll see a pop-up message prompting you to add VPN configurations. This is necessary for the proper functioning of the app, so press ALLOW to proceed. That’s all there is to it — the app will automatically connect to the server you chose, so you can freely browse the web.

iPhone VPN FAQs