The Best iPhone VPN for iOS in 2024

iPhones generally come with robust security features already built-in. iOS devices are much more adept in keeping you safe from various online dangers, including most malware and viruses. But, one thing your iPhone can’t keep safe and private is the data you send over the Internet. 

This is why an iPhone VPN is an excellent choice. It helps you harness the security features inherent to iOS and combine it with a VPN’s strong encryption and data protection capabilities. 

However, is this enough reason to sway you to purchase an iPhone VPN subscription? Moreover, how can you know what’s the best VPN for iPhone based on your needs and preferences? On this page, we’ll answer these questions and cover everything you need to know about using an iPhone VPN service.

Best iPhone VPN Services in 2024

1. NordVPN – Best iPhone VPN overall.
2. Surfshark – Affordable, fast, and very secure.
3. AtlasVPN – A great budget choice.
4. ExpressVPN – Premium-priced VPN with great privacy features.
5. IPVanish – Strong safety features and data protection.
6. Hotspot Shield – Great service with unlimited bandwidth.

Why Should You Get a VPN for Your iPhone?

Before we get into the detailed comparison of our top five iPhone VPNs, let’s answer the first crucial question. With iPhone devices being safer and more reliable than Android ones, why should you even get a VPN for your iOS device? The truth is, there are many arguments why you need a reliable VPN for iPhone. Here are some of the top reasons why you need a VPN service for iPhones:

• Better Privacy Overall – The biggest strength of VPN services is their ability to encrypt and protect your data. By routing your network through an encrypted tunnel, a VPN safeguards all of the data you send or receive and protects you from snoopers trying to steal any valuable information. With a VPN for iPhone connected, not even your Internet Service provider can see what you’re doing online.
• Unblock Restricted Content – Besides locking down your valuable information, VPNs are also well-known for their unblocking abilities. With a VPN, you can unblock geo-restricted content, access censored sites, and enjoy the unrestricted Internet without any limitations. In other words, a VPN delivers you a key to the free Internet.
• Protection on Public Networks – If you’re traveling frequently or often connect your iPhone device to public Wi-Fi networks, a VPN is a must-have for you. Public networks are often unencrypted and have poor network protection. Without a VPN, any malicious users on the same network can see the data you share through the network.
• Increased Network Performance – In some cases, your Internet Service Provider might be throttling your bandwidth without you even realizing it. When you connect to a VPN server, you can escape this issue and enjoy faster connections with less lag.

Best VPNs for iPhone – detailed list:

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is the best all-around VPN app currently on the market, with apps for all major platforms and devices. Its iOS app is arguably the most feature-rich one you can get. Some of the many advanced security features include Onion over VPN, P2P support, and a kill switch. You can even take advantage of specialty servers.

Speaking of servers, NordVPN provides a massive network of over 5,2000 servers in 60 countries worldwide. All of these servers support NordVPN’s innovative NordLynx protocol.

The NordVPN app is very streamlined and makes VPN use simple and convenient. Just tap the “QuickConnect” button in the app, and NordVPN will automatically connect to the best server based on your location. Plus, with around-the-clock support and extensive FAQ literature, NordVPN is undoubtedly the most customer-friendly service for iOS users.

2. Surfshark

With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, you’ll have no shortage of connection options when using Surfshark on your iOS device. Each server comes with private DNS and is P2P friendly. Additionally, all of Surfshark’s servers run entirely on RAM and adhere to a rigorous no-logs policy. 

Moreover, Surfshark allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices. You can protect all of your iOS devices and share your account with your entire household for complete network security and privacy.

With features like CleanWeb and Bypasser available on your iPhone, Surfshark enables you to block ads or set up split tunneling on your device. All of this at some of the most affordable subscription prices on the market.

3. AtlasVPN

AtlasVPN is a VPN service provider based in the US and it uses next-gen WireGuard tunneling protocol. It perhaps has the best deal out there for a provider with unlimited simultaneous connections. With the app being available on all major operating systems, this is one of the best VPNs for iPhone devices.

AtlasVPN has over 750 servers in 27 countries and comes with a kill switch feature. Not only AtlasVPN has the usual basic VPN features but also offers plenty of additional ones like SafeBrowse, which protects users from malicious websites as well as a Data Breach Monitor which ensures that your personal details are kept safe.

This provider is a great option to use on your iOS device to avoid internet restrictions, censorship, and regional blocks all while providing protection and high browsing speeds.

4. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is known as one of the most secure VPNs in the industry, and its iOS app lives up to the name. With best-in-class AES 256-bit encryption and advanced leak protection, you can rest assured knowing none of your data could fall into the wrong hands. The service is based in the British Virgin Islands, a jurisdiction with no data retention requirements. Moreover, ExpressVPN has an air-tight zero-logs policy on all user data and activities.

This top-quality VPN service offers VPN servers in 160 locations in 94 countries. More important than numbers alone, ExpressVPN constantly optimizes its servers to ensure superior connection reliability and the fastest possible network speeds. This makes ExpressVPN one of the best options for iPhone gaming and streaming your favorite shows from your iOS device.

5. IPVanish

The US-based IPVanish might not be the first association that comes to mind when discussing private VPN services. That said, this VPN offers excellent privacy and security features, as it has a strict zero-logs policy. You can rely on strong 256-bit AES encryption and dependable DNS leak protection. There’s also a good selection of protocols. These include IKEv2, IPSec, L2TP, and WireGuard (in beta only currently).

The service possesses a solid network numbering over 1,900 servers in over 75 locations worldwide. You can set up IPVanish to automatically connect whenever you go on the Internet, so you don’t have to keep tabs on whether or not you’re using a VPN. The IPVanish iOS app is straightforward to set up and support any iPhone using iOS 11 or later.

6. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield provides a terrific global network of over 3,200 servers in more than 80 countries. This VPN service also delivers its patented Hydra protocol, which combines excellent security and privacy features without sacrificing speed or network stability. 

The service allows you to connect up to five devices per one subscription plan. What’s more, Hotspot Shield doesn’t limit how much bandwidth you can use each month, meaning that you never have to stop streaming or downloading content.

Plus, if you’re unsure if this VPN is the right choice for you, you can always take advantage of one of the best money-back offers on the market. Hotspot Shield offers an amazing 45-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked.

VPN for iPhone FAQ

What’s the best iPhone VPN at the moment?

After comparing the best iOS VPN services, we’ve found NordVPN to be the best VPN app for iPhone devices. It’s simple and streamlined, so it perfectly fits into the user-friendly experience of iPhone devices. Simultaneously, it’s also one of the fastest, most private, and secure VPNs you can get.

Is it worth getting a free iPhone VPN?

No, free VPNs are not worth the trouble, as they come with many potential problems. The less severe issues you can expect are speed and bandwidth throttling. On the more serious side, a free VPN for iPhone might sell your data to third parties or even attempt to install malicious software on your iOS device.

Do iOS devices have a VPN built-in?

No, this is a common misconception that iOS devices already have built-in VPNs. The truth is that iPhones have the L2TP/IPSec and Cisco IPSec protocols integrated. This provides you with some features comparable to iPhone VPN apps but only a fraction of the capabilities you can get from a good VPN for iPhone.

Are VPNs safe for iPhone?

Yes, VPNs are completely safe and secure for iPhone users, as long as the service itself is trusted and proven. If you stick with one of our top five recommended VPN services, you won’t experience any safety issues. We’ve thoroughly tested all of the VPNs in the industry to hand-pick the most secure options.

Will my iPhone VPN use up more data?

Yes, using an iOS VPN will undoubtedly use up more of your mobile data than you would spend connected to an unprotected Internet network. This increase can be anywhere from a couple of percent up to twenty percent. This is because the VPN is using some data to encrypt the information you’re sending through the network.

Best VPNs for iPhone – Key Takeaways

To find the best mobile VPN for your iOS device, we’ve extensively researched all of the VPNs we’ve discussed on this page. With that in mind, the services we’ve featured above are all thoroughly tested. More importantly, they meet all of our stringent standards for privacy, safety, speed, and user experience.

Considering all of this, you won’t go wrong no matter which VPN service you decide to sign up with. That said, if you’re looking for the top VPN for iPhone, our recommendation goes to NordVPN. After heavy testing, we’ve determined that it’s the most complete VPN service all around and the overall best VPN service for iPhone.