10 Best VPN for iPhone & iOS – Updated in October 2021

iPhones are considered secure and always have been much more privacy-focused, but this can be misleading. While the latest iOS 15 has a lot of new security features, you can leak your location and online activities to the websites you visit without a VPN. You’re even vulnerable to ISPs (internet service providers), hackers, and third parties intelligence agencies who may be trying to see what you’re doing online.

So, to help you pick a top iOS VPN in 2021, we examined 60+ iPhone VPN apps to see which ones are the best in performance, usability, and security for Apple users. Then, we tested them on different iPhone models, from iPhone X to iPhone 12 Pro Max and several iPads.

Side-by-Side Comparison of the Best VPNs for iPhone and iOS in 2021

VPNs
iOS Compatibility	iPhone 12, 11, SE, XS, XR; iPad Pro, Air, and Mini	iOS 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 , 7, 6, and 5	iOS 12, 11, 10, 9, 8 , 7, 6, and 5	iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 11, iPhone Xs, and iPhone Xs Max	iOS 11 or newer	iOS 10 or above	iOS 10 or above	iOS 11 or above	iOS 11 or above	iOS 11 or above
Security	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256 Bit	AES 256-bit	AES 256-bit
Servers	3,000+ in 94 Countries	3,200+ in 65+ Countries	5,200+ in 60 Countries	7,000+ in 90 Countries	35500+ servers in 78 Countries	100+ servers in 63 Countries	700+ servers in 70+ locations	1,900+ servers in 75 locations	1,300+ in 50 countries	3,800 in 79 countries
Kill Switch	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Streaming	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer,  and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and More	Netflix, HBO, Hulu, and More	Netflix, HBO,  and More
Compatibility	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, routers
Pricing	$6.67/month	$2.49/month	$3.67/month	$2.25/month	$1.67/month	$2.55/month	$1.67/month	$3.75/month	$2.33/month	$1.64/month
App Store Rating	4.6/5.0	4.6/5.0	4.6/5.0	4.1/5.0	4.7/5.0	4.6/5.0	4.6/5.0	4.5/5.0	4.6/5.0	4.2/5.0
Torrenting Support	All Servers	Some Servers	Some servers	All Servers	All Servers	All Servers	Some Servers	Some servers	All Servers	All Servers
Read More	ExpressVPN Review	Surfshark Review	NordVPN Review	CyberGhost Review	PIA Review	PrivateVPN Review	VyprVPN Review	IPVanish Review	SaferVPN Review	ZenMate Review
More Info	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site	Visit Site

The Best iPhone VPN Apps – In-Depth Analysis (Updated October 2021)

Here are the top picks for the best VPN app for iPhone that we gathered after testing 60+ VPNs. These top 10 VPNs for iPhones are not only affordable but also super secure.

1. ExpressVPN – Best VPN for iPhone

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for iPhone users with its sleek, dedicated iPhone app. All you have to do is select a country from the drop-down menu and click the connect button. This is the best iOS VPN to secure all your Apple devices.

It offers a server network of 3000+ servers in 94 countries that you can access on iPhones to stream any service you can think of in Ultra HD quality. It effectively masks your real IP address so you can virtually appear anywhere in the world.

I managed to stream Netflix, iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more without any buffering issues. It delivered fast VPN speeds of 91 Mbps on a 100 Mbps internet connection on my iPhone. Check out below the average speed of ExpressVPN’s servers located in the US, Italy, Canada, Australia, and the UK.

As for security, ExpressVPN offers AES-256-Bit encryption for a secure connection, no-logs policy, kill switch, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, RAM servers, and much more to help you browse the web securely on your iOS device. ExpressVPN is also based in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands.

One thing I forgot to mention about its servers is that they run on the TrustedServer technology. This ensures complete data wipes every time their servers reboot. It also offers a kill switch feature by the name of network lock.

Additionally, there are plenty of features for advanced users like split tunneling, port forwarding, and Lightway protocol. During testing, we experienced no IP/ DNS leaks, making ExpressVPN a great choice for security-conscious Apple users.

From a compatibility perspective, ExpressVPN works with iPhones running iOS 14, 13, and 12. There is also 24/7 live chat support available, so you can contact them anytime you run into any issues.

ExpressVPN is available for only $6.67/mo , offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 5 simultaneous connections.

Read our full review of the ExpressVPN iPhone for more information.

How to set up ExpressVPN on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

2. Surfshark – Fastest iPhone VPN

Surfshark is the fastest iPhone VPN. Operating since 2018, Surfshark has quickly gained popularity among iOS users due to its fast connection speeds and budget-friendly subscriptions such as $2.49/mo .

The provider offers 3200+ VPN servers in 65 countries that will easily allow you to bypass any form of geo-restrictions you encounter on your iPhones. In other words, you get access to thousands of IP addresses from different countries.

During testing, I could unblock Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime US, YouTube TV, BT-Sports, and more with a lightning-fast speed of 94 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps base connection.

You can see the average speeds Surfshark delivered on its US, UK, Canada, and Australian servers in the speed table below.

But despite being so affordable and fast, its iPhone app is packed with similar features that you can find in more premium VPNs services like ExpressVPN. In addition, its headquarters is in the British Virgin Islands jurisdiction and offers powerful security features like AES-256-Bit encryption, internet kill switch, CleanWeb, NoBorders mode, Camouflage mode, and more.

It offers unlimited simultaneous connections with each premium subscription so that you can protect an infinite number of devices. You can download its iPhone VPN app on devices that have iOS 5 or above.

There is live chat support available on Surfshark’s website, along with email support in case you face any issues.

Available for only $2.49/mo , you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee with every subscription.

Read our full review of Surfshark for more information, and if you’re still not sure about it, you can take advantage of Surfshark’s free trial.

How to set up Surfshark on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

3. NordVPN – Best Geo-unblock VPN for iPhones

NordVPN is the best geo-unblock iOS VPN. Not only it allowed me to circumvent various geo-restrictions on my iPhone and iPad, but it proved to be one of the most secure iPhone VPN.

With a large server network of 5200+ servers in 60 countries, trust me when I say there isn’t any geo-restricted content that you can’t unblock with NordVPN. With so many servers available in different countries, you can get a new IP address of any region you want with NordVPN.

NordVPN allowed me to unblock Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime US, YuppTV, Euro-Sports, DAZN, CNBC, CCN, CCTN, and more. Moreover, with its VPN connection speed of 92 Mbps speed on a 100 Mbps connection, I streamed all the shows, movies, and channels in 4K Ultra-HD video playback quality.

In the table below, you can see how much speed NordVPN’s US, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, and Germany server delivers.

Apart from being the best unblocking iOS VPN for iPhones, NordVPN also offers top-notch security and privacy on its iOS app with its strict zero-log policy, AES-256-Bit encryption, Onion Over VPN, Kill Switch, Cyber Sec, and Double VPN features.

It also offers obfuscation technology that allows you to securely and anonymously download torrents with NordVPN from anywhere as it obfuscates your network traffic. Moreover, there is a split tunneling feature available for iOS users as well. 

Its app includes an auto-connect feature to automatically connect the VPN when you’re using an untrusted network or public Wi-Fi.

As for compatibility, you can install it on iPhones, iPad, and iPod touch running iOS 11.0 or later. As for pricing, NordVPN is very modestly priced at just $3.30/mo (VPN Awareness Month - 2 year plan at 72% off + 3 months FREE).

NordVPN’s customer support is available via email, and live chat for emergency assistance, available 24/7.

Its subscription plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can cancel NordVPN and get refunds if you aren’t satisfied with the service and can be used on 6 devices simultaneously. You can also try to utilize NordVPN’s free trial account to try this server risk-free.

Read our full review of the NordVPN iPhone for more information.

How to set up NordVPN on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

4. CyberGhost – Ranks High in Productivity Chart on iTunes Store

Number 4 on this list of best VPN for iOS and iPhone is CyberGhost. Now there are a lot of reasons why I like this iPhone VPN service. First off, it is ranked #7 on iTunes Productivity Chart. But aside from numbers, I think CyberGhost has one of the best-looking apps out there with a clean user interface.

As for features, CyberGhost offers a massive server network consisting of 7000+ servers in 90. These servers are more than enough to easily open the doors of popular streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime US, ABC iview, ORF, and more on your iPhone and iPad.

Another cool iOS feature of CyberGhost is that its servers are categorized into streaming, torrenting, gaming, and dedicated IP. So, you can connect automatically to the server you want according to your needs.

CyberGhost offered substantial connection speeds on the US, Australia, Italy, UK, and Germany servers during testing, as shown below.

In addition, it offers security features on its iOS app like an internet kill switch, military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption, built-in ad/malware blocker, and more. Compatibility-wise, CyberGhost can be installed on any device running iOS 9.3 or later. It is also one of my favorite iOS VPNs, as CyberGhost offers a dedicated Apple Watch application.

But despite all of the premium features that it offers, it is not all that expensive. CyberGhost VPN starts from just $2.25/mo .

It also comes with 7-multi logins and an impressive 45-days money-back guarantee. There is also 24/7 customer support via live chat if you face connectivity issues.

Read our full review of CyberGhost for more information.

How to set up CyberGhost on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

5. Private Internet Access – Super Easy iPhone VPN to Setup

Moving further down the list and we have Private Internet Access. What can I say about this iPhone VPN? It is all about keeping your device and connection secure, whether you’re at home or on the go. The iOS app is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi protection and an automatic kill switch, and there’s also a special Content Blocker for Safari that blocks all ads, trackers, and malware.

It probably has one of the biggest server networks having 35500+ servers in 78 countries. I was easily able to unblock various streaming channels, shows, movies, shopping websites. It also offered a decent connection speed of 89 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection. Take a look at PIA VPN’s speed test results in the table below.

Despite being US-based, it keeps no logs and utilizes military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption for data security which is quite impressive. Additionally, you can install the Private Internet Access’s iPhone VPN app on any device running iOS 11.0 or later.

You can also integrate Siri shortcuts for more accessibility. If you face any connectivity issues, you can contact PIA’s customer support via their official website, available 24/7.

Now let’s talk about the most important factor, the price. Private Internet Access is quite affordable and costs only $2.85/mo. What’s even more impressive is that it offers 10 multi-logins and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of Private Internet Access for more information.

How to set up PIA on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

6. IPVanish – Best VPN for Apple App Store

IPVanish is the best VPN on Apple’s App Store, with a rating of 4.5/5.0. The advanced features from the desktop version are also available on the IPVanish iOS app, including security protocol settings, load balancing, and usage statistics.

It offers a server network of 1900+ servers in 75 locations, with about 900+ servers in the US alone. I easily cracked various US-based content such as Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime US, Paramount+, NBC Universal, and more.

It delivers great performance consistently and works exceptionally well with streaming services. Although I could stream in Ultra-HD video-playback quality, I felt IPVanish could work more to deliver better speed results. Check out IPVanish’s US, UK, Italy, India, and Germany server average speeds in the table below.

As for features, IPVanish offers military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption, kill switch, SOCKS5 web proxy, zero-logs policy, Wi-Fi protection, and much more. The only thing that concerns me about IPVanish is its US jurisdiction. However, it promises to keep no logs as strictly written in its robust privacy policy.

Compatibility-wise, IPVanish works with any Apple device with iOS 11 or later, so it’ll work on any modern iPhone, iPod, or iPad. This way you don’t have to do any manual VPN configuration with IPVanish.

Its customer support is available on their website, 24/7.

Overall, it’s a competent VPN service for iPhones. As for pricing, IPVanish costs $3.75/mo and comes with unlimited simultaneous connections along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full review of IPVanish for more information.

How to set up IPVanish on iPhone (Video Tutorial):

7. PrivateVPN – High-End Security for iPhones

PrivateVPN’s iPhone app is straightforward to configure and use. In addition, the provider offers high-end features, such as military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption, OpenVPN, and DNS/IPv6 leak protection so that you can remain anonymous on your iPhone and iPad devices.

Its server network is quite small compared to other VPNs in the list, with just 100+ servers across 63 locations. However, with PrivateVPN’s straightforward apps, you can connect to the server of your choice with just one click.

Additionally, during my testing, I could access Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime US, Fox Sports, HBO Now, CBS, and more quite easily, which proves it is a decent option for streaming.

PrivteVPN’s US, UK, France, Spain, and Germany servers seemed to be the fastest, and you can see their speed results in the below table.

The connection enabling protocols offered by this provider includes OpenVPN UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2 so that you can switch between them depending on your purpose. It also offers a kill switch and DNS leak protection.

A single PrivateVPN subscription offers 6 multi-logins and requires iOS 10 or above to work on iPad or iPhones. It is available for just $2.55/month, and the service comes with 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To learn more about this provider, check out our PrivateVPN review.

8.  VyprVPN – Wi-Fi Protection for iPhones

With an App Store rating of 4.6/5.0, VyprVPN is another excellent choice for your iPhone or iPad as it has a dedicated iPhone app, and it’s super easy to use. You’ll also have unlimited bandwidth and data transfer for unrestricted browsing and streaming.

The service offers 700+ servers in 70+ locations that can provide guaranteed access to more than 40 various streaming services at any given time on your iPhone and iPad. When I tested VyprVPN on my iPhone, I experience zero buffering streaming on Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Hotstar, Sony Liv, Zee TV, CCTN, and more. While the speed may not be up to the mark and affected the video quality, the access remained constant.

VyprVPN comes with high-end security and privacy features, including military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption and an internet kill switch. In addition, its no-logging policy guarantees that your sensitive information is never stored, shared, or stolen.

It also offers 30 simultaneous connections, which means you can secure your whole family and friend’s iPhone and iPad devices with a single VyprVPN subscription.

Available for $1.67/month, you’ll have access to all of the service’s premium features, including its 24/7 live chat support, FAQs troubleshooting, email support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To learn more about this provider, check out our VyprVPN review.

9. SaferVPN – Bypass Censorship on iPhone

SaferVPN is yet another decent option exclusively for bypassing censorship content on iPhone or iPad. The provider offers a server network of 1300+ servers in 50 countries, and almost all of the countries’ servers were able to unblock various geo-restriction content from me.

Popular content that I streamed without hassle includes Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, TV-NRK, ProSeiben, 9Now, and more. I was also impressed with the VPN connection speed SaferVPN produced every time. Take a look at the speed test results of its servers locations in Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, and South Africa.

Although its headquarter is located in the US, the provider is fully capable of protecting your online security, privacy, and data protection with its zero-log policy, kill switch, AES-256-Bit encryption, OpenVPN UDP/ TCP, PPTP, and L2TP protocols.

It also offers 5 simultaneous connections with a premium subscription, costs $2.33/month, and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

To learn more about this provider, check out our SaferVPN review.

10. ZenMate – User-friendly iOS App

My last recommended VPN for iOS is ZenMate, a provider known for straightforward and user-friendly iOS applications for iPad and iPhone. Upon launching ZenMate on your iOS device, with just 3 simple clicks, you’ll get ultimate protection and unblocking power in your hands.

This provider has a server network of 3,800 in 79 countries worldwide. Additionally, I easily bypass geo-restriction of various streaming channels, including Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Channel 9, Spotify, UKTV, Star-Sports, and more.

Being the slowest VPN out of the rest, I have decided to put it at the last spot. Still, it is a decent VPN provider for high-quality video streaming. Check out its Australian, Canadian, German, US, and France server speeds in the table below.

For iOS security and privacy, the provider relies on military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, internet kill switch, a no-log policy, and various strong connection protocols such as IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec, and OpenVPN.

Available for just $1.64/month, every ZenMate premium subscription comes with a 30-day refund policy. You can also receive technical assistance concerning any issue via ZenMate’s support center or ticket system available 24/7.

To learn more about this provider, check out our ZenMate review.

How we ranked and tested the best iPhone VPN services

So these were my top 10 VPNs for iPhones. You can either go with the VPN services that I’ve recommended or do your own research and find a VPN that you think works best on your iPhone.

Just keep in mind that you should avoid crappy VPNs that require manual configurations or poor privacy policies. The VPN market is very competitive right now, so finding reliable iPhone VPNs is not easy.

Here are some factors that I considered while picking the best iPhone VPN app:

• Offers dedicated, easy-to-use apps for iPhone and iPad
• Compatible with multiple iOS versions (iOS 14, 13, 12, 11, and old)
• Supports Apple Pay mobile payment
• Offers 3D/ Haptic touch support
• Offers apps for other Apple devices, such as macOS, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and more.

In addition to Apple-dedicated features, we also tested these VPN’s on the following performance criteria:

Security

Each VPN provider on this list offers AES-256-Bit military-grade encryption to protect your data, and they also follow a strict no-logs policy, so you don’t have to worry about your privacy.

Most of these VPNs also offer automatic internet kill switch and DNS leak protection on your iPhone and iPad devices.

Ability to unblock geo-restricted sites

I have made sure to include the top VPN services for iPhone that can unblock most major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon Prime Video, and more. All the VPN services mentioned above work with multiple popular streaming sites and can also unblock social media applications on iPhone like WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, and more.

Speed

Speed is one of the most important factors in choosing a quality VPN for iPhone and iPad.

Generally, VPNs slow down your speeds as data has to travel a longer distance. Therefore, we have included the VPN services that offer high download speeds, so the slow down in speed is barely noticeable. These VPNs will work great with streaming, gaming, and online shopping.

Why don’t I recommend free VPNs for iPhone?

So why would you get a paid VPN when there are plenty of free ones available on the iTunes store? Well, obviously because of privacy and better features. It’s way better to try VPNs that offer free trials rather than getting any totally free VPN.

If you don’t know, free VPNs are infamous for selling user data. This allows advertisers to plague your iPhone or any other device with targeted ads.

Another major reason to avoid free VPNs is because of features. If you get a free VPN, you’re not going to get a lot of features. You’ll have to deal with limited bandwidth and server locations. Moreover, most free VPNs are generally a pain in the neck.

Overall, free VPNs are not secure for iPhone. This is why I only recommend paid VPNs. However, if you still want to try totally free VPNs, you can check out our separate article on the free VPN for iPhone.

Best VPNs for iPhone & iOS: FAQs

Final Thoughts!

Without a doubt, iPhones are literally the best when it comes to smartphone technology. Apple’s ecosystem is not only seamless but also super robust. But just like any other device that can connect to the internet, there are always privacy concerns and censorship issues.

So instead of mucking around with your privacy thinking nothing can go wrong with your iOS device, go for one of the best VPN services for iPhone mentioned in this blog to make your iPhone invincible truly. No longer would you have to worry about geo-blocks or privacy issues.

So which VPN should you get? Well, if I had to choose just one best iPhone VPN, I would recommend ExpressVPN. It is the#1 trusted VPN with an App Store rating of 4.6/5.0, compatible with iOS 14, 13, 12, and it will protect your iOS devices with UDP, TCP, and IKEv2 encryption protocols.

If you hurry now, you can avail of ExpressVPN’s “12 months + 3 months free” subscription that comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.