10 Best free VPN for iPhone & iPad users in October 2021

Getting a paid VPN is always the most reliable option for security, privacy, and unblocking geo-restricted websites. While free VPNs sound tempting, they are not recommended. These VPNs are subject to just a few servers, limited bandwidth, and poor speeds. 

Also, considering the history of free security software like proxies and VPNs for violating users’ privacy, it isn’t easy to find a few good ones that actually work well without compromising your security.

Therefore, we tested 60+ free VPNs for users who are short on cash to find out the best free options. We tested these VPNs on security features, multi-logins, unblocking capabilities, refund policies, etc, and shortlisted 10 free VPNs for iPhone. These free VPNs are trustworthy and can fulfill your privacy and unblocking needs.

However, they still cannot be compared to a premium VPN. If you are searching for something that will not only protect you against cyberattacks but also open the doors for unlimited and unrestricted streaming and browsing then you may want to think about getting a premium VPN provider like ExpressVPN.

Side-by-Side Comparison of the Best Free VPNs for iPhone 2021

Here is a quick comparison of the top 10 best free VPNs for iPhone in 2021:​

VPNs
Jurisdiction	The British Virgin Islands	Switzerland	Canada	Canada	USA	Malaysia	USA	USA	Canada	Switzerland
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
Data Usage Limit	Unlimited	Unlimited	10 GB/mo	500 MB/mo	500 MB/ day	10 GB/mo	2 GB/mo	Unlimited	500 MB/day	Unlimited
Server Locations	3000+ countries	3 locations (USA, Netherlands, and Japan)	10 locations	23 locations	US	5 countries	35 locations	3 (USA – NY, USA – Los Angeles, Netherlands)	US	6 countries
Simultaneous connections	5	1	5	5	1	1	5	1	1	5
Streaming	Netflix, YouTube, HBO, CBC, and More	YouTube	Netflix, and More	Youtube and HBO	YouTube	Netflix CA, Sky GO, Amazon Prime, and more	YouTube, HBO GO	Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer.	YouTube	HBO GO, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.
Compatibility	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Fire Stick, Kodi, etc.	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS	Windows, Mac, Android, iOS
Apple App Store Availability	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Trustpilot	4.6/5	3.5/5	4.7/5	3.2/5	4.2/5	4.8/5	3.3/5	3.1/5	4.0/5	N/A
Read More	ExpressVPN Review	ProtonVPN Review	Windscribe Review	TunnelBear Review	Hotspot Shield Review	Hide.Me Review	Speedify Review	N/A	Betternet Review	VPNBook 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 Free VPNs for iPhone and iPad – In-Depth Analysis (Updated October 2021)

Although the best premium VPNs have a clear edge, we still tested 60+ VPN services that cost no money. Following are 10 free VPNs that offer some great benefits for iPhone users who want better privacy and unblock geo-restricted streaming services:

1. ExpressVPN – Use the Best VPN Risk-free Trial for 30 Days

ExpressVPN is one premium VPN service. However, you can enjoy its risk-free 30-day free trial and try out all its features.

Free VPNs can never offer the same quality and performance. We listed this VPN as the best due to its blazing-fast speeds, single-click connectivity, fantastic unblocking capabilities, top-notch security, and unlimited data.

This VPN offers 3000+ servers in 94 countries that can be used to bypass any geo-restriction in the world you like. Thanks to its super-speedy connection, you can browse or stream anything you like without any buffering or lags.

Its speeds are consistently fast and let you bypass geo-restrictions in the blink on your iPhone. You can unblock websites that are blocked in your country as well as multiple streaming services such as BBC iPlayer, NBC, US Netflix, Hulu, NBC, and more.

We tested over 30 servers of this VPN and these 3 offered the best speeds to us:

You can protect your iOS device with its robust security features including AES 256-bit encryption, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy, confirming that your data is not logged by the VPN.

ExpressVPN lets you connect 5 devices to one account, which is great if you want to encrypt all your Apple devices. It further lets you select between UDP, TCP, and IKEv2 encryption on your iPhone.

While it might cost you a bit, it is undoubtedly a great VPN. It offers 24/7 live chat support to users that answers all your queries anytime you have one. It is rated 4.6 out of 5.0 on the Apple App Store.

For more information, check out this detailed ExpressVPN review.

2. ProtonVPN – Unlimited Data Bandwidth for Free

ProtonVPN is among the totally free iOS VPNs available in the market. The provider has the distinction of offering unlimited data bandwidth for free. It has a dedicated VPN app for iOS that is very simple to use and is satisfyingly responsive.

ProtonVPN, on its free version, lets you access 3 locations and a single login option. It will let you bypass geo-restrictions and access YouTube, but you cannot unblock any streaming service using ProtonVPN.

Its speeds are inconsistent. All this VPN offers is slow speeds to you, which can be pretty annoying at times. We tested all 3 of its servers on its free subscription. You can check out the speeds below:

ProtonVPN is based in Switzerland, away from the eyes of the Five Eyes Alliance. For providing secure connections, it works with OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec protocols. It further offers advanced encryption of AES 256-bit, IP leak protection, and doesn’t keep user logs. While it offers a built-in ad-blocker, it doesn’t offer a kill switch for iPhones.

One downside of this free VPN could be that the VPN lacks live chat support. However, if you overlook these drawbacks, ProtonVPN deserves the second spot in the list of free VPNs for iPhone. It is rated 3.9 on the App Store with good reviews.

For more information, check out this detailed ProtonVPN review.

3. Windscribe – 10 GB Data Every Month

Windscribe is an excellent free iPhone VPN that supports unblocking geo-restricted VODs and private browsing over the internet.

You can access 10 server locations in the free version (including countries like the US and UK), which is more than what most free VPN providers offer.

Windscribe comes with a considerably good bandwidth limit of 10GB/month that can allow SD streaming for 10+ hours. Also, if you’re near to running out of data, then you can always tweet about the company and receive 5 GB more data.

With this VPN, you can unblock multiple geo-restricted streaming services including BBC iPlayer, HBO Now, and more on your iPhone. However, the VPN couldn’t bypass the high-quality VPN detection technology of Netflix.

If you carefully use your mobile data on iPhone/iPad, this VPN might actually last you every month without your bandwidth running out. We tested a few of its servers and faced quite a few lags. Here are the top 3 Windscribe’s servers that offered better speeds than the rest during our testing:

Although Windscribe doesn’t save data logs, it keeps a record of the last time you used this VPN to enforce bandwidth limits. It also offers a Double-Hop feature on your iPhone which encrypts your data twice. Furthermore, it comes with an ad-blocker, which is capable of blocking multiple ads along the way.

Its DNS leak protection feature and military-grade encryption offer the ultimate security to users.

Windscribe also comes with a user-friendly app for iOS which makes the setup pretty easy and unlimited simultaneous connections.

This VPN may not be the best choice if your online requirements need more bandwidth than 10GB monthly. However, Windscribe offers you a free trial for 24-hours if you want to test its paid features without sharing credit card details.

Moreover, the service may not be as safe as other VPNs due to its jurisdiction in Canada – part of the 5 Eyes alliance, but it is worth giving a try with its advanced privacy functions. In case of any technical support, you can always contact its automatic chatbot or ticketing system.

Windscribe is rated 4.6 out of 5.0 on the App Store with many positive reviews. For more information, check out our detailed Windscribe Review.

4. TunnelBear – 500 MB Data Allowance Every Month

TunnelBear is a popular free VPN option. The VPN comes with a lightweight dedicated app for iOS devices and has servers in 23 countries.

It offers 500MB/mo but you can get another GB free if you tweet about this VPN. This best free iPhone VPN has a decent range of 20+ servers that iPhone users can utilize to hide their IP addresses and attain anonymity on the web. It unblocks YouTube and HBO GO, but doesn’t work with any other streaming site.

While streaming on iPhone, the VPN caused a lot of buffering and delays, but it still managed to offer reliable speeds. We tested all its servers and here are the top 3 with their speed results:

The VPN offers AES-256 bit encryption, its own VigilantBear feature that works like a kill switch, Auto Tunnel feature, and provides DNS/IP leaks protection, so you stay secure over the internet.

It also comes with a unique feature that lets you whitelist and blacklist any website you want.

The drawback with TunnelBear is that along with limited data, the performance of this VPN varies. Although the bandwidth limit of Tunnelbear is minimal, it is pretty good for privacy and for users who have minimal VPN usage requirements.

This VPN is not a wise choice with no live chat support and no refund policy. However, it does offer a form on its website in case you need to contact its support team. The team then responds to you via email usually within 24 hours.

Windscribe is rated 4.6 out of 5.0 on the App Store. For more information, check out our detailed TunnelBear review.

5. Hotspot Shield – 500 MB Data Cap for Each Day

Hotspot Shield offers a free service for all iPhone users. It offers a dedicated iOS app with strong security features for users looking to secure their iPhones and iOS devices. It offers both free and paid services, the former of which comes with a bandwidth limit of 500MB/day. It is sufficient for browsing only because if we talk about streaming, you will burn your daily limit in just 30 minutes.

While it offers 3200+ servers in 80 countries, you get only a single US server on its free version, meaning you cannot unblock geo-restricted services.

The speeds of this VPN were super-reliable when tested. Due to a single server, there was a significant amount of load on it which made it difficult to even browse without any delays.

If your purpose is to get a VPN solely for streaming, then Hotspot Shield is not the option you should go for as it would only unblock YouTube for you.

Hotspot Shield comes with free and very affordable premium versions. On both the plans, it comes with 256-bit security and OpenVPN and L2TP/IPSec protocols to avoid hacking attempts. It also offers a built-in kill switch to ensure complete security.

Hotspot Shield’s free version is supported by ads, which becomes very annoying at times. With this VPN connection to your iPhone device, you can cope with censorship and content restriction issues.

You get limited bandwidth with this VPN, and it may not be a good choice for users with high bandwidth requirements. However, it can still come in handy if you use it sparingly, such as when connected to a public wireless network where your privacy could be at risk.

Lastly, if you need any help, then you can go through this VPN’s extensive FAQ section on their website. You can also contact their support team, but they usually do not prioritize responding to their free users.

Hotspot Shield has a 4.5 out of 5.0 rating on the App Store. For more information, check out our detailed Hotspot Shield review.

6. Hide.Me – 10 GB Bandwidth Every Month

This is one user-friendly app for iPhone with 5 server locations across the world including the US East and West, Germany, Netherland, and Canada.

This VPN offers 10 GB per month bandwidth which is not too bad if you think about it. You’ll be able to catch up on a few episodes of your favourite TV show throughout the month. When it comes to unblocking, then this VPN easily unblocks Netflix CA, Amazon Prime, and HBO GO.

While the app is quite simple and you can switch servers anytime, its speeds were pretty impressive too. We could stream all the streaming services mentioned above without any lags. We further tested all its servers and here are the top ones we recommend:

Hide.Me offers multiple security features and protocols for backup security to users even on its free plan. These include a kill switch, built-in ad-blocker, AES 256-bit encryption, and DNS leak protection. It further ensures to not collect any user data at all in its privacy policy

If you face any inconveniences while using this VPN, then its 24/7 live chat support is always a good option.

For more information, check out our detailed Hide.Me review.

7. Speedify – 2 GB Data Allowance Each Month

Speedify is another best totally free VPN service. This VPN focuses on maximizing connection speed for iPhone devices above anything else, and it tends to be somewhat faster than other providers.

It offers servers in 35 countries and a 2 GB/month bandwidth limit which is pretty good but may not be sufficient for heavy internet usage.

With its modern-looking dedicated iPhone app and built-in speed test feature, Speedify is a decent VPN option for iPhone users. However, if you’re looking forward to streaming, then this VPN isn’t for you. It cannot unblock any streaming service including US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hulu.

This VPN usually offers average speeds and uses your mobile and Wi-Fi connection together to increase your speed. However, this might end up with you running out of mobile data so be careful with that.

We tested this VPN’s multiple servers and the results of these top 3 were the best:

To provide anonymity online, Speedify uses ChaCha 256-bit Encryption which is supposedly more difficult to crack than traditional advanced AES-256 bit encryption.

Moreover, other features include a kill switch and IP leak protection. It is one of the best free VPNs without any subscription or account required.

When it comes to Speedify, you don’t need to register to the service to use it. This means that your email address and personal information are absolutely safe with you.

Its jurisdiction is in the US, but this VPN offers a strict no-logs policy, ensuring user security.

Speedify has a 3.7 out of 5.0 rating on the App Store. For more information, check out our detailed Speedify review.

8. Atlas VPN – Unlimited Bandwidth for All

Atlas VPN is yet another reliable VPN for iPhones that can be used on iOS version 13.0 and over. It features a simple interface for the iPhone that allows you to choose from multiple country servers directly from the home screen. Atlas VPN comes with 3 servers located in the Netherlands and the US. 

With its free service, you can get unlimited per month. This data cap availability, along with efficient security features, makes this VPN a good choice for unblocking geo-restricted streaming sites. It can easily unblock BBC iPlayer, Hulu, and Amazon Prime on its free plan. However, if you want to unblock Netflix, then you’d require a paid subscription.

The VPN shares compatibility with iOS devices, Windows, macOS, and Android. Its iOS app is great for beginners as it’s so easy to use.

Although the free iPhone version of Atlas VPN has no data cap, its speeds are a complete turndown. The constant buffering and delays can lead to frustration among users easily. We tested this VPN’s servers for their speeds and the results are as follows:

The VPN comes with an internet kill switch on its free plan and has the most unsafe jurisdiction – the US.

Its key privacy features include AES256-bit encryption and DNS leak protection. One disappointing thing about it is that it offers IKEv2 instead of the OpenVPN protocol. 

While Atlas VPN isn’t the best available free VPN for iOS, it is effective enough to protect iPhone from the inherent security vulnerabilities on free public Wi-Fi hotspots. It has a 4.8 rating out of 5.0 on the App Store.

9. Betternet – 500 MB Data Cap for Every Day

Betternet is another great VPN for iPhone and iPad that’s backed up with a 500 MB per day data limit. This is technically enough to enjoy a few songs or browse easily.

Even though this VPN only offers a single US server, this VPN cannot unblock any streaming service in the country. This means that you cannot unblock US Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, or more anywhere. It offers reliable speeds and lets you browse at average speeds.

This VPN is headquartered in Canada, right under the jurisdiction of the 14 Eyes, but it ensures to not log your data. However, it still collects partial logs like your IP and supports ads on its free version. IT also offers military-grade encryption for user security.

Moreover, there is only a single connection allowed on its free plan with no customer support either. It is rated 4.5 out of 5.0 in the Apple App Store.

For more information, check out our detailed Betternet review.

10. VPNBook – Unlimited Bandwidth for All iOS Users

One last free VPN we’re going to list is VPNBook. This VPN is the last choice for iPhone as it does not offer a downloadable app and needs to be configured manually.

VPNBook offers 16 servers in 6 countries across the globe. The best thing about this VPN is that it offers unlimited data to users.

With servers in all the popular countries, VPNBook could access streaming services including the US and UK Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO GO, and more during testing. However, it’s subject to frequent ads, which makes using this VPN extremely difficult.

Even with inconsistent speeds, we tested this VPN’s worldwide servers and the results were as follows:

Despite all this, VPNBook offers an OpenVPN protocol and AES 256-bit encryption, and more but doesn’t offer a kill switch to keep users protected.

Since the VPN is headquartered in Switzerland, it does collect some logs like timestamps and user IP addresses. If privacy is one major concern, then VPNBook is definitely not for you.

For more information, check out this detailed VPNBook review.

Why do we Discourage Free VPNs for iPhones?

While they cost nothing, there is usually a good reason for that. Free VPN providers earn profits in different ways, usually with an advertisement or selling your internet activity data to third parties.

Also, they place restrictions on the bandwidth, amount of data, and speed of the network. This makes them pretty much useless for purposes that require high bandwidth and speed like streaming or gaming. On top of this, don’t expect any form of easy access support or a large number of servers that you’d usually get with a premium service.

It is worth knowing that there are premium VPN providers out there which can cost you as low as just $1.99/mo and offer much better security, privacy, and performance than a free VPN can ever offer.

Some benefits of premium VPNs:

Free VPNs can never be better than premium VPNs. Let’s check out why:

1. Unlimited bandwidth and widespread network with servers in almost all of the major countries.
2. High-speed network connections with server load-balancing.
3. 100% secure and guaranteed no-log policy for complete internet privacy.
4. Compatible with all major operating systems and devices.
5. 24/7 live chat support.

Paid iPhone VPNs are always way better when you’re looking for a long-term solution for your iPhones.

How We Chose The Best Free VPNs for iPhone

All the VPN apps that are added in this article were selected based on a few important criteria as follows:

1. No-logs policy:

Many free services have a sole business model to sell your personal data to third parties, and thus, they log your personal data. We made sure that all the VPNs listed above didn’t log the user’s personal data and had bullet-proof logging policies.

2. Strong security:

Free VPN providers only provide the basic IP hiding mechanisms and neglect the use of strong security protocols and the robustness of tunnelling protocols that they implement. Only those VPNs that implement modern encryption and tunneling protocols to establish VPN connections are mentioned in this guide.

3. Unblocking ability:

The next important consideration was to check whether these free VPNs can unblock popular sites and bypass geo-restrictions. For example, not many free VPNs can unblock Netflix and other similar streaming sites. Therefore, we have mentioned the streaming services these free VPNs can unblock respectively.

4. Dedicated app for iPhone:

The availability of a dedicated, easy-to-use GUI-based app for iPhone makes it extremely convenient to form a VPN connection with a single click and switch servers at will. All the VPNs above offer well-designed VPN apps for various versions of iOS.

Free VPNs for iOS to Avoid

There are multiple free VPNs that one needs to avoid at all costs. These VPNs are risky and tend to leak your IP addresses or sell your logs to third-party websites. While conducting VPN tests, the following are a few VPNs that leaked our location and IP address:

1. HolaVPN: This VPN collects and stores timestamps every time you connect to a VPN, logs IP addresses and the websites you have visited.

2. VPN Proxy Master: Log all user IP addresses.

3. Flash VPN: This VPN claims to offer a strict no-logs policy, but has been caught storing user data before.

4. SkyVPN: Stores user information, IP addresses, and device name and model.

5. Yoga VPN: Does not conceal user DNS and IP addresses at all.

How Does Cloudflare DNS Work?

Cloudflare is offering a free DNS service. While it is completely free for anyone who wishes to use it, it is not a VPN service. Their DNS application which is available on iOS and Android uses VPN to route your search traffic to Cloudflare’s free 1.1.1.1 DNS.

There is no mandatory registration required to use their free DNS service, and unlike many free VPN providers, they offer unlimited free DNS service. They also guarantee that your data will not be stored on their servers and will never be compromised.

While the idea of free and unlimited DNS service is very tempting, one should not forget that it is nowhere as safe, secure, and encrypted as a VPN provider. Yes, you may be able to change your DNS and access a few of the blocked websites, but whatever you will be doing online will still be available to view as there is no military-grade encryption involved to hide your digital footprints.

Free VPNs for Other Devices and Apps

If you’re looking for better privacy solutions for free for platforms other than iPhone, you can see the following articles:

• Firestick
• Kodi
• Popcorn Time
• Windows
• Mac
• Android
• Netflix

FAQs – Best Free iPhone VPNs

Let’s take a look at some of the frequently asked questions about the best free VPNs for iPhones and iPad.

Best Totally Free iPhone VPNs – Wrapping Up!

There is no question that you must secure yourself and your online activities from every online threat. Although free VPNs for iPhones won’t offer the same security and performance level you can expect from premium VPNs, some free ones are still quite reliable (with a few caveats in performance).

So, if your primary need while searching for the best free virtual private network for iPhones is having better privacy while connecting to unsecured Wi-Fi Hotspots or other low bandwidth requirements, the free options mentioned in this guide are excellent to get the job done!

Out of all the best free VPNs for iOS mentioned above, our top choice is ProtonVPN. However, with this VPN, unblocking geo-restricted services and super-fast speeds may remain only a dream for you.

Therefore, if you want to prioritize both factors mentioned above along with security, then it’s better to go for ExpressVPN. It is the best in the business with its unlimited bandwidth and data, military-grade encryption, 3000+ servers worldwide, and multiple other advanced security features to give you the best VPN experience as the best iOS free VPN.