Getting a VPN service for your iPhone should be easy. And you should demand only the best — after all, those will be your web whereabouts that could potentially be screened by the prying eyes. You don’t want to save on a service that keeps you and your privacy protected.
All services in our list of best 5 VPNs for iPhone have millions of users and you can hardly go wrong by picking any one of them. But for the best overall experience, get the top service and forget about it. Let it do its magic in the background while you safely and securely browse the web, access streaming services, download files and so on.
So without further ado, here are the best VPNs for iPhone you can buy today:
Pros
Cons
- 5,000+ servers in the network
- Easy to use - install it and forget it
- One license is good for up to 6 devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Chrome extension is just a proxy
- You can't pay with PayPal
Summary
The company's iOS app is easy to use, delivering one of the fastest download rates on the market. Once started — you won't even notice that NordVPN is running on your iPhone (or iPad). What is lacking though, is the ability to select a VPN protocol — which is something advanced users would appreciate.
Also working in NordVPN's favor are its zero-logs policy and protection against WebRTC leaks, as well as advanced privacy features that put you, the user, in control — rather than major tech giants like Google and Facebook.
Pros
Cons
- Feature-rich yet easy to use
- One of the best VPNs around
- Strong no-logging policy
- Reliable support you can reach 24/7
- Limited number of servers in Africa and the Middle East
- Kinda pricey
Summary
On the downside though, ExpressVPN for iPhone doesn't have all security features found on desktop apps, such as a kill switch. Something's gotta give on the small screen, I guess.
Nonetheless, we still highly recommend ExpressVPN for iPhone users.
Pros
Cons
- It's super fast!
- Works with Netflix, BBC and others
- Easy to use apps, browser extensions
- You can try it for free!
- Some advanced features are not configurable
- Not the best for high-censorship countries
Summary
Your privacy is equally well protected, with the software only collecting some anonymized that to continually improve its service.
There is one caveat though - it won't work that good in high-censorship countries like China. If you don't need that in the first place, we can highly recommend Hotspot Shield to you.
As that's typically the case with most VPN services out there, the longer you commit - the better deal you get. However, what makes Hotspot Shield even better is the fact that it offers a 7-day free trial of its service. A few other top VPN providers do the same. Plus, its money-back guarantee lasts for 45 days, making for a risk-free purchase. Cause, you can always get your money back. Sweet and just the way we like it.
Pros
Cons
- One the best VPNs for torrenting
- Works well with Netflix
- Simple setup on all popular devices
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Doesn't work with BBC iPlayer
- Doesn't work in China
Summary
Also, chances are you are not using a VPN service exclusively on your iPhone and/or iPad, so we need to look at the bigger picture. IPVanish will keep your identity protected no matter which device you use, offering fast download and upload speeds, dedicated P2P resources and so much more.
It works with Netflix though there are better options out there. However, when it comes to torrenting - only a few services come close to what IPVanish is offering.
Pros
Cons
- Reliable download and upload speeds
- Works with Netflix and BBC iPlayer
- Strict zero-logs policy
- Lets you use it on unlimited number of devices
- Low number of servers in Africa and Australia
Summary
You can rely on it for streaming and torrenting, with included extra features like CleanWeb and MultiHop, delivering a that much better — and more secure — experience.
Surfshark, the company, is based in the British Virgin Islands and with its zero-logs policy makes for a powerful combo to anyone looking to keep its web whereabouts under the radar.
The service is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
iPhone 101
Here’s what those living under the rock should know about the iPhone…
Created by Apple, it is an all-touchscreen smartphone that uses Apple’s own operating system called iOS — which was originally called the iPhone OS.
The first iPhone was announced by Steve Jobs on January 9, 2007, and was an instant hit — with the media describing it as “revolutionary” and a “game-changer” for the mobile phone industry. Furthermore, it has been credited with popularizing the smartphone and slate form factor, and with creating a large market for smartphone apps, or “app economy”.
Since the original iPhone’s launch, further features have been added — including larger screen sizes, shooting video, waterproofing and the ability to install third-party apps through an app store, as well as accessibility support.
Up to 2017, iPhones used a layout with a single button on the front panel that returns the user to the home screen. From then on, more expensive iPhone models have switched to a nearly bezel-less front screen design with app switching activated by gesture recognition.
The iPhone has generated large profits for Apple, making it one of the world’s most valuable publicly traded companies. That doesn’t surprise considering that the Cupertino-based company has annually released new iPhone models and iOS updates.
As of November 1, 2018, more than 2.2 billion iPhones had been sold.
Why do you need a VPN for your iPhone?
First, let’s make it clear that Apple is not Google and it doesn’t sell ads, thus it has fewer incentives to collect data on its users. In fact, Apple proudly states that it wants to protect the privacy of its users, but it can’t do it all. That is why we need a VPN on our mobile devices, the iPhone included.
For start, when you browse the web – you will still be a target of various trackers, mostly controlled by Google and Facebook. And Apple can do little about it except to disable the running of some JavaScript code in its browser. And that is not a viable solution.
Furthermore, your mobile operator knows what you’re doing on the Internet with your iPhone. Except, that is if you’re using a VPN when it is clueless on your web and app whereabouts.
So, with a VPN – you get anonymity so that no one can know what you’re doing online. And honestly, that’s just the way it should be.
Plus, a good VPN will also protect you while using public Wi-Fi hotspots that could also be used by a tech-savvy malicious actor who could snoop into your traffic — and potentially intercept some personal information. A VPN keeps you safe by encrypting all data coming to and from your iPhone and the rest of the Internet.
In addition, a VPN will also help you bypass various restrictions that could be imposed in your school, university, workplace and so on. And you’ll get to keep your access to streaming services even when you’re traveling to other countries.
Simply, put you must have a VPN these days, but you shouldn’t get it only for your iPhone, but…
Get a VPN for all your devices!
You (all of us, really) need a VPN for many things, not just the iPhone. A good VPN will:
- Protect your privacy from the government and big corporations
- Bypass restrictions imposed by the government or various organizations
- Change your IP address so you get unrestricted access to Netflix, Disney+, iPlayer, HULU, and other video streaming services
- Encrypt and protect private data from cybercriminals
- Download files with BitTorrent anonymously
The top contenders that check all these boxes — while also working on the iPhone — include the following:
