The iPhone is famed for being one of the most secure smartphones on the market. But that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily immune to all online threats, which are rapidly growing in frequency and sophistication.
In fact, if you’re currently reading this article on an iPhone, you may begin seeing random VPN adverts all over the internet. That’s because advertisers are tracking your web browsing habits and using this information to bombard you with targeted adverts.
Luckily, you can stop all this internet eavesdropping and add an extra layer of security to your iPhone by installing a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs encrypt your internet traffic, route it through a secure connection between your iPhone and a remote VPN server, and conceal your internet protocol address, the unique number assigned to any internet product.
Along with helping to improve the security and privacy of your iPhone, a VPN will also let you unblock geo-restricted content. They will make it look like your iPhone is being used in a different country. So, if you live in the US but want to watch a hot new TV show that’s only shown in the UK, you can easily access it by connecting to a British VPN server via your iPhone.
RELATED: What is a VPN and how does it work? and the best free streaming services
Today, many different VPN services are available to download via the App Store on your iPhone, with the best providers offering large server networks, a range of leading VPN protocols, easy-to-use apps, access to top streaming services, robust online protection, and much more. But to simplify things, we’ve ranked the top iPhone VPNs of 2024 – starting with our top pick, Norton VPN.
The best iPhone VPN: Norton VPN
Pros:
- Online security tools developed by a cybersecurity giant
- Banking-grade encryption
Cons:
- Only a handful of server locations
Free version: No, Server count: 28 locations, Protocols offered: IPSec/IKEv2
Any iPhone user who wants robust cybersecurity features as part of a VPN package should check out Norton VPN Ultimate. Designed on top of the cybersecurity giant’s leading antivirus software, this app has everything you need to protect your iPhone from the latest online threats.
Thanks to a built-in antivirus solution, it’s capable of blocking malware, viruses, scams, and hacking attempts. There’s also a dark web monitoring feature that will notify you of data breaches and a password manager.
Norton VPN Ultimate will keep the whole family safe online, too. It has tools for blocking adult content, setting screen time limits, and tracking the locations of kids’ iPhones.
On the VPN side of things, it has servers in 28 countries, an auto-connect feature that will secure your iPhone when you use public Wi-Fi networks, a no-logging policy, banking-grade encryption, and support for up to ten devices. You can currently buy this premium VPN service for $59.99 in the first year, which includes a 60-day money-back guarantee and a free trial.
A highly reliable iPhone VPN: NordVPN
Pros:
- Easy to use
- A large server network
- The NordLynx protocol is fast
Cons:
- The lack of an unlimited connections policy
Free version: No, Server count: 6800, Supported protocols: NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPsec
NordVPN is one of the top iPhone VPNs thanks to its easy-to-use iOS app, a large network of high-speed and reliable servers, an extensive suite of advanced online security features, and Siri shortcuts.
Supporting iPhones running on iOS 15 or newer, the NordVPN app is very straightforward to navigate. You can quickly secure your iPhone’s internet connection by pressing the ‘quick connect’ button. If you want to connect to a NordVPN server in a specific country, you can find it easily using an interactive world map or a comprehensive list of international locations. There’s no shortage of NordVPN servers, either – you can choose from 6800 in 113 countries.
With Nord VPN’s market-leading NordLynx protocol available for iOS devices, you can enjoy blazing-fast and reliable VPN connections on your iPhone. You also have the option to use a different VPN protocol in the NordVPN app settings, including OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPsec.
Thanks to AES 256 encryption, ad blocking, a malware scanner, a kill switch that disables internet access when your VPN connection unexpectedly disconnects, and a dark web monitor that alerts you if your accounts are breached, NordVPN will protect your Apple device from all manner of online threats.
Compatible with streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and Hulu, NordVPN is also perfect for people who spend a lot of time streaming movies and TV shows on their Apple devices. Another highlight of the NordVPN iOS app is its Siri shortcuts, which allow you to connect to a VPN server using your voice.
The best cheap iPhone VPN: Surfshark
Pros:
- Unlimited connections
- An easy-to-use app
- Advanced online threat protection
- Affordable
Cons:
- A smaller server network than NordVPN
Free version: No, Server count: 3200, Supported protocols: Wireguard and IKEv2
If you’re looking for a premium iOS VPN that won’t dent your wallet, look no further than Surfshark. With subscriptions costing as little as $1.99 a month and great features like unlimited connections for securing all your Apple devices, Surfshark represents excellent value for money.
Surfshark’s iOS app is also user-friendly, with a quick-connect button that finds the fastest-available VPN server, and it’ll work on any iPhone running on iOS 13 or later. What’s neat is that you can customize the quick-connect button to connect you to a server in your nearest country or one of your choosing, which is helpful if you find a reliable server you particularly like and want to use again in the future.
By connecting to one of Surfshark’s 3200 global servers, you’ll be able to unblock streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer in any part of the globe on your iPhone. Besides offering access to all these top streaming sites, Surfshark’s servers are RAM-only so that your data isn’t stored on a physical hard drive, and they all sport 10Gbps ports for fast speeds.
You also get many advanced features that improve the security and usability of your iOS device. These include ClearWeb, which blocks ads, web trackers, and cookie pop-ups, and MultiHop, which routes your iPhone’s data between two servers for extra protection.
In terms of other features, Surfshark offers a range of modern VPN protocols, unlimited data, a strict no-logging policy, a kill switch, and an iOS widget that lets you connect to a server from your iPhone’s home screen. What’s more, you can get a seven-day free trial via the App Store.
A super easy VPN for iPhone: ExpressVPN
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Servers in 105 countries
- The Lightway protocol is speedy
Cons:
- It’s not the cheapest premium VPN
Free version: No, Server count: 105 locations, Supported protocols: Lightway, OpenVPN, and IPSec/IKEv2
ExpressVPN is another well-known VPN provider that offers a well-rounded and easy-to-use iPhone app that works on iOS 15 or later. By clicking the large power button, you can secure your iPhone with the best available ExpressVPN server within seconds. However, you can also pick one manually.
With servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN will allow you to unlock geo-restricted web content on your iPhone anywhere in the world. Not to mention, 80% of them offer 10Gbps speeds for buffer-free streaming and online gaming. ExpressVPN supports top streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, and BBC iPlayer.
Another great thing about ExpressVPN’s iOS app is that it supports the proprietary Lightway protocol, which is designed to offer fast, secure, and reliable VPN connections. This is alongside standard VPN protocols such as OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec.
Using ExpressVPN on your iPhone, you get AES 256 encryption, an internet tracker blocker, an ad blocker, an adult content blocker to protect your children online, a password manager, a kill switch, and more. With prices starting at $4.99 a month, ExpressVPN isn’t the cheapest iPhone VPN provider on the market. But you can take it for a spin before committing to a premium plan thanks to a 7-day free trial available through the App Store.
Pros:
- A gigantic server network
- A range of leading protocols
- Cheap
Cons:
- US jurisdiction isn’t great for privacy
Free version: No, Server count: Around 35,000, Supported protocols: OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard
Private Internet Access is best known for offering one of the largest server networks of all VPN providers, which is thought to total 35,000 servers. And the great news is that you can access all these servers on iPhones running on iOS 12.1 or higher.
With many of its servers offering speeds of 10Gbps, Private Internet Access is well suited to streaming and other power-hungry web activities. Plus, you get unlimited bandwidth and access to major streaming sites, including Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
The Private Internet Access iOS app boasts several leading VPN protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2, which you can easily change to achieve the most optimal VPN connection. Other features include a built-in kill switch, a Safari content blocker, DNS leak protection, a no-logging policy, unlimited simultaneous connections, and robust encryption.
Should you like the sound of the Private Internet Access iOS app, you’ll be glad to learn that you can buy a subscription for a low-cost price of $2.03 a month. Every subscription includes 24/7 customer support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The best VPN for using iPhones in restrictive environments: IPVanish
Pros:
- A range of protocols
- Advanced threat protection
- An alternative connection mode for restrictive environments
Cons:
- Not the biggest server network
Free version: No, Server count: 2400, Protocols offered: IKEv2, IPSec, and WireGuard
IPVanish has all the bells and whistles of a top iPhone VPN, including an easy-to-use app that lets you connect to a fast VPN server in seconds, servers spread across over 135 locations, a choice of leading VPN protocols, and more.
With IPVanish, you have over 2400 servers at your disposal, which are protected by strong encryption and a strict no-logging policy. They’ll let you securely stream on popular platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, ESPN+, and BBC iPlayer.
The IPVanish iPhone app, which is compatible with iOS 14 or newer, offers best-in-class protocols such as IKEv2, IPSec, and WireGuard. And an unmetered connections policy means you’ll be able to use IPVanish on as many devices as you want.
There’s also a built-in kill switch, an alternative connection mode that helps you maintain VPN connections in restrictive environments, a connect-on-demand feature that kicks into action when your iPhone encounters a dodgy network or website, and protection against online threats like unwanted adverts and web trackers. IPVanish starts at $2.19 a month, and you can get a free trial.
A great iPhone VPN for streaming: Hotspot Shield
Pros:
- The Hydra protocol is one of the fastest
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Great for streaming
Cons:
- A smaller server network than other top providers
Free version: Yes, Server count: 1,800, Supported protocols: Hydra
Hotspot Shield is among the fastest VPN services available on iOS. This largely comes down to its proprietary Hydra VPN protocol, which is specially optimized to deliver fast and reliable connections perfect for streaming, playing games, downloading large files, and torrenting.
If you plan on using Hotspot Shield to conduct such activities, you won’t need to worry about running out of data as you get unlimited bandwidth. In particular, Hotspot Shield is an effective VPN for streaming on your iPhone, offering access to top platforms like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, Twitch, and Hulu.
With 1800+ servers across 80 countries and 35 cities, you shouldn’t have any problems accessing the various international libraries offered by these platforms. When it comes to using them, just simply press the ‘connect’ button in the iOS app to get connected. The Hotspot Shield app works on iOS 14 or later.
Because Hotspot Shield uses military-grade encryption, you can browse the web on your iPhone without the threat of eavesdropping by broadband providers, advertisers, and cybercrooks. Plus, you can protect up to ten devices simuliteanously with a single Hotspot Shield account.
A premium plan will cost you $6.66 a month, making Hotspot Shield more expensive than some of the other iPhone VPNs we’ve listed. But you can sign up for a seven-day free trial, and there’s a lengthy 45-day money-back guarantee. Hotspot Shield also offers a free, unlimited subscription.
How do I choose a VPN on my iPhone?
When it comes to choosing the best iPhone VPN, there are a few key things to consider. Firstly, you’ll want to ensure that the provider in question takes security and privacy seriously. They should provide robust encryption techniques like AES 256 and a strict no-logging policy at the bare minimum.
It’s also essential to research how many servers and locations are offered by VPN providers and whether their connections are reliable or not. A top VPN service will usually have thousands of servers in all corners of the globe, making it super easy to unblock geo-restricted content on your iPhone.
Another important consideration is how user-friendly an iPhone VPN app is – for example, a quick-connect button will let you begin using a speedy VPN server in seconds. Plus, you must ensure the app is compatible with your iPhone – you can find this information on the App Store.
If you’ve never used a VPN service before, you may want to think about signing up for a VPN service that offers a free trial. Or you could download a trustworthy free VPN app. The best VPN companies also offer 24/7 support.
What is the safest VPN on my iPhone?
All of the providers we’ve ranked in this list offer various different features to keep iPhone users safe and secure online.
But NortonVPN is arguably the safest option because it’s designed on Norton’s leading antivirus software. Plus, it’s more than just a VPN service; it offers antivirus, parental controls, and many other cybersecurity tools.
Our other top pick is NordVPN because it offers strong encryption, protection against a range of online threats, a secure protocol in the form of NordLynx, and more.
Does a VPN slow your iPhone?
Using a VPN on your iPhone can, indeed, slow it down. This is mainly due to the time and resources involved in the encryption and data routing processes that underpin VPN services. But if your iPhone is impacted by internet throttling — which is when internet service providers slow down customers’ broadband speeds on purpose — a VPN could actually make your phone faster by tackling this issue.
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