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Introduction
Nowadays, smartphone users heavily use their devices for daily communications and entertainment, as well as personal work and online shopping. While there are growing concerns about online privacy and security, a VPN seems to be the essential tool to use, because it can encrypt your internet access and hide your online activities from others and guarantee the safety of your private data.
Key Takeaways
Brief overview of the importance of VPNs for iPhone users
Day by day our iPhones become more deeply integrated into the internet: to browse and download movies, Google directions, or our bank balance. Without a good VPN, each of these uses exposes every single bit of information to internet service providers, hackers or governments, potentially including login credentials, your bank balance details, or simply your web browsing history.
So installing a VPN on your iPhone is essential as it thwarts hackers from snooping into your online activities. It does so by encrypting your internet connection and securing your internet privacy with high-end encryption when accessing public wifi spots to make any online purchases or to check sensitive information on your iPhone.
Explanation of the purpose of the article
Worried that you don’t know the best VPN to use on your iPhone? Don’t panic – help is at hand. In this article, we’ll walk you through what to look for in a VPN, and give you our pick of the best on the VPN market right now that’ll work fantastic on your iPhone. There are so many VPNs available today, that it can be a bit of a minefield to choose the best one for your needs.
Over the course of this guide, we’ll cover all of the most essential features to look for in an iPhone VPN – including privacy and security, speed and performance, ease of use and compatibility and more. We’ll also provide detailed review summaries for the best iPhone VPNs, detailing their strong points, weaknesses and unique features.
This guide is dedicated to giving you enough knowledge and insight to make an informed choice among the best VPN for your iPhone – whether you’re a frequent traveler, a remote worker or simply care about your privacy online.
What to Look for in a VPN for iPhone
What makes for a great VPN for iPhone? The first step to choosing one is, undoubtedly, to define what is the essential criteria to properly select that particular app. A good VPN is, simply put, a secure tube that connects you to a safe server – but it is much more than that. We actually need a VPN that completely secures our online actions, that guarantees a swift connection and that guarantees an intuitive user experience. Let’s get our hands dirty and check out which constituent features a VPN for iPhones should involve.
A. Privacy and Security
Privacy and security should be important considerations for iPhone users in general, so users will want to find someone who provides the toughest possible privacy protection and security to ensure that nosy individuals cannot sit in a vantage point and survey the identity files and other sensitive private data that many of us keep in the specialized ‘photo’ app of our Apple devices.
Explanation of the importance of privacy and security for iPhone users
Today, all of our activities on the internet are tracked, recorded and analyzed by state agencies, law enforcement bodies, ISPs, advertisers and pretty much everyone else who is desperate to squeeze a little more money from you, and in worst cases, steal your identity and credit card numbers. Failing our own, unassisted red line move and switching to a VPN that prioritizes privacy and security, we are allowing all of our data and activities on the web to be stolen from the crooks.
Discussion of the features to look for in a VPN to ensure privacy and security
These functions are must haves when evaluating any VPN, which we rigorously test out on our iPhones.
- AES 256-bit encryption: This is the standard used by banks and other sites you trust with sensitive financial information. It ensures that your online activity and sensitive data are encrypted and impossible to decipher without the correct keys.
- No-logs policy: A good VPN service provider should have a stringent no-logs policy. This ensures that there are no connection logs or any details about our online activities and browsing history.
- Kill switch: This puts our internet connection on lockdown when our VPN connection drops so we don’t leak or expose any info to the world accidentally.
- DNS leak protection: Does the VPN have strong protocols in place to avoid DNS leaks, which could potentially give away our browsing history and IP address?
- IPv6 support: With the advent of IPv6, a VPN should support this protocol for enabling secure and private access to the internet.
B. Speed and Performance
Privacy and security are one thing (and of the utmost importance), but your VPN should be equally sensitive to speed and performance, too. If you use your iPhone for anything more than basic internet searching (and many of us do, like watching a movie, gaming or video calling on Skype), a slow or unreliable link will have a terrible impact on the things you like to do online, and may even result in lost data as you are forced to reconnect.
Explanation of the importance of speed and performance for iPhone users
So we’ve become very used to being online 24 hours per day, seven days per week, and having access to almost everything we need at home or on the go via our iPhone, iPad, or laptop. So whether we’re watching a TV show, gaming with friends, or even on a VoIP call, it has to be very fast with very low latency, and able to compete with every other application. What you do online with a VPN has to be as fast as everything else, or you won’t be doing it at all.
Discussion of the features to look for in a VPN to ensure fast and reliable connections
When evaluating a VPN for speed and performance, we should consider the following factors:
- Server locations: A VPN with many dispersed server locations around the world can provide faster speeds and lower latency, as we can connect to servers closer to our physical location.
- Protocol support: Multiple VPN protocols are supported. To ensure good connections at a fast speed, pick a VPN that supports robust and fast to use protocols such as WireGuard.
- Bandwidth and data limits: Some VPNs impose bandwidth or data caps, slowing down our internet speeds or disconnecting our internet when we’ve downloaded too much. We should make sure to go for a VPN that has infinite bandwidth and no data caps.
- Server load balancing: VPNs with effective server load balancing features can balance traffic loads amongst their computer network servers so that traffic is processed in an efficient manner to avoid bottlenecks.
- Specialized servers: some VPNs offer certain servers that are optimized for, say, streaming or gaming – useful additions for a smoother user experience.
C. Ease of Use and Compatibility
Besides privacy, security and performance, we want user friendliness: we don’t want to be VPN experts, but rather let our iPhones and other devices do the work for us. A bad interface, or one not built for the particular device we want to use, can be frustrating and make us less inclined to use the VPN on a regular basis.
Explanation of the importance of ease of use and compatibility for iPhone users
We want a polished, intuitive interface that integrates seamlessly with our iPhones and lives. If the VPN is hard to use or doesn’t work with our iPhone, we don’t want it – and we might get inconvenienced by technical problems, not to mention security problems. That’s why the best VPN for Apple fans will be the one that’s simplest to use, and the one that integrates most easily with an iOS device.
Discussion of the features to look for in a VPN to ensure a seamless user experience
When assessing ease of use of different VPNs and how they work with the hardware and software available, we must consider the following:
- User-friendly interface: The VPN app should feature a clean and responsive interface so that we can easily connect to servers, configure it and monitor our online activities once it is active.
- iOS compatibility: It must work without problem on all versions of iOS and works very well with iPhones.
- Multi-device support: Like the rest of us, you might use these iPhones in conjunction with iPads or other Macs. A good VPN that supports these multiple devices gives you the same experience over all of them.
- Customer support: A good VPN provider stands ready to help through live chat, email or knowledge base materials if you have any questions or run into problems.
- App updates and maintenance: Apps need to be regularly updated with the latest iOS versions, and security and feature updates.
Looking at these three major factors – privacy and security, speed and performance, and user-friendliness and compatibility – should help you make a decision on which VPN would be the best fit for your iPhone. Below, we will take a look at our picks and do a deep dive review and rating of the best VPNs for iPhones.
Top VPNs for iPhone
Our top recommendations for the best VPN for iPhone are based on a thorough assessment of dozens of VPN providers carrying out on vitally important factors we covered above. Now is the time to expand on our top choices, meanwhile adding the minds of users who have already signed up with these VPNs to help us see what each offers in the name of performance and features.
1. ExpressVPN
Best For Speed  9.7 / 10 | Outstanding | |
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Privacy 98% | Interface 97% | Speed 98% | Features 96% |
Key Facts
Overview of ExpressVPN’s features and benefits
ExpressVPN routinely earns a place among the best VPN apps for iPhone available, thanks to the strength and depth of its feature set. This service offers the features iPhone owners need to stay private, safe and very fast.
Performance
One of ExpressVPN’s prime features are its connection speeds, which is backed up by a growing network of more than 3,000 servers in approximately 94+ countries. Moreover, the service implements novel features such as its own protocol, called Lightway, which is purpose-built to deliver high-speed performance as well as security.
Privacy and security
There’s military-grade AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, a comprehensive kill switch and split-tunnelling (terminating traffic to and from specific IP addresses through the VPN, while allowing other traffic to continue on the regular internet connection), to name but a few of ExpressVPN’s security features.
Servers
ExpressVPN has another massive and varied server infrastructure, with over 3,000 servers across 160 locations in 94 countries. Their servers cater to streaming, gaming and P2P/torrenting activities. This means you’ll have no problem accessing anything, whether it’s cashback sites or streaming services.
Pricing
Nevertheless, with everything that ExpressVPN offers, the price is not too high, with a selection of pricing subscriptions available offering good value for money. Both monthly and semi-annual options are available.
Pros
Cons
Comparison with other VPNs
While it’s faster and easier to use than its closest iOS contenders, NordVPN and Surfshark, ExpressVPN lacks both the server presence of NordVPN, as well as its advanced security options. Still, if you’re an iPhone user, ExpressVPN is a good buy.
The full suite of features, fast speeds and ease of use make ExpressVPN one of the top VPNs for iPhone, delivering privacy, security and unrestricted access to the internet.
2. NordVPN
Best Overall  9.8 / 10 | Outstanding | |
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Privacy 97% | Interface 96% | Speed 95% | Features 97% |
Key Facts
Overview of NordVPN’s features and benefits
NordVPN is one of the oldest VPN solutions in the world. This provider bundles an incredible range of features that are tailored to secure your online freedom, privacy, and security. From advanced encryption and a strict no-logs policy to unlimited bandwidth and a variety of advanced privacy features, NordVPN ticks off every feature you need for a sound digital life.
Performance
NordVPN isn’t the fastest VPN on the market, but the speeds it delivers are more than adequate for most people. NordVPN’s vast network of more than 5,500 servers across 59 countries includes plenty of servers in different countries, so you can choose a nearby server for the best speeds.
Privacy and security
NordVPN is all about privacy and security with AES-256 encryption, a great kill switch (which prevents IP leaks if the VPN disconnects) and two great double encryption options: Double VPN, which encrypts traffic two times over and Onion over VPN which routes traffic through two VPN networks as well as the Tor network for anonymity. Further adding to its secrecy, NordVPN has a very clean no-logs policy: nothing gets tracked or saved about what you do online.
Servers
NordVPN has one of the largest VPN server networks anywhere, with almost 6,000 servers located across 59 countries. For users, this variety of options means reliable connections and faster speeds when circumventing geo-restrictions – and when it comes to more leccy activities, users can even choose dedicated IP servers or P2P-optimised servers for torrenting.
Pricing
You can choose from a monthly plan or take advantage of their big 1-year or 2-year discounts. Monthly plan is a little bit more expensive, but the longer, the cheaper. That makes NordVPN very affordable.
Pros
Cons
Comparison with other VPNs
NordVPN’s servers are even more numerous than ExpressVPN’s, and the overall privacy and security are technically superior, especially when it comes to the lion’s share of advanced security features. Yet ExpressVPN is speedier, and its interface is far more alluring with its bright design and cheery UI.
With its firm stance on privacy, security and a huge network of servers, NordVPN remains one of the best VPN for iPhone users who want a product that works well with that device plus has a solid track record of trust and reliability.
3. Surfshark VPN
Best For Value  9.4 / 10 | Excellent | |
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Privacy 95% | Interface 93% | Speed 93% | Features 94% |
Key facts
Overview of Surfshark VPN’s features and benefits
Surfshark VPN is a unique and user friendly VPN solution, which combines the usability of a complex and high-end virtual private network with the accessibility of a basic VPN solution. As an entirely new market player in its field, Surfshark preserves a distinct cult feel, managing to catch the hearts of many users who appreciate its affordable advocacy of digital freedom.
Performance
Another big selling point of Surfshark VPN, especially for streaming, is exceptional speeds. Overall it has a super-impressive network with more than 3,200 servers in 65 countries and each location is clearly labelled on the app. Surfshark also uses WireGuard by default as it’s the fastest and best protocol available.
Privacy and security
Surfshark VPN is one of the privacy and security-minded services we reviewed. AES-256 military-grade encryption plus a strict no-logs policy and an amazing kill switch are the tools used to ensure your online privacy and security. Then there are advanced features, such as MultiHop (two security hops) and Camouflage Mode, which can get around VPN blocking and throttling, perfect for countries with heavy-handed internet surveillance.
Servers
Though not as extensive as some of the more established big players in the VPN arena, Surfshark’s server spread is still pretty good in terms of sheer number, and it spans 65 countries, giving you the ability to access content and services based in that country with just one click.
Pricing
Perhaps the most attractive selling point of Surfshark VPN is its pricing plans, alongside the advantageous fact that it allows for an unlimited amount of devices to connect under one subscription, several of which could be family and/or friends. On paper, that appears to be a huge plus for the cost-conscious consumer, or for a family wishing to make massive savings on the traditional expense of procuring separate VPN subscriptions.
Pros
Cons
Comparison with other VPNs
It doesn’t have the largest server network or mind-blowing security features you’ll find with old giants like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, but at a fraction of the price you’ll find yourself with a reliable and blazingly fast VPN that you can easily use for hours without breaking a sweat.
Along with an emphasis on affordability, great speeds and reliable security, Surfshark VPN has cemented its place as one of the best VPNs for iPhones available.
4. Proton VPN
Best For Security & Privacy  9.0 / 10 | Very Good | |
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Privacy 91% | Interface 90% | Speed 89% | Features 90% |
Key facts
Overview of Proton VPN’s features and benefits
Proton VPN is a VPN service based in Switzerland that has made a name for itself thanks to its strong stance on user freedom and security. Founded by the same team behind the popular encrypted email service, ProtonMail, Proton VPN brings together a suite of features designed to protect your online privacy and protect your digital rights.
Performance
Most people won’t need a VPN that is the fastest in the world: they just need one to be speedy and reliable. Proton VPN is not the fastest but it’s consistently good enough for most online use cases. Proton has a growing network (more than 1,700 servers in 63 countries at the time of writing) that should have a super-close server for you wherever you are in the world. This is especially important for radar-dodging, as even for tasks such as streaming and browsing, the lower the latency the better.
Privacy and security
Proton VPN has one of the best privacy offerings on the market thanks to the fact that it supports the strongest protocols, uses aggressive encryption and has no-log policies in place, be it by VPN server or user. Proton VPN goes above and beyond the industry standard in terms of protecting your privacy and security. Proton VPN is committed to transparency (for example, it has a feature called Metrics) and to user privacy (it is based in Switzerland), and it has had seven independent security audits so far.
Servers
The Proton VPN network spans 63 countries, giving you plenty of choices for where your data travels. While this is less than some of our competitors provide, they are constantly expanding the Proton VPN server network to meet the skyrocketing demand for global coverage and fast connections across the globe.
Pricing
Proton VPN has several pricing plans including a free plan and a paid plan with several coresponding options. The free plan is quite limited in terms of features and number of server locations. However, it can be a great help in testing the service before buying a paid plan or reliable VPN. The paid versions of the Proton VPN service are quite cheap and offer additional features and access to the full server network.
Pros
Cons
Comparison with other VPNs
Proton VPN might not have the same extensive server network as behemoths with similar aims such as ExpressVPN and NordVPN. It might not be as fast as those companies, either. But given that practice of absolute privacy, tight security and transparency, a user who prioritizes online privacy and security might prefer the choice over raw performance.
For users of Apple who value digital privacy and security above all other things, Proton VPN is the best VPN service provider that helps you encrypt and safeguard all of your online activity without sacrificing your experience.
5. CyberGhost VPN
Best For General Purpose  9.1 / 10 | Very Good | |
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Privacy 92% | Interface 95% | Speed 89% | Features 87% |
Key facts
Overview of CyberGhost VPN’s features and benefits
CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost VPN is an excellent example of a service that takes security and privacy seriously. It uses AES-256 encryption – ie, the same encryption standards used by military entities such as the NSA – and comes with a no-logs policy, plus a strong kill switch, and has more advanced options such as split tunneling and dedicated IP addresses.
Performance
CyberGhost’s best feature though is its speed, thanks to its huge network of more than 7,700+ servers in 91 countries, meaning it’s easy to get general geographical coverage although you can also drill down to find a local server for low ping times (latency) and maximum speed. CyberGhost also uses superior protocols including WireGuard, for speed and performance.
Privacy and security
Some users value a good kill switch Credit: CyberGhost VPN CyberGhost VPN is an excellent example of a service that takes security and privacy seriously. It uses AES-256 encryption – ie, the same encryption standards used by military entities such as the NSA – and comes with a no-logs policy, plus a strong kill switch, and has more advanced options such as split tunneling and dedicated IP addresses.
Servers
On the plus side, CyberGhost VPN has one of the largest server networks of any VPN, with more than 7,700 servers across 91 countries. This gives users a lot of choices as to where the closest server is and could help them avoid any overcrowding on the provider’s platforms that might affect speeds.
Pricing
CyberGhost VPN offers a few different prices depending on your needs and budget. If you’re just looking for a monthly deal, CyberGhost VPN is only a few cents more expensive than some of its competitors. However, if you opt for the longer deals, CyberGhost VPN is a great option since the price drops considerably.
Pros
Cons
Comparison with other VPNs
Although CyberGhost VPN is not as sophisticated as its top competitors ExpressVPN and NordVPN security-wise, it is especially attractive if you are put off by the advanced settings of the latter two. Powerful servers, top-of-the-line cybersecurity, and simple accessibility combine to make CyberGhost one of the best VPNs available for iPhones.
Other VPNs Worth Considering
Overview of other VPNs that may be worth considering for iPhone users
As the VPN market continues to grow and expand, more and more brands are arriving on the scene, with a variety of unique features and functionality. It is impossible to cover each and every possibility, but we’ve pointed out a few more VPNs for iPhone users that are worth a look.
- Private Internet Access (PIA): PIA is among the older VPN services and has developed a reputation for protecting your privacy and anonymity, which is mostly true. The service operates a large number of servers and is easy to use at affordable prices.
- TunnelBear: It is one of the few VPN services with an iPhone clone of its standalone app. Affordable pricing plans and an easy-to-use interface make this VPN a suitable choice for iPhone users on a tight budget that doesn’t mind simplicity.
- VyprVPN: Owned by Golden Frog, VyprVPN is a proprietary service that owns its entire network infrastructure, allowing it to offer better privacy and security to users than most of the competition. VyprVPN also offers an obfuscated protocol known as Chameleon and has received high praise for its willingness to be transparent.
- IPVanish: IPVanish parlays its massive server offering, unlimited bandwidth and generous security features into a reliable, but less user-friendly, alternative to the above competitors. Techheads or those in need of additional feature-setting options will find it ideally suited.
Discussion of their features and benefits
Each of them has something to offer that others do not, so choosing depends on your needs and preferences: for instance, PIA and IPVanish are attractive to power users or anyone who wants lots of tinkering options, because they have the most servers.
TunnelBear offers simplicity and affordability and is a great option if you want an easy-to-use VPN but aren’t necessarily after the widest range of options. VyprVPN’s transparency and proprietary technology might attract users with concerns over censorship and online privacy.
Although these VPNs may compare favorably against the best the market has to offer in terms of their product features and customer benefits, they might not necessarily be the best in every single category. Ultimately, choosing the right VPN services largely depends on your unique requirements.
If you take the time to consider these supplemental VPN comparisons, not only will you uncover the ideal VPN service for your individual demands – whether it’s speed, privacy, price, or something else – but you will also achieve a deeper understanding of your own needs.
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How to Choose the Best VPN for iPhone
It’s not surprising that choosing the best VPN for your iPhone is difficult, considering how many there are. But if you follow a few of these tips, it will be much easier for you to pick the VPN service that works best for you – the one that offers the optimal combination of security, privacy, performance and value for money.
1. Privacy and Security
Privacy and security come first When deciding on a VPN, privacy and security should be your biggest concerns. Your VPN is your last line of defense against those who want to see and capture what you’re doing on the internet, and so you should seriously consider the following issues.
A. Encryption
Ultimately, encryption is the foundation of a good VPN, because it makes sure your internet activity is scrambled and incomprehensible to anybody that can intercept it. Look for VPNs that offer AES-256 or better encryption. AES 256-bit encryption is military-grade security and the best level of encryption available to consumers.
B. No-Logs Policy
A reputable VPN provider should have a no-logs policy that states it won’t keep or store any logs of what you’re doing online, which sites you visit or which apps you use, and your connection history. If there are no connection logs whatsoever, then there will be absolutely nothing the VPN provider can provide to a government entity asking for your information. Providers who claim a no-logs policy but won’t meet you halfway with transparency or independent audits aren’t worth trusting.
C. Kill Switch
One of the most important features offered by VPNs is an automatic kill switch, which will cut off the connection to the internet if the VPN connection fails for any reason – for example, by a cell tower going down or a router having temporary trouble. This will help prevent any unprotected activities from seeping through or revealing your true location in case of a VPN failure. A good kill switch provides another layer of protection and offers added security and confidence.
D. DNS Leak Protection
Additionally, DNS leaks could expose your browsing history and IP address either way, even when you’re using a VPN. Be sure to look for protection against DNS leaks in the software offerings of your VPNs to ensure that your data from online activities, searches and searches stay private and secure.
E. IPv6 Support
Meanwhile, another fairly important future-proofing concern to consider is whether the VPN supports the new IPv6 protocol or not, as this could become more prevalent going forward (IPv6 leak protection keeps you safe from any IPv6 traffic leak that may end up outside of the VPN-protective tunnel).
If your particular VPN prioritizes these privacy and security features, you can feel confident that everything you do online and all of your personal data is safely hidden from prying eyes and hands when using a VPN on your iPhone.
2. Speed and Performance
In addition to privacy and security, speed and performance should also be on the list of factors to consider when selecting a VPN for your iPhone. Slow speeds and poor performance have a tendency to undermine the benefits of using a VPN – after all, why go to the trouble of making yourself a little more anonymous online if it means you’re going to have to suffer through stuttering or sticky connections? Here’s what matters most:
A. Server Locations
Another important factor impacting VPN speed is the number of server locations available to you from your chosen provider. Your connection may well depend on which server from your VPN provider you are connected to – the more a company offers, the greater the chance you’ll have to connect to one that is farther away from your physical location. Make sure you connect to a server that is closer to you – the less bandwidth you’ll lose, causing your connection speeds to fall. Pick a VPN with a large number of server locations in multiple countries and regions.
B. Server Speed
Raw server speed is another important benchmark for overall performance: platforms that regularly test and bump up their server speeds are more likely to offer better real-world experiences. Often additional servers will be set up specifically for different activities you want your VPN to support – whether you’re downloading a huge file, streaming one, or something else altogether. Good VPNs will have servers optimized accordingly, providing dedicated servers for torrenting, for example, or streaming with the likes of Netflix.
C. Protocol Support
Some of those protocols are vastly faster than others, and some are far more secure than others. Newer VPN protocols, such as WireGuard and IKEv2, are superfast and incredibly efficient – they’re often the go-to choice for gamers who rely on the internet to play against others or stream the action, and the protocol of choice for cough, sneeze cough streaming services and other resource-hungry internet tasks – so look for that if you’re a gamer who relies on a VPN for your fun-times.
D. Bandwidth and Data Limits
Some VPN providers limit their users’ bandwidth or daily data usage, which can block your internet speeds, or limit what you can do online. So, when looking for a VPN for your iPhone, see that your provider offers unlimited bandwidth with no data caps to get unrestricted access to the internet with no limitations.
E. Server Load Balancing
Regardless of how many servers a VPN has, a provider can still perform poorly if any of its servers become overloaded with too many users. Here, the best VPN services rely on sophisticated server load-balancing techniques to avoid clogging the pipe with too much traffic when too many users attempt to connect at once.
These speed and performance factors will confirm if your VPN is private, secure and also a delight to use with uninterrupted browsing, streaming and gaming, on your iPhone.
3. Ease of Use and Compatibility
Although privacy, security and speed are equally important considerations in selecting a VPN for iPhone, ease of use and compatibility should be high on our list as well. The last thing you want to do after enduring a frustrating online connection – for example, trying to stream a movie that Isn’t loading – is to waste even more of your precious time switching between settings on your iPhone. Keep all that in mind before you buy.
A. User-Friendly Interface
It could mean the difference between an unusable VPN product and a crucial tool when it comes to an intuitive interface that helps you connect to a server, tweak some settings and see a dashboard summary of your connection. This is another area in which good design could also be a competitive edge. At the very least, a clean and non-confusing app is preferable.
B. iOS Compatibility
The VPN of your choice should be able to work well with your iPhone. It must be compatible with the latest version of iOS, otherwise you won’t be able to use it. A reputable VPN provider constantly rolls out updates to the apps, in sync with every new iOS update that is released, exposing any glitches and ensuring the VPN works properly with the latest software enabled on your iPhone running on the latest OS update. A VPN optimized to work with iOS devices will function more smoothly and provide a better experience for the user.
C. Multi-Device Support
The majority of us now live in a connected world, and increasingly we use multiple devices, whether an iPad, a Mac, or even an Android device alongside our iPhones. You want VPN services that offer multi-device support so that all your devices can be protected under one subscription. Not only will it confer ease of use on you, but it’ll also ensure that your security and privacy are consistent all across them.
D. Customer Support
Even the best VPNs can suffer technical and/or compatibility issues at times, which is why it’s important to look for VPN providers with great, accessible, and proactive customer service. Anyone willing to spend a small fee on a VPN usually likes to top up their subscription with a free help-yourself package, and the best VPNs provide several support channels (live chat, email, knowledge base), usually with friendly and helpful staff.
E. App Updates and Maintenance
Your VPN provider should provide regular app updates as a matter of course, to keep your VPN service compatible with the latest version of iOS, security patches and bug fixes from the developer and feature enhancements. It’s not just about security; perhaps the hottest new VPN feature is now available in a regular update, and you get to enjoy it.
Looking at all of these ease of use and compatibility factors, you can now get all of the security, speed and privacy benefits of a VPN on your iPhone or iPad in ways that are easy, uncomplicated and intuitive. A VPN that is easy to use is worth its weight in gold, right? It will make subscription part of your daily habit, help protect all your actions online, and bring peace of mind.
4. Additional Features
Here we are not talking about those core functions of a VPN – privacy, security, speed or ease of use – but rather the various extra features that many service providers promote along with their main products, which can be real game changers depending on your requirements. Not all extras have the same level of importance. Therefore, before taking the next step, I should point out that not all extras are created equal.
A. Streaming and P2P Support
If you are a keen streamer or torrent user then you will want your VPN to be up to speed on these, or you might suffer the indignity of buffering or throttled downloads. It’s important to make sure your VPN is advertised for streaming and peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing and has specialty servers for this purpose.
B. Ad Blocking and Anti-Malware
While this isn’t a core function of a VPN service, some providers also provide built-in ad blocking and anti-malware features, which can lend a boost to your cybersecurity, blocking in-your-face ads and pop-ups and potentially malicious sites. If that’s your bag, search out VPN services that offer these features integrated into their service.
C. Split Tunneling
This is known as split tunneling and typically lets you send defined local types of traffic via your regular internet connection while forcing other traffic to go through the VPN tunnel. This feature can be useful if you find you need access to local resources or services, such as local network storage, or if you experience slowdowns. Split tunneling can also improve your speeds by relieving the overcrowded VPN server.
D. DNS Server Options
Another is to encrypt and maintain connections with their DNS servers, which translate human-sounding website addresses with those useless IP addresses. Some VPNs can use their own DNS servers, which can add a layer of privacy protection and security (by preventing DNS leaks) and can also prevent outsiders from being able to censor or spy on you via the DNS queries. If this matters to you, consult VPN apps that not only have DNS servers, but ones you can configure.
E. Kill Switch for Mobile Data
A kill switch is a must-have feature that turns off all your internet traffic if your link to the VPN server is lost for any reason. Most VPNs provide a kill switch for Wi-Fi but a few now include a kill switch for cellular data as well. For people who use an iPhone, constantly moving between Wi-Fi and cellular data, this would be an extremely valuable feature.
These extras affect the way your VPN behaves, and they can be tailored to your specific priorities as a streamer, a P2P fan, or a savvy internet-dweller who takes every step to ensure maximum privacy and control. You can turn your iPhone VPN experience into something much more tailored to your needs and preferences than vanilla.
5. Pricing and Plans
Of course, you want the best VPN for your iPhone. Does that mean it needs to be the best technically, the fastest, the most convenient? Yes, of course. But have you considered the pricing plans? Is what they are charging an adequate balance to the value of what they’re offering? And do they offer price discounts? What benefit is a high-end VPN service if you can’t afford it?
A. Pricing
VPN pricing can vary widely per service and provider. Many occur on a per-month basis, while many others focus on getting users to buy in the long term (annual, biennial, etc). Do you use your VPN hourly, or just a couple times a week to sign into a work account? Evaluate and budget accordingly. Often, longer-term plans will offer better value than month-to-month plans, but it pays to know the rate at which you’re willing to address your VPN needs.
B. Free Trial or Money-Back Guarantee
You’ll also want to test your chosen VPN on your iPhone before signing up for a full-service subscription, in the event any problems are discovered. Thankfully, most VPN providers offer trial periods or money-back guarantees that you can take advantage of before committing to a paid subscription, ensuring that any issues get ironed out. VPN services with a few days trial period, and up to a month’s money-back guarantee, are available.
C. Discounts and Promotions
You’ll find that many VPN providers offer significant discounts and promotions throughout the year especially for special occasions or holiday periods, greatly reducing the overall cost of your subscription each month. Therefore, try keeping an eye out on these promotions so that you better utilize the effective and affordable premium services.
D. Refund Policy
Even when you’ve done your homework and testing prior to subscribing, you could still find yourself forced (for one reason or another) to cancel your subscription with a VPN provider. A no-questions-asked refund policy with a reasonable time limit and conditions can give you peace of mind, and protect your investment. Seek out VPN services with a straightforward refund policy.
Affordability must be balanced with features, however. Although it may be tempting to look for the least expensive VPN, realistically those are the ones to avoid, or at least to check closely that the premium and standard plans do not lack essential features.
After all, the best iPhone VPN product for you aims at fulfilling your privacy, security, and even functionality requirements but at the same time fits into your budget and pricing needs or restrictions. By paying attention to the details about pricing and plans, you can make the right decision that there exists a VPN product for your iPhone that has a perfect compromise for various features, good performances and affordable prices.
Conclusion
We hope that you find our complete guide on choosing the best VPN for iPhone insightful, and in the end you end up selecting the most suitable VPN app for your smartphone.
Summary of the importance of using a VPN for iPhone users
As we continue to put more of our own personal, sensitive information online than ever before, unprotected by the likes of adblockers, and with the risk of our information being breached or exposed daily, it is vital we take a few steps to protect ourselves.
Whether it is more work meetings or personal exchanges, the volume of people and activities we carry out online is only increasing. Without a VPN, all of your devices are at risk of being watched, tracked, or even hacked by your Internet Service Provider, hackers, the government, and other third parties.
Encrypting your internet connection and masking your online activities can help you preserve your privacy and online information so that someone reading your emails, viewing your search history or analyzing your online activity won’t be able to tell who you are or what you are doing. A VPN will give you peace of mind when using Wi-Fi at a café, hotel or airport – and even when browsing at home – in the knowledge that your browsing history is protected.
Recommendation of the best VPNs for iPhone users
In this guide, we’ve discussed some of the best VPNs for iPhone, taking into account their features, advantages, and disadvantages. The following VPNs are our top picks after our in-depth research:
- ExpressVPN: ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN in our speed tests. It also comes with robust security features and simplicity of use our top pick for iPhone users who want the fastest, most secure, easiest-to-use VPN service overall.
- NordVPN: This is the best service for advanced security features and a wide server footprint If privacy is your biggest concern, NordVPN’s strict no-logs policy, Double VPN and customized server options make it one of the best services on the market.
- Surfshark VPN: If affordability and unlimited simultaneous devices are your main KPIs, then Surfshark VPN stands out as a stellar value for money. It delivers some of the best price-vs-performance in its class, and its intuitive interface tackles security concerns for iPhone owners on a budget.
However, the ‘best’ VPN for you will ultimately be the one that suits your tastes, budget and needs – so do your due diligence by assessing providers based on their feature sets, pricing and user reviews to ensure that what they offer is what you want.
Final thoughts and steps for choosing the best VPN for iPhone
Making a decision about the best choice of VPN for your iPhone – whether it is about privacy and security, speed and performance, ease of use and compatibility, additional features or pricing and plans – is something not to be taken lightly.
So, take your time, consider your own needs and capabilities, and try out a VPN company for as long as you can under a free trial or money-back guarantee (most providers offer this), before committing to a longer subscription.
All said, the best iPhone VPN is the tool that delivers the desired combination of strong encryption, smooth usability and deemed value for money.
A few minutes of research and comparison will let you make an informed choice when it comes to which VPN service to use — and get you on the path to a safe, private and happy web experience on your iPhone.
