Best 100% Free and Paid VPN Apps for iOS for iPhone and iPad
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With so many VPN apps in the iOS App Store, we’ve created a methodology to make sure we only recommend the best iPhone VPN apps.
We keep a history of 50+ VPNs and their feature set on iOS. We update our records weekly to ensure that our information is always accurate and up-to-date.
To find the best VPNs for iPhone, we measure:
- How well the VPN app integrates with iOS level features.
- Whether the VPN is usable on other Apple devices, such as Mac and Apple TV.
- What kind of data is collected by the VPN and how is it stored.
- How fast is the VPN across its server network.
- Whether it works with Netflix and other streaming apps.
- If the VPN uses AES-256 encryption and other security features.
Below, we have included a detailed explanation of the attributes we analyze when ranking the best VPNs for iPhone. You will also see the weighting of each attribute:
1. iOS app: 25%
Minimum requirements: Native app for iPhone and optimized app for iPad.
We recommend: An easy-to-use app for iPhone and iPad with support for widgets and Siri shortcuts.
To be a great VPN on iOS, it has to integrate well with Apple’s system-wide features.
When evaluating the best VPN apps for iOS, we looked for VPNs that support Siri Shortcuts, iOS tools, and offered to pay through the iOS App Store.
We have also verified that all the VPNs we recommend can be easily used by both beginners and experienced VPN users.
The iOS app should be easily downloadable through the App Store, have a large connect button, and easy to configure settings.
2. Apple system integration: 20%
Minimum requirements: It has native apps for macOS.
We recommend: The Mac app is available in the App Store and a free Smart DNS tool for Apple TV devices.
We test every VPN on the full range of Apple devices. In total, we test VPNs with iPhone 12, iPad Pro, 27-inch Mac, and Apple TV 4K.
In addition to the iPhone and iPad, we analyze the application of each VPN on macOS and check whether it includes the Smart DNS function for use on Apple TV.
We give preference to VPNs that are compatible with the broader Apple ecosystem. In particular, we look at whether the VPN service’s Mac app is available on the Mac App Store, whether it can run on Apple’s M1 chip, and how good the Smart DNS tool is.
3. Registration policy: 15%
Minimum requirements: It collects only aggregated and anonymized data.
We recommend: It does not collect any data.
Without a privacy logging policy first, your web activity may be stored and passed on to third parties. In practice, this eliminates the main reason to use a VPN.
This is especially true for free iOS VPNs, as much depends on selling user data to cover operating costs. For example, we detected popular VPNs like Hola, Larva, and SkyVPN, and all IP addresses of registered users.
As part of our research, we analyze each VPN’s privacy policy to understand what data is collected, how the information is used, and how long it is stored.
Even for the free services on this page, we recommend only those that keep the absolute amount of logs. For example, this includes aggregated connection timestamp data. The best paid VPNs are “no logs”, which means they don’t collect any user data at all.
4. Speed: 15%
Minimum requirements: Average download speeds are above 70Mbps.
We recommend: Download speeds of at least 80Mbps and server connections of less than 3 seconds.
High speeds are a key feature of VPN services, especially when connected to patchy and slow mobile data networks.
Without a fast VPN, your internet is often unusable for even basic web activities.
We run weekly speed tests on our test iPhone and iPad to server locations across five continents. Then we calculate the average speed loss on our internet connection as 100Mbps. The less the speed loss, the higher we rate the VPN.
In addition to initial download speeds, we measure how long it takes an app to connect to a VPN server.
On your iPhone, you likely switch between multiple networks every day. It is therefore of paramount importance that the VPN protocol connects immediately while changing networks, otherwise you may jeopardize your browsing activity or security.
5. Running: 15%
Minimum requirements: Works with US Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
We recommend: Works with several Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+, and DAZN libraries.
Using a VPN on your iPhone allows you to hide your IP address and watch content on geo-blocked streaming apps.
We test every iPhone VPN with popular content platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney+ and DAZN.
We track how each VPN has performed over time, with results spanning several years. This means we know how consistent the VPN works with each streaming app, not just that it works simultaneously.
The best VPNs for iPhone unblock multiple Netflix regions, along with many of the most popular streaming apps. The worst performing VPNs only work with US Netflix.
6. Encryption and security: 10%
Minimum requirements: AES-256, OpenVPN, leak protection, and a VPN kill switch.
We recommend: AES-256, WireGuard, leak protection, and a VPN kill switch using firewall rules.
Many VPN apps for iOS do not have enough security and encryption features. For example, Hola VPN has no encryption at all, and Touch VPN has leaked our DNS and IP address.
Using a VPN with high encryption secures unsecured public WiFi networks, safely hiding your web activity from your ISP.
To secure your web activity and anonymize your iPhone, the VPNs we chose use gold-standard AES-256 encryption, have built-in DNS and IP protection from IP leaks, and use private DNS servers.
To verify that these security features are as strong as VPN services claim, we run tests with Wireshark, a packet capture program. If we detect any unencrypted traffic, we downgrade the VPN hard.
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