Best VPN for iPhone 2026: Which iOS VPN App to Choose?

Using the best VPN for iPhone is a step in the right direction for privacy, bypassing online blocks, and streaming. In today’s times, you want the best iPhone VPN to keep your data safe while providing free access to online content. To find a good VPN for iPhone, we had to test over 60 iPhone VPNs.

After comprehensive tests, we ended up with 5. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the best iPhone VPN apps, with Private Internet Access, Proton VPN, and Surfshark following in very close. How did we determine this, and why did we choose these 5? Read our full iPhone VPN list for 2026 to learn more.

Best VPN for iPhone: Detailed Top 5 iOS VPN List

Before we start, we must clarify that all top picks on this list were tested by our experts. We left no stone unturned to ensure you get the crème de la crème. So, let’s immediately delve deeper and see what makes them so great.

1. NordVPN: Best VPN App for iPhone in 2026

NordVPN has everything you need in an iPhone VPN. It’s a secure iOS VPN with post-quantum encryption, an advanced kill switch, and IP and DNS leak protection. Its iOS app is surprisingly capable, with Siri Shortcuts, which let you connect to a VPN with your voice. NordVPN also has obfuscated servers. This VPN can be life-saving in China and other censored countries.  As the best VPN for iPhone, NordVPN also offers Double VPN servers to route traffic through two secure locations.

Threat Protection, which blocks ads, malicious websites, and trackers, is also included. Then, there’s  NordWhisper, NordVPN’s in-house protocol for avoiding network filtering. The provider doesn’t store any logs, as confirmed in a recent 2026 audit by Deloitte. If you’re into streaming, NordVPN works with more than 25 Netflix catalogs and dozens of foreign channels and streaming services. Performance-wise, after thoroughly testing NordVPN, it’s the fastest VPN for iPhone users.

It uses 10 Gbps servers and NordLynx, an in-house protocol built for speed. Apple’s entire ecosystem can be protected with NordVPN. As this is also the most trusted VPN for Mac, you can enjoy strong security even on this platform. It supports 10 simultaneous connections, so that should be hassle-free. With no notable downsides, NordVPN remains the #1 rated VPN for iPhone for many reasons.

Its price is reasonable too, thanks to a 2-year Basic plan with a 73%+ price drop. At just around $3 monthly, this trusted iOS VPN is affordable for the majority of people.

Visit NordVPN

---

2. ExpressVPN: Fastest VPN for iPhone

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for iOS for beginners. Its apps are user-friendly and work on all platforms. Despite its simple apps, this is a safe VPN for iPhone with some of the most advanced features. Advanced Protection allows ExpressVPN to block ads, malicious sites, and adult platforms. In addition, ExpressVPN includes Lightway Turbo, a proprietary protocol for strong security and fast speed. Meanwhile, its Network Lock kill switch prevents your IP from going public.

Thanks to RAM-only servers and Private DNS, ExpressVPN prevents ISP surveillance and data collection. ExpressVPN’s no-log policy and infrastructure have been acclaimed multiple times, reflected in its recent 2025 audit by KPMG. ExpressVPN is a leading VPN for unblocking sites. It’s suitable for streaming, torrenting, and online gaming, preventing ISP throttling for a faster internet on your iPhone. ExpressVPN offers 10 to 14 simultaneous connections per account.

That’s more than most of its best iPhone VPN competitors, except PIA and Surfshark. ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support is responsive, and the iOS VPN includes bonus extras like ExpressKeys, a password manager, MediaStreamer (SmartDNS), an email relay service called ExpressMailGuard, a free eSIM, or even ExpressAI, reserved for the Pro plan. You don’t have to spend a lot on this dependable VPN for iPhone.

The 2-year Basic plan is all you need. It includes 4 free months and hefty discounts that bring the price down to a meager $2.49 per month. A 30-day money-back guarantee is there if you want to back out without penalties.

Visit ExpressVPN

---

3. Private Internet Access: Cheap and Safe VPN for iPhone

When it comes to affordable VPNs for iPhone, PIA is our #1. Its unlimited connections and modern iOS apps are its highlights. PIA VPN’s security and performance on iOS are strong. While MACE blocks ads and trackers, MultiHop connections double your encryption. As the best VPN for iOS, it has over 30,000 servers, all RAM-based. Plus, there’s a kill switch that prevents data leakage if the VPN connection cuts off.

Private Internet Access even includes Shadowsocks, a proxy for traffic obfuscation that easily bypasses censorship. The best cheap VPN for iPhone also has WireGuard, which combines security, privacy, and speed. You’ll find this provider’s Dedicated IPs useful for bypassing CAPTCHA and avoiding IP blacklisting. At just around $1.45/mo, you can also get an Antivirus and protect your Windows computer.

PIA also includes Smart DNS in multiple countries. With it, it’s easy to set up for streaming on any device, such as Xbox consoles, for instance. PIA VPN works well on iPhones if you’re streaming. It has a few dedicated streaming servers with solid speeds and access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streamers. It’s a valuable iPhone VPN for the money if you pick its heavily discounted 2-year plan.

In that case, the price of around $1.33 a month (EXCLUSIVE PROMOTION) will be more than attractive, and you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it risk-free. We nearly forgot that the 2-year plan includes 2 free months, making this iPhone VPN officially the best budget option in June 2026.

Visit Private Internet Access

---

4. Proton VPN: Best VPN for iOS for Online Privacy

Proton VPN has 20,000+ servers and offers a powerful VPN for iOS.It’s one of the best VPNs compatible with iPhone, thanks to stable performance, plenty of locations (145), and a broad network. This VPN even offers servers for torrenting and Tor over VPN connections. Users who care about speed can use WireGuard, which, with unlimited bandwidth and data, offers a premium iPhone VPN experience. Proton VPN on iOS has a kill switch, with a NetShield ad blocker to keep malicious sites, trackers, and ads away.

It also uses Secure Core servers to encrypt traffic twice. Proton VPN includes many P2P-designated servers if you switch over to macOS or Windows. In our Proton VPN test, they performed reliably, with fast speed and solid security. On top of that, it’s a good VPN for iPhone for privacy, expressed through a no-log policy (audited by Securitum in 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025), open-source apps, and full-disk encryption. You can also use its free iPhone VPN with unlimited data.

Thanks to the guest mode, you don’t need an account. It’s free forever, and you can switch to the premium VPN at any moment. Proton VPN is an all-rounder, with good security, useful obfuscation, limitless torrenting and streaming, and widely-compatible apps. As one of the leading iPhone VPNs, it is surprising that the price is $3 per month for the 2-year plan. And if the free plan is insufficient, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Visit Proton VPN

---

5. Surfshark: Best Budget VPN for iPhone in 2026

Surfshark is a popular VPN for iOS that many love for its streaming prowess. It’s the best iPhone VPN for Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Pluto TV. However, it’s also P2P-compatible and offers 4,500+ servers in 100 countries. Meanwhile, unlimited simultaneous connections allow protection for all your devices. Surfshark isn’t the fastest VPN for iPhone, but its WireGuard protocol helps. Also, macOS users can take advantage of Dausos, a speed-first protocol for bandwidth-hungry activities.

MultiHop servers are another plus, and you can customize entry and exit servers (NordVPN, our #1 iOS VPN, doesn’t allow this). Surfshark offers geo-spoofing plus an active IP Rotation, which rotates your IP every 5-10 minutes to boost privacy. In its app, you’ll also find NoBorders, which masks your VPN traffic (obfuscation) and allows the provider to work in China. Surfshark’s One plan allows for more security options, like Search, an anonymous web browser, and Antivirus, which works well on iOS.

Its compatibility is comprehensive, so you can use the VPN on a Windows PC, Android phone, or macOS laptop. Surfshark keeps zero logs, as expressed in Deloitte’s audit in June 2025. Surfshark typically starts at $1.99 per month, making it among the cheapest premium VPNs for iPhone right now. We can’t describe our experience with it in one go. For that, you have our Surfshark VPN review, where we discussed our experience on multiple platforms (including iOS and macOS).

Visit Surfshark

---

Best VPN for iPhone Comparison Table

	NordVPN	ExpressVPN	PIA VPN	Proton VPN	Surfshark
Apple Store Rating	4.7 ⭐	4.7 ⭐	4.7 ⭐	4.6 ⭐	4.7 ⭐
iOS Kill Switch	Yes ✅	Yes ✅	Yes ✅	Yes ✅	Yes ✅
iOS Protocols	NordLynx, NordWhiper, IKEv2, OpenVPN	Lightway, IKEv2	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, Stealth	WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
Simultaneous Connections	10	10-14	Unlimited	10	Unlimited
Streaming (Unblocking)	Strong	Strong	Mixed	Good	Strong
Start Price	$3.09/mo	$2.49/mo	$1.33/mo (special deal)	$2.99/mo	$1.99/mo
Free Trial on iOS	No ❌	3 days ✅	7 days ✅	No (it has a free plan) ✅	7 days ✅

Why Use a VPN on iPhone and iPad: Real Life Benefits

VPNs are beneficial in many ways and can improve your internet experience. If you’re an iPhone user, installing this app will bring with it:

Online Privacy and Anonymity With an iOS VPN

When you go online with a VPN, your IP address is routed through a VPN server. In return, you’re protected from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), which can track your activities. This also applies to government surveillance. The government authorizes ISPs to monitor your traffic and collect your sensitive data. A VPN installed on your iPhone prevents this with a connection to the server. Your traffic is routed through the VPN that doesn’t store logs.

Even if the authorities request a VPN to hand over your data, they’ll come up empty-handed. As explained, their RAM-only servers are free of sensitive information. This can be useful when downloading torrents. Concealing your IP address makes your download history anonymous, allowing for private P2P file sharing. However, such a benefit will likely be more valuable on Windows, macOS, or Android.

Public WiFi Security Using a Good iPhone VPN

Public WiFi networks are dangerous because they lack encryption and password protection. Even password protection isn’t enough if it doesn’t have proper security. A powerful device like an iPhone can connect to any network. However, doing so exposes you to hackers looking to steal your data. Public WiFi hotspots beg for the use of the best iPhone VPN. Once connected, your IP is hidden, and your traffic is encrypted, which instantly wards off hacking attempts.

Thanks to AES-256 encryption, your data will remain safe, and you can go on the internet without fear of unforeseen consequences. According to Forbes, 4 in 10 people had their information compromised on public WiFi, an alarming statistic from a privacy standpoint. Compromised data may include your credit card data, address, and social media information. Now, you see why using a VPN on a public WiFi hotspot is one of the smartest moves.

Avoiding Geo-Blocks & Streaming (Watching Netflix on iPhone)

Region-locked content is all around the internet, and no matter where you are, there’s always going to be a blocked website. With the change of your IP address, you can access any site if you have a reliable VPN on your iPhone. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are particularly effective at unblocking streaming services. They work with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and other popular streaming platforms.

We’re also talking about gambling platforms, online bookies, adult sites, and more. A VPN on your iPhone can also help you navigate porn restrictions in India or unblock Pluto TV outside the USA. Two, among millions of other examples.

Bypassing Censorship (Even in China)

Censorship is the worst method of internet restriction and is prevalent in China, Iran, Russia, and Turkey. If you find yourself there, having the best VPN for iPhone is essential. All the providers we selected offer obfuscation. Enabling it masks your VPN traffic and makes it look regular, allowing you to defeat deep-packet inspection.

How to Install and Use a VPN on an iPhone?

We presented you with our 5 favorite VPNs that work on iPhones, so it’s time to see how to use them. While these providers are different, they all work the same, and no matter which one you pick, installing and using a VPN is simple. As NordVPN is our #1 rated VPN for iPhone in 2026, we’ll demonstrate how to use it. The process is identical for the other 4 premium VPNs.

1️⃣ Subscribe to a VPN Service

You can perform this step on your iPhone or any other device. Click the button below to go to NordVPN’s website and claim the special 2-year deal. Alternatively, use the buttons in this article to get discounts on your chosen provider.

Once you’re on the website, provide your email address, select the payment vendor, and complete the purchase. After that, you’ll have to verify your account through email and make a secure password.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free

2️⃣ Install the VPN App on Your iPhone

It’s time to download a VPN to your iPhone. Visit your App Store and search for the service you’ve selected. Tap Get (or a cloud icon in the screenshot) and when it’s downloaded, press Open to access the application. Sign in to the app by using your email and password from Step 1.

3️⃣ Connect to a Server

We used the Quick Connection button to connect to the fastest server. Of course, you can pick a different server by opening the server list and tapping a different country whose IP address you want. When the app notifies you, you’re connected and under the encryption of a trusted and safe iPhone VPN.

Free iPhone VPN: Is It Safe to Use?

When searching the App Store, you’ll come across many free providers. They promise safety, security, no logging, fast speed, and more. But if you try at least one, you’ll see how shallow these promises are. Sadly, the best VPN for iPhone can’t be free. Free options are free for a reason, or many, we should say. They’re slower, offer few server locations, and many times, have limited data. Proton VPN is an unlimited provider whose free plan doesn’t let you choose the server.

Windscribe is free and fast, but limits you to 10 GB of monthly data. They are popular VPNs, and they’re already severely crippled. Not to mention other, more malicious options like Hola VPN, Betternet, Turbo VPN, and Urban VPN. All have one thing in common: heavy logging. Hola VPN, for example, sells its collected IPs to Bright Data, a famous premium proxy provider. You’ll find hundreds of 100% free VPNs for iPhones with this problem.

We found that these providers don’t support P2P, they don’t work for streaming, and they don’t allow simultaneous connections. Everything is explained in our article about the best free VPNs on iPhone. All in all, they’re unworthy of your time when you have affordable VPN options, like PIA, often for under $2/mo ($1.33/mo right now).

Best VPN for iPhone: Final Verdict

After a long compilation of the best VPNs for iPhone, it’s time to say goodbye. We rounded up the safest, most reputable services. In our experience, NordVPN takes the crown as the #1 pick on this list. It has no notable shortcomings and is an all-arounder with a good price of $3 per month. ExpressVPN is a close second, but still safe, secure, and one of the fastest options. PIA has a feature-packed iOS app, unlimited simultaneous connections, and low prices.

The same rings true for Surfshark, which we had no problem using with Netflix, torrent sites, and Tor over VPN connections. Meanwhile, Proton VPN is a mix of privacy, security, and high-bandwidth servers that doesn’t cost a fortune, and offers a forever-free plan with unlimited data. It’s your turn to pick a VPN, get a discount, and secure your iPhone today.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free Today

---

FAQ About the Best VPN for iPhone