The best VPN services for iPhone and iPad in 2023: Tested and reviewed

8 months ago 74

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While iPhones tend to have excellent connectivity, using your mobile data as a hotspot or while traveling abroad can be inefficient, or may result in additional fees imposed by your carrier. That might leave you turning to local hotel, airport, school, or coffee shop Wi-Fi networks to get online. However, connecting to public Wi-Fi on your iPhone or iPad is a major security risk, especially if you're traveling in a foreign country, since there's no telling who or what is monitoring your traffic.

We recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) service that works with your iPhone and iPad to keep your data and browsing safe while on the go. We've analyzed and ranked the top VPN services we've tested and researched over the years that offer solid iPhone and iPad clients, good performance, and are suitable for macOS laptops.

Also: The best travel VPNs

Surfshark is our pick for the best VPN for the iPhone and iPad, and it's one of the most popular VPNs for Apple devices overall with good customer ratings. Surfshark has an easy-to-use app that reliably performs well and a great server network, and it won't break the bank if you sign up for longer plans.

Check out below other top VPNs for iPhones and iPads depending on your needs and requirements.

The best VPN services for iPhones and iPads of 2023

Pros

Unlimited simultaneous connections Excellent pricing on two-year plans Supports devices running iOS 10.3 or higher Fast connection times

Cons

No Bypasser (split tunneling) for the iOS app

Surfshark VPN features: Apple App Store rating: 4.8 average, 39k ratings | Simultaneous Connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, FireTV | Logging: None, except billing data | Countries: 100+, 3,200 servers | Money-back guarantee: 30 days

Surfshark VPN is an affordable and reliable service. In our review of Surfshark, we found no information leaks and it had fast connection times.

Luckily, the company doesn't skimp on security. It offers AES-256-GCM, RSA-2048, and Perfect Forward Secrecy encryption. Surfshark supports devices running iOS 10.3 or higher. If you want protection for a macOS machine, you will need macOS 10.15 or later.

Review: Surfshark VPN

Surfshark has a solid array of features, including ad and tracker blocking, a data breach scanner, and multi-hop connections (connecting through two servers). What makes this VPN excellent for iPhone and iPad users is its user-friendliness, uncomplicated and quick connection process, and a reasonable price point to match.

That said, certain tools aren't available for iOS devices, which is the case across the board. If you want to use the Bypasser tool (Surfshark's split tunneling feature) you'll need to use the Windows or Android app.

Surfshark often runs promotions to lure new consumers to its plans. Currently, you can pay $12.95 for a month of access, $3.99 per month on a one-year plan, or only $2.30 if you are happy to remain a subscriber for at least two years. The VPN provider has also thrown in two months of free access on 24-month plans.

Pros

Simple, straightforward app installation Consistent speed and performance No logs

Cons

No split tunneling for iOS Expensive monthly plans

NordVPN is one of the more popular VPN offerings on the iPhone App Store. Installing NordVPN on the iPhone is a simple, painless way to secure predictable performance across regions and the service is compatible with iOS 13.0 or later.

It has many tools in addition to a standard VPN service. NordVPN's Onion over VPN is a special category of NordVPN servers that enables Tor capabilities, supports peer-to-peer file sharing, and allows you to connect through a second server for an added layer of protection. You can also set up a dedicated IP address for an additional fee.

Review: NordVPN

In addition to iOS, NordVPN runs on all the most popular platforms, including macOS 10.15 or later.

Prices start from $3.79 per month on a two-year standard plan to $14.99 per month on a full, one-month subscription. New users can subscribe to a two-year plan -- standard, plus, or complete -- and will receive up to 65% off and three months of access for free.

Pros

Works on an exceptionally large number of platforms outside of iOS Speedy connections Lots of countries to connect through

Cons

More expensive than competitors Limited to 5 simultaneous connections

ExpressVPN features: Apple App Store rating: 4.7 average, 279k ratings | Simultaneous connections: 5 | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Chromebook, and more | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Countries: 94 | Money-back guarantee: 30 days

The ExpressVPN app supports iOS back to iOS 12. So as long as your iPhone or iPad runs on iOS 12 or higher, you'll be able to use ExpressVPN. In addition to iOS, it supports all of the major platforms including macOS X 10.11 and above.

There are browser extensions for Edge, Chrome, and Firefox, and a VPN for gaming is also available.

If you want the most options for countries to connect to, ExpressVPN has 160 servers located in 94 countries. ExpressVPN ranks among the fastest VPNs, so it shouldn't reduce your connection speeds as much as the average VPN.

Review: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN doesn't maintain browsing history logs, but it does keep track of some information, such as the dates you connect and the location of the VPN server you connect to. The details of what is and isn't logged are stated in ExpressVPN's privacy policy.

Overall, if you're looking for a set-and-forget VPN with decent speeds and user-friendliness, ExpressVPN is our top pick.

Subscription costs begin at $9.99 monthly for six months or $12.95 for a month of access. Alternatively, signing up for a 12-month plan will give you a discount of 49% off at $6.67 monthly and three months for free. The iPhone app comes with a 7-day free trial.

Pros

Unlimited connections Highly configurable app

Cons

Price jumps after sign-up deals end

At first glance, IPVanish VPN may seem like a generic VPN service, but there's more than meets the eye. IPVanish has depth and plenty of configuration settings for those who want to control almost every aspect of their VPN connection.

IPVanish VPN has many protocols, so you'll always know what to expect regardless of what you're connecting to. The app has an abundance of configuration options, and there's an extensive range of server selection options. The service is also independently security audited.

Review: IPVanish VPN

IPVanish supports devices back to iOS 14 and clients for macOS are available from 10.11/10.12 and later. We found IPVanish to be impressively fast. However, it couldn't hide that I was connecting through a VPN, which could be an issue in countries where internet connectivity and activities are monitored at the state or ISP level. That said, IPVanish's data transfers were secure and provided a good user experience.

IPVanish is an excellent option for iOS and Mac devices. You can sign up for a two-year plan for $2.99 per month or a yearly subscription for $3.33 per month. Alternatively, if you don't want to sign up for the long haul, you can pay $11.99 for a month of access.

Pros

No data cap Solid iOS app Top-tier security features

Cons

Just one connection allowed Only three countries with free servers No live chat support

Proton VPN has an excellent paid service that ranks as one of the fastest VPNs and best VPNs overall.

In general, we recommend you avoid free VPNs for several reasons. There are potentially serious security concerns with free VPN providers. How do these companies have the money to build and maintain a secure product? Likely, they don't. A free VPN service could even make money selling your data, which defeats the purpose of using a VPN to protect your identity, activities, and other information.

Review: Proton VPN

ProtonVPN requires iOS 14.0 or later.

The only situation where using a free VPN wouldn't necessarily come with security concerns is when it's a free version of a reputable paid service, as with Proton VPN. While limited to three countries and approximately 100 servers, some additional free features from Proton Mail, Calendar, and Drive exist.

If, however, you are interested in adopting the paid version of Proton VPN, you can sign up for a 24-month VPN Plus plan at $4.99 per month, or Proton Unlimited for $9.99 per month. (While ProtonVPN is a Swiss company, you can make payments in US Dollars).

We consider Surfshark as the best VPN for the iPhone and iPad, and it's one of the most popular VPNs for Apple devices overall, with good customer ratings. Surfshark has an easy-to-use app that reliably performs well and a great server network.

Best VPN for iPhone and iPad	Starting price	Kill Switch	Apple App Store rating	Simultaneous connections
ExpressVPN	$6.67+ per month	Yes	4.7	5
Surfshark VPN	$3.29+ per month	Yes	4.8	Unlimited
NordVPN	$3.79+ per month	Yes	4.7	6
IPVanish VPN	$2.99+ per month	Yes	4.5	Unlimited
Proton free VPN	Free with limited services or $4.99 per month	Yes	4.6	1

Choose this VPN for iPhone and iPad...	If you want...
Surfshark	A top VPN that can just about do it all, and for an affordable price. Surfshark performs well in speed tests, earned solid customer reviews, and has an easy-to-use mobile interface.
ExpressVPN	A stable choice for iOS. I've found that ExpressVPN connections are usually reliable and speedy, although on occasion you have to switch servers if table connections drop . The mobile VPN is simple, user-friendly, and comes packed with different server options. You can also take advantage of a 7-day free trial.
NordVPN	A solid, feature-rich VPN. NordVPN's speeds are impressive, but the price point for this reliable, secure VPN on shorter plans might be offputting for some.
IPVanish VPN	A highly flexible VPN. IPVanish offers a range of security and connectivity settings for you to choose from, although if you want to take full advantage of different protocols, you will want some technical knowledge.
Proton VPN	A free VPN. This Swiss VPN provider takes security seriously, and while the free version is limited, it is still an excellent choice.

Although we have our own opinions on the best VPN for iPhone and iPad, your personal preferences and your situation will also factor into the decision. If you need a VPN for more than five or six devices, you'll want to prioritize VPN services with unlimited connections, such as IPVanish or Surfshark. But if speed is most important, then you'll want to take a look at NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

The nice thing about the selections for the best VPN for iPhone and iPad list is they all have a 30-day money-back guarantee. A month should give you enough time to test any of these VPNs, see which features you love, and make a decision based on your personal experience.

Many providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth testing and reviews by members of our ZDNET team. We've been talking about other VPNs for years, spoken with their management and their users, and developed a generally favorable impression.

ZDNET does test VPN services from multiple locations, but we can't test from all locations. Every home, every community, every local ISP, and every nation has a different infrastructure. It's essential that once you choose, you test for all your likely usage profiles and only then make the decision to keep the service or request a money-back guaranteed refund.

These VPNs also have solid money-back guarantees, and we would not have recommended them otherwise.

If you experience traffic slowdowns, check not only your VPN but also your Wi-Fi connection between your device and your router or access point. Sometimes connectivity issues begin at the source, and in other cases, switching your selected VPN server may be enough to resolve speed problems or connectivity drops.

We analyzed the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad below using the following criteria that were most important in helping you make an informed decision:

Performance: Our top VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. After all, there's no point in using a VPN while streaming if your connection continually drops or lags, making it intolerable.Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit how many devices you can connect to a service at the same time. If you have a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and possibly even a smart TV you want to connect to a VPN, you'd need a service that allows at least 5 simultaneous connections.Security: There's no point using a VPN unless their security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured that the development team behind each recommended VPN care about making security improvements over time and patching reported bugs.Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection and is an important feature for a VPN to have, as it protects by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.Geoblocks and streaming: We know that VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you're away from home. We ensured that our top recommendations perform well when it comes to these factors and are unlikely to slow down your connection while you are streaming. Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our iPhone and iPad VPN recommendations, naturally, have to run easy-to-use and intuitive mobile apps. Countries & servers: In how many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether or not there are enough -- at least 50 or so -- to provide variety.Trial length & price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee.

Setting up a VPN on your iPhone is fairly simple. It requires you to download one of the apps mentioned on our list in the App Store. Once you've created a login and started your subscription, you are ready to securely connect!

Maybe. That depends on how much you trust your carrier. You're better off encrypting your data when it's in motion, whether you use Wi-Fi or a carrier connection. Overall, it's still recommended to use a VPN no matter the type of internet access you have in use.

Apple iCloud+ Private Relay is a feature of iCloud+. If you buy any iCloud storage, you'll get the iCloud+ features. But while Private Relay can hide your email address and location, it only does it when you're using Safari. If you're using Chrome (or any applications that use the Internet directly), you're out of luck. The service is also not available in all countries.

It also shows up as a proxy server. You also can't change or hide your location, as you can with a full VPN. Private Relay is a feature of iCloud+. A VPN is a full security solution.

A free VPN for an iPhone or iPad is not always worth trying. A good VPN is essential when using public Wi-Fi hotspots, but connecting to a local hotel, airport, or coffee shop Wi-Fi access point to your iPhone or iPad is a risk, especially when traveling abroad. Using a reputable VPN service is the best way to protect your privacy and security.

Also: The best VPN services (and whether it's worth trying free VPNs)

VPNs are important for establishing secure connections when abroad. Whether you're working from another country or simply want to stream your favorite TV show, we compiled a list of the best VPNs for travel.

You might want a VPN that works best with the iOS ecosystem or another operating system. If you're on the hunt for other trustworthy options, we've also created a guide to the best VPN services of 2023 with an explainer on free VPNs, and whether or not they're worth it.

Other than our recommendations for the best VPNs for iPhone and iPad, other services can get the job done. Here are a few alternative options that are secure and reputable: