The 12 best VPNs for iPhone, ranked
VPN Runner holds subscriptions to the VPNs listed here and verifies prices, plan terms, server lists, refund terms and app availability on the providers' sites. We have not measured speeds.
Proton VPN is run by Proton AG in Geneva and is owned mainly by the nonprofit Proton Foundation. VPN Plus costs EUR 3.49 per month on a two year plan, and the free plan needs no credit card.
See how our #1 pick compares
We put our #1 pick head-to-head with the other top providers, on the things that actually matter.
Swipe to compare all providers →
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-source apps | |||||
| Genuine free plan | |||||
| Independent no-logs audit | |||||
| Built-in ad & malware blocker | |||||
| Based in | Brittiska Jungfruöarna | Suiza | Panamá | Islas Vírgenes Británicas | Países Bajos |
| Owned by | PureVPN och/eller GZ Systems Private Ltd, så som integritetspolicyn definierar tjänsten. | Proton AG | Nord Security | Kape | Nord Security |
| Avg. download speed | — | — | — | — | — |
| Starting price | $2.15/mo | 3.49/mo | 3.49/mo | 4.99/mo | 2.49/mo |
| Coupon | — | — | — | — | Save 86% |
| Get PureVPN |
VPN Runner holds subscriptions to the VPNs listed here and verifies prices, plan terms, server lists, refund terms and app availability on the providers' sites. We have not measured speeds. Affiliate commissions never change a ranking.
You can reach us, and we stand behind every ranking.
Started VPN Runner to cut through the noise.
Content Manager at Leadonist. Alexa manages VPN Runner's content production: planning, coordinating and publishing the site's guides and reviews.
VPN Runner's AI content agent. Writes and maintains our guides and reviews; every text is approved by Niclas Borgstrom.
Choosing a VPN for your iPhone
An iPhone protects your data on the device well, but it does not hide your traffic from the network you are using, and it does not hide your IP address from the sites and apps you connect to. A VPN on an iPhone does the same job as on a computer: it encrypts the path between the phone and the provider’s server, and the services you use see the server’s address instead of yours. What differs on iOS is how the system lets VPN apps work, and those differences are worth knowing before you choose.
iCloud Private Relay is not a VPN, and they do not run together
Private Relay, part of iCloud+, hides your IP address inside Safari and covers nothing else. It does not encrypt traffic from your other apps, and iOS pauses it when a VPN is connected. Treat them as alternatives for different jobs: Relay is a light extra for Safari, a VPN covers the phone’s traffic as a whole. If you pay for a VPN, turn Relay off so the two do not fight over the same connection.
The kill switch works differently on iOS
iOS does not give VPN apps the same always-on kill switch found on desktop systems. Providers work around it with connect-on-demand and automatic connection on WiFi networks you have not marked as trusted. Set that up when you install the app: on hotel, airport and café networks the VPN should connect by itself, before you open anything else.
Buy on the provider’s website, not inside the app
Subscriptions bought in the App Store are handled by Apple, including refunds. The money-back guarantees providers advertise, 30 days on the first purchase at NordVPN and Surfshark on the prices we checked in October 2026, are run by the provider and work exactly as described when you buy on the provider’s own website. Buy there, then sign in inside the app with the same account.
One account covers the phone and the rest of your devices
You do not need a separate iPhone plan. On the prices checked in October 2026, NordVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections and Surfshark allows unlimited connections, so one account covers a phone, a laptop and a tablet with room to spare. Other providers set their own limits, and each review on this page states the number.
Protocols and battery
Leave the protocol on automatic. The default in current apps is a WireGuard-based protocol or the provider’s own variant of it, which is the sensible choice for a phone. Any VPN adds a step to your connection and uses some battery while it stays connected. We do not publish speed or battery figures, because we do not measure them. A server in your own country keeps the detour short.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a VPN on an iPhone?
iOS protects the device itself well, but it does not hide your traffic from the network or your IP address from sites and apps. On public WiFi and when travelling, that is the gap a VPN covers.
Can I use a VPN and iCloud Private Relay at the same time?
Not for the same traffic. Private Relay covers Safari only, and iOS pauses it while a VPN is active. Use the VPN when you want cover for the whole phone.
Will a VPN slow down my iPhone or drain the battery?
Any VPN adds a step, and staying connected uses some battery. We do not publish speed or battery figures. A nearby server and the default protocol keep the effect small for most people.
Should I subscribe in the App Store or on the provider's website?
On the provider's website. App Store purchases are handled by Apple, including refunds, while the provider's money-back guarantee applies as described to purchases on its own site.
How many devices can I use with one account?
NordVPN allows 10 simultaneous connections and Surfshark allows unlimited connections, on prices checked in October 2026. Other providers set their own limits, stated in each review.