Best VPN for iPhone & iOS
Protect your iPhone with the best VPN apps optimized for iOS. Native integration, excellent App Store ratings, and battery-efficient performance.
Quick Comparison
| VPN | App Store | Protocol | Battery | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 4.7 | Lightway | Excellent | $6.67/mo |
| NordVPN | 4.6 | NordLynx | Excellent | $3.39/mo |
| Surfshark | 4.5 | WireGuard | Good | $2.19/mo |
Why iPhone Needs a VPN
iOS restricts VPN installation to App Store apps, ensuring quality and security verification.
Enhance Apple's privacy features with end-to-end encryption for all your internet traffic.
Secure your iPhone on coffee shop, airport, and hotel networks that hackers target.
Top 3 VPNs for iPhone
Tested on iOS 17+ with the latest iPhone models
ExpressVPN offers the best overall iOS experience with its Lightway protocol, intuitive UI, and excellent App Store ratings.
Pros
- Best iOS app experience
- Lightway protocol - fast & secure
- Intuitive interface
- 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Higher price
- Limited to 8 devices
NordVPN's iOS app features NordLynx protocol for fastest speeds, Siri shortcuts, and Apple Watch integration.
Pros
- NordLynx - fastest protocol
- Siri Shortcuts support
- Apple Watch app
- Threat Protection
Cons
- No split tunneling on iOS
- App can be complex
Surfshark offers unlimited devices on one subscription with a clean iOS interface and excellent value.
Pros
- Unlimited devices
- Best price
- CleanWeb ad blocker
- GPS spoofing
Cons
- Smaller server network
- No Apple Watch app
iOS-Specific Features
All recommended VPNs have 4.5+ star ratings with hundreds of thousands of reviews.
- ExpressVPN: 4.7★ (200K+ reviews)
- NordVPN: 4.6★ (150K+ reviews)
- Surfshark: 4.5★ (100K+ reviews)
Native IKEv2 support plus WireGuard and Lightway for optimal iOS performance.
- IKEv2 (native iOS)
- WireGuard
- Lightway (ExpressVPN)
- NordLynx (NordVPN)
- OpenVPN
Modern protocols minimize battery drain while maintaining security.
- Use WireGuard for best battery life
- Enable auto-connect only when needed
- Disable background app refresh for VPN
Siri Shortcuts, widgets, and Apple Watch apps for seamless control.
- Siri Shortcuts (NordVPN, Surfshark)
- iOS Widgets
- Apple Watch apps (ExpressVPN, NordVPN)
- Keychain integration
How to Set Up VPN on iPhone
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iOS VPN Limitations
Free iPhone VPNs to Avoid
Collect and sell your data
Inject ads into your browsing
Severely limited bandwidth
Weak encryption standards
No customer support
Our Recommendation
Free VPNs often collect data and show ads. Premium VPNs offer better security and no-log policies.
Related Guides
Comprehensive comparison of the best VPN apps for iPhone and Android devices
Best VPN apps optimized for iPad with split-screen support and tablet-friendly interfaces
Top VPN services for streaming Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer and other platforms
Our Verdict
For iPhone users in 2025, these are our top recommendations:
ExpressVPN offers the best overall iOS experience with Lightway protocol.
NordVPN with NordLynx delivers unmatched speeds and iOS integration.
Surfshark offers unlimited devices at the best price for iPhone users.