Best VPN for iPhone and iPad in 2026
On iPhone the app matters more than anywhere else. iOS restricts what a VPN can do, so the difference between a good and a bad iPhone VPN is how well it handles the always-on setting, reconnecting when you switch from Wi-Fi to 5G, and staying out of the way.
ExpressVPN's iOS app is widely regarded as the cleanest of the group; NordVPN adds Threat Protection on top of the standard feature set. Proton VPN's free plan is the only free iPhone VPN we recommend.
The 4 best VPNs for iphone and ipad, ranked
- 1Best iOS app#4 overall · 8.8/10
ExpressVPN
Built for iOS's always-on setting specifically, with reconnects between Wi-Fi and cellular, and the same app carries over to Apple TV. We have not benchmarked reconnect speed ourselves.
- iOS app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 2Fastest on iPhone#6 overall · 8.7/10
NordVPN
A full-featured iOS app with Threat Protection and Siri shortcuts. We have not measured speed over 5G ourselves.
- iOS app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
- 3Best value#5 overall · 8.8/10
Surfshark
Good iOS app, unlimited devices so the whole family's iPhones and iPads are covered.
- iOS app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- Unlimited
- Refund
- 30 days
- 4Best free iPhone VPN#3 overall · 8.9/10
Proton VPN
Open-source iOS app with a free plan that has no data cap and no ads. The paid plan adds streaming support and a VPN Accelerator feature aimed at throughput.
- iOS app
- Native app
- Refund
- 30 days
- Devices
- 10
- Refund
- 30 days
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Side by side
| VPN | Score | iOS app | Devices | 2-yr price | Refund | Port fwd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 8.8 | Native app | 10 | $2.99 | 30 days | |
| NordVPN | 8.7 | Native app | 10 | $3.49 | 30 days | |
| Surfshark | 8.8 | Native app | Unlimited | $2.49 | 30 days | |
| Proton VPN | 8.9 | Native app | 10 | $3.49 | 30 days |
How we picked
We have not run our own device testing. Ranked on published iOS-specific features — always-on support, reconnect behaviour, kill switch — with our published privacy sub-score as a tie-breaker.
All scores come from the same published rubric, checked monthly — how we test. Rank order on this page is by the category criteria, not by commission.
Questions
What is the best VPN for iPhone?
ExpressVPN for the app design, NordVPN for its feature set. Both are built specifically for iOS's always-on VPN setting, which is where cheaper apps tend to fall short — we have not benchmarked reliability ourselves.
Does iPhone have a built-in VPN?
No. iOS supports VPN configurations, and iCloud Private Relay hides your IP from websites in Safari only, but neither is a full VPN. You need an app.
Is there a free VPN for iPhone that is safe?
Proton VPN Free. It has no data cap, no ads and an audited no-logs policy. Most other free iPhone VPNs in the App Store monetise your data somehow.
Should I leave the VPN on all the time on iPhone?
On public Wi-Fi, yes. At home it is optional; the top apps add little battery drain, so many people leave it on.