Whether you wish to access the Netflix library from another country or log in to your office’s secure server, a good VPN is the most important part of the process. Even though there are tons and tons of VPN apps that can get the job done, not many have a decent iOS app. However, fret not for I have made a list of the best VPN apps for the iPhone that offers a dedicated app and full-functionality. Let’s check those out.
Before We Begin With VPN Apps for iPhone
In this article, I’d focus on VPN apps that offer a desirable experience on the iPhone with a focus on features such as number of servers, protocols used, simultaneous connections, etc. To make your decision easier, each VPN would have a score at the bottom of the description, and a comparison table at the end of the article.
1. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield is one of the first iPhone VPNs that I ever tried and it has only gotten better over time. The VPN has apps that are available for most devices that you can find in your home. Ranging from smartphones to TVs and routers, Hotspot Shield has an app. The iOS app is fully functional and even has a native dark mode. You can connect to any of the servers located in 115 countries with the tap of a button. The VPN offers standard encryption protocols and claims 4x faster browsing. Hotspot Shield offers a 7-day free trial and after that, you can upgrade to premium for $7/month on a yearly plan.
Key Features
- 115+ locations
- 5 simultaneous connections
- 1Password subscription
- 4x browsing speed
- AES-256 encryption
Get Hotspot Shield (free-trial, $7/month)
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the most trustworthy VPNs that you can get for iPhone right now. The dedicated app offers a superior experience and you can connect to any of the 3000+ servers in over 90 countries. ExpressVPN supports advanced protocols such as IKEv2 and OpenVPN that ensure better privacy on public Wi-Fi. The app provides a persistent connection which means it would automatically reconnect if it gets disconnected. Also, the ExpressVPN widget gives you VPN connection status on the Home Screen. ExpressVPN offers a 7-day free trial and costs $8.32/month for the yearly subscription.
Key Features
- 3000+ servers
- IKEv2, OpenVPN Protocols
- Home Screen Widget
- Automatic Reconnection
- Split Tunneling
Get ExpressVPN (free-trial, $9/month)
3. NordVPN
You must have heard of NordVPN on YouTube before but it offers much more than just sponsorships. It’s a feature-rich service with the latest protocols such as IKEv2/IPSec, more than 5500+ servers across the world, six simultaneous connections, and double VPN. The VPN app for iPhone is well-designed and makes connecting to servers easier than ever. Instead of choosing a server from the list of options, you can simply drop a pin on the map and it would instantly connect to that server. NordVPN doesn’t have a free trial but you can save a lot of money when you go the three-year plan route. The three-year subscription plan will cost just $3.71/month.
Key Features
- 5500 servers in 59 locations
- IKEv2, IPSec, NordLynx Protocols
- Six device simultaneous protection
- Double VPN
Get NordVPN ($3.71/month on three-year plan)
4. PureVPN
PureVPN is probably one of the cheapest paid VPNs for iPhone and iPad that you can buy as it is often on sale. However, don’t let the price tag fool you. It still has all the security features that you would expect from a VPN. It has IPSec, IKEv2, and OpenVPN protocols to connect to its servers, 6500 servers in 100+ locations, connect to 10 devices simultaneously, automatic reconnection, and a seamless app experience. PureVPN has a dark mode and is incredibly intuitive. They offer a 7-day free trial and the subscription starts at $0.99/month on a yearly plan.
Key Features
- Connect 10 devices simultaneously
- 6500+ servers in 100 locations
- IKEv2, IPSec, and Open VPN protocols
- Automatic reconnection
Get PureVPN (free-trial, $0.99/month)
5. X-VPN
X-VPN is a versatile iPhone VPN app that offers a lot of useful features while securing your browsing experience over the internet. For starters, it has 10 different protocols to connect the VPN over the internet. The VPN app also offers access to over 8000 servers in over 50 locations, a native kill switch, and a DNS leak test. X-VPN has a 7-day free trial and costs $11.99/month for the premium subscription.
Key Features
- Supports 5 simultaneous connections
- 8000+ servers in 50 locations
- 10 different protocols
- Kill Switch
- DNS leak test and IP Checker
Get X-VPN (free trial, $11.99/month)
6. Surfshark VPN
Surfshark VPN offers a lot of unconventional features along with a standard VPN service which makes it useful for many users. You get 3200 servers in 65 countries that your VPN app can connect to using advanced VPN protocols. Along with that, Surfshark VPN can block ads on your phone, whitelist apps and websites, connect to multiple servers using multi-hop, and hide your real IP address. The app is well-designed and you can easily navigate around it and find all the useful features at your fingertips. Surfshark subscription starts at $2.49/month on a two-year plan.
Key Features
- Inbuilt ad blocking
- Unlimited devices
- Kill-Switch
- Multi-hop
- 100+ locations
Get Surfshark ($2.49/month)
7. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a popular VPN service offered by the same people that created ProtonMail email service. The VPN offers strong encryption using AES256 and 4096RSA, open-source apps, IKEv2 protocols, DNS leak protection, and always on VPN. ProtonVPN has 577 servers in 44 countries and you can get speeds up to 10Gbps with those. Along with the paid subscription, ProtonVPN offers a free service that you can use to connect to servers in Japan, the US, and the Netherlands. The subscription starts at $4/month and goes up to $24/month depending on the features listed. However, the $8/month Plus subscription would be best for most users as it has all the features and isn’t the most expensive plan.
Key Features
- 577 Servers in 44 countries
- Multi hop VPN
- AES and RSA encryption
- High-speeds up to 10Gbps
- Up to 10 devices at a time
- Free with limited features
Get ProtonVPN (free, $8/month)
Comparison Table of VPN Apps for iPhone
| Features | iOS App Experience | Location/ Servers | VPN Protocol | Removes Georestrictions | Simultaneous Connections | Data Encryption | Free Trial |
| Hotspot Shield | ★★★ | 1800 | Hydra | Yes | 5 | AES 256 | 7-day |
| ExpressVPN | ★★★ | 3000 | IKEv2 | Yes | 5 | AES 256 | 7-day |
| NordVPN | ★★★★★ | 5500 | NordLynx | Yes | 6 | AES 256 | No |
| PureVPN | ★★★★ | 6500 | OpenVPN | Yes | 10 | AES 256 | 7-day |
| X-VPN | ★★★ | 8000 | OpenVPN | Yes | 5 | AES 256 | 7-day |
| Surfshark VPN | ★★★★ | 3200 | IKE/IPSec | Yes | unlimited | AES 256 | No |
| ProtonVPN | ★★★ | 577 | IPSec | Yes | 10 | AES/RSA | unlimited |
These were my picks for the best VPN apps for iPhones that you should consider buying if you are looking for a reliable VPN. You’d see that I’ve not mentioned logging policy because it’s often just a formality and even if the companies claim to not keep any logs, some would still do anyway. As a rule of thumb, you should assume that your data is being logged but often, it would be encrypted so it’s nothing to worry about too much. That being said, always do your own research.
Also Read: 13 Ways to Fix VPN Is Not Connecting on iPhone Issue
