The Best VPNs for iPhone and iPad 2023

Using a virtual private network app or VPN app when away from your home network is the best way to secure your iOS device from hackers and cybercriminals. Here are three of the best.
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Best Overall

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On NordVPN's website

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Best for Streaming

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On ExpressVPN's website

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Best for Powerful Extras

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On Surfshark's website

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We searched through many popular VPNs and tested them to bring you the three best VPNs for your iPhone operating system. While there were many options to choose from, a few stood out ahead of the crowd. Our choices for the three best VPNs for your iPhone or iPad are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark, with our top pick being NordVPN.

While NordVPN came in as our front-runner, ExpressVPN and Surfshark had impressive speeds and features that landed them a spot in our top three. All of these VPNs will allow you to watch regional streaming content, including Netflix. Additionally, they all have strong, secure connections and no activity logging.

ExpressVPN came in as the most expensive per month with Surfshark as the least expensive, but a VPN isn’t built on price alone. Online privacy, user data, fast speeds, functionality, and no logging of your online activities are all important when choosing an iPhone VPN app.

Let’s look through these top three and see what features and services are the most important to you. We think you’ll like what you find.

In this article
The best VPNs for iOS 2023
NordVPN: Best overall
ExpressVPN: Best for streaming
Surfshark: Best for additional features
VPNs that didn’t make the cut
Best VPNs for iOS FAQs
Bottom line: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad
How we tested the best VPNs for iOS

The best VPNs for iOS 2023

Top 3 VPN services for iPhone and iPad compared

VPN
Best Overall

NordVPN

ExpressVPN

Surfshark
Starting price Starts at $4.19/mo Starts at $8.32/mo Starts at $2.49/mo
Free version
Streaming support
Learn more See NordVPN Pricing See ExpressVPN Pricing See Surfshark Pricing
Prices as of 02/16/2023

It’s worth noting that all three of these VPNs use AES 256-bit encryption, have an expansive server network, offer unlimited bandwidth, are user friendly, and come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

NordVPN: Best overall

NordVPN Is Tops for iPhone and iPad
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On NordVPN's website

Who it’s best for

Nord is widely considered the top VPN in the business and for good reason. This service provider allows you to not only watch streaming services on your iPhone but also keeps you secure while doing it. Its strict no-logs policy means the data on your iPhone won’t be shared or recorded. While this is important on a computer, it’s even more important on a mobile device.

While NordVPN does have one of the highest price points in the industry, it’s well worth it. Located in Panama, this VPN service is outside of the 14 Eyes alliance.

The NordVPN iOS app also gives you access to other NordVPN services like safe passwords and cloud storage. Paired with its connection speeds, this makes NordVPN the least invasive and most secure VPN for iPhone.

What we liked

We liked all the features you get on the NordVPN iPhone app. You’re given the option to save your favorite servers as well as auto-connect to the fastest server available. NordVPN gives you a security score with options to optimize your security features in the app. There are also shortcuts for Siri to turn your VPN off and on with voice commands, which is a nice addition.

We like that NordVPN's specialty servers are easy to access from the iPhone app dashboard.

The specialty servers section is especially impressive, as you can activate a double VPN, Onion over VPN, and P2P. The double VPN will route your data through two separate VPNs for extra security. Onion over VPN allows you to connect to your VPN then open a Tor browser on your phone. The P2P specialty server is your torrenting support. All of these are easily accessible through your NordVPN iPhone app.

What we didn’t like

The app makes you hunt around a little, and there’s no tutorial when you’re first starting.

NordVPN gives its Meshnet feature an icon on the main navigation bar, but we think other features would be better to include there.

There’s an icon at the bottom dedicated to Meshnet, which is NordVPN’s feature allowing you to create a network of devices you can connect to no matter where in the world they’re located. This seems like something we’d use far less frequently than dark web monitoring or Threat Protection, so it was strange it has an entire icon dedicated to it on the main toggle bar.

This iOS VPN is not the fastest VPN, and the least expensive price comes only with an annual plan, which has to be paid all at once. If NordVPN really wants to jump ahead of the pack, lowering the monthly price as well as adding a few more features might go a long way.

NordVPN specs

Price range $4.19 to $15.49/mo
Free version No
Number of servers 5,441
Number of connected devices 6
VPN protocol IKEv2, IPsec, OpenVPN, NordLynx built on WireGuard
No-logs policy No logs
Unblocks Netflix? Yes
Torrenting support Yes
Learn more Read Our NordVPN Review
Prices as of 02/16/2023

ExpressVPN: Best for streaming

ExpressVPN Unblocks Multiple Streaming Services
Learn More
On ExpressVPN's website

Who it’s best for

ExpressVPN is the streamer’s best friend. It supports more streaming platforms than its competitors and has detailed instructions on what to do if you need help for any of its supported platforms.

  • Hulu
  • Amazon Prime
  • Netflix
  • BBC iPlayer
  • Disney+
  • iTV player
  • Discovery+
  • HBO
  • ESPN
  • YouTube

In addition to the streaming services, ExpressVPN has more server locations than most of its competitors, so you’re likely to find the region you’re looking for when choosing content.

What we liked

ExpressVPN is secure and has tools embedded to help you feel more protected. You can check leak protection and see if your IP address is hidden right from the app.

ExpressVPN sped up our slow coffee shop Wi-Fi internet speed

Speed on ExpressVPN was great! There was no slowdown (it actually sped up the coffee shop Wi-Fi) and no noticeable lag. There’s also an included password generator. This might not be necessary considering iPhone’s proprietary password generator, but an extra feature is nice.

The threat manager is a really nice feature. Even though Apple put proprietary code into the latest iOS updates that allows you to “Ask App Not To Track,” that doesn’t necessarily cover all third-party trackers. ExpressVPN builds tracker blocking into the app to help you avoid trackers and malicious sites that may be able to install malware onto your phone.

What we didn’t like

There aren’t as many features as the other VPNs on this list. ExpressVPN is pretty cut and dry with the protection it provides.

ExpressVPN does log some information, and considering its headquarters is in a country with ties to the 14 Eyes Alliance, that makes us wary.

While the service supports torrenting and split tunneling, there wasn’t an easy-to-use option on the app. We also aren’t thrilled with the headquarters in the British Virgin Islands. While technically not a 14 Eyes alliance country, it’s still a territory of Britain, which is a Five Eyes country. Since ExpressVPN does log some information, there could be issues with data collection if the company was pressed.

ExpressVPN specs

Price range $8.32 to $12.95/mo
Free version No
Number of servers Thousands in 160 locations
Number of connected devices 5
VPN protocol Lightway (UDP and TCP), IKEv2
No-logs policy Some
Unblocks Netflix? Yes
Torrenting support Yes
Learn more Read Our ExpressVPN Review
Prices as of 02/16/2023

Surfshark: Best for additional features

Features Like CleanWeb and Rotating IP Set Surfshark Apart
Learn More
On Surfshark's website

Who it’s best for

If your main reason for getting a VPN is all the extra security features, then Surfshark may be the best choice for you. Not only does it allow for saving favorite servers, there are also options for multiple other privacy services that come included with your subscription. They include the following:

  • Auto-connect (for unrecognized Wi-Fi connections)
  • CleanWeb ad blocker
  • Kill Switch
  • Protocol choice
  • Rotating IP
  • No borders (allowing you to use the internet in restricted areas)
  • App customization
  • Surfshark One with alert and an in-app incognito search option
  • Static IP
  • MultiHop

We're impressed by Surfshark's numerous extra features ranging from CleanWeb ad and tracker blocker to a VPN kill switch.

What we liked

We were impressed with Surfshark’s server labels that tell you whether or not the server you’re accessing is virtual or not. Virtual servers can be slower than their physical counterparts, so knowing what option you’re choosing is nice.

We also liked the Surfshark One incognito browser located in the app. This allows you a truly private internet search experience. Additionally, while VPNs are legal in most countries, Surfshark has a no borders option that grants you access even in restricted areas.

The MultiHop option is also nice because it’s pre-configured. That means you can simply choose one of their pre-made double VPN options or you can create your own. Considering Surfshark has 3,200+ servers, there are nearly endless options. There’s also an in-app referral program with a personalized link that allows you to earn free months of Surfshark if your friends sign up.

What we didn’t like

While Surfshark has a ton of pros, we aren’t fans of it being headquartered in The Netherlands — a 14 Eyes country. While it claims no logging, Surfshark does save your email address (fair) and billing information (dicey). Since billing information can easily be traced back to you, we weren’t thrilled about this option.

Surfshark's dashboard offers easy ways to connect to regular VPN servers, Static IP servers, and MultiHop, but no specialty servers for torrenting or streaming.

Also, Surfshark supports torrenting, but there isn’t an option in the app to easily connect to a torrenting-optimized server. Considering the easy connection to Surfshark One, CleanWeb, and choice of protocol, it’s strange this isn’t included.

Surfshark specs

Price range $2.49 to $12.95/mo
Free version No, but a 7-day free trial is available
Number of servers 3,200+
Number of connected devices Unlimited
VPN protocol WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP), OpenVPN (TCP)
No-logs policy Some logs
Unblocks Netflix? Yes
Torrenting support Yes
Learn more Read Our Surfshark Review
Prices as of 02/08/2023

VPNs that didn’t make the cut

Not all VPNs are created equal. We tested several different VPNs including CyberGhost, VyprVPN, and Private Internet Access (PIA) for unblocking streaming libraries, features, speed, quality connections, and price.

While there were some notable options, these failed to offer as much privacy or features as the three we ended up choosing. While CyberGhost, VyprVPN, and PIA didn’t measure up at all, there were two other VPNs we had hope for but ultimately decided to leave off this list.

IPVanish

We wanted to love IPVanish. It unblocked Netflix for us and was the only VPN to offer a tutorial of its dashboard. Customer support is easily accessible, the price is lower than competitors, and there are plenty of server options to choose from.

Unfortunately, IPVanish is headquartered in the United States. The U.S. is a Five Eyes country and not very discreet about its penchant for spying on its citizens. Since IPVanish has a history of logging data for the FBI, we couldn’t recommend this VPN for usage on such a personal device as your cell phone.

Proton VPN

Proton VPN comes pretty highly recommended, so we were surprised when it didn’t unblock Netflix for us. There are plenty of great features offered by ProtonVPN including its VPN accelerator and a true no-logs policy confirmed by a third-party auditor. It’s one of the fastest and most secure VPNs on the market.

Since Proton VPN is headquartered in Switzerland, it’s not in a 14 Eyes country. There’s also a free version that doesn’t log your data if you’re looking to save money on a VPN. Proton VPN is lower priced than other VPN providers on the market.

Since Proton VPN touts itself as supporting high-speed streaming (including Netflix), we couldn’t get past the fact that we were blocked from watching Netflix content. But this could also be because Netflix is constantly working to block VPNs from accessing its content and Proton may just need a bit of time to catch up. (For context, when we first tested Proton VPN it successfully unblocked Netflix for us.)

We had trouble unblocking Netflix with Proton VPN for iPhone.

Best VPNs for iOS FAQs


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What’s the best VPN to use on iPhone?

The best iPhone VPN is NordVPN. It unblocks regional Netflix content, doesn’t log your data, is headquartered outside a 14 Eyes Alliance country, and has extra features like dark web monitoring.


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What’s the best free VPN for iPhone?

Proton VPN has a free tier that doesn’t log your data and allows you secure and fast browsing. It also gives you unlimited data and even comes with features like Proton Mail, calendar, and drive. It may not unblock Netflix, but there has been success with other streaming services. If you’re looking for a VPN for free, this may be the one for you.


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What VPN should I use for iPad?

NordVPN is a great choice for iPad users. It unblocks regional Netflix content so you can watch U.K. Netflix on your tablet, doesn’t log your data, and is headquartered in Panama outside the 14 Eyes Alliance. It also comes with extra features like dark web monitoring and even malware protection.


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Do VPNs really work on iPhone?

Yes, VPNs really work on iPhones. Apple products have great security, but they aren’t infallible. Having a VPN installed can keep you safe on public Wi-Fi and from potential hackers.


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How do I set up a VPN on my iPhone?

VPN setup on your iPhone is easy. Download the app you wish to use from the app store and then either create an account or log in to your existing account. The app will ask for your permission to enable the VPN and you should be able to connect from there. It should take less than five minutes to download, install, set up, and run your new VPN.


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Do Apple devices need a VPN?

Yes, Apple devices do need a VPN. While Apple’s security features are difficult to penetrate, it’s still possible to hack into an Apple device. Installing a VPN gives you an extra layer of protection.

Bottom line: The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad

We believe the 3 best VPNs for iOS devices are NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark. Each of these VPNs had plenty of security features that made us feel like we were getting the most for our money. They also provided the ability to unblock Netflix and other streaming service catalogs while maintaining speed.

While there is no perfect product, choosing the right VPN can be a painless process. It comes down to what’s important to you and your family. These three offer enough protection and features to make them worth your while.

3 best VPNs for iPhone and iPad 2023


Starting price Best for Learn more

NordVPN
Starts at $4.19/mo Best overall See NordVPN Pricing
Read NordVPN Review

ExpressVPN
Starts at $8.32/mo Best for streaming See ExpressVPN Pricing
Read ExpressVPN Review

Surfshark
Starts at $2.49/mo Best for powerful features See Surfshark Pricing
Read Surfshark Review
Prices as of 02/16/2023

How we tested the best VPNs for iOS

We tested all VPNs on a slower, coffee shop-style Wi-Fi network similar to what you’d find on most public Wi-Fi. Each VPN was tested on an iPhone 12 Pro Max running the latest version of iOS 16. VPNs were chosen for excelling in speed tests and the ability to unblock streaming services, logs policies, headquarters, price, and additional features including:

  • Server count
  • Simultaneous connections
  • Speed
  • Kill switch
  • Split tunneling
  • Torrenting
  • Extra security options
  • Streaming ability
Limited-time deal: 2 years of NordVPN with 68% off + 3 extra months
Learn More
On NordVPN's website

Author Details
Mary lives in Los Angeles and has been writing about tech for over 5 years. When she's not writing for work or fun, you'll find her in a theatre, at the movies, volunteering, or hiking the gorgeous SoCal landscape.