Best iPhone VPN of 2024

ExpressVPN is currently CNET’s pick for the best VPN overall, delivering the most consistent and streamlined VPN app experience for iPhones. Its minimalist interface is simple to use, whether you’re an advanced VPN user or if you’ve never used one before. ExpressVPN is the easiest VPN app to use on any platform, including iPhone. The app settings are easy to navigate and finding a server location is straightforward. We like how the app always connects in a snap, which isn’t always the case with other VPNs -- like Surfshark -- which often struggle to connect immediately on the first attempt. In addition to a kill switch, protocol selection and an Advanced Protection tool to block ads, trackers and malicious sites, ExpressVPN’s iOS app includes Keys, a fully functional password manager at no additional cost.

The veteran VPN provider consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency. It’s also excellent for streaming, effortlessly unblocking all sorts of streaming content, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. Although fast enough for almost any online activity, ExpressVPN’s speeds are not quite as fast as some of its competitors, based on our latest speed tests. In 2024, we measured a 24.8% average speed loss with ExpressVPN. This is still fast, considering that many VPNs can slash your internet speeds by 50% or more. We saw substantially better speeds from NordVPN (11% speed loss) and Surfshark (17% speed loss). Still, ExpressVPN’s speeds were largely consistent and aligned with our expectations across protocols and server locations. We registered the fastest speeds through ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol, which is engineered for speed and security. Overall, speeds were generally faster to relatively closer server locations like New York City and the UK, and slower to distant locations like Australia and Singapore. Either way, ExpressVPN’s speeds were still fast enough for general browsing as well as for more data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming and videoconferencing -- especially if you use Lightway.   

ExpressVPN says it collects no logs, a claim bolstered by a 2023 no-logs audit by KPMG. In addition to its transparency efforts, ExpressVPN’s privacy protections are top-notch and forward-thinking. The provider recently upgraded Lightway with post-quantum protection to help guard against future threats from quantum computers, along with encryption enhancements to better protect against threats like eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology elevates the protections of the traditional RAM-only server architecture by reinstalling the entire software stack with every reboot.   

Surfshark is an excellent option for anyone on a budget looking for a premium VPN solution with lots of extra features. Surfshark is currently CNET’s Editors’ Choice best value VPN thanks to the usability of the app and the quality of the features the company is able to pack into its budget-friendly offering. The app is user-friendly, and packed with useful features like multi-hop connections, an IP rotator, obfuscation, an ad and tracker blocker and a kill switch.

If you’re a fan of multi-hop connections, you’ll be happy to know that Surfhark offers the most flexibility out of any other VPN in that department. Double hop routes your connection through not one but two VPN servers for additional privacy, making it even more difficult to trace your traffic back to its original source. Surfshark allows you to create multi-hop connections out of any pair of servers you want, instead of just offering a handful of preset double VPN connections.

You can select from the OpenVPN, WireGuard or IKEv2 VPN protocols and use Surfshark’s Quick Connect function to connect to the fastest location, nearest country or any preset country of your choosing (including static IPs, multi-hop combos and dedicated IPs). I like the flexibility the app offers with the Quick Connect feature, but I found that it often took a few attempts before I was able to successfully establish a connection. While most of the other VPN iPhone apps I tested connected immediately, there were times that I had to wait 30 seconds or more to connect to a server with Surfshark’s iPhone app. If that’s not a deal-breaker for you, it’s otherwise a fantastic iPhone app.

NordVPN is one of the best-known VPNs on the market, partly due to its widespread marketing campaigns. Nord remains a popular virtual private network option because of its fast connections, privacy-focused features and excellent geo-unblocking for streaming services. Its combination of user-friendly design that doesn't compromise on settings makes it an outstanding choice for casual VPN newcomers and seasoned power users alike. 

NordVPN’s iOS app is a breeze to use and requires no learning curve. If you’re familiar with Nord’s desktop app, you’ll find that its iOS app offers a similar experience, with a Quick Connect functionality and easy access to its server list and Meshnet. NordVPN’s iOS app isn’t as feature-rich as its Android app, but it includes an always-on kill switch, Threat Protection, multifactor authentication and dark web monitoring. You’ll also have easy access to a Statistics dashboard that displays information like your connection status, VPN IP address, connection time and protocol information.

We appreciate NordVPN's commitment to privacy and security. In addition to features like Onion over VPN (Tor) and Double VPN, NordVPN offers access to obfuscated servers to help give you an extra layer of privacy. Additionally, a 2023 audit by Deloitte backed up its no-log claims for improved transparency. While zero-logging policies are impossible to verify with absolute certainty, third-party audits provide peace of mind. On the entertainment side, we had no issues streaming US and UK Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus libraries on iOS.

Private Internet Access, or PIA, is one of the best cheap VPNs on the market. Its wallet-friendly pricing sets you back just $12 per month, $40 per year or $79 for three years. By comparison, many VPNs like NordVPN and ExpressVPN typically charge $100 per year. While the value-packed Surfshark charges $45 for your first year, its price jumps to $60 after its initial introductory pricing, whereas PIA foregoes price hikes altogether in favor of transparent pricing. 

Despite its relatively low cost, PIA doesn’t cut corners with any of its apps, including its iOS app. Although it’s not the most feature-rich VPN, you’ll get a solid privacy suite on your iPhone, including a kill switch that stops your internet if your VPN gets disconnected, protocol selection (OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard) and encryption settings that allow you to fine-tune the level of encryption you use. While iOS/iPadOS don't support split tunneling, PIA is one of the few VPNs that allow for split tunneling on MacOS. Split tunneling lets you use a VPN connection for some apps but not others. If you're ingrained in the Apple ecosystem, PIA is a solid choice.

Another feature we like is PIA’s Automation feature, which allows you to automatically connect to the VPN when you’re on a specific network or network type. For example, you can set your PIA iPhone app to automatically connect when you’re on an open Wi-Fi network or on a mobile network. This is especially useful if you want to protect your data on your iPhone when you’re out and about. PIA also boasts unlimited simultaneous connections the pricier ExpressVPN and NordVPN limit you to eight and ten, respectively.