The 5 Best Free VPNs for iPhone Users in 2024

Despite iPhones being more secure against viruses and malware, you can put your online privacy at risk by using an unreliable free VPN. Indeed, you may need a VPN in some instances where a free service might appear as a better option.

However, a free iPhone VPN can’t replace premium VPN services regarding content unblocking, speed, privacy, and more. Nonetheless, there are a few free options you can consider for your iPhone that are reliable and offer impressive features to keep you safe online.

Top free VPN services for iPhones and iPads – Quick list

Below is an overview of the top free VPN services for iPhones tested in 2024.

How to choose the best free VPN network for iPhone

The following criteria enabled us to pick the best free iPhone VPNs on our list.

• Privacy and security: Opt for VPNs with 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. In addition, check the preferred provider’s privacy terms and no logs policy to determine if they uphold users’ privacy.
• User interface: Ensure your preferred VPN app integrates excellently with Apple’s advanced features and can support iOS widgets and Siri Shortcuts.
• Unblocking capabilities: Some VPNs are more suitable for internet surfing than streaming. You should choose a VPN that can at least access popular streaming iOS apps, including Disney+, Netflix, and HBO Max. Confirm that your preferred free VPN has a history of bypassing streaming content geo-blocks.
• Totally free: The aim of opting for a free VPN service is not to put your hands in your wallet. Ensure the VPN provider offers a free trial and money-back guarantee.
• Excellent customer support: Select free VPNs with friendly and responsive customer service. They should have live chat, email, and phone channels that provide 24/7 customer support.
• Extensive server network: All the free iPhone VPNs on our list have an extensive server network to reduce overcrowding and offer a reliable connection. The larger the server, the less chance of traffic congestion with an increased speed.
• Fast speeds: An ideal free VPN should be suitable for torrenting, streaming, and browsing without lags. We advise that you check each VPN’s data limit to ensure you enjoy at least a few GBs of usage monthly.
• Mobile-friendly protocols: Prioritize VPNs with fast-connecting protocols like Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard. You can protect your data by constantly switching between WiFi and cellular data networks. 

Totally free VPN services for iPhone

1. Proton VPN

Looking for a trustworthy freemium VPN with robust security? Proton VPN is your best choice. This provider offers unlimited data to browse the web without restrictions.

First, it has fast download speeds, making it suitable for watching videos and streaming sporting events. With its iOS app, you get six encryption protocols at your disposal. Indeed, this is more than any other free iPhone VPN.

Plus, Proton VPN features a Stealth protocol, which hides your VPN connection. It allows you to avoid government censorship or geo-restrictions.

Although the VPN only has free servers in the United States, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and Japan, you can access content across three continents. You also need not worry about privacy with Proton VPN. It has security functionalities like AES 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, multiple VPN protocols, split tunneling, and a zero-logging privacy policy to back you up.

Rather than restricting users’ bandwidth, this provider limits its free version feature by blocking access to streaming platforms. Therefore, it’s unable to work with Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Moreover, this free service doesn’t adequately support P2P sharing, so it isn’t an excellent pick for torrenting.

If you want a free VPN for daily usage on your iPhone, opt for Proton VPN. With it, you can boost your iPhone security without spending a dime. For $4.99/month, you can subscribe to Proton VPN’s premium plan to enjoy wide server coverage and unblock streaming platforms.

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2. Hotspot Shield

Thanks to its beginner-friendly features, Hotspot Shield is one of the best free VPNs for iOS. It’s a privacy-focused service with fast speeds.

The VPN has servers in over 115 locations. With Hotspot Shield, you can safeguard your private information from the prying eyes of third parties and the government. As regards security, it has AES 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.

Unlike most VPNs with limited data bandwidth, the VPN offers unlimited data, which is quite generous for a freemium service. However, you might have to watch ads to get unlimited data support.

This free VPN offers split tunneling for users who wish to customize their connection and conserve their battery.

On the downside, it offers only one server location, the US, on its free plan. So, if you want to unblock content in the UK or Canada, ExpressVPN or NordVPN are better alternatives.

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Best VPNs (premium ones with free trial) for iPhone

1. NordVPN

NordVPN offers a freemium VPN for iPhones that’s worth considering. It offers a free trial for mobile users, which they can access by downloading the app from the App Store. The provider has a network of over 6,800 servers in 110 countries, all suitable for bypassing geo-restrictions. Its app integrates well with most iOS features.

Although the VPN’s free service is only available on Android, you can use it on your iOS device after signup. According to our speed tests, NordVPN is the fastest VPN for iOS, thanks to the NordLynx protocol, an advanced adaptation of WireGuard. When we connected to a nearby server, we recorded a five percent loss in download speed.

Unlike other VPNs that struggle with security and privacy, Nord users enjoy AES encryption, which keeps their internet activity private from third parties. The VPN also features a standard kill switch that protects your iOS device from accidental data exposure.

NordVPN is based in Panama, a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 14 Eyes surveillance alliance. It also operates on a no-logs policy.

This provider allows you to subscribe to its free trial alongside using a 30-day money-back guarantee. Overall, NordVPN is an excellent multipurpose service, and you can upgrade to its premium service for $3.99/month.

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2. Private Internet Access (PIA)

There are very few VPN apps that are as functional as PIA. It has an extensive network with over 32,000 servers in 90+ countries.

Unlike many other VPN apps, this service has good basic features like a reliable kill switch and traffic obfuscation, allowing you to browse the web while concealing your digital identity.

Another functionality that makes PIA a strong contender is its AES-256 encryption, which offers robust protection against cyberattacks. It prioritizes users’ privacy by only storing their names, email addresses, and payment methods.

Sadly, this provider does not have an ad blocker, so if you want to remove intrusive ads, ExpressVPN is a great alternative. To enjoy its free version, subscribe to its 7-day trial or use its 30-day money-back guarantee.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is a paid service with a free 7-day trial that offers advanced protection. It has an intuitive interface that works excellently on iPhones and iPads and flaunts a one-tap dedicated “Connect” button for swift connections.

During our ExpressVPN test, we experienced outstanding browsing speeds, making it ideal for HD streaming. It features a proprietary Lightway protocol, which provides speedy connections and a seamless, buffering-free browsing experience. Lightway is twice as fast as OpenVPN connecting to a VPN server, so rest assured you won’t experience a drop in connection when switching between cellular data and WiFi.

With over 3,000 servers in nearly 100 countries, you can access multiple streaming libraries like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime Video from anywhere.

ExpressVPN is compatible with all iOS devices, including Apple TV. It also encrypts Apple Watch data because it has a network connection similar to that of the iPhone.

In addition, all its servers are RAM-based. That means you can enjoy the utmost security and privacy when browsing the internet. Since this service is a free model of a premium VPN, you need to sign up on the App Store and not from the provider’s website to enjoy the free trial.

One drawback of ExpressVPN is its price; the service is more costly than other VPNs. But considering its impressive features like kill switch, 24/7 live chat, and split tunneling, the VPN offers quality for the price.

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Quick comparison of top free VPNs for iPhone users

VPN Service	NordVPN	PIA	ExpressVPN	Proton VPN	Hotspot Shield
Number of Servers	6,800+	32,500+	3,000+	9,000+	1,800+
Maximum Devices Supported	10	Unlimited	8	10 (for Premium users) 1 (for free users)	5 (for Premium users) 1 (for free users)
Logging Policy	No logs	No logs	No identifying data	No identifying data	No logs
Download Speed	95 Mbps	90 Mbps	97 Mbps	98 Mbps	65.45 Mbps
US Netflix	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Data Cap	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited (with ads)
iOS Free Trial	No	7 days	7 days	No	Yes
Kill Switch	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
IP Locations	100+ countries	80 countries	100+ countries	112 countries (Premium plan) 5 countries (free plan)	80+ countries (Premium plan) 1 country (free plan)
iOS Compatibility	13+		15+	15+	iOS 14+

How to set up a VPN on an iPhone – Easy steps

Setting up a free VPN on an iPhone is relatively straightforward, as most providers have a simple app design and interface. Here’s how to do it.

1. Subscribe to a reliable VPN. Go to your preferred VPN’s website and choose a subscription plan. We recommend NordVPN because it’s super secure and can unblock any streaming service worldwide.
2. Download and install the VPN app from the Apple Store. If available, you can also use the VPN’s browser extension.
3. Launch the app and sign in using your details.
4. Connect to a server in your preferred location.
5. Now, you can browse the internet safely on your iPhone, watch movies online for free, or do anything else you want.

Can I stream with a free iOS VPN?

A premium service is a good option if you need an iOS VPN for streaming. Few free iOS VPNs have unblocking capabilities, and finding one can be a hassle. Even if you’re lucky to stream with a free iOS VPN, you may have to settle for low-quality videos and struggle with data limitations.

On the other hand, premium VPNs feature unlimited bandwidth, allowing you to surf the web and unblock content on leading streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.

Even so, a few free VPNs work great for streaming. You can rest assured that you’ll stream a few episodes of your favorite series in HD using them. Currently, NordVPN’s free trial is an excellent option for streaming.

Is a free VPN on an iPhone different from a paid service?

A free VPN is never worth a paid service. Because of low funding, free VPNs cannot offer high-quality security and privacy features like premium VPNs.

In fact, most free services focus on collecting users’ data for advertising and resale. The more people subscribe to their service, the higher revenue they generate from storing personal data. So, subscribing to them can put your security at risk.

Due to the few servers these free services provide, they usually experience overcrowding. Therefore, many VPNs have bandwidth restrictions to reduce the number of users on a server.

Besides, free VPNs hardly have a zero-logging policy to keep your online activities private. Even well-intentioned free VPNs lack the resources to provide a fully secure service. For these reasons, a premium VPN has an edge over a free service.

Free services to avoid

There are multiple VPNs on the market with chequered histories. These providers are notorious for recording users’ data and sharing it with third parties. They also have poor privacy policies, no encryption, and malicious apps. Therefore, it’s best to avoid them altogether.

What’s surprising about these free services is their high star ratings on the App Store. Indeed, this can be convincing, but always do your own research and never rely only on ratings and customer reviews.

An easy way to avoid risky free VPNs for iPhones is to determine how the provider generates revenue. If the VPN has a premium version, rest assured its paid customers are covering the costs of the freemium service. On the contrary, if the VPN is completely free and has no paid model, then you should be wary.

Listed below are several popular free VPNs containing privacy and security flaws.

1. HolaVPN

This popular VPN performed poorly in our tests. Besides, it doesn’t operate physical servers like other VPNs. It engineers as a Peer-to-Peer service using idle user bandwidth on the devices signed into its network. That means your IP address is available to everyone in the network while using the service.

HolaVPN has a reputation for storing users’ data from their IP address and full name to their social media profile picture. The company has a history of hackers exploiting its vulnerabilities. It has injected a “Trojan horse” into users’ devices and also engaged in Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks on other sites.

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2. Betternet VPN

Betternet VPN is notorious for its virus-infected app and security flaws, which can inadvertently leak your IP address.

This VPN logs IP addresses, connection timestamps, and the websites you visit. Its app only has one free server, which is usually overcrowded, resulting in slow download speeds.

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3. TurboVPN

This VPN service is packed with trackers, malware, and advertisements. It also keeps logs of users’ IP addresses and browsing activity. We also tested TurboVPN, and it leaked our DNS and IP address.

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4. OperaVPN

You’re probably conversant with Opera as a browser. This company claims to have a VPN that works as a browser proxy to ensure online anonymity. On the contrary, it has a history of storing users’ data.

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Other free iOS VPNs to avoid include

• Stealth VPN
• DotVPN
• FreeVPN
• OkVPN
• SuperVPN
• EasyVPN
• One Click VPN
• HatVPN
• SkyVPN
• Touch VPN
• Flash VPN
• VPN Proxy Master
• Yoga VPN
• VPN 360

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Are free VPNs for iOS safe?

We’ve conducted many investigations and tests into the security and privacy of free VPNs, and the results have been shocking. Here are the significant risks of using a free service:

• Free VPNs sell users’ data: Many free iOS VPNs earn revenue by storing users’ data and selling it to third-party advertisers. About 90% of them have inaccurate privacy labels. To ensure online privacy, choosing VPNs with a no-logs policy is best.
• Free VPNs display ads: Most free VPNs display intrusive and annoying ads, affecting your browsing experience. Through these ads, they can track your online activities across all apps and websites you visit. Moreover, most free services inject malicious domains into these ads to steal your data. So, when using a free VPN, don’t be surprised if your browser directs you to an ad-filled site rather than the intended destination.
• Free VPNs can leak your data: Since free VPNs don’t generate revenue from users, they lack the resources to offer a fully secure service. They can inadvertently leak your data and expose your IP address online. To protect your online information, we advise that you opt for free services with AES 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch.
• Free VPNs have malware and viruses: While the App Store is safer than the Google Play Store, you risk infecting your device when using free VPNs. Most free services have malicious codes. With a premium VPN, you can access certain features, like blockers for malware, trackers, and ads, to prevent such malware.
• Free VPNs have limited features: Reputable VPN providers often offer free versions of their services to advertise their products. Hence, you may deal with restrictions like limited bandwidth, limited server locations, and the inability to access streaming services. Essentially, the whole point of subscribing to a VPN is enjoying these limited functionalities.

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