What Is VPN on iPhone? Should You Turn It On?

Protecting our online privacy has become paramount as the digital realm becomes increasingly entwined with our daily lives. Our devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, store sensitive information, including private photos, financial data, and passwords. Hence, it has become crucial to safeguard our devices and protect our sensitive data.

Using a virtual private network (VPN) is one of the best ways to protect yourself online. Although the iPhone offers settings for VPN configuration, iPhones don’t have a built-in VPN.

While Apple products are known for their strong security measures, they are not entirely immune to cyber threats, as no device is 100% immune to threats. Hence, to ensure the safety of your personal information, consider investing in a dependable VPN for your iPhone.

What Is a VPN?

A VPN is a secret tunnel for your internet connection. It relays your traffic data through a secure and encrypted connection. Consider it a safeguard for your digital footprint, protecting your online activity and personal information from prying eyes.

A VPN works by routing your connection through a secure server, encrypting your data, and masking your IP address. The secure server makes it difficult for hackers, advertisers, and even your internet service provider and government to track your online activity and gain access to sensitive information.

In a nutshell, with a VPN on your iPhone, you can browse the web secretly, as though you were in any location of your choice.

Do iPhones Come with a VPN App? Should I Add VPN Configuration?

As I mentioned, the iPhone does not have a built-in VPN. The VPN within your iPhone settings is nothing but a shortcut to the VPN app you installed on your iPhone. If you turn it on, your VPN app will connect to the previously connected VPN server. If you don’t have a VPN app yet, this setting does nothing.

Installing a VPN app creates the configuration automatically, so you don’t need to add VPN configurations to your iPhone. The better option is getting the iOS app for a VPN, which is more convenient and user-friendly. Installing a premium VPN app on your iPhone is easy, even if you’re not tech-savvy—it’s the same as installing any other app from the Apple App Store.

What Is a VPN App for iPhone?

A VPN is a safeguard for your internet activity. By installing a VPN app on your iPhone, you’re equipping it with a powerful shield that encrypts all your internet traffic and masks your IP address, keeping it private and safe from third-party access. In other words, you can surf the internet with peace of mind, knowing that your activity on your iPhone is hidden.

It’s worth mentioning that a VPN for iPhone is most likely a VPN for any of your devices. That’s because VPNs allow multiple simultaneous connections and have official apps for all popular operating systems.

Who Needs a VPN for iPhone?

Anyone who values online privacy and security should consider using a VPN for their iPhone. A VPN secures your information from external parties.

However, a VPN might be perfect for other reasons, depending on the context.

For Privacy-Minded Individuals

If you’re a regular internet user with consistent browsing habits, a VPN can secure your data from being tracked by advertisers and protect you from unwanted personalized ads.

Using a VPN adds the benefit of keeping your activity hidden from other parties, such as your ISP. For those who value the security and privacy of their online activities, a premium VPN service is second to none.

For Heavy Streamers

Are you constantly streaming movies and your favorite TV shows on your iPhone? Streaming services have licenses for different content in different countries. Because of that, you could pay a couple of dollars a month to multiply the content available to you a hundredfold.

Using a VPN to change your online location, you can access libraries from other countries on all kinds of streaming services. You can watch Germany’s Netflix or Australia’s HBO Max. You can unblock region-locked YouTube videos. You can access Hulu from anywhere worldwide, even though the service is restricted to the US. VPNs offer incredible utility for streamers.

For Frequent Travelers

A VPN on your mobile device is a must-have tool if you’re a frequent traveler. With a VPN on your iPhone, you can securely access the Internet anywhere without worrying about exposing your data to hackers, snoopers, or foreign governments.

Think of a VPN service as a digital passport for your iPhone, allowing you to navigate various internet servers worldwide. As you travel through different countries, your VPN can create a secure and encrypted tunnel to protect your internet connection via a nearby server for maximum speed.

Another everyday use for VPNs among frequent travelers is to connect to their home countries. For example, if you travel from the US to Europe, you won’t be able to access some of your regular services, like the US Netflix library. But with a VPN, you can change your location anywhere and access content from any country.

For Public Wi-Fi Users

Using public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, and cafés can be risky. They’re notorious for being unsecured and preyed upon, making it more likely for bad actors to intercept your information. Hence, a VPN for your mobile device is a lifesaver if you frequently use public Wi-Fi. With a VPN on your iPhone, you can safely access the internet using public Wi-Fi without worrying about exposing your data.

Whether you’re checking your banking apps, sending emails, or streaming shows using public Wi-Fi, a VPN will mask your IP address and keep your information private and secure.

For Researching Sensitive Information

If you’re researching sensitive information, a VPN for your iPhone or iPad is necessary. With a VPN, you can access the Internet on your iPhone without worrying about exposing your IP address, personal information, or sensitive research to hackers or data snoopers.

You can browse the web, access online databases, and read articles without anyone knowing what you’re researching. A VPN allows you to access the information you need on websites worldwide by artificially changing your digital location on the fly.

Choosing an Ideal Third-Party VPN Provider

Choosing a third-party VPN provider for your iPhone can be overwhelming, with many options available. Below are a few criteria to consider when selecting your ideal VPN provider.

Afterward, based on these criteria, I’ll suggest the best iPhone VPNs for your situation.

Security

Security is the most critical factor when choosing a VPN service. You want a provider that uses the latest encryption standards, such as military-grade AES 256-bit and a solid VPN protocol, to secure your VPN connection. Additionally, the provider should have a strict no-logs policy, which means they do not keep track of your online activities.

All the VPNs I recommend in this article have AES 256-bit encryption, robust protocols, and no-logs policies.

Speed

A good VPN provider will not slow down your internet connection. Especially if you want to use VPN servers in different countries, you’ll want your VPN to offer a fast and secure connection.

If you need fast speeds, avoid free VPNs. Free VPNs don’t have strong revenue streams like paid VPNs, so they often can’t afford strong infrastructure, fast servers, or industry-standard features. Plus, they don’t always respect your privacy, sometimes selling user data to other parties as their source of profit.

Number of Servers

The number of servers a VPN network has will simultaneously determine the total number of supported users. More servers means they’re less likely to be overcrowded and slow.

The number of server locations determines the unique locations users can choose from within the VPN app. More server locations mean more flexibility in selecting your geo-location.

Naturally, the more VPN servers and server locations a VPN company has, the more options you have. Having more options means avoiding servers with poor performance and finding optimal performance for your activities.

Price

You’ll want to consider different VPN providers’ prices to ensure you get the best deal. I’ve already shortlisted the VPNs that offer the best value for their cost, but in a bit, I’ll help you determine which deal makes the most sense for you, depending on what you’re looking for in your VPN.

Be wary of companies offering free VPN services, as they are less secure and reliable than premium services.

Customer Support

Good customer support is essential in case something goes wrong. The VPN providers I recommend below offer 24/7 live chat support, plus knowledge bases with detailed answers to common questions and complex guides.

The Best VPN for iPhone

Given the abundance of available VPN services, it can be challenging to determine which one truly prioritizes your privacy and security. Not all VPN providers do that. Various paid and free VPNs make grand claims but are known to compromise user data.

To spare you the burden of long and overwhelming personal research, I’ve listed and described the top three premium VPNs for your iPhone, determined through rigorous testing. The best VPNs for iPhone are:

1. ExpressVPN
2. PIA
3. CyberGhost

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best choice for safeguarding your privacy and security. The VPN provider offers various features to protect your iPhone from cyber threats and data breaches.

ExpressVPN boasts military-grade encryption VPN protocols that secure all your internet traffic, making it incredibly difficult for third parties to intercept your information. It also has a strict no-logs policy, which means it doesn’t record your online activities.

Another great thing about ExpressVPN is its wide range of VPN server locations. With VPN servers in over 105 countries, you can easily bypass network restrictions and content geo-restrictions to access your favorite content anywhere.

ExpressVPN offers a user-friendly iOS app, making it a breeze to set up and use. Plus, its plans come with an unconditional 30-day money-back guarantee. With 24/7 customer support, you can be assured that you will get the required assistance when needed.

2. PIA

PIA is another excellent VPN software that offers an outstanding balance of security, privacy, and convenience for iOS users. It’s a reliable VPN that can protect your online presence and keep your personal information safe.

Like ExpressVPN, PIA uses gold-standard encryption protocols. PIA also has a strict no-logs policy so that it won’t track your activity.

PIA has more VPN servers than any other VPN company, which means that you can connect to a VPN server that is geographically close to you for faster speeds or one that’s far to access content from anywhere in the world.

PIA offers budget-friendly options for its VPN service, making it accessible to everyone. Plus, with PIA’s ad-blocker and malware protection, you can surf the web without worrying about pesky ads or harmful content.

PIA has official apps for standard operating systems, including iOS. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and 24/7 customer support.

3. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a top pick for iPhone users looking for a reliable and secure VPN provider. Its advanced encryption technology, strict no-logs policy, and solid VPN protocols protect your sensitive data and browsing activity.

CyberGhost offers a wide range of servers, including specialty servers for streaming, gaming, and downloading. Whether bypassing geo-restrictions or looking for fast speeds, CyberGhost probably has the perfect VPN server for you.

CyberGhost also offers added features such as an ad-blocker and malware protection to protect your device from annoyances and malicious content.

CyberGhost has affordable pricing options, and its plans come with money-back guarantees of varying durations. With 24/7 support, it’s no wonder CyberGhost is a top choice for iOS devices.

How to Set Up a VPN on an iPhone

iPhone VPN setup is straightforward and requires no technical know-how. Select your preferred VPN service based on the recommendations above, and then download the VPN app on your iPhone using the instructions below.

When you launch the VPN app, you’ll be prompted to create an account and subscribe. It should be pretty streamlined if you use Apple Pay or a payment method saved on your phone. Otherwise, you may find it easier to complete your account creation and payment on a computer before returning to your iPhone to log in to your VPN account.

Get your VPN app on your iPhone by following these steps:

1. Go to the Apple App Store and search for the name of your VPN.

2. Download the official app for your VPN.

3. Open the VPN app.

4. Sign in with your VPN account or create a new one and subscribe to a plan.

5. Connect to a server. Most premium VPNs, including the ones I recommended, have a “smart location” feature that automatically selects the best-performing server based on your location. You can immediately press the “connect” or large power button to use that feature, or you can manually choose a VPN server from a server list. Select a server geographically close to you for optimal speeds, or select a server in a specific country to access that country’s online services and content.

6. Go about your activities as usual! Once the connection is active, you will see a VPN icon at the top of your iPhone screen. Now, you can enjoy a private and secure online experience. Browse the web, enjoy other countries’ libraries on your favorite streaming services, or use public Wi-Fi without fear of bad actors.

7.  To turn the VPN off, open the VPN app and press the power or disconnect button. Disabling your VPN can come in handy if it’s interacting poorly with specific sites or services. Or you may want maximum internet speed—a VPN connection is always at least slightly slower due to encryption and server distance.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the iPhone doesn’t come with a pre-installed VPN. Therefore, installing a VPN on your iPhone is the best way to protect your privacy and security online. Whether you’re a casual internet user or engaged in private and sensitive activities, a VPN will give you peace of mind and the freedom to surf the internet safely and anywhere.

The VPN services I recommend offer excellent features and security measures at great prices. They’re easy to install on iOS, and they all come with money-back guarantees and helpful 24/7 support. If I had to choose one VPN that stands above the rest, it would be ExpressVPN.

Frequently Asked Questions

Topic: About VPNs