Best VPN for iPhone in 2026
Eight iOS VPN apps compared on intro price, the yearly renewal you pay afterwards, device limits and where you should buy the subscription.
Short answer: ExpressVPN is the best VPN for most iPhone owners in 2026: a fast Lightway connection, a kill switch on iOS and Basic at $2.99 a month on its 28-month plan. Pick Proton VPN if you want a real free plan, Surfshark to cover every device in the house, and Private Internet Access for the lowest bill after the intro term.
The intro price is not the price you keep. After the first term ExpressVPN Basic renews at $99.95 a year, while PIA's 3-year plan renews at $79 for three more years. Prices were read on each vendor's pricing page on 19 October 2026.
Key facts8 tools compared: ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, Private Internet Access, Mullvad, IVPN…
- 8 tools compared: ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark, Private Internet Access, Mullvad, IVPN, CyberGhost, Windscribe
- Proton VPN (best for: Privacy-minded users who want a genuine free tier and a Swiss provider on iPhone): Free plan on 1 device; Plus $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($83.76), then $83.88/yr
- Surfshark (best for: Households that want one subscription on every iPhone, iPad and laptop in the family): Starter $2.49/mo for 27 months ($67.23 upfront), published renewal; unlimited devices
- Private Internet Access (best for: Long-term subscribers who care more about the year-three bill than the first-month price): $2.03/mo on the 3-year plan with a same-price renewal; $11.95 monthly; unlimited devices
Every VPN on this list has an iPhone app in the App Store, and every one of them encrypts your traffic on public Wi-Fi. The differences that matter on a phone are what you pay after the first term, how many devices one plan covers, and where you buy it. That last point is iPhone-specific: buying inside the App Store can change your refund rights.
Toolradar data: Toolradar, the software directory we run, tracks 36 VPN tools as of 19 October 2026, and 58% of them are free, freemium or open source. A free VPN is easy to find; a free VPN with no data cap is not, which is why only two picks here have a usable free tier.
This page covers paid iPhone VPNs and their fit. For free-only options, see our best free VPNs ranking, and for the lowest bill on any device, our cheapest VPN breakdown.
Top Picks
Based on features, real-world fit, and value for money.
The most polished iPhone VPN, with its own Lightway protocol, at the price of the highest renewal on this list.
Basic from $2.99/mo on a 28-month plan ($83.72 upfront), then $99.95/yr; 30-day refund on site purchases
Most iPhone owners who want a fast, simple app and a kill switch that works out of the box
The best free-to-paid path on iPhone: start on the free plan, move to Plus when one device is not enough.
Free plan on 1 device; Plus $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($83.76), then $83.88/yr
Privacy-minded users who want a genuine free tier and a Swiss provider on iPhone
The best value for a family: unlimited devices on the entry plan and a printed renewal price.
Starter $2.49/mo for 27 months ($67.23 upfront), published renewal; unlimited devices
Households that want one subscription on every iPhone, iPad and laptop in the family
| Tool | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Basic from $2.99/mo on a 28-month plan ($83.72 upfront), then $99.95/yr; 30-day refund on site purchases | Most iPhone owners who want a fast, simple app and a kill switch that works out of the box |
| Proton VPN | Free plan on 1 device; Plus $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($83.76), then $83.88/yr | Privacy-minded users who want a genuine free tier and a Swiss provider on iPhone |
| Surfshark | Starter $2.49/mo for 27 months ($67.23 upfront), published renewal; unlimited devices | Households that want one subscription on every iPhone, iPad and laptop in the family |
| Private Internet Access | $2.03/mo on the 3-year plan with a same-price renewal; $11.95 monthly; unlimited devices | Long-term subscribers who care more about the year-three bill than the first-month price |
| Mullvad | €5/mo flat on any term, priced in euros; no long-term discount; 14-day refund | Privacy purists who want no email, no long contract and cash or crypto payment |
| IVPN | $6/mo or $60/yr for 5 devices; $2 for a week; 30-day refund | Technical users who want multi-hop routing and honest documentation of iOS limits |
| CyberGhost | $2.19/mo for 28 months ($61.32 upfront, sale price), same-price yearly renewal; 7 devices; 45-day refund | Buyers who want the longest refund window and a low price on a two-year commitment |
| Windscribe | Free with 10 GB/month (email required); Pro $69/yr or $9 monthly; unlimited devices | Light users who want a capped free plan or to pay only for the countries they use |
Pricing read from each vendor's own pricing page, checked Nov 2026. Every vendor here publishes a price.
ExpressVPN
The most polished iPhone VPN, with its own Lightway protocol, at the price of the highest renewal on this list.
- Pricing
- Basic from $2.99/mo on a 28-month plan ($83.72 upfront), then $99.95/yr; 30-day refund on site purchases
Best for: Most iPhone owners who want a fast, simple app and a kill switch that works out of the box
Pros
- Lightway protocol is built for mobile and reconnects when the phone switches networks
- Servers in 113 countries and 10 devices on Basic, 12 on Advanced, 14 on Pro
- First-time users get a 3-day free trial through the App Store
Cons
- Basic renews at the highest yearly rate of the eight picks
- App Store purchases lose the 30-day money-back guarantee
Proton VPN
The best free-to-paid path on iPhone: start on the free plan, move to Plus when one device is not enough.
- Pricing
- Free plan on 1 device; Plus $3.49/mo on a 2-year plan ($83.76), then $83.88/yr
Best for: Privacy-minded users who want a genuine free tier and a Swiss provider on iPhone
Pros
- Free plan runs on one device with no card required
- Plus covers 10 devices and adds the Stealth protocol for restrictive networks
- iOS app includes a kill switch and Home Screen widgets for one-tap connect
Cons
- Monthly Plus costs $9.99, so the low rate needs a 2-year commitment
- The free plan connects to 10 randomly selected countries, not ones you choose
Surfshark
The best value for a family: unlimited devices on the entry plan and a printed renewal price.
- Pricing
- Starter $2.49/mo for 27 months ($67.23 upfront), published renewal; unlimited devices
Best for: Households that want one subscription on every iPhone, iPad and laptop in the family
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous devices on every plan
- Renewal prices for every plan and term are published in its terms
- 7-day free trial on iOS, covering up to 3 devices
Cons
- The trial requires a 12- or 24-month plan and payment details upfront
- iPhone app needs iOS 17 or later, which leaves older phones out
Private Internet Access
The cheapest VPN to keep: its 3-year plan renews at the same low price instead of jumping.
- Pricing
- $2.03/mo on the 3-year plan with a same-price renewal; $11.95 monthly; unlimited devices
Best for: Long-term subscribers who care more about the year-three bill than the first-month price
Pros
- Its 3-year renewal is the lowest ongoing cost on this page
- Unlimited devices and servers in 104 countries, including all 50 US states
- iOS app adds Siri shortcuts and auto-connect on chosen Wi-Fi networks
Cons
- Month-to-month billing costs $11.95, nearly six times the 3-year rate
- App Store refunds are at Apple's discretion, not PIA's 30-day guarantee
Mullvad
The anonymity pick: one flat euro price, cash or crypto payment, and open-source apps.
- Pricing
- €5/mo flat on any term, priced in euros; no long-term discount; 14-day refund
Best for: Privacy purists who want no email, no long contract and cash or crypto payment
Pros
- Same €5 monthly rate whether you pay for a month or a decade
- Accepts cash, Monero and Bitcoin as well as cards
- iOS app rotates WireGuard keys automatically and its source code is public
Cons
- No intro discount, so the first year costs more than ExpressVPN's or Surfshark's
- Priced in euros, so US cards may add a foreign transaction fee
IVPN
A small privacy VPN that tells you plainly what iOS can and cannot protect.
- Pricing
- $6/mo or $60/yr for 5 devices; $2 for a week; 30-day refund
Best for: Technical users who want multi-hop routing and honest documentation of iOS limits
Pros
- Multi-hop routes through servers in separate jurisdictions
- No email needed to sign up; pays with cash or Monero
- Quantum-resistant WireGuard and V2Ray obfuscation in the iOS app
Cons
- No kill switch on iOS 16 and later
- Only 5 devices on the core plan
CyberGhost
The lowest upfront bill for a two-year plan, with a 45-day guarantee to back it.
- Pricing
- $2.19/mo for 28 months ($61.32 upfront, sale price), same-price yearly renewal; 7 devices; 45-day refund
Best for: Buyers who want the longest refund window and a low price on a two-year commitment
Pros
- 45-day money-back guarantee on the 28-month plan
- Servers in 100+ countries
- iOS app supports WireGuard, IKEv2 and OpenVPN, plus a kill switch
Cons
- 7 devices per plan, fewer than Surfshark or PIA
- Monthly plan costs $12.99 and carries only a 14-day refund
Windscribe
The flexible pick: a capped free plan, Pro at a flat yearly price, or a custom plan by location.
- Pricing
- Free with 10 GB/month (email required); Pro $69/yr or $9 monthly; unlimited devices
Best for: Light users who want a capped free plan or to pay only for the countries they use
Pros
- Free plan gives 10 GB a month across 10 countries, 2 GB without an email
- Build-a-plan charges $1 per location per month, adding 10 GB each
- Pro unlocks servers in 69 countries on unlimited devices
Cons
- Build-a-plan has a $3 minimum and caps out at 7 locations
- Free data runs out quickly if you stream on cellular
What it is
A VPN for iPhone is an app that routes all of the phone's internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a server the provider runs, so the Wi-Fi network and your carrier see only a connection to that server. It also swaps your visible IP address for the server's, which changes your apparent location.
It is not the same as iCloud Private Relay. Apple's relay, part of an iCloud+ subscription, protects browsing in Safari only, according to Apple's support page. A VPN covers every app, and lets you pick the country you appear to be in.
Why it matters
An iPhone joins more untrusted networks than any other device you own: hotel Wi-Fi, airports, conference halls. A VPN closes that gap, but iOS sets limits every provider has to live with. IVPN documents that on iOS 16 and later, Apple services such as Maps and push notifications can bypass the VPN tunnel, and removed its iOS kill switch for those versions rather than promise protection it could not guarantee.
Our renewal model: after the intro term, the yearly price is $99.95 on ExpressVPN Basic, $83.88 on Proton VPN Plus, $79 on Surfshark Starter, $69 on Windscribe Pro, $61.32 on CyberGhost and $60 on IVPN. PIA's printed 3-year renewal works out to about $26.33 a year (our arithmetic). The cheapest first year and the cheapest third year are different products.
Key features to look for
Pricing
Prices were read on 19 October 2026 on each vendor's pricing page: ExpressVPN pricing, Proton VPN pricing, Surfshark pricing with its renewal price list, PIA plans, Mullvad pricing, IVPN pricing, CyberGhost plans and Windscribe plans. All figures are US dollars except Mullvad, which prices in euros.
First-term cost: the long plans run for different lengths, so compare the upfront charge with its term. CyberGhost bills $61.32 for 28 months (an "Early Access Deal" sale price, read again on 5 November 2026), Surfshark $67.23 for 27, ExpressVPN $83.72 for 28 and Proton VPN $83.76 for 24. PIA's 1-year plan is billed $47.88 and renews at the same amount.
Where to buy: on an iPhone the App Store is the easy path, but ExpressVPN excludes App Store purchases from its 30-day money-back guarantee and PIA leaves App Store refunds to Apple. Subscribe on the vendor's website, then sign in to the iPhone app.
Methodology: we compared 8 VPNs with iPhone apps, read every plan, term and renewal price on the vendors' own pages, and ranked by fit for a typical iPhone owner (app features on iOS, device count, cost over three years). Proton VPN links are affiliate links; affiliate status did not set the order. See how we rate.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN Basic, 28 months | $83.72 upfront ($2.99/mo) | 10 devices, Lightway, renews at $99.95 a year |
| ExpressVPN Advanced, 28 months | $125.72 upfront ($4.49/mo) | 12 devices, up to $3 million identity theft insurance; renews at $119.95 a year |
| ExpressVPN Pro, 28 months | $209.72 upfront ($7.49/mo) | 14 devices, identity theft insurance, renews at $199.95 a year |
| Proton VPN Free | $0 | 1 device, no card required |
| Proton VPN Plus, monthly | $9.99/mo | 10 devices, no commitment |
| Proton VPN Plus, 2 years | $83.76 for 24 months ($3.49/mo) | 10 devices, Stealth protocol; renews at $83.88 a year |
| Proton Unlimited, 2 years | $191.76 for 24 months ($7.99/mo) | 10 devices, Proton's full bundle; renews at $119.88 a year |
| Surfshark Starter, 27 months | $67.23 upfront ($2.49/mo) | Unlimited devices; renews at $79 a year |
| Surfshark One+, 27 months | $107.73 upfront ($3.99/mo) | Top bundle tier, unlimited devices; renews at $119 a year |
| Surfshark Starter, monthly renewal | $16.45/mo | Month-to-month rate after a 1-month plan |
| PIA, 3 years + 3 months | $2.03/mo | Unlimited devices; renews at $79 every 3 years |
| PIA, 1 year | $47.88 a year ($3.99/mo) | Unlimited devices; renews at the same yearly amount |
| PIA, monthly | $11.95/mo | Unlimited devices, cancel any month |
| Mullvad | €5/mo, any term | Flat rate in euros, cash and crypto accepted |
| IVPN, 1 year | $60/yr ($6 monthly) | 5 devices, AntiTracker, multi-hop |
| CyberGhost, 28 months (sale price) | $61.32 upfront ($2.19/mo) | 7 devices, 45-day refund; renews at the same yearly amount |
| CyberGhost, monthly | $12.99/mo | 7 devices, 14-day refund |
| Windscribe Free | $0 | 10 GB a month with email, 10 countries, unlimited devices |
| Windscribe Pro, yearly | $69/yr ($5.75/mo) | Unlimited data, 69 countries, unlimited devices |
| Windscribe Pro, monthly | $9/mo | Unlimited data, cancel any month |
The bottom line
For most iPhone owners, ExpressVPN is the right first VPN: the smoothest iOS app and a protocol built for phones that hop between Wi-Fi and cellular. Choose Proton VPN to start free, Surfshark to cover a whole family, and PIA if you plan to keep a VPN for years. Mullvad and IVPN suit people who want anonymity over discounts, CyberGhost the longest refund window, and Windscribe occasional use.
Read our ExpressVPN review and ExpressVPN pricing breakdown, the Proton VPN review with its pricing page, or the Proton VPN vs ExpressVPN head to head. Weighing NordVPN too? See Surfshark vs NordVPN and our NordVPN review. To test before paying, our VPN free trial guide lists the current offers. Toolradar keeps profiles for ExpressVPN, Proton VPN, Surfshark and Private Internet Access.
Cite this: Cyberpresso, "Best VPN for iPhone in 2026", November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
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