Best VPN for iPhone: 2 Picks, What iOS Limits and Why the App Store Costs More
The 2 best VPNs for iPhone, which iOS versions they need, what iOS won’t let any VPN do, and why buying on the web costs less than in the App Store.
Quick Answer
Proton VPN Plus is the best VPN for most iPhones: audited no-logs, Stealth and NetShield, at $2.49 a month on 2 years. PureVPN runs on older iPhones from iOS 15 and costs $1.69 a month on 5 years. Buy on the web and sign in on your iPhone, since in-app plans cost more.
The 2 Best VPNs for iPhone
Proton VPN Plus
- 5 no-logs audits in a row by Securitum
- Stealth, NetShield, Moderate NAT and kill switch on iOS
- $2.49 a month on 2 years ($59.76), 10 devices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
2-year plan·$2.49/mo $9.99/mo
PureVPN
- Runs on iOS 15 or later, from the iPhone 6s up
- Obfuscation, ad and tracker blocker, kill switch
- $1.69 a month on 5 years ($101.55), 10 devices
- 31-day money-back guarantee
5-year plan·$1.69/mo $12.95/mo
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Which iPhone VPN Fits What You Need
| You want | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Public Wi-Fi and mobile data | Proton VPN | Your traffic is encrypted on networks you don’t control, and the kill switch covers the moment you switch between them. See is hotel Wi-Fi safe. |
| Everyday privacy | Proton VPN | Proton’s no-logs policy has been audited 5 years in a row, and its apps are open source. See is Proton VPN safe. |
| Netflix and streaming apps | Proton VPN | Proton lists streaming on paid plans. Services change their blocks, so try yours during the refund window. See the best VPN for streaming. |
| Mobile games with Strict NAT | Proton VPN | Moderate NAT is in the iPhone app. See VPN NAT type and mobile hotspot NAT type. |
| Travel and networks that block VPNs | Proton VPN or PureVPN | Stealth and PureVPN’s obfuscation both disguise VPN traffic. See the best stealth VPNs and the best VPN for travel. |
| An older iPhone | PureVPN | PureVPN’s app runs from iOS 15, so an iPhone 6s, 7, 8 or X can still use it. |
| The lowest monthly price | PureVPN | PureVPN costs $1.69 a month on 5 years and $2.15 on 2 years. |
Proton VPN vs PureVPN on iPhone
Both cover 10 devices. These are the differences on iOS, from each App Store listing and support pages.
| On iPhone | Proton VPN | PureVPN |
|---|---|---|
| Runs on | iOS 17 or later: iPhone XS, XR and newer | iOS 15 or later: iPhone 6s and newer |
| Blocked networks | Stealth protocol | Obfuscation |
| Ads and trackers | NetShield | Ad and tracker blocker |
| Stays connected | Always-on reconnects by itself | Reconnect on Disconnect |
| Strict NAT in games | Moderate NAT, under Settings, Advanced | – |
| Extra privacy | Secure Core and open-source apps | Fourth consecutive no-log assessment by an external auditor |
| Automation | Siri, Shortcuts and automations by time or place | VPN on Demand |
| App Store privacy label | Email and crash data, not linked to you | Contact info, identifiers, usage and diagnostics may be linked to you |
| Refund | 30 days | 31 days |
App Store privacy labels are written by each developer, and Apple doesn’t verify them.
What a VPN Can’t Do on an iPhone
iOS sets rules that every VPN app has to work within. Knowing them keeps a VPN doing what you expect.
Cover Your Whole iPhone With Proton VPN| Limit | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Apple’s own services | Proton says some DNS requests from Apple services can bypass the VPN on iOS, even with the kill switch on. Its report describes this as a problem in Apple’s VPN framework, not one VPN’s app. | Keep the kill switch on anyway: it still blocks your other traffic if the VPN drops. While it’s on, you can’t reach devices on your local network. |
| Personal Hotspot | A VPN on your iPhone usually doesn’t cover devices using its hotspot. Their traffic can leave outside the tunnel. | Install the VPN on each device. Both picks cover 10. For devices with no app, see VPN routers. |
| Your GPS location | A VPN changes the location your IP shows. Apps that read your iPhone’s GPS, such as Maps, still see where you are. | Choose a server in the country you need for websites and IP-based apps. |
| Choosing apps | Proton VPN doesn’t list split tunneling on iOS, so every app goes through the VPN. | Most people should leave it that way, since it’s what protects the whole phone. |
| Hosting and port forwarding | Proton’s port forwarding runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and routers, not on iOS. | See VPN port forwarding for those devices. |
| iCloud Private Relay | Apple’s relay is part of iCloud+ and covers browsing in Safari, not your other apps, and it isn’t a way to choose a country. | Use a VPN for the whole phone. Our iPhone VPN settings guide compares them. |
iPhone VPN Prices: Why the Web Beats the App Store
The app you download is free. The plan costs more if you buy it inside the app: Proton’s App Store listing shows VPN Plus at $11.99 and $83.90, and PureVPN’s shows $47.95 for 12 months. Buy on the web, then sign in on your iPhone.
| Plan | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN Plus, 2 years | $2.49 a month ($59.76) | Most iPhones |
| PureVPN, 5 years | $1.69 a month ($101.55) | The lowest monthly price |
| PureVPN, 2 years | $2.15 a month ($58.20 for 27 months) | Older iPhones on a shorter term |
US prices before tax. Web prices were read at checkout on November 6, 2026, during Black Friday offers, and App Store prices on November 7. Seasonal deals, when running, show on the cards above. After the first term, plans renew at each VPN’s regular rate. Refunds don’t cover renewals, crypto, Google Play or App Store payments on PureVPN, or cash and bank transfer on Proton VPN.
Get Proton VPN Plus From $2.49 a MonthHow to Set Up a VPN on Your iPhone in 4 Steps
- Choose a plan on the web. Use the links on this page rather than buying inside the app. Longer plans cost least per month.
- Install the app from the App Store. Search for Proton VPN or PureVPN, check the publisher, and sign in with the account you just made.
- Allow the VPN configuration. The first time you connect, iOS asks to add a VPN configuration. Tap Allow and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your passcode.
- Connect and turn on the kill switch. Pick a country and connect. In Proton VPN, turn on the kill switch under Settings, Security Options. On PureVPN, turn on Reconnect on Disconnect. Test your apps during your refund window.
VPN switch missing or turning itself on? Our iPhone VPN settings guide covers that.
Related Guides
Sources (checked November 7, 2026):
- • App Store: Proton VPN listing, PureVPN listing
- • Proton VPN: kill switch, features by platform, Moderate NAT, iOS release notes, iOS VPN bypass report (March 2020, updated through August 2023)
- • PureVPN support: iOS settings (updated July 9, 2026). Also its iOS download page and Trust Center
- • Apple: iCloud Private Relay (August 31, 2023). Personal Hotspot: no Apple statement found, based on VPN vendor notes and user tests
- • Split tunneling on iOS: also PCMag (October 14, 2026)
- • Prices: each VPN’s order page and App Store listing