The best VPNs for iPhone and iPad

The short answer

Most big VPN providers have an iPhone app, so the useful differences are about trust and transparency. We ranked iOS VPNs on three things you can check: whether the iOS code is public, what independent audits cover, and what the App Store privacy label says the app collects.

Proton VPN and Mullvad lead. IVPN is a strong privacy choice. NordVPN and ExpressVPN are the best-audited mainstream apps, and PIA publishes its iOS code. Tunnelcheck hasn't tested these apps; facts come from the providers' pages, the App Store and the sources below.

iPhone VPNs compared

Proton's features page names its protocols for all apps; check the iOS app's settings for which appear on your device.

1. Proton VPN for iPhone and iPad

Proton lists apps for iOS and iPadOS, and all its apps are open source. Its free plan works on iPhone and iPad on one device, with no data cap and no ads, according to Proton. Securitum has audited the no-logs claim every year from 2022 to 2026, and a Swiss non-profit foundation controls the company. Paid plans cover 10 devices.

2. Mullvad for iPhone

Mullvad's GitHub repository says its iOS app is a completely standalone implementation, kept in the same public repository as the desktop and Android apps. X41 D-Sec's 2024 penetration test and source code audit covered the app on all platforms. On iOS, as elsewhere, Mullvad runs WireGuard only. Accounts use a number instead of an email address. The price is a flat €5 a month.

3. IVPN for iPhone

IVPN's iOS app is open source and is the only IVPN app that offers IKEv2 alongside WireGuard and OpenVPN. Its WireGuard connections can use a quantum-resistant option. Cure53 has audited IVPN every year, though the scopes in our files cover its web systems and its Unlinked Access feature rather than the iOS app. A one-week plan costs $2.

4. NordVPN for iPhone

NordVPN's App Store listing names the seller as Nordvpn S.A. and lists NordLynx, NordWhisper and OpenVPN. Its version 9.6.0 release notes say all regular servers now support P2P. There's also an Apple TV app. Apple's privacy label says the app collects your email address and a user ID linked to you, with marketing and analytics among the uses. That's account data, separate from VPN activity, which six PwC and Deloitte no-logs reports cover.

5. ExpressVPN for iPhone

ExpressVPN offers Lightway, its own open-source protocol audited by Cure53 and Praetorian, plus WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, which it offers only on iOS. It also has an Apple TV app. The App Store label lists your email address and a user ID linked to you, used for marketing and app functions. Kape ownership and the 2021 Gericke case are covered in our review.

6. Private Internet Access for iPhone

PIA's iOS app is open source under the MIT license, and its GitHub README covers the iOS protocols and kill switch. One subscription allows unlimited devices. PIA's no-logs claim held in US court cases in 2016 and 2018, but it's a US company and we found no published app audit.

Other options, and one to note

• TunnelBear (Good) has an iPhone and iPad app and a 2 GB free plan, with Cure53 audits since 2016.
• Surfshark (Strong) lists an iOS app and says SecuRing tested its mobile apps in 2025. It's a good choice if you need unlimited devices, but it shares an owner with NordVPN.
• Opera VPN Pro doesn't list iPhone or iPad. The free Opera browser VPN works in Opera for iOS but covers only that browser. Tunnelcheck isn't affiliated with Opera.

How to read an App Store privacy label for a VPN

Every App Store listing has an App Privacy section where the developer declares what the app collects. For a VPN, look for three things: data linked to you, data used to track you across other companies' apps and sites, and whether usage data is collected. Account data such as an email is normal for a paid service. Tracking is a warning sign: Apple's label for Hotspot Shield's Mac app, for example, says it collects identifiers used to track you. Labels are self-declared, so treat them as the company's own statement, not an audit.

After installing any VPN, check that it connects on mobile data as well as Wi-Fi, and run a leak test. For travel, see VPN for travel.