Best Free VPN for iPhone 2026
We put multiple free VPNs to the test to see which ones work best for iPhone users. We examined server networks, speeds, usability, streaming performance and data allowance. Read on to learn about the best free VPN for iPhone and discover two excellent alternatives.
Written by Wisdom Sablah (Writer)
Reviewed by Kate Hawkins (Editor, Writer)
Facts checked by Igor Kurtz (Fact-checking editor)
Last Updated:
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways: What Is the Best Free VPN for iPhone?
- Proton VPN — The best free VPN for iPhone with unlimited data, exceptional speed consistency, and 10 server locations, though you can’t manually select servers on the free plan. Try Proton VPN’s free plan today.
- PrivadoVPN — Excellent free iPhone VPN with unlimited data and 10 server locations; though speeds slow after 10GB. Try PrivadoVPN’s free plan.
- hide.me — Solid free iPhone VPN with unlimited data and seven server country options; but you can’t choose servers after you use 10GB. Try hide.me’s free plan.
Facts & Expert Analysis: Free iPhone VPN Services
- How do free VPNs make money? Good free VPNs (virtual private networks) like Proton VPN, PrivadoVPN and hide.me make money with their paid plans. The free plans are limited versions of the paid ones, enticing users to eventually subscribe. Bad free VPNs resort to underhanded practices like logging and selling your data or displaying ads.
- Are iPhones not already secure? iPhones are very security-focused (with features like app sandboxing), but they’re not foolproof, especially when you’re using public WiFi. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and hides your IP address, helping cover any gaps in Apple’s security.
- How to enjoy the best VPNs risk-free: Having tested VPNs for years, we can confirm that the best iPhone VPN providers are NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN. However, they don’t offer free plans. Instead, you can test them using their 30-day money-back guarantees and get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
If you want to encrypt and anonymize your online traffic on an iPhone, we recommend using a VPN. Paid VPNs offer the best security and privacy features. However, if you’re short on cash, you might want to consider a free virtual private network (VPN) — and we’re here to recommend the best free VPN for iPhone.
Finding a reliable free VPN is a tall order, as many free VPNs are either unsafe or perform poorly. Some can infect your device with malware, harvest your data and sell it to advertisers, or display ads for revenue. Our VPN experts have been testing the best free VPN providers for years. In this article, we reveal the top three options for iOS devices.
Cloudwards’ Choice: Proton VPN
Cloudwards’ Choice: Proton VPN
Proton VPN is my favorite free VPN for iPhone users who value privacy and performance. Its iOS app is sleek, intuitive and connects in seconds. I appreciate that it offers unlimited data for free, and its Swiss jurisdiction means your data is protected by some of the strongest privacy laws in the world.
The only limitations to Proton VPN’s free plan are that you can’t choose which of the 10 server locations you connect to (which makes it a poor choice for unblocking streaming services), and that the free plan has “medium” speeds.
Our Methodology: How We Tested and Chose the Top Free VPNs for iPhone and iPad Devices
Not all free VPNs are created equal. Our top considerations when selecting a free VPN for iOS devices include servers, data allowance, security, privacy, speed, usability and unblocking ability.
- iOS support: It should be a given that the free VPN should offer iOS support and offer as many features on the iPhone app as possible.
- Server network: Free VPNs typically offer a limited server network compared to their paid versions. We chose free VPNs that offer servers in at least five countries and prioritized ones that allow users to choose their servers.
- Data allowance: Data is another differentiator of free VPNs. Some free VPNs offer as little as 2GB per month, while others have no data caps. For this list, we considered only free VPNs with unlimited data, but some have speed or server limitations once you exhaust a certain data allowance.
- Security: A secure VPN should offer AES-256 encryption (or similar) and multiple VPN potocols (at least OpenVPN and WireGuard). It should also have DNS leak protections.
- Privacy: A privacy-focused VPN should abide by a strict no-logs policy and ideally have RAM-based servers. Independent audits are also a plus.
- Unblocking ability: Free VPNs can struggle to unblock streaming services, but a few offer reliable unblocking.
- Speed: Some free VPNs throttle your speeds, leading to lag and buffering while streaming. While we don’t expect a free VPN to be lightning fast, it shouldn’t interrupt your browsing experience. We do VPN testing with multiple server locations to see how a service performs.
- Usability: A free VPN should be easy to download and set up. Servers should be easy to find and connect to.
The 3 Best Free iPhone VPN Services Compared
| VPN: | Servers | Free Data | Unblocks Netflix | Speed | No-Logs Policy | Encryption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 10 countries | Unlimited (but you can’t choose specific servers) | Medium speeds | AES-256, ChaCha 20 | ||
 | 10 countries | Unlimited (but speeds slow down after 10GB) | Speeds are limited after 10GB of free data | AES-256, ChaCha 20 | ||
 | 7 countries | Unlimited (but you can’t choose specific servers after using 10GB of data) | Reduced speeds on the free plan | AES-256, ChaCha 20 |
1. Proton VPN — Privacy-Friendly Free VPN for iPhone
Proton VPN takes the top spot as the best free VPN for iPhone users who prioritize privacy without sacrificing performance. Based in privacy-friendly Switzerland, Proton VPN offers a genuinely secure experience. The free plan includes the Stealth protocol, which lets you use the service even on networks where VPNs are banned.
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Like all freemium VPNs, Proton VPN’s free plan does have limitations. Proton VPN’s free servers span 10 countries, and you can’t manually select a specific server (the app auto-connects you to the best available option based on your location). However, tthe unlimited data makes Proton VPN a strong choice for uninterrupted browsing on your iPhone. The service supports up to 10 simultaneous device connections on paid plans, but the free tier limits you to one device.
Proton VPN Hands-On Testing
Proton VPN’s iOS app is modern, sleek and intuitive. The “connect” button automatically connects you to the fastest free server. When connected, the home screen’s color changes to green and displays the server country on a server map. You can click on the server to see more details, including your IP, the server load and the speed.
The free plan doesn’t allow you to pick a server, but you can click on “change server” to switch servers. There’s a cooldown period after each server change, starting at 90 seconds and increasing if you change servers multiple times. We noticed that the cooldown period increases to a whopping 19 minutes after you change the server four times.
Notes From the Lab: Proton VPN Security Analysis
Our DNS leak tests show that Proton VPN doesn’t leak your IP address and DNS requests. The free plan includes vital security features such as AES encryption, secure protocols and a kill switch. However, Proton VPN’s ad and tracker blocker and secure core servers are only available on paid plans.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Smart protocol | ChaCha20, AES 256-bit | |
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | |
| OpenVPN* | AES 256-bit | |
| Stealth | AES 256-bit | |
Proton VPN Pricing & Value
Besides the Proton VPN free plan, the most discounted offer is the two-year plan, which costs $2.99 per month. You can get more value out of the bundled offer that includes a password manager, and encrypted cloud storage, email and calendar for $7.99 per month for two years.
Proton VPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans, which you can use to test the paid plans for yourself. Read our full Proton VPN review for more.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
- 500 GB storage 1 user 15 extra email addresses for you Support for 3 custom email domains Unlimited folders and labels Unlimited hide-my-email aliases Dedicated customer support Ultra fast and private VPN Encrypted password manager Encrypted cloud storage for photos and documents Advanced account protection
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
- **Renewal prices differ for the 1-year and the 2-year plans. Price includes all premium Proton services (Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN, Pass, & Wallet)
- Unlimited GB
- 10
2. PrivadoVPN — Best Free VPN for iPhone Server Selection
While Proton VPN leads in privacy and speed consistency, PrivadoVPN earns its place as the second-best free VPN for iPhone thanks to its larger free server network and reliable streaming support.
Additionally, PrivadoVPN offers free servers in 10 countries, which is more than the other VPNs on this list offer. You can connect to free servers in Germany, Argentina, the Netherlands, the U.K., Brazil, France, India, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Unlike some free VPNs, PrivadoVPN lets you choose the server you want to connect to. This is handy if you need a specific IP address.
PrivadoVPN Hands-On Testing
Another plus is that PrivadoVPN’s iPhone app is easy to set up and use. We created a free account and downloaded the VPN app in minutes. The home screen features a large server connection screen and a “tap to connect” button. It took us less than five seconds to connect to a server, regardless of the one we chose. Connections were fast and seamless.
Free servers are listed right at the top of the server menu, so you don’t have to hunt through the entire menu. You can also choose from PrivadoVPN’s servers in the “selected location” tab at the bottom of the screen. If you want to change your settings, click on the hamburger button in the top-left corner of the screen.
between secure VPN protocols.
Notes From the Lab: PrivadoVPN Security Analysis
PrivadoVPN’s free plan doesn’t suffer DNS leaks. It also has many security features: AES encryption and the best protocols — which we’ve highlighted in the table below. However, its ad blocker and threat prevention features are restricted to paid users.
it conceals your IP and DNS requests.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic | ChaCha20 AES 256-bit | |
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | |
| OpenVPN* | AES 256-bit | |
| IKEv2 | AES 256-bit | |
PrivadoVPN Pricing & Value
If you want to get the full PrivadoVPN features, you can upgrade from the free plan. Luckily, PrivadoVPN offers some of the most affordable pricing in the VPN industry. Its two-year plan costs only $1.11 per month and adds three months free. If you prefer a one-year plan, you’ll pay $1.33 per month. PrivadoVPN’s monthly plan is also competitively priced at $10.99.
You can try PrivadoVPN’s paid plans risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you want more details, read our full-length PrivadoVPN review.
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
3. hide.me — Free VPN for iPhone for Europe
hide.me is another good choice for data-intensive browsing on iPhone, thanks to the unlimited data on its free plan. There is a caveat, though: after you use 10GB of data, hide.me resorts to random server selection. The free VPN server network covers seven countries, mostly based in Europe: Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
Note, though, that while hide.me can unblock Amazon Prime Video, Max, Disney Plus and Hulu, it doesn’t work with Netflix or BBC iPlayer. As hide.me throttles speeds for free users, we advise streaming in low resolution. You might experience lag if you attempt to stream in HD or 4K resolution.
hide.me Hands-On Testing
You don’t need to create an account to use hide.me’s free plan. Simply download and install the VPN app and click the “get free plan” button. hide.me’s iPhone app is clean, streamlined and well-organized. The home screen features an “enable VPN” button that connects you to a server in seconds.
hide.me displays the IP address, connection time and protocol for each server connection. If you prefer another protocol, you can change it in the “settings” tab. You can choose between multiple protocols — OpenVPN, WireGuard and IKEv2.
Notes From the Lab: hide.me Security Analysis
hide.me passed our DNS leak tests, confirming that it won’t leak your IP address. Its free plan includes encryption, kill switch and secure protocols. WireGuard was a premium feature, but it’s now available on paid plans. hide.me’s ad blocker and port forwarding are available only for premium users.
| Protocol: | Encryption | Devices |
|---|---|---|
| OpenVPN | AES 256-bit | |
| WireGuard | ChaCha20 | |
| IKEv2 | AES 256-bit | |
| SoftEther VPN | AES 256-bit | |
| SSTP | AES 256-bit | |
hide.me Pricing & Value
Subscribing to a hide.me paid plan bumps up your server network from seven server countries on the free plan to more than 81 locations and removes all speed restrictions. The most affordable plan is the two-year option, which costs $2.69 per month. hide.me also offers an annual plan for $4.58 per month and a monthly plan for $10.
hide.me’s plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can learn more about hide.me’s free and paid plans in our hide.me review.
- 5 servers
- 10GB
- 1
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5 Alternative VPNs for iPhone: Free & Paid Options
Other free VPN providers worth considering for your iPhone are Windscribe and TunnelBear. Otherwise, the best VPNs for iPhone are NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN — but they don’t have free plans. However, you can use them risk-free using their 30-day money-back guarantees.
- Windscribe — Windscribe offers the same features on the free plan as the paid version. It also offers unlimited simultaneous connections on the free plan. However, it limits free users to 10GB of data.
- TunnelBear — TunnelBear is a good choice if you want a wide range of IP addresses. It offers free servers in 47 countries, although you only have 500MB of data to work with.
- NordVPN — NordVPN is the overall best VPN with fast and secure servers in 118 countries, ideal for browsing on your iPhone. You can try NordVPN for free using its 30-day money-back guarantee to get a refund.
- Surfshark — Surfshark is a fine VPN pick if you want a budget-friendly VPN, thanks to its affordable long-term pricing. It also offers unlimited simultaneous connections. You can also use the money-back guarantee as a free trial.
- ExpressVPN — ExpressVPN is a secure and user-friendly alternative for iPhones with servers in 105 countries. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Set Up a VPN on iPhone for Free
Setting up a VPN on your iPhone requires only a few steps. Below is a step-by-step guide with images that you can follow. We’ll use Proton VPN in this example, but similar steps apply to other free VPNs.
- Download a Free VPN
Go to the Apple app store and use the search bar to find the VPN — in this case, Proton VPN. Click on the “get” button or “install” icon by the VPN to download and install it on your device. Alternatively, visit the VPN’s download page and find its iOS client.
- Log In to the VPN
Most VPNs will ask you to log in — Proton VPN is one of the few VPNs that don’t require account creation for the free plan, so you have the option to continue as a guest.
- Connect to a Server
Connect the VPN to a server. Some VPNs, like Proton VPN, have a large “connect” button that connects you to the fastest server. If the free VPN lets you connect to specific servers, you can scroll through the server list and choose the one you want.
- Give Configuration Permission
If it’s your first time connecting the VPN, you will need to give permission for the VPN to add configurations to your iPhone. (This is an iPhone security feature that makes sure you know you’re allowing the app to become a primary network interface to route your internet connection through its encrypted channel when connected.) Click “allow.”
- Start Browsing
Now that the VPN is protecting you, you can open your browser and start surfing the internet, streaming, banking online and browsing privately from your new IP address. If you want to stop using the VPN, click “disconnect.” If you want to change servers on Proton VPN, click the “change server” button and you’ll be connected to the fastest available server option.
Should You Use a Free Proxy for iPhone or a Free VPN Provider?
We recommend a free VPN provider over a proxy for accessing the internet with your iPhone. Unlike a VPN, free proxies don’t encrypt your traffic. This means that your internet service provider (ISP) can see your online activity.
The best free VPNs offer strong encryption, such as ChaCha20 or AES-256 encryption, which are currently uncrackable through brute-force attacks. While free proxies might be able to change your location, they struggle to unblock streaming sites the way VPNs do.
Plus, proxies are generally more vulnerable to security breaches, including man-in-the-middle attacks.
Final Thoughts: Best Free iPhone VPN
Be careful when choosing a free VPN for your iPhone. Many free VPNs are data loggers or malware carriers, are unusable or offer threadbare features. If you must use a free VPN for your iPhone, we recommend Proton VPN, thanks to its strong privacy protections and unlimited data. PrivadoVPN and hide.me are solid substitutes if you need more server selection options.
Have you used a free VPN with your iPhone? What are your reasons for needing a VPN? Have you had any good or bad experiences with VPNs? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments section below. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: Best Free VPN Service for iPhone
Yes, you can use a free service to spoof the location of your iPhone. PrivadoVPN is the best free iPhone VPN for this, as it offers access to 10 server locations. Note, though, that your account is tied to one location.
Yes, you can use PrivadoVPN without a subscription; no payment details are necessary. However, you must create an account to access the free service.
Yes, it’s safe to use reputable free VPNs, such as PrivadoVPN, on an iPhone. However, many free VPNs aren’t safe — they might contain malware or log data, so it’s important to choose a free VPN carefully.
Go to the Apple App Store and download and install a free VPN. We recommend PrivadoVPN. Open the VPN and click to connect to your preferred server.