8 Best Free VPNs for Your iPhone, Apple has been making great efforts to enhance the security and privacy of the iPhone. Since the release of iOS 14.5, apps now have to request user permission to track their online activity. Moreover, with the iOS 15 update, Apple introduced Private Relay, which conceals your IP address. Despite these security options, it is critical to use a VPN when using an iPhone to protect your personal information and identity.
Although we typically suggest using premium VPN services, like NordVPN, we understand that not everyone wants to pay a few dollars every month for a VPN service. Fortunately, there are several free VPNs available for iPhones. However, not all of these free VPN applications are secure and reliable.
To create this article, we researched various free iPhone VPNs.
The table discusses the data limits, the number of servers, and the encryption level for each VPN discussed in this article. This will enable you to quickly find the best free iPhone VPN application for your needs.
Name | Quota | Server Location | Encryption Level | Link |
Proton VPN | Unlimited | 3 Countries | AES 256 Bit | |
ZoogVPN | 10GB/Month | 5 Countries | AES 256 Bit | |
Hide.Me | 10GB/Month | 1 Countries | AES 128 Bit | |
Windscribe | 2GB/Month | 10 Countries | AES 256 Bit | |
AtlasVPN | 2GB/Day | 3 Countries | AES 256 Bit | |
AviraPhantom VPN | 500Mb/Day | 37 Countries | AES 256 Bit | |
Speedify | 2GB/Month | 37 Countries | AES 128 Bit | |
TunnelBear | 500Mb/Month | 49 Countries | AES 256 Bit |
1. ProtonVPN: The Best Free VPN for iPhone
ProtonVPN was created by Proton Technologies AG, which is also responsible for ProtonMail. You can get a free version of ProtonMail, along with various other Proton services, with your free ProtonVPN subscription if you wish. This free VPN service allows for high download speeds and unlimited data. For iPhone users, this service is our top pick.
Bandwidth and Speed
According to our list, ProtonVPN is the third-fastest VPN. The service achieved the following speeds when connected to the best server—in this case, the Japan server:
ProtonVPN’s high download speed enables it to be used for watching videos and streaming sports events. Its free version, however, does not support torrenting or P2P file exchanges.
Our overall browsing experience with this free VPN app was smooth and without lag. Although ProtonVPN can unblock content on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer, it doesn’t always succeed. This is one of the drawbacks of this VPN.
Another disadvantage of ProtonVPN is its small server network. Only 17 servers in three countries (the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands) are accessible to users using a free account. Although this network is very limited, the servers are evenly distributed in popular locations. You should be able to connect to a server near your location.
Security and Privacy Protection
In terms of security, ProtonVPN excels. Its encryption protocols and standards are comparable to some famous premium VPN providers. One of the main security features of ProtonVPN includes:
- Protocols: Wireguard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2
- Encryption: AES 256-bit
- Shutdown switch: Yes
- Protection from DNS leaks : Yes
ProtonVPN is one of the best free VPNs globally today because it is open source and independently audited.
ProtonVPN is also excellent for privacy. Its service is based in Switzerland, a privacy-friendly country that is not a member of surveillance alliances like 5/9/14 Eyes and has a strict no-log policy.
Benefits and Consumer Experience
The Proton site is excellent. You can see all the essential VPN features and their prices. Although the website is not very attractive, their VPN app is very user-friendly, with a large “connect/disconnect” button in the middle lower part of the tab. By pressing one button, you can see which servers are available.
If you have issues with the ProtonVPN app, you can contact their customer service team. Free users can only contact the team via email, and the live chat function is not available. This is not ideal—even though we received replies to our questions via email, it took a few days.”
2. ZoogVPN is a Free private VPN for iPhones.
Operating since 2013, ZoogVPN offers excellent upload speeds and quite a generous data storage capacity for free users.
ZoogVPN’s speed and bandwidth are extraordinary
ZoogVPN’s speed and bandwidth are extraordinary, particularly the download speed. Our results on the following recommended or optimal servers were recorded:
ZoogVPN offers 10 GB per month and has impressive download speeds of 70.1 Mbps and upload speeds of 29.4 Mbps, making it a good choice for streaming. However, with the free version of ZoogVPN, we could not unblock geo-restricted content on renowned platforms. The service also supports P2P file sharing.
As part of its free package, Zoog offers servers in three countries: the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. Despite the small number, the servers are scattered worldwide. Thus, you should be able to connect fairly quickly wherever you are.
In terms of security and privacy
Zoog isn’t the best VPN. Its security features include:
ZoogVPN uses 128-bit encryption, like Speedify. Its protocols include IKEv2, OpenVPN, and PPTP. A kill switch is present. Protection from DNS leaks is available. The service uses various protocols, like OpenVPN and PPTP, to compensate for its rather poor encryption standard.
The primary advantage of Zoog’s free app for iPhone is privacy, with a strict no-log policy ensuring that the service does not collect, store, or sell an individual’s personal data. Moreover, Zoog operates from Greece, outside the purview of any surveillance organization.
The user experience and usability of the ZoogVPN app are prioritised.
The app is easy to use and has some additional features. You can connect to the fastest server by pressing the large power icon at the bottom of the screen.
ZoogVPN sets itself apart from other free VPN apps for iPhones with its live customer service. You can get assistance via their live chat feature whenever you want, and you can always contact their help team via email if you want to provide more details about your issue. Even their help page contains a helpline number that users can reach out to.
3.Hide.me: Best Free VPN Application for iPhone Users in North America and Europe
Hide.me, a VPN that has been operating since 2012, is well-known for its advanced security features.
Bandwidth and Speed
As demonstrated below, Hide.me fell short in our speed test.
The search speed of 20.2 Mbps, upload speed of 5.02 Mbps, and ping of 156 might be due to our choosing a VPN server far from our location. Since Hide.me’s free servers are primarily located in the United States and Europe, users in Asia, South America, and Africa might face this issue.
Though its speed is not the best, Hide.me offers 10GB of traffic each month. While not as good as free VPNs like Proton and AtlasVPN, this is still decent for our needs.
Despite the free version of Hide.me supporting P2P file sharing, it’s unable to unblock geographically restricted content on streaming sites.
Security and Privacy Protection
The lack of speed on Hide.me is compensated by its remarkable security. The following features keep your data safe at all times:
- Encryption: AES-256 bit
- Protocol: OpenVPN, IPSec, SoftEther, SSTP, PPTP, and L2TP/IPSec
- Kill switch: Yes
- DNS leak protection: Yes
There are many protocols available for Hide.me, surprising for a free VPN. Options like ‘Auto connect’ and ‘Port random every time’ which are meant to enhance your online security and privacy, can be tweaked in the security settings.
Hide.me is also independently audited and maintains no logs. This demonstrates that a credible and reliable third party gives certification as proof that this VPN provider stores no personal data of any kind. As Malaysia isn’t a member of any surveillance coalition, Hide.me operates from Malaysia, thus maintaining better privacy.
Usability and User Experience
Hide.me application might not be the most visually appealing on our list, but it’s rather user-friendly. By clicking the ‘Enable VPN’ button, you’ll connect to the server most suitable for your location.
The 24/7 live chat function is one of Hide.me strong points.
While using the VPN application, you can contact their customer service through the chat option, and they will resolve your issue quickly and easily.”
Read also : Best Mac Antivirus Software for 2024
4. Windscribe: The Best Free VPN for iPhone Streaming
First unveiled in 2015, Windscribe VPN’s major attribute for iPhone users is its large server network.
Bandwidth and Speed
Windscribe fared quite well in speed testing. Although not the best free VPN for iPhone, it is clearly speedy. The speed figures are as follows:
With download and upload speeds of 67.8 Mbps and 45.3 Mbps respectively, it’s ample for browsing and checking emails, but insufficient for streaming or gaming. This is disappointing as Windscribe is one of the few free VPNs that can access the American Netflix library and unblock other streaming applications like BBC iPlayer, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video. Although Windscribe supports P2P file sharing, its limited data capacity makes it nearly impossible to fully utilize this feature.
Windscribe’s data limit also restricts the amount of content you can access. Free version users of this service have a 2GB data limit per month. However, by verifying your email address, you can increase this limit up to 10GB per month, consequently moving Windscribe up in this list. This is mainly due to the service providing access to servers in ten countries for its free users.
Security and Privacy Protection
From a security standpoint, Windscribe is one of the safest free iPhone VPN applications. This VPN’s security features include:
- Encryption: AES-256 bit
- Protocol: IKEv2, OpenVPN, Stealth, and WSTunnel
- Kill switch: No (but its Windows and Mac applications have their own firewall)
- DNS leak protection: Yes
Windscribe also offers a secure hotspot function and adblocker to enhance user protection. Its other security features are backed by a strict no-logs policy. Only statistics like usage time and duration are stored by the app. The service does not store private information like IP addresses.
Being based in Canada and part of the Five Eyes, the service might have to surrender user data to law enforcement agencies.
Usability and User Experience
The customer experience and usability of Windscribe are somewhat disappointing. Although informative, its website isn’t easy to use. The app also isn’t user-friendly and takes time to get used to. While turning this VPN on and off is quite easy with the large on/off button, accessing other features and settings can be a bit challenging.”
5. AtlasVPN: Free VPN App Ensuring Security for iOS and iPhone Devices
Available since 2019, AtlasVPN’s free version boasts revamped features like WireGuard.
Bandwidth and Speed
The download speed of AtlasVPN is among the fastest of all the free VPNs for iPhones that we’ve tested. Despite their claim of no speed limits for free app users, their upload speed is slow, as indicated below:
- Download: 72.7 Mbps
- Upload: 8.95 Mbps
- Ping: 206
Thus, AtlasVPN isn’t a good choice for tasks like online gaming that demand high upload speeds. Nevertheless, for streaming and browsing, it performs well. The AtlasVPN service provides 2GB of data every day, adequate to watch a few HD episodes on your favorite streaming platform, like Hulu, ESPN, or Netflix. Remember that this service does not unblock the American Netflix library. Although P2P file sharing is supported by this VPN, its slow upload speed makes it unsuitable for this purpose.
Security and Privacy Protection
Both the free and paid versions of AtlasVPN have industry-standard security features, including:
AtlasVPN follows a strong no-logs policy, with AES-256-bit encryption, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols, and a kill switch. The service does not collect or store any traceable data from any users; only the necessary data for analysis gets collected. However, as AtlasVPN is US-based, the service may be asked to provide user data to law enforcement agencies like the FBI.
Benefits and Customer Experience
AtlasVPN’s website is well-designed and very straightforward to use. The application has a simple interface with a large slider that can turn the VPN on and off. You can also easily access the settings menu and alternative server locations. Additionally, the app is downloadable from their website.
Though AtlasVPN’s website has helpful guides and an FAQ, live chat is not available. Instead, you can opt to submit a request, which requires you to give your email ID and detail the issues you are facing.”
6.Avira Phantom VPN: Best Free VPN for iPhone Offering Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Avira Phantom VPN Best Free VPN for iPhone Offering Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Avira Phantom VPN originates from the same German software security company that produces the popular antivirus, Avira. This service is one of the free VPNs for iPhones that allows for unlimited simultaneous connections.
Bandwidth and Speed
Avira’s reputation as an effective antivirus also applies to its VPN service. The service displayed good speed during our testing:
- Download: 70.8 Mbps
- Upload: 72.7 Mbps
- Ping: 8ms
Avira is a great VPN for all purposes due to its speed and low ping rates. You can use it for gaming, watching videos, and general browsing. However, their daily 500MB bandwidth limit hampers its usage as a VPN for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Though you can gain an additional 500MB by registering your email, it’s still insufficient for high-data-consumption activities.
Taking into account that Avira has servers in 30 countries, data limitations are quite frustrating. If they had a higher bandwidth allowance, this VPN would be a stellar option for checking out various streaming platforms.
Security and Privacy Protection
Avira pays significant attention to user security and privacy. Some key security characteristics of this VPN are:
- Encryption: AES-256 bit
- Protocols: IKEv2 and WireGuard
- Kill switch: No
- DNS leak protection: Yes
Additional beneficial security features include DNS leak protection and the provision of a virtual IP address. Avira states that its service does not track or store any traceable user data. The service only collects diagnostic data and measures the amount of traffic you use.
Usability and Customer Experience
The Avira Phantom app and website are designed to be user-friendly. Even beginners can use it with ease. The application’s home screen displays multiple connection buttons, as well as the data you’ve used and the VPN server you’re connected to.
The free version of Avira Phantom does not include live customer service. While you can send an email or submit a query, free users will not be able to get their problems resolved instantly.”
7. Speedify: Fastest Free VPN for iPhone
Speedify, which also functions as a VPN, offers remarkable internet speeds and a wide server network.
Bandwidth and Speed
Speed and Bandwidth: Speedify is the best free VPN for your iPhone because speed is their top priority. When we tested Speedify, we found the following speeds:
- Download: 73.8 Mbps
- Upload: 76.4 Mbps
- Ping: 30
As you can see, both upload and download speeds are impressive. As a result, you can use the internet for most of your daily activities with ease. Like most other free VPNs, Speedify has poor unblocking capacity. Although its server network covers more than 37 countries, we couldn’t unblock Netflix in the United States with its servers. Most Speedify servers do not support P2P file-sharing.
Due to its 2GB monthly capacity, the free Speedify app for iPhone is not suitable for tasks that require large amounts of data. It’s barely enough to download or stream a few episodes of a series in HD quality.
Security and Privacy Protection
Since its focus is on speed, Speedify has to sacrifice user privacy. This is evident from its key security attributes:
- Encryption: AES-128 bit
- Protocol: Speedify’s proprietary protocol
- Kill switch: Yes
- DNS leak protection: Yes
Speedify only uses AES-128-bit encryption, which is lower than the industry standard of 256-bit. Moreover, its service uses its own protocol designed to deliver the fastest speeds. The free Speedify VPN app has essential security features such as a kill switch and DNS leak protection. However, it is unclear whether this protocol meets the security standards of other contemporary protocols like Wireguard and OpenVPN.
There are several questions regarding Speedify’s privacy and logging methods. Although the company claims to have a strict no-log policy, their privacy policy indicates that the service anonymously stores data such as IP addresses, browsers, and users’ operating systems. In addition, Speedify is part of the 5 Eyes alliance and is based in the United States.
Usability and Customer Service
Speedify’s app is the best of all the free VPN apps for iPhones that we have tried. The home screen displays detailed information about your connection speed, the amount of data used, and the amount of free data available to you. You only need to press the lock icon in the upper right corner of the app to activate the VPN.”
8. TunnelBear: Free VPN with Extensive Server Network for iPhone
TunnelBear is a Canada-based VPN provider that first emerged in 2011. In 2018, the security software company McAfee acquired the business. Its broad server network is the main advantage of this VPN provider.
Bandwidth and Speed
TunnelBear is a well-known VPN for iOS and other platforms, such as Windows and Linux. Our speed testing performance was somewhat disappointing. Its service recorded the following speeds:
The low speeds of TunnelBear’s extensive server network, which even in its free version spans forty countries, are detrimental. In addition, the 500MB of data it offers each month limits its usage for P2P file-sharing and streaming on platforms like BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and Hulu. While using the free version of TunnelBear, we also couldn’t watch content in certain regions on these platforms.
Read Also : 5 Best Web Browser for Mac: How to Choose the Right One for You
Security and Privacy Protection
Both the paid and free TunnelBear apps for iPhone have the same high-quality security features. Its features include:
- Encryption: AES-256 bit
- Protocol: IPSec
- Kill switch: Yes
- DNS leak protection: Yes
The service also has other security features, such as DNS leak protection and automatic Wi-Fi protection. TunnelBear’s privacy policy says that the service doesn’t store any personal data. However, the service stores the information of some users and uses cookies. TunnelBear may have to provide user data to the authorities as they are based in Canada.
Benefits and Consumer Experience
The TunnelBear team takes pride in the ease of use of their application. They use a map-based interface for their app, which makes it easier to see the distance between the VPN servers and your current location. Additionally, the app’s settings menu is simple to use.”
Drawbacks of Free VPNs for iPhone
Despite the above-mentioned free VPNs having a lot of great features, there are a few common drawbacks that free VPNs often have. These include:
- Limited bandwidth: All the free VPNs, except ProtonVPN, limit the amount of data that users can access each day or month. This prohibits you from playing games or consuming other online content when connected to the VPN.
- Poor unblocking capabilities: One of the key features of any VPN is its ability to unblock previously restricted content for users in specific geographical regions. However, free VPNs typically do not have good unblocking capabilities. Most of the American Netflix library is not accessible, and it doesn’t work with other streaming apps.
- Small server network: Free VPNs usually have few servers, which reduces the amount of geographically blocked content that you can access. In addition, free servers are sometimes only centered in a few countries. Therefore, users who are outside of these countries will receive slower speeds.
- Privacy issues: Free VPN providers often deceive about their previous data collection and logging practises. Some free VPNs can provide their services for free because they sell user data to advertisers and other parties. Because of weak security standards, some free VPNs may inadvertently leak your personal data. So, when using a free VPN, there is always the chance that you will lose your privacy.
- Security issues: Although the App Store is safer than the Play Store, using a free VPN from the App Store can infect your device with malware and harmful code.
Therefore, we highly recommend using a reliable private VPN on your iPhone. In the next section, we will discuss some of the best premium VPNs for iPhones.”
