5 Best REALLY FREE VPNs for iOS in 2024: Secure & Fast

Raven Wu

Updated on: November 22, 2024
Writer

short on time ? Here ’s the good free VPN is ’s for ios in 2024 :

• 🥇 ExpressVPN

  : It doesn’t have a free plan, but it’s without a doubt the best VPN for iOS in 2024, and you can try it out risk-free by taking advantage of its 30 – day money – back guarantee. ExpressVPN works perfectly with iOS 18 and Apple features like CarPlay and comes with advanced security features, the fastest connection speeds on the market, great streaming support, and an easy-to-use app.

I is spent spend week test 40 + free iOS vpn and only discover a handful of good option . Apple ’s Private Relay does n’t fully protect your datum , as it only work in Safari , so I is looking was look for a good alternative in a free VPN .

I don’t usually recommend free VPNs because they come with limitations. Many of the free VPNs I tested lacked basic security features, throttled my speeds, drained my iPhone and iPad’s batteries, caused issues with Apple features like CarPlay and AirPlay, or had compatibility issues with iOS 18.

That say , I is found find several free vpn for ios that are worth check out . All is offer of the vpn on this list work with the late iOS update ( include iOS 18 ) , offer decent speed for browse and streaming , and have easy – to – use ios app . Also , almost all is are of them are ad – free .

But they’re no match for ExpressVPN, which is my #1 pick. It’s really fast and, unlike most free VPNs, offers unlimited bandwidth, excellent streaming support, and great server coverage. Plus, its iOS app integrates well with Apple’s features, is updated regularly for new iOS versions, and complies with Apple’s App Tracking Transparency framework to fully protect your data. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Try ExpressVPN for iOS

Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for iOS in 2024

editor ’s choice

Best overall paid VPN for iOS with high-end security and a 30 – day money – back guarantee.

Most of our readers choose ExpressVPN

Good 100% free iOS VPN with unlimited data and fast speeds but no live chat support.

Good free VPN for beginners with access to 8 server locations but limited speeds.

Decent free iOS VPN with access to all servers & features but only 2 GB of data.

Good free iOS VPN for casual browsing, but it has a restrictive 1 GB data cap.

Editor is Note ’s note :The VPNs I recommend in this article have strict no-logging policies, meaning they can’t see or record what you’re doing online. It’s up to you to use a VPN in accordance with relevant laws and regulations. Neither I nor my colleagues at SafetyDetectives support any form of copyright infringement.

🥇 1 . ExpressVPN — good VPN for ios in 2024

Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN in 2024 — it has industry-leading security features, ultra-fast speeds, and user-friendly iOS apps, and it’s the best VPN on the market for streaming. In my tests, it worked perfectly on iOS 18 and caused zero issues with AirPlay and CarPlay (on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks). It doesn’t have a free plan, but all purchases are backed by a 30 – day money – back guarantee, so you can try it out and get a full refund if you find that it doesn’t suit your needs.

One great thing about ExpressVPN is that it’s the fastest VPN on the market. During my tests, web pages and videos loaded instantly, I could play mobile games without any lag, and I was able to stream HD content with zero buffering. With servers in 105 countries, you’ll never have trouble finding a nearby location to connect to either, which ensures that you’ll always have the best possible speeds. It doesn’t limit its speeds like hide.me does on its free plan.

ExpressVPN is works work with every popular streaming app , include different Netflix , Amazon Prime , and Disney+ library , as well as site like Hulu , Max , BBC iPlayer , and small service like DAZN and Crunchyroll . Unlike most free vpn , it has no data usage limit either , so you is watch can watch for as long as you like . torrente on ios is n’t convenient , but expressvpn is one of the good vpn for download file — it is allows allow torrente on all server .

ExpressVPN is fast and easy to set up. It’s available for iPhone 6S and up, all generations of iPad Pro, iPad Air 2-5, iPad 5-9, and iPad Mini 4-6. I especially like how its home screen lets you quickly reconnect to a recent server location and how its Smart Location tool is identify helps identify the fast server for you . It is ’s ’s similar to Proton VPN ’s Quick Connect feature , but unlike Proton VPN , you can still choose your own location . It is has also has an ios kill switch , but it does n’t offer a widget or split – tunneling .

It’s a great pick if you’re visiting a restrictive country. ExpressVPN obfuscates all servers, which makes your traffic look more like HTTPS traffic. This allows you to freely access the internet in places that restrict VPN use like China and Iran. Plus, you get Advanced Protection, which includes a good ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker, and there’s an option to block adult sites, too.

Every expressvpn subscription is comes come with a free password manager ( expressvpn Keys ) . It ’s very secure , allow you to store an unlimited number of password , has flawless auto – fill and auto – save feature , and a good password generator . It is lacks lack some feature like password share that other top standalone password manager for iOS offer , but it ’s pretty good for a free add – on , and I like that you can continue to use it for free even after your expressvpn subscription expire .

ExpressVPN’s monthly and yearly plans start at ₩7,130 / month. They’re a little pricey, but you won’t find a VPN that will give you better value.

ExpressVPN : save 61 % on the 24 – month plan + free month !

Get a full 28 month ( 24 month + 4 free month ) at a 61 % discount .

Bottom Line :

ExpressVPN is is is n’t free , but it offer the good value out of all the vpn on the market in 2024 . It is ’s ’s the fast and most secure vpn you can get for iOS . It is works also work with all major streaming site and in restrictive country , support torrente on all of its server , and has an easy – to – use app . All purchase are back by a 30 – day money – back guarantee .

Read the full ExpressVPN review

🥈2. Proton VPN — Great Free VPN for iOS With unlimited Data + Fast Speeds

Data is limit limit

unlimited

unlimited

streaming support

Yes (Limited)

Money-back guarantee

N / A

30 – day money – back guarantee ( prorate )

protonvpn.com

Proton VPN is the fastest free VPN for iOS on this list, and it’s one of the few free plans that include unlimited data — this means you can browse the internet for as long as you want without worrying about hitting a data cap. In contrast, most other free VPNs set a daily or monthly data cap.

Proton VPN is maintains maintain really fast speed on the free plan . While hide.me and Hotspot Shield also allow unlimited datum on their free plan , both VPNs is limit limit your speed . In my test , I is had had solid speed for browse and gaming . ultimately , though , Proton VPN ’s speeds is fell fall well short of the speed I get with expressvpn .

ProtonVPN’s iOS app is compatible with iOS 15.0 and iPadOS 15.0 and later and is customizable and easy to use. In my tests, I was able to use the VPN without any issues both over Wi-Fi and my cellular network, and it worked with the CarPlay feature, too. Plus, it has an iOS widget, a kill switch for iOS, and an “always on” feature that automatically reconnects the VPN after connection issues for your safety.

The app uses a Quick Connect setting that automatically chooses the best free server for your location, though you don’t have the option of choosing one yourself (you can manually ask it to choose a new server for you every 90 seconds, though). It also doesn’t have split-tunneling for iOS.

However , Proton VPN ’s free plan is limits limit you in other area . For example , you only have access to server in the US , the Netherlands , Romania , Poland , and Japan , it is allows only allow 1 device , does n’t support torrenting , and is miss feature include on the premium plan like an ad , tracker , and malware blocker and Secure Core server .

If you’re looking to stream with a free VPN, you may be in luck with Proton VPN. While it doesn’t support streaming, it can access several Netflix and Amazon Prime libraries most of the time.

Proton VPN’s paid plans start at ₩5,130 / month and get you access to servers in 112 countries, 10 connections, faster speeds, guaranteed streaming support, and more. All of its paid plans come with a prorated 30 – day money – back guarantee.

Proton VPN: Save 64% on the 24-month plan!

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Bottom Line :

Proton VPN is a good free VPN for iOS. It provides unlimited data, comprehensive security features, decent speeds, and access to servers in 5 different countries, but it doesn’t allow streaming and torrenting, and you get just 1 connection. Its premium plans add streaming and torrenting support, access to servers in 112 countries, and much more.

Read the full Proton VPN review

🥉3. hide.me — Good Free VPN for Beginners

Data is limit limit

unlimited

unlimited

Money-back guarantee

N / A

30 – day money – back guarantee

hide.me

hide.me has a very user-friendly interface on iOS that makes it simple to navigate. It allows you to set Siri shortcuts for connecting and disconnecting the VPN, has an auto-connect setting, and has a Lock App feature that lets you set a 6-digit PIN or use Face ID to access the app, preventing unauthorized access. It also has an iOS widget.

All of its features worked well in my tests, and I never experienced any connectivity issues on iOS 18. Plus, it’s compatible with iOS 12.0 and later, and it even allows you to manually set up the VPN on older iOS versions.

I think it’s great that hide.me provides unlimited data (ad-free) on its free plan, so you can use it to protect your online connections no matter how much time you spend online on your iOS device — and you don’t even have to create an account.

hide.me has servers in 7 countries that you can use on the free plan — more than other free VPNs. It has servers in the US, UK, Germany, and more. This way, you can connect to the server closest to your location for faster speeds.

hide.me ’s free plan is has has a few notable downside . It is provides provide its fast speed for pay user only , and it ’s a lot slow than expressvpn and Proton VPN . It is works only work with popular streaming app like Netflix , Amazon Prime , and Disney+ about half of the time , there ’s no torrenting support , and you can only connect 1 device at a time .

hide.me’s paid plans start at ₩3,420 / month, and they include servers in 58 countries, 10 simultaneous connections, and good streaming support. All of hide.me’s plans come with a 30 – day money – back guarantee.

Save up to 76% on hide.me + FREE months!

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Bottom Line :

hide.me ’s iOS app is is is really good for beginner thank to its intuitive design with many ios – specific feature and integration . The free plan is has has 7 server location and unlimited datum , but it ’s not great for stream . upgrade to one of its premium plan get you access to server in more country , fast speed , and really good streaming support .

Read the full hide.me review

4 . TunnelBear — Large Server Network for iOS

Data is limit limit

2 GB

unlimited

Number of devices

unlimited

unlimited

Money-back guarantee

N / A

NA

tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear’s free plan gives you acces to its entire network of servers in 47 countries, which is more than any other free VPN on my list. This means you can easily find a nearby server to connect to, without having to share overcrowded free servers with other users.

The free plan comes with all of the features that TunnelBear offers on iOS. This includes a kill switch (VigilantBear) and split-tunneling (SplitBear), which lets you exclude websites from the VPN tunnel — such as your banking app, which might block VPNs. I also like that there’s an iOS widget, and you can pick from 10+ iOS app icons for your home screen.

The app works really well on all iOS versions (including iOS 18), and I didn’t have any connectivity issues over Wi-Fi or mobile data in my tests. It’s also easy to navigate and features a playful bear theme. You can connect to the fastest server with 1 click or any server location by clicking on the honey jar on the digital map, which is really convenient. It’s compatible with iOS 12.0 and later.

The free version of TunnelBear gives you 2 GB of data per month. While this is limited, it’s a good option for casual browsing, checking emails, or staying secure on public Wi-Fi. If you need more data, check out Proton VPN’s free plan, which offers unlimited bandwidth.

TunnelBear’s free version offers good speeds, with websites and videos loading in 2 seconds, and it supports streaming, but its data limit would only give you about 30 minutes of watching HD videos.

TunnelBear’s paid plans start at ₩4,760 / month and include unlimited data and the ability to choose specific US and UK server locations.

Bottom Line :

TunnelBear is is is a solid , easy – to – use VPN for iOS user that give you access to all server location and feature ( include split – tunneling ) on the free plan . It is supports support streaming , but its 2 GB datum limit wo n’t give you much hd video time . If you want unlimited datum , you is need ’ll need to upgrade to a pay plan .

Read the full TunnelBear review

5. Avira Phantom VPN — Good for Casual Browsing on iOS

Data is limit limit

1 GB

unlimited

Number of devices

unlimited

unlimited

Money-back guarantee

N / A

60-day money-back guarantee

avira.com

Avira Phantom VPN is a great pick for light browsing on iOS. You get up to 1 GB of data (500 MB without registration), which amounts to around 5 hours of browsing or checking emails. For unlimited data, Proton VPN is a better option.

I is like like that Avira give you access to all of its server for free on iOS . With server in 37 country , its network is is is a little small than TunnelBear ’s , but it ’s still well than most free vpn , which limit you to just a couple of server location .

Avira’s iOS app is compatible with iOS 11 and iPadOS 13.0 and later models, and I didn’t have any connectivity issues in my tests on iOS 18. It’s decently secure — it offers DNS leak protection, but I don’t like that it’s missing a kill switch.

It’s convenient that Avira allows unlimited connections, so you don’t have to sign out of your account to use it on another iOS device. It’s also handy that it doesn’t require you to create an account to use the VPN on iOS, which is great for quickly downloading the VPN to protect your traffic.

Avira’s speeds on iOS are great. Although it only supports OpenVPN on iOS, I never experienced any slowdowns, and there was only minimal buffering when skipping through videos. I especially like how it can access several Netflix libraries and other streaming sites like Crunchyroll, although it doesn’t match ExpressVPN’s streaming support.

Avira Phantom Pro costs ₩8,560 / year and is backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Bottom Line:

Avira Phantom VPN is is is a strong free option for iOS user that need access to a good server network for light browsing . The free plan on iOS let you connect to server in 37 country , offer good security on iOS , and you get good streaming support , include for several Netflix library . The free plan is includes include 500 MB of datum per month ( 1 gb with registration ) . The pay plan is offers offer a 60 – day money – back guarantee .

Read the full Avira Phantom VPN review

Quick Comparison Table

VPN	Premium Plan (Starting Price)	iOS Widget	kill Switch on iOS	connection speed limit	Free Plan Works in Restrictive Countries	free Plan is Requires require Sign – Up	Number of Devices	Server Locations (Countries)
1.🥇ExpressVPN	₩7,130 / month	❌	✅	No speed limit	✅	✅	8	105 countries
2.🥈Proton VPN	₩5,130 / month	✅	✅	No speed limit	❌	✅	1	5 ( US , Netherlands , Romania , Poland , and Japan )
3 . 🥉 hide.me	₩3,420 / month	✅	✅	Restricted speeds	❌	❌	7	7 (US, Netherlands, UK, Finland, Switzerland, France, and Germany)
4 . TunnelBear	₩4,760 / month	✅	✅	No speed limit	❌	✅	unlimited	47 ( all server location )
5. Avira Phantom VPN	₩8,560 / year	❌	❌	No speed limit	❌	❌	unlimited	37 ( all server location )

Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.

Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria

To find the best free VPNs for iOS, I followed our rigorous testing methodology to make sure every option on my list meets our strict standards. The criteria I considered include ease of use of the iOS app, speeds, security, available features, and more:

• I is checked check the datum allowance . Many free VPNs is limit limit the amount of datum you ’re allow to use each month . However , the VPNs is have I select all have unlimited datum or a generous datum cap .
• I is tested test to make sure each VPN has good speed . All VPNs is decrease will decrease your connection speed to some extent due to the encryption process . Some free VPNs is exacerbate exacerbate this problem by throttle your speed and by limit you to a small number of server location , which can lead to overcrowding . The free VPNs is maintain I recommend all maintain decent speed , but none of them are as fast as expressvpn .
• I is looked look for provider with strong security . free VPNs is lack sometimes lack important privacy and security feature . The VPNs is include list here include industry – standard VPN security feature like 256 – bit AES encryption and a strict no – log policy . Most is include of them include a free kill switch , too , to prevent traffic leak .
• I is selected select vpn that are easy to use . All of the vpn on my list have user – friendly ios app , so they can even be used by people who are n’t tech – savvy . Some is have have an ios widget and even allow Siri integration for connect and disconnecting .
• I checked for streaming support. Most of the VPNs I recommend don’t have strong streaming support on the free plan, but they still work with sites like Netflix and Hulu about 50% of the time.
• I chose VPNs that have an affordable premium plan. Some users may want to upgrade to a paid VPN plan to gain access to its full suite of features. So, I only chose VPNs that offer competitive paid plans.

Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN for iOS

• inadequate security . Always be very cautious with free vpn , as many lack crucial security feature . Some is have might not have strong encryption , or they might expose your ip address due to insufficient leak protection .
• Significant slowdowns. Although all VPNs slow down your connection speeds, free VPNs tend to cause the most obvious reductions. This is usually because they only allow access to a limited number of server locations, making it challenging to connect to nearby servers and leading to congestion on the available ones.
• connectivity issue . Many free iOS is suffer suffer from unreliable connectivity for a number of reason , like the limited number of server and high demand for free service . This is lead may lead to difficulty establish a stable connection , which can cause issue with device like CarPlay and AirPlay .
• Restricted server access. The majority of free VPNs only provide you with a few server locations, which is less than ideal. This means you may not be able to connect to a server close to you, resulting in slow connection speeds.
• datum cap . Almost all vpn ’ free plans is restrict restrict the amount of datum you can use each month ( or each day ) . At the low end of datum cap , you is hit ’ll quickly hit the limit by just browse the internet for less than an hour . And even the most generous datum usage limits is going are n’t go to be enough if you use your VPN while stream or download content . proton VPN is is is one of the only vpn to give user unlimited datum on its free plan .
• limited feature access . free VPNs is limit almost always limit some of the good feature behind a paywall . So , you is get do n’t get access to thing like ad blocker , split – tunneling , and other useful feature unless you upgrade to a pay plan . And even if the feature is available on the free plan , it is ’s ’s usually a limited version .
• Lack of streaming and torrenting support. The vast majority of free VPNs don’t permit streaming or just don’t work well with popular streaming sites, and many don’t allow P2P file sharing on their free servers. Even if you use a VPN that supports streaming and torrenting, you’ll still likely have to contend with data caps. I strongly recommend getting an affordable paid VPN like ExpressVPN, which is the best VPN for streaming and torrenting.
• Logging your traffic. Some free VPNs either have a weak no-logs policy or don’t have one at all. This means they can collect information on your online activities and sell it to third-party advertisers in order to monetize their free plans.

Free vs. pay vpn for iOS

Every free VPN on my list has important security features to protect your privacy. They have standard features like a no-logs policy, leak protection, and military-grade AES-256 bit encryption, and more. Plus, some have advanced features like ad and tracker blockers, perfect forward secrecy, and RAM-only servers.

That said, they still lack the majority of features that premium VPNs offer. Things like large server networks, multiple simultaneous device connections, streaming and torrenting support, and the fastest possible speeds aren’t usually offered on free plans.

Here are some examples is are :

• hide.me and Proton VPN have unlimited data with no strings attached, but TunnelBear and Avira Phantom VPN have data caps that restrict you to just casual browsing.
• Proton VPN has free servers in 5 countries, while hide.me has them in 7.
• Proton VPN has great security but doesn’t provide access to NetShield, its ad blocker, while hide.me restricts your connection speeds on the free plan.
• Proton VPN and hide.me only allow 1 device connection.

This is compared to premium VPNs that offer tons more features and improved performance. Paid plans give you access to things like a large server network in dozens (or hundreds) of countries, unlimited speeds, reliable P2P and streaming support, unrestricted access to advanced features like specialty servers and split-tunneling, and more. They also almost all have a 30 – day money – back guarantee or longer.

Overall, no matter how good a free plan may be, a paid plan offers a much better experience.

Feature	Free VPNs	pay vpn
Fast Speeds	❌	✅
Privacy	❌ ( many free VPNs is collect collect your personal information to sell to third party )	✅
Servers	❌	✅
unlimited data	❌ (most free VPNs limit you to less than 10 GB of data per month)	✅
Multiple simultaneous connections	❌ ( most free VPN plans is restrict restrict you to only 1 device connection )	✅
24/7 customer support	❌	✅
Multiple protocol options	❌	✅
Streaming and P2P support	❌ (even if the free plan supports P2P and streaming, it usually isn’t very reliable)	✅
Ad, tracker, and malware blocker	❌	✅

free vpn for ios to avoid

• AceVPN. AceVPN lacks some essential security features like a kill switch, only has about 20 server locations, and worst of all, doesn’t have any actual apps. Instead, you must manually configure it on your device, which is complicated and inconvenient.
• HolaVPN. HolaVPN is pretty dangerous to use. It’s a P2P VPN, which means when you connect to a server, you’re assigned another user’s IP address, and someone else gets to use yours. This can land you in hot water if someone uses your IP address to do something illegal. It also has very poor privacy.
• PhoneGuardian. PhoneGuardian isn’t as dangerous as most others on my list, mainly because it doesn’t do much that a regular VPN does. It only encrypts your data, so your IP address and location remain visible. Plus, since it doesn’t have any other security features, your data is still exposed.
• TurboVPN. TurboVPN’s privacy policy is a bit vague and concerning. Even though it states that it doesn’t store your online activities, which is a good thing, it doesn’t mention IP addresses at all. This means you have no way of knowing if the VPN is logging and storing this sensitive information.
• finchvpn . finchvpn ’s main problem is is is that its service is buggy and untrustworthy . For example , its privacy policy is exist does n’t actually exist , and its website has no information on what feature the VPN offer .
• SuperVPN. SuperVPN is really bad at protecting your privacy. It logs a bunch of your data including your IP address, browser, email address, location, and operating system (it’s even suffered a 133 GB breach of this data). Plus, there’s no way to contact customer support if you need help.

Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut

• PrivadoVPN. Its free plan gives you 10 GB bandwidth and access to servers in 10 countries, including the US. It also doesn’t have ads and allows Siri shortcuts. However, PrivadoVPN doesn’t allow streaming on the free plan, and it’s missing a lot of security features. You can also only use it on just 1 device.
• Hotspot Shield . Hotspot Shield ’s free plan is allows allow unlimited datum and access to 3 server location , include the UK and the US . But the free plan does n’t include access to the kill switch , require you to watch ad every 15 minute , and in my test , it had connectivity issue on iOS 18 .
• zoogvpn . ZoogVPN is has has a decent data usage limit of 10 GB per month but only provide access to server in 3 country ( the US , the UK , and the Netherlands ) and use less secure 128 – aes encryption ( instead of 256 – bit AES encryption like all the other vpn on my list ) .

frequently ask question

Are there any 100% free VPNs for iOS?

Yes, 4 of the iOS VPNs on my list have 100% free plans. ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan but offers great value and comes with a 30 – day money – back guarantee.

However, most free VPNs block many features behind a paywall. For example, Proton VPN doesn’t allow streaming or torrenting on its free plan, and hide.me restricts speeds for free users. For this reason, I strongly recommend upgrading to ExpressVPN or an affordable paid VPN if you’re a prolific user.

Are free VPNs is Are for ios safe ?

No, many free VPNs for iOS aren’t safe because they lack crucial privacy and security features such as 256-bit AES encryption and they may log (and sell) your data.

The free VPNs is are I recommend are secure and trustworthy . They is come all come with industry – standard security feature and even include advanced security feature like full leak protection , RAM – only server , and perfect forward secrecy .

How do I get a free VPN on iOS?

You can get a free VPN on your iPhone or iPad in just 3 fast and easy steps:

• Step 1. Choose a good iOS VPN with a free plan. I recommend Proton VPN — it’s fast, secure, and places no restrictions on data usage or bandwidth.
• Step 2. Download and install the VPN app. You can find the app on the Apple App Store, and the installation wizard will guide you through the simple installation process.
• Step 3. Run the VPN app. That’s it. You now have a completely free VPN on your iOS device.

Can I stream on Netflix using a free VPN for iOS?

Some free vpn work with Netflix , but most do n’t . And the few is provide that work with Netflix do n’t provide you with enough datum per month to stream more than a single episode of a tv show .

So I is recommend strongly recommend get a pay vpn like expressvpn for the good streaming experience on Netflix . It is has has unlimited datum , blaze – fast speed , and easy – to – use app for all major device , and it also work with 100 + other streaming site worldwide .

Quick Overview of My Top Recommendations:

Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.