Guide: Everything you need to know about using a VPN on your iPhone and iPad

Using a VPN connection is safer, better for your privacy and also makes the internet more fun. For example, you can watch the American version of Netflix with it. In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using a VPN on iPhone.

Guide: Using VPN on iPhone

If you look up information about VPNs, a lot of technical concepts and terms will come your way. In this guide we will therefore keep it simple and understandable. Tap any of the links below in the table of contents to jump directly to that section.

  1. What is a VPN?
  2. Why should I use a VPN?
  3. Free VPNs for iPhone
  4. The best iPhone VPN services
  5. Using a VPN on iPhone

What is a VPN?

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network. You can make this concept as difficult as you want, but the bottom line is that you run your internet traffic through a different server than the one you are currently using. If you do not use a VPN, websites will see, for example, that you are currently in the Netherlands. By setting up such an encrypted connection you can change your internet location.

That’s nice, because that way you can bypass location restrictions and watch the American version of Netflix, for example. The streaming service thinks that you are in the United States. In addition, using a VPN is better for your privacy, because your internet traffic is encrypted. This makes it a lot more difficult for advertisers, trackers and any intelligence services to track you.

Using VPN on iPhone

Why should I use a VPN?

First, a VPN makes the internet more fun. You can bypass location restrictions and make apps and websites believe that you are coming from Great Britain, the United States or Japan. This opens up a world of new options for you, such as the American version of Netflix (which has a much larger and unique offering).

An advantage closer to home is protecting your privacy. Technology companies such as Google and Facebook keep track of every step of your online behavior in order to sell very specific advertisements to advertisers. Because you can use the services for free, you pay with your privacy. A VPN puts a stop to this revenue model because it is more difficult to trace.

Using a VPN is also simply safer. A VPN creates an extra link between you and your internet provider and encrypts your data. This creates ‘noise’ on the connection. A VPN is therefore ideal for anyone who regularly uses public networks on the terrace, shopping center or on the train.

Using VPN on iPhone 2

Free VPNs for iPhone

A VPN connection encrypts your internet traffic, which means that the path that data packets (such as text, sound or video) have to travel to your Mac or iPhone is also longer. Providers incur costs in this regard. So it makes sense that most VPN services cost money: these companies also have to smoke the chimney.

There are free anonymous internet services, but these parties usually earn money by reselling your personal data. You are probably not waiting for this, because otherwise why would you use a VPN? We can imagine that you first want to see if it is right for you, and that is why you are looking for a free VPN. In that case we recommend two services.

These are ProtonVPN and Hide.me. These two free VPNs do not resell your data, are reasonably fast, and quite privacy-friendly. You do have to deal with a number of limitations. For example, you can only choose a handful of server locations and you get speed limits for you. If you take these disadvantages for granted, you get two great iPhone VPN services with these apps.

The best VPN for iPhone

In fact, there is not one best VPN for iPhone. All providers have their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, some VPNs offer an extra service, such as a built-in ad blocker. This also removes the advertisements within apps, for example at Nu.nl.

Finding a good VPN is therefore mainly a matter of taste. The following VPN services dare the editors of iPhone to recommend with confidence. We discuss the pros and cons for each app, and mention special features. We also discuss the price.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive, as well as the best iPhone VPN apps. In addition to the rock-solid security of your internet data, you also have unlimited bandwidth at your disposal. This makes the connection super fast. With ExpressVPN, you can also choose from 145 server locations in 94 countries. A handy extra is that intelligence services do not immediately realize that your internet traffic is encrypted. This allows you to slip under the radar, making ExpressVPN a popular service in countries with strict regimes, such as Hong Kong.

In addition, ExpressVPN has a sleek iOS and iPadOS app. However, the VPN service is not cheap. A 15-month subscription costs 6.67 euros per month. When you test the service for 1 month, you are 12.95 euros lighter.

→ Visit ExpressVPN

2. NordVPN

Do you want a good VPN, but is the price of ExpressVPN just a bit on the high side? Then NordVPN is the best alternative. This provider has more than 500 server locations in 60 countries worldwide and does not keep any kind of logs. The advantage of this is that your data remains anonymous, even when NordVPN has to deal with a data breach. In addition, the iPhone app works fine, you internet with powerful AES-256 encryption and you can try the service for free for a week.

An annual subscription to NordVPN costs 6.36 euros per month. For a separate monthly subscription you have to deposit 10.87 euros. This makes it a lot cheaper to pay per year,

→ Visit NordVPN

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is much more than just a VPN provider. You can best see the program as a kind of all-round app to make surfing the internet easier and more enjoyable. Part of this is Cleanweb, which detects and blocks advertisements, trackers, malware and other nastiness. This allows you, for example, to read the Nu.nl app without advertisements. Also nice is the Whitelister, with which you give specific apps and websites permission to bypass the VPN.

An annual subscription to Surfshark costs you 4.99 euros per month. A separate monthly subscription costs almost double. A subscription for 24 months is the cheapest. This option will cost you 1.79 euros per month.

→ Visit Surfshark

4. GooseVPN

The unique feature of GooseVPN is simple. The app was made on Dutch soil. If you run into problems, you can ‘just’ call the Dutch-speaking customer service. This is available 24/7 for you, so also during the night hours and holidays. Furthermore, GooseVPN offers all the options you can expect from a VPN. The internet speed and number of server locations are fine.

An annual subscription to GooseVPN costs 4.99 euros per month. If you double the number of months, you will only lose 2.99 euros per month. A separate monthly subscription is, however, quite pricey at 12.99 euros.

→ Visit GooseVPN

Install iPhone VPN

Have you purchased one of the above services? Then you will receive your registration details by e-mail. You need this login to use the VPN. To use the internet anonymously on your iPhone, you must download the app of your provider from the App Store. Then log in again with your login details and tap the button to start an encrypted connection. You can set the server location yourself. It is that easy to use a VPN on iPhone.

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