When searching for a free VPN for iPhone, it can be frustrating to encounter providers that are insecure, slow, non-functional, or have a poor reputation on the VPN log.
But don’t worry! We’ve leveraged our expertise to pick out the 6 best free VPNs for iOS devices for you. Let’s dive into our detailed reviews!
Table of Contents
Top 6 Free VPNs for iPhone in 2024
To finalize our list, we tested various free iOS VPN options rigorously. The details of our test are outlined in the table below.
| 📝How Many We Tested | 42 VPNs for iPhone and iPad |
| 📱Devices We Used | iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone SE, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 8 Plus, iPad 2024 |
| ⏱Time Duration | 14 Days |
| 🔥What We Value | Security, Functionality, Performance, Privacy, Compatibility |
| 🥇Top Choice | X-VPN |
Now let’s check our top list of Best Free VPNs for iPhone and iPad in 2024:
✦X-VPN – Best free iPhone VPN with a full set of features and unlimited traffic.
✦Proton VPN – Provides robust online security.
✦Windscribe – Offers 10GB of free data per month for regular browsing.
✦TunnelBear – With an intuitive interface and easy-to-use features.
✦Hotspot Shield – Good at building secure connections for streaming.
✦Hide.me – Provide a user-friendly free tier with reliable support.
X-VPN: Best Free iPhone VPN Over All
X-VPN is the top choice for free VPN for iPhone and iPad, excelling in all aspects with outstanding overall capabilities. This provider generously offers a truly indefinite free version, with no login and no data limits – an extremely rare find in the VPN market.
Without spending a dime, you can enjoy top-notch VPN encryption technology that uses the top-grade AES-256 algorithm to ensure rock-solid anonymity and online privacy protection. Its self-developed Everest protocol gives X-VPN both blazing speeds and powerful unlocking ability, which not only enables you to access global content across restrictions, but also supports you to enjoy a smooth streaming experience on your iPhone with 4k video quality.
Notably, X-VPN recently launched a brand new version for iOS. The fully upgraded suite of features, including Security Tools, Data Monitor, Help Center, etc, are all integrated into a cleaner and more compact UI for the most streamlined operation on the iPhone.
Although this iOS app lacks manual server selection for free users yet, it automatically connects you to the fastest available server from 1000+ options in 17 countries/regions, ensuring smooth surfing.
💡If you’re interested in X-VPN’s new UI for iOS, check this blog: New UI on X-VPN: Update Now!
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | 1000+ free servers in 17 countries (Auto-connect) |
| Compatibility | iOS, macOS, Apple TV, Android, Windows, Router, Xbox, PS4/5, etc |
| Security | Industry-leading security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | No Limit |
| Speed | Fast and Stable |
| Connections | 5 Simultaneous Connections |
| System Support | iOS 12 or later, iPadOS 12.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Offers a more intuitive and beginner-friendly UI design for iPhone users.
・No personal info required, like email, bank card number, cell phone number, etc.
・Unlimited data for free users.
・Provides various VPN protocols that are free to use, including Wireguard and OpenVPN.
・Perfect for Apple Fans: compatible with iPhone/iPad/MacBook/AppleTV.
・Offers adequate customer support with Email, Live Chat, FAQs, and more.
・One of the best VPNs for Streaming with robust unblock ability and swift speed.
・Premium version with all advanced VPN features and 8000+ global servers.
😣Cons:
・Limited advanced features.
・Lacks manual server selection for free users.
💰Price:
・Free Version
・Premium Plan: $11.99/mo, $71.99/year
Click the button below or visit the App Store to download X-VPN for the best free VPN experience, and follow the tutorial to set up a VPN on iOS devices.
⚠️Please Note: X-VPN supports only iOS 12 or later. If you’re using an older device, such as an iPhone 8, please upgrade to the latest system first.
Proton VPN: Best Free iPhone VPN for Security
If you value personal data and privacy and aim to protect public Wi-Fi security, then Proton VPN is an option worth considering.
The provider is focused on providing users with a safe and private surfing experience, utilizing sophisticated encryption algorithms paired with rich protocols, like OpenVPN, to prevent hackers from tracking or attacking. Meanwhile, Proton VPN hails from Switzerland – a country known for its strict privacy laws – its commitment to the No-log Policy is also more believable.
Like X-VPN, Proton VPN offers a no-ad free version with unlimited bandwidth and compatibility across various devices, including iOS and Mac. But free users can only use one device – yes, its free version comes with limitations. With login needed, Proton VPN provides 5 free servers in 5 countries, but users can only connect to the geographically closest with speed limitations.
However, while the free version of Proton VPN has its flaws, if you’re aiming for a safer, more private surfing experience on your iPhone, then Proton VPN can definitely help.
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | Servers in 5 countries (Auto-connect) |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome, Android TV, etc. |
| Security | Industry-leading security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | No Limit |
| Speed | Decent but limited |
| Connections | Only 1 Simultaneous Connection |
| System Support | iOS 15 or later, iPadOS 15.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Provides secure core architecture for increasing surfing anonymity.
・Unlimited bandwidth is available for free users.
・Clean and simple UI design.
・Rich VPN protocol support, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, etc.
😣Cons:
・Limited functions and speed.
・Lacks manual server selection for free users.
・Only 1 connection for a free account.
💰Price:
・Free Version
・Premium Plan: $9.99/mo, $59.88/year
Windscribe: Best Free iPhone VPN for Regular Browsing
Windscribe is a freemium VPN, offering iPhone users a free version with restricted server locations and specialized features, and 10GB of free data per month.
According to officials, Windscribe’s paid plans offset the costs for free users, so its apps are treated equally for both free and paid users – sure, there are bandwidth limitations and server restrictions. Free users can only connect to servers in 11 countries, but are allowed to build a strong security layer with AES-256 encryption and protocols.
You won’t encounter paid features, and can use ROBERT Blocker within limited Access Rules to filter ads and malware for cleaner, more private browsing on iPhone. However, to use other professional features like port forwarding, custom configs, etc., you should upgrade to the Pro plan.
It provides free 10GB/mo after you sign up with email. For most iPhone users, that’s enough for everyday browsing (excluding streaming). Without providing email info, Windscribe will also allocate you 2GB/mo. When your free data runs out, you wait for a new month, or continue the service by upgrading to unlimited data for $3/mon.
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | Servers in 11 countries |
| Compatibility | iOS, Mac, Android, Windows, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, FireTV, etc. |
| Security | Robust security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | 10GB/mo with login, 2GB/mo without login |
| Speed | Decent but limited |
| Connections | Unlimited Simultaneous Connections |
| System Support | iOS 12 or later, iPadOS 12.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Offers great features to free users.
・Provides generous free traffic support.
・Offers comprehensive security tools.
・Supports unlimited devices.
😣Cons:
・Few advanced functions.
・Limited speed and server locations.
・Limited customer support options.
💰Price:
・Free Version
・Unlimited Data: $3/mo
・Pro Plan: $9/mo, $69/year
TunnelBear: Best Free iPhone VPN for Beginners
TunnelBear is a special one on our list. Because it doesn’t have a traditional free version – instead, it offers a 2GB/mo trial experience for users.
TunnelBear is known for its user-friendly approach, featuring a cute cartoon bear as its branding, complemented by a colorful and easy-to-use UI. It excels at making complex technology simple, allowing even first-time users to immediately connect to the VPN and turn on the Kill Switch with a single click.
Of course, don’t worry about your online security, this iPhone app does a lot for user privacy – using standard encryption algorithms to remove surfing risks and disguising VPN traffic as regular traffic with the GhostBear feature.
Free and paid users of TunnelBear will enjoy the exact same VPN service. But unlike Windscribe, TunnelBear also allows free users to access 5000+ servers located in 47 countries and all premium features. But just like other products that offer a 7-day trial, TunnelBear only gives you 2GB of traffic per month – making it more like a VPN free trial than an actual free service.
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | 5000+ servers in 47 countries |
| Compatibility | iOS, Mac, Android, Windows, and Browsers. |
| Security | Robust security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | 2GB/mo |
| Speed | Decent |
| Connections | Unlimited Simultaneous Connections |
| System Support | iOS 13 or later, iPadOS 13.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Cute and multicolored page design, easy to use.
・Free users can experience all global servers and advanced features.
・Superior security features to effectively prevent online data risks.
・No speed limit.
・Supports unlimited simultaneous connections.
😣Cons:
・Only 2GB of data per month for free use.
・Weak compatibility compared to competitors.
・Limited customer support options.
💰Price:
・2GB/mo free use
・Unlimited Plan: $3.3/mo
Hotspot Shield: Best Free iPhone VPN for Streaming
Hotspot Shield made it to our list due to its exceptional ability to help users access global streaming media, including top platforms like Netflix, YouTube, and more.
Hotspot Shield strikes a balance between security and functionality. It has created its own VPN protocol, Catapult Hydra, which encrypts data by using the Open SSL library and creates multiple data transfer channels for faster speeds and increased reliability.
Its brightest feature is the ability to support users with stable and smooth viewing on major streaming platforms, and even fast downloads of their favorite movies or shows worldwide. However, free users are limited to connecting US servers, meaning they can only access US-based content. And iPhone users can only get 500MB of free traffic per day, although you can watch ads to increase, but still not enough for streaming.
Of course, if you’re using a VPN for the sole purpose of secure browsing or watching short videos, Hotspot Shield is a good choice.
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | 1 US-based Server Only |
| Compatibility | iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, TVs, Routers, Chrome, etc. |
| Security | Robust security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | 500MB/day (Watch ads to increase) |
| Speed | Slow (Free users are restricted to 1Mbps) |
| Connections | Only 1 Simultaneous Connections |
| System Support | iOS 14 or later, iPadOS 14.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Provides secure data encryption and prevents phishing.
・Reliable and stable connection.
・Specializes in accessing global streaming libraries.
・Premium version offers a 45-day trial period.
😣Cons:
・500MB/day free traffic limit.
・Ad-supported.
・Only US-based servers for free users.
・Severe speed limitations.
💰Price:
・Free Version
・Premium Plan: $9.99/mo, $80.04/year
Hide.me: Best Free iPhone VPN for User-friendly
Hide.me believes that internet security and privacy is a fundamental rights for people. Therefore, it offers an extremely user-friendly free version for all users. Although it comes with limited features and speed, iPhone users can still realize online freedom.
The provider offers free users AES-256 encryption with secure VPN protocols, protecting your online activity from being tracked by hackers via features such as IP Leak protection. Additionally, Hide.me is committed to your privacy and will benefit from a strict No-Log Policy, whether you pay for it or not.
iPhone users can connect to free servers in 7 countries to cross geo-restrictions. Although limited to only one device, the unlimited data is satisfying. With many competitors not offering much customer support for free users, Hide.me is very kind. You can seek help from this provider at any time, as they offer 7/24 technical support.
Unfortunately, Hide.me used to provide excellent torrent downloads for free users. However, due to the increase in abuse attempts, Hide.me had to make a change. Despite this, if you only need basic VPN functionality, this well-equipped free version is more than adequate.
🔥Features:
| Free Servers | Servers in 7 countries |
| Compatibility | iPhone, macOS, Android, Windows, Fire TV, Chrome, Linux, etc. |
| Security | Robust security with a strict No-log Policy |
| Data Limit | No Limit |
| Speed | Decent but limited |
| Connections | Only 1 Simultaneous Connection |
| System Support | iOS 12 or later, iPadOS 12.0 or later |
😆Pros:
・Trustworthy security with data leak protection.
・Reliable user support.
・Unlimited data for free use.
😣Cons:
・Only 1 simultaneous connection.
・Lacks advanced security features.
・Limited speed.
💰Price:
・Free Version
・Premium Plan: $9.95/mo, $80.04/year
Quick Comparison Table of Free iPhone VPNs
For a quick selection, we have provided you with a simple table with a clear and direct comparison.
| Security | Data Limit | Speed | Server Locations | Connection | Login | Minimum System | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-VPN | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Unlimited | Fast | 17 | 5 | No need | iOS 12 |
| Proton VPN | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Unlimited | Limited | 5 | 1 | Need | iOS 15 |
| Windscribe | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 10GB/mo | Limited | 11 | Unlimited | No need | iOS 12 |
| TunnelBear | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 2GB/mo | Decent | 47 | Unlimited | Need | iOS 13 |
| Hotspot Shield | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 500MB/day | Slow | 1 | 1 | Need | iOS 14 |
| Hide.me | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | Unlimited | Limited | 7 | 1 | No need | iOS 12 |
By now, it should be clear why we consider X-VPN the best free VPN for iPhone and iPad. Not only does it offer a real free version with no traffic limits, but it also excels in security, compatibility, speed, and server performance.
Of course, if you’re also eager to experience some advanced VPN features like Static IP, Double VPN, Dedicated Servers, Split Tunneling, etc., click the button below to try the X-VPN Premium plan and start your 30-day trial with a money-back guarantee, ensuring a risk-free experience.
💡If you want to get more reviews about free VPNs on different devices, these blogs can help:
・7 Best 100% Free VPNs for Mac in 2024
・Best Free VPN for Windows 2024
・Best 5 Free VPNs for Android in 2024
・5 Best VPN Free Trials in 2024
Pro Tip: Are Free VPNs Safe to Use on iPhone?
According to Security.org’s 3rd annual study on the VPN Market, nearly 50% of VPN users use free products, but 2/3 of them both agree that free services have issues. This bare-bones data seems to present a fact: most free VPNs are not safe to use on iPhone.
Since free products don’t generate revenue, some untrustworthy VPN providers have found other unsavory ways to cover their operating costs – and these ways can affect free users in the following ways:
・Selling Data: These free VPNs will log user data and sell it to third parties for income. This practice is a severe violation of your privacy and badly contradicts the purpose of using a VPN.
・Limited Security Features: To reduce costs, many free VPNs lack advanced VPN features. Some may not even encrypt your data properly or effectively mask your IP address.
・Malware: Some free products balance their revenue by displaying ads, but discredited providers may go further by embedding and hiding malware within their apps, putting your iOS devices at major risk.
In summary, while free VPNs can be very appealing, there is often a hidden cost behind the freebies.
However, there are still reputable providers that offer free but high-quality services, as in our pick of the 6 best free VPNs for your iPhone above. They all follow a strict No-log policy and can ensure the security of your device and privacy info with strong encryption standards.
How to Pick The Best Free VPN for iOS Devices?
Except for the 6 we recommended above, if you’d like to know more free products but are worried about picking an insecure one, fully consider the following factors will help you find the most suitable free VPN for your iPhone.
・Security: Ensure that the provider utilizes top-notch encryption and secure VPN protocols, and has no history of data breaches.
・Privacy: Verify the provider has a No-log Policy and a good market reputation. Confirm its specifics about VPN Logs.
・Server Locations: Free servers are usually limited, but choose a free network that can meet your usage requirements.
・Speed and Performance: Prioritize free VPNs with fast speeds, low latency, and can pass the VPN test.
・Compatibility: For Apple users, a product that allows you to log in to both iPhone/iPad/Mac/Apple TV with one account would be perfect.
・Premium Plan: It’s best to choose a free VPN that comes with an enhanced premium plan, indicating strong infrastructure and more flexible service options.
・Extra Features: Additional features are a bonus, such as Data monitor, ad blockers, DNS Leak Protection, etc.
By considering these factors, you can choose a free VPN for your iPhone or iPad that balances security, functionality, privacy, compatibility, and performance effectively, just like we did.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that free VPNs can’t match the premium ones. But in order to save you money, we’ve done the legwork for you and listed the top 6 free VPNs for iPhone with decent features and high security. Of those, X-VPN shines out, excelling in security, speed, usability, and performance.
Feel free to pick a free VPN that suits you better, or just hit the button below to equip your iOS devices with our sturdy shield.
FAQs
Is there a totally free VPN for iPhone?
Yes, there are some great providers that offer a totally free VPN for iPhone, such as X-VPN. It provides a genuine free VPN service with unlimited data, unneeded login, 1000+ free servers, fast speed, and outstanding usability. But in any case, free VPNs always have some limitations compared to paid services.
Is there a free VPN without a subscription?
Yes, there is a free VPN without a subscription. X-VPN offers a free service that you can use without logging in. No need for any personal info, like email address, cell phone number, bank card, etc., just simply download X-VPN to your iPhone via its official website or App Store, complete the VPN configuration, and start using the free VPN service with no traffic limit.
How do I enable VPN on my iPhone for free?
You can download X-VPN, the best free VPN for iPhone, on your iOS device, and enable it with only 3 simple steps:
Step 1. Launch X-VPN and agree to its privacy policy and VPN configuration.
Step 2. Hit the option to enter the app for free without sign-in.
Step 3. Tap the Quick Connect button on its home page, and you can connect to the fastest free server within a few seconds.
Is free VPN safe for iPhones?
The truth is that many free VPN products are not secure. Some scheming providers will offer you inferior apps that have poor encryption, log your data, or hide malware. However, there are reputable VPNs that offer secure, free services meeting industry standards – check out our blog to discover these high-quality providers.
Does the iPhone have a built-in free VPN?
No, the iPhone does not have a built-in free VPN, but a built-in function to help you set up a VPN on iOS manually. But, this method requires you to find, fill in, and frequently update the VPN basic information including the VPN provider, VPN name, VPN server address, VPN type, and so on.
