6 Best Free VPN for iPhone in 2026 — Expert Picks as of April 2026

Using a free VPN on iOS is convenient, but also risky. I’ve been using VPNs for 10+ years while traveling abroad, and have always tried to avoid free providers. That’s because many free VPNs are simply dangerous to use, as they might expose your data to third parties. What’s more, they also provide poor value — they’re slow, they have data caps, their iPhone apps are hard to use, and they don’t work with streaming services. 

When possible, always try to use a paid premium VPN instead. This way, you get the best value, as you don’t need to worry about data caps, you can use all of the provider’s servers, your speeds aren’t limited, and you can easily access streaming platforms. 

But if a free VPN is your only option, I’ve got you covered. I put together a list of the best free iPhone VPNs on the market — the ones that are simple to use, provide strong security, and are also pretty fast. Proton VPN is my #1 free VPN pick since it has unlimited data, and it’s also very secure.

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN Service for iPhone in 2026 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN isn’t free, but it’s still the best iPhone VPN on the market. Plus, it provides access to a free 7-day trial on iOS that provides you with access to all of the provider’s VPN features. And if you decide that this VPN is right for you, cancel the free trial, and then get a paid plan via the provider’s site, your purchase will also be covered by a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee (this means you don’t need to meet any requirements to get a refund). 

I’m a big fan of the provider’s iOS app — it’s extremely simple to navigate, and it doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a VPN server. Plus, all settings and features come with helpful descriptions, so you never feel lost while using the provider’s iOS app.

And ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds on the market — whenever I use it, I always maintain blazing-fast VPN connection speeds for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming (even when I connect to distant servers while traveling). This is mostly due to how the iOS app provides access to Lightway, the provider’s proprietary protocol that’s designed to be very secure and super fast. And since the VPN has servers in 100+ countries, you can easily connect to nearby servers to get the fastest speeds. 

Plus, the VPN works with 100+ streaming services, including top sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. It’s also the best Netflix VPN on the market, as it’s compatible with 15+ popular Netflix libraries, including Netflix US and Netflix Japan.

Also, the provider’s iOS app is extremely secure. It protects your data with advanced security features, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers (every server reset erases all server data), and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN connection. Also, ExpressVPN has an audited no-logs policy, and its iOS app provides free access to ExpressVPN Keys, which is a built-in password manager. And, on iOS, you get Advanced Protection, which lets you block ads, trackers, shady sites, and even adult websites.

ExpressVPN’s prices begin at $5.49/month, which is pretty affordable (plus, this VPN provides the best value on the market). The longest plan provides the best savings, and it often comes with additional months of service for free. And don’t forget — all plans are backed by a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full ExpressVPN review

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN for iPhone Proton VPN

Proton VPN is without a doubt the best free iOS VPN in 2026. Its free VPN plan allows unlimited data, meaning you can use the VPN to browse the web for as long as you want. Plus, its free VPN plan is very secure — it protects your data with perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and full-disk encryption, which keeps all data safe on a server even if the server is compromised. In addition, the VPN’s no-logs policy is audited, and its iPhone app is open-source (anyone can inspect the code for security issues) and audited as well.

And the provider’s free VPN plan also maintains really good speeds. Whenever I use Proton VPN’s free version to browse the web, all the sites I access load in less than 2 seconds. Plus, HD videos on YouTube also load in around 2 seconds, and they don’t buffer when I skip through them.

Also, Proton VPN’s iOS app is very simple to use. The interface is really user-friendly, and there’s a quick-connect tool that automatically connects you to the fastest server for your location. Also, all settings come with helpful explanations. 

But the provider’s free plan has some limitations too. For one, it only provides access to free VPN servers in 5 countries. Also, the free VPN plan only lets you connect 1 device, and it doesn’t come with streaming support.

Getting a paid plan is definitely worth it, as it comes with many perks. You get access to the provider’s full server network (110+ countries), you get compatibility with 40+ streaming services, and you can connect up to 10 devices. In addition, the paid version also includes access to NetShield, which is a very good ad blocker.

Proton VPN’s paid version starts at $3.59/month, which I think is pretty affordable and fair. Also, the provider backs each one of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee (though, keep in mind the refund policy is prorated). 

Read my full Proton VPN review

🥉 3. hide.me — Good Free iPhone VPN for Secure Browsing hide.me

hide.me is a really secure free VPN for iPhone. It comes with advanced security tools, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy. What’s more, the provider has had its no-logs policy independently audited. And since it allows unlimited data, it’s a good pick for secure 24/7 web surfing.

I also like how you can use free VPN servers in 5+ countries. This includes popular locations, such as the US, the UK, France, and Germany. Having access to so many locations also makes it pretty easy to connect to nearby servers to get fast speeds. 

And the provider’s free VPN plan is also pretty fast. I used it to connect to 10+ websites on distant servers, and the sites usually took around 4 seconds to fully load. That’s really good, though keep in mind that Proton VPN’s free plan has faster website load times. 

hide.me’s iPhone app is also pretty simple to use. The design looks just a bit outdated, but it still makes it easy to find any setting or feature you want. Plus, it’s really simple to connect to the provider’s free VPN servers too. 

But it’s still better to ultimately upgrade to hide.me’s paid version. You get access to good streaming support, you can use servers in 50+ countries, and you can secure up to 10 devices (the free VPN plan only lets you connect 1 device). 

hide.me’s pricing begins at $2.59/month, which I think is pretty budget-friendly. Plus, the provider also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Windscribe — Good Free iPhone VPN for Streaming Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the few free iPhone VPNs that supports streaming. It works without issues with popular streaming services, such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. It achieves this by refreshing its free server IPs very often — I can confirm this is true, as I ran 5+ leak tests on one of its free servers, and I always got a different IP.

And this free VPN also has servers in 10+ countries, including locations in the UK, the US, the Netherlands, Germany, and Hong Kong. Basically, it’ll be easy for you to use a nearby server to get fast speeds no matter where you are in the world. And speaking of speeds, Windscribe always performed well in my tests — most sites loaded in just 2 seconds, and HD videos didn’t take more than 4 seconds to load (plus, they never buffered). 

However, Windscribe’s free VPN plan limits you to up to 15 GB per month. You get 2 GB per month when you sign up, and can upgrade to 10 GB per month if you confirm your email address. After that, you can upgrade to 15 GB per month by tweeting at the company. This is decent, but if it’s a deal-breaker for you, consider getting Proton VPN or hide.me instead, as they both allow unlimited data on their free plans. 

Windscribe’s paid version has prices that start at $5.75/month. Getting a paid plan unlocks unlimited bandwidth, and also lets you use servers in 60+ countries. The provider has a refund policy, but it only covers 3 days.

5. TunnelBear — Beginner-Friendly Free VPN for iPhone TunnelBear

I think TunnelBear is an excellent free VPN service for iPhone users new to VPNs. Its iOS app is super intuitive, and it even comes with a digital map that lets you connect to the provider’s servers. Plus, the app is very fun to use too — for example, when you connect to a server, a cute animated bear will pop up on the map and dig a tunnel to the server’s location. What’s more, you can also configure the animated bear to roar when you connect to a server, which is pretty cute. 

TunnelBear’s free plan provides pretty good value. It supports unlimited simultaneous connections, and it lets you use all of the provider’s servers servers in 45+ countries). You also get access to all of the provider’s features, including obfuscation, which hides your VPN traffic, allowing you to access the web in restrictive countries. Also, you get split-tunneling, which is great to see, as most VPNs don’t provide split-tunneling on iOS.

But the provider’s free VPN plan limits you to 2 GB per month. This is a shame, as 2 GB is only enough for a few hours of basic web browsing. If you’re not happy with this, check out Proton VPN or hide.me instead since they both support unlimited data on their free plans.

TunnelBear has paid plans that start at $3.33/month. The only thing the paid version adds is access to unlimited bandwidth. Unfortunately, this is the only provider on my list that doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.

Read my full TunnelBear review

6. Hotspot Shield — Decent Free iPhone VPN With Unlimited Data Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield’s free VPN plan allows unlimited data and also provides good speeds. This is thanks to its proprietary Hydra protocol, which is designed to provide good security and fast speeds. Plus, Hydra also provides obfuscation, which helps you access the web in countries like China. 

Also, the provider’s iPhone app is really good. It’s easy to navigate it (even if you’re new to VPNs), and I think it’s great that there are quick, helpful definitions for all settings and features. 

However, the provider’s free plan forces you to watch ads to use the VPN. Basically, you have to watch a 30-second ad to use the VPN for up to 15 minutes. This is pretty inconvenient, and it means free users might only want to use it for very short web browsing sessions. Also, in order to serve you ads, the free VPN plan logs your IP address, which is bad for your privacy. Plus, the VPN only lets you use 1 server location in the US. 

The VPN’s paid version starts at $6.66/month. This is one of the pricier VPNs out there, but keep in mind the paid plans add access to unrestricted VPN usage and 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries. Also, all paid plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Bonus. CyberGhost VPN — Good Premium VPN for Streaming With Free 7-Day Trial CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN isn’t free, but it has a free 7-day trial on iOS. The free trial provides access to all of the provider’s features, so you can use it to fully test the VPN before deciding whether to buy it or not. If you’re not happy with the VPN, keep in mind you need to cancel the free trial at least 24 hours before it ends to not be charged. 

The provider also has a 45-day money-back guarantee, which covers all of its long-term plans. And it backs its shortest plan with a 14-day refund. So if you get the free trial and like the VPN, I still recommend canceling and buying a subscription through CyberGhost VPN’s site — this way, your purchase will also be covered by the VPN’s refund policy. 

CyberGhost VPN’s iOS app is very good for streaming, as it provides access to 100+ dedicated streaming servers in 20+ countries that work with 50+ streaming services. The provider is compatible with tons of popular streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. 

CyberGhost VPN’s plans begin at $2.19/month so the VPN is really affordable. The longest plan provides the best savings, and don’t forget it’s also backed by a risk-free 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Limit	Streaming Support	Server  Network	Displays Ads	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	Unlimited		Servers in 100+ countries		30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited		Servers in 5 countries (free version) 6000+ servers in 110+ countries (paid version)		30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited		Servers in 5+ countries (free version) Servers in 50+ countries (paid version)		30 days
4. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month		Servers in 10+ countries (free version) Servers in 60+ countries (paid version)		3 days
5. TunnelBear	$3.33/month	Up to 2 GB per month		5,000+ servers in 45+ countries (free and paid version)
6. Hotspot Shield	$6.66/month	Unlimited		Servers in 1 country (free version)  1,800+ servers in 90+ countries (paid version)		45 days
Bonus. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	Unlimited		10,000+ servers in 95+ countries		45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• Pick a VPN with a good iOS app — Many free VPNs have iOS apps that are difficult to use or just buggy. Make sure to pick a provider whose free plan comes with an iPhone app that’s simple to navigate (all of the VPNs I recommend have really intuitive iOS apps).
• Opt for a provider with a great free plan — Many free iOS VPNs come with tons of inconvenient data usage restrictions. For the best results, I recommend picking a free VPN plan that allows at least 2 GB of data per month (Proton VPN’s free plan allows unlimited data). Bonus points if the provider’s free VPN plan also lets you use more than 1 server location.
• Get a free iOS VPN that’s secure — Many free iOS VPNs don’t have essential VPN security features to protect your data. So I recommend only getting a free VPN that has industry-standard security tools, such as military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch (to prevent leaks if the VPN connection drops), or DNS leak protection. 
• Get a free iOS VPN that’s fast — When you use a free VPN, you usually have to put up with slow speeds (this is usually due to overcrowded free VPn servers). But if you choose one of the VPNs on my list, you’ll enjoy smooth and stable connection speeds for all online activities.
• Choose a free iOS VPN whose paid plan provides great value — The VPN’s paid version should provide access to worthwhile perks, like good streaming support, servers in at least 40+ countries, and useful extras (like an ad blocker). Also, ideally, the VPN provider should back its paid plans with a money-back guarantee.

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free iPhone VPNs

• Free VPNs have buggy iPhone apps — Free providers can’t really afford to invest in good app development and design. So, if you use a free VPN, you’ll often have to deal with an iOS app that’s difficult to navigate, and which also suffers glitches.
• Free VPNs put your privacy at risk — Many free VPNs log user data and share it with third parties, such as advertisers or data brokers. Also, free VPNs often lack essential security features (like a kill switch or a no-logs policy). 
• Free VPN plans limit data usage — Many free VPN services limit how much data free users can use each day or month. On average, free VPNs limit you to anywhere between 2 and 10 GB per month. However, there are a few exceptions that provide unlimited bandwidth (like Proton VPN, for example).
• Free VPNs have limited server networks — With a free VPN, you usually only have access to free servers in a few countries, which might make it difficult to use nearby servers to get fast speeds. TunnelBear is one of the only free VPNs I found that provides free access to its entire server network.
• Free VPNs don’t work with streaming services — Free VPNs can’t afford to refresh the IPs of their free servers very often. Due to this, streaming platforms can easily detect and block their servers. Windscribe is one of the few exceptions whose free VPN plan actually supports streaming.
• Free VPN providers spam you with ads — To keep their free model sustainable, free VPNs will often display in-app ads. You’ll only be able to use the VPN service after watching an ad.
• Free VPNs don’t provide good customer support — Free vendors can’t afford to provide responsive, round-the-clock customer support. More often than not, you’ll have to settle for outdated support guides, or email support reps that take a few days to reply and don’t provide helpful answers. 

Best Free VPNs for iPhone in 2026 — Final Thoughts: