iPhone is the brand of mobile phones by Apple inc. The first generation of the iPhone was launched in 2007 and they run the iOS mobile phones operating systems. Ever since it was launched it has released 11 generations of the iPhone; iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S/iPhone 5C, iPhone 6/ iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S/iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE, and iPhone 7/iPhone 7 Plus. Throughout these generations, 10 versions of the iOS were released; from iOS 1, which was introduced with the first iPhone, to the latest iOS 11, which was introduced with the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 plus. The popularity of this specific product is mostly due to its software stability and online security. However when it comes to online privacy and online freedom, this is a different issue as it is not the iPhone that controls that as much as it is the ISP that the iPhone is connected to. Many countries around the world have been increasing their online censorship and online surveillance and justify that as “for the sake of national security“. Some countries apply censorship for religious reasons, others for political reasons, and some for even both political and religious reasons. Most countries that have a high rate of online censorship usually rely on online surveillance to make sure that all internet users are abiding by this. Another issue that faces all internet users, including iPhone users, is geo-restrictions which is when certain websites block access to them from users that are located outside of their countries (Netflix US can only be accessed from inside of the US). All these issues and more are considered highly inconvenient for all iPhone users all over the world.
When these issues were faced on other computer devices, the best solution here was to use a suitable VPN, and thankfully now there are VPNs that offer compatible applications for iPhone or iOS in general. In this case we are looking for the best VPNs among them that have strong points when it comes to protecting the iPhone users’ online privacy and providing them with online freedom.
How VPNs Protect Online Privacy and Freedom
VPN providers usually operate a large network of servers spread across the globe. This network is responsible for both the online privacy and online freedom. The VPN provider allows the user the option to connect to any of these servers. Once the user is connected to a server outside of the country that applies online censorship, they can easily bypass this restriction. In the case of geo-restrictions, the VPN user can simply choose to connect to a server inside of the country with the geo-restriction to bypass this restriction (for example, if a user is located outside of the US and wants to access Netflix US, they can simply choose to connect to a server within the US and bypass this geo-restriction). Regarding the online privacy, when users are connected to a VPN server, their true IP address is automatically replaced with a shared IP from the server which hides their true online identity.
How VPNs Protect Online Security
Of course there are other security features in a VPN that contribute to the users’ online privacy, online security and, online freedom. These features include the level of encryption used by the VPN service to secure all data being transferred across the network and the multiple security protocols supported by the service. In addition to that some of the top VPN providers offer their users with additional security features as well.
All the above points are common among VPNs but the last but not least point that differentiates a good reliable VPN for iPhone from an unreliable one is the compatibility of the VPN application itself with iOS. We have done our research among the best VPNs in the market today and filtered out the 3 best VPNs for iPhone.
Best VPNs for iPhone
BVPN
BVPN was launched in 2014 and is based in the Netherlands which is one of the most countries in the world that protects the people’s right to online privacy. Ever since BVPN was launched and it has been striving to provide its users with the most advanced features for online security, privacy, and freedom. In a very short period of time its name grew to become one of the competing brands among the leaders in the VPN market. It showed the same commitment to users of all operating systems and devices. This is why when we were searching for the most suitable VPNs for iPhone; this was a very clear first choice.
Level of Security
- BVPN uses a military grade 256-bit encryption to secure its network
- Multiple unique and advanced security protocols supported (OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, SSH, and its very own Smoke Tunnel)
Additional Security Features
- Public Wi-Fi Protection
- Internet Kill Switch
- IPv6 Leak Protection
Network of Servers
- More than 20 strategically placed server locations around the world
- Continuous expansions and upgrades are being made to the network
- Each server provides its users with a large variety of shared IP’s
Compatibility with iPhone
- The BVPN application is supported by iOS 8 or higher and provides within it all of BVPN’s advanced security measures.
- The BVPN iOS application is very easily displayed and even easier to use.
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server selection
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections
- No logs kept
- “Fastest Server” automatic selection
- 7-day money back guarantee
PureVPN
PureVPN is considered one of the premium VPN service providers in the market today. It was officially launched back in 2007 and is based in Hong Kong. Over the years it has provided its users with, continuously updated, advanced security features. It has been taking a leading position in several occasions before. It is known for its competitive features and high compatibility with almost all devices and especially its compatibility with iPhone.
Level of Security
- Entire network is secured with a 256-bit encryption
- Multiple security protocols supported (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP, IKEv2, and its very own Stealth Protocol)
Additional Security Features
- Antivirus/Antimalware
- Intrusion Detection System/Intrusion Prevention System (IDS/IPS)
- URL Filtering
- App Filtering
- Automatic Protocol Selection
- Wi-Fi Security
- Internet Kill Switch
- NAT Firewall
- DDoS Protection
Network of Servers
- More than 750 servers in 141 countries around the world
- This network provides its users with more than 88,000 shared IP’s and the availability of dedicated IP’s
Compatibility with iPhone
- The PureVPN application for iOS is compatible with iOS 8 or higher
- There several additional features available for iOS users and the interface of the application is as simple as a few taps
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- Ad-Blocking
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- Split Tunneling
- Smart Purpose Selection
- No logs kept
- 7-day money back guarantee
IPVanish VPN
IPVanish was officially launched in 2012 by a group of experts with over 15 years of experience in the field of online security. Even though it is based in the US, which is not the best location for a VPN, yet it has proved that it is more than capable to protect its users’ online privacy regardless of the location. In a matter of 5 years it has taken the market by storm and led the ranks in several previous comparisons due to its advanced features related to online security, online privacy, and online freedom. It provides its users with application that are supported by almost all operating systems. This is why it is a very considerable option for iPhone.
Level of Security
- 256-bit AES encryption used to secure network
- Multiple security protocols supported (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP, and IKEv2)
Additional Security Features
- Wi-Fi Security
- SOCKS5 Proxy
- NAT Firewall
- Kill Switch
- DNS Leak Protection
Network of Servers
- More than 850 servers, spread across more than 60 countries around the world
- This large network is able to provide its users with over 40,000 shared IP’s
Compatibility with iPhone
- The IPVanish for iOS is compatible with iOS 8 or higher and supports almost all the features supported in the other applications
- The iOS application is very easy to install and use as it is extremely user-friendly
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- Zero traffic logs
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- 7-day money back guarantee
Conclusion
The iPhone might provide its users with stable software or a secure online environment; however it still cannot provide its users complete online privacy and freedom without the use of a compatible VPN. Online freedom and privacy is deteriorating throughout the world and it is about time we start taking matters into our own hands as internet users. Since the iPhone is considered the most popular smart phone being used today, then we need to ensure that while using it to browse the internet, we enjoy complete freedom of access to all websites. This is why a reliable VPN is extremely important today for all internet users, even those with a system as secure as that of the iPhone.
