Best VPN for iPhone and Android in 2026: paid and free, compared
Your phone joins more networks than any other device: hotel Wi-Fi, airports, cafés. That makes it the device that needs a VPN most, and the one where a bad free app does most harm.
We compared the seven VPNs we review on their phone apps, then the free options for iPhone and Android that really exist.
SurfsharkStrong alternative9.22
ExpressVPNBest for phones9.41
NordVPNTrusted option9.83- Simple iPhone and Android apps
- Kill switch always on on iOS
- Automatic obfuscation
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark9.2We may earn a referral commission when you sign up through our links. It never changes the ranking.
What matters in a VPN for your phone
The app should connect by itself when you join an unknown network, so you are never exposed.
All seven list one. ExpressVPN's Network Lock is always on on iOS.
Phone, tablet and laptop add up: Surfshark and PIA allow unlimited devices, NordVPN and ExpressVPN 10.
Install only from the App Store or Google Play, under the provider's own name.
Phone VPNs compared
Read on each provider's own pages on 2 November 2026.
| VPN | Kill switch | Devices | Free plan or trial on phones | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | Yes (always on iOS) | 10 (Basic) | No, 30-day refund | $4.99/mo |
| Surfshark | Yes | Unlimited | Free trial (length not stated) | about $2.19/mo |
| NordVPN | Yes | 10 | No, 30-day refund | $3.49/mo |
| Proton VPN | Yes | 10 (Plus) | Free plan, 1 device | $3.49/mo, or free |
| CyberGhost | Yes | 7 | Trial: 7 days iOS, 3 days Android (payment needed) | $2.19/mo |
| Private Internet Access | Yes | Unlimited | No | $2.03/mo |
| Hotspot Shield | Yes | 10 | Free plan with limits and ads | about $2.42/mo |
The best free VPN for iPhone and Android
In a 2016 CSIRO study of 283 free Android VPN apps, more than 38% contained malware, 75% used third-party trackers and 82% asked for sensitive permissions. These are the free options we know are real.
A free plan on iPhone and Android: audited no-logs, no ads, no data cap, the Stealth protocol. One device, 10 countries.
Free planA 7-day trial on iOS and 3 days on Android, with a payment method.
TrialA free trial (Surfshark does not state its length) for up to 3 devices.
TrialA free plan with limits and ads, without an audited no-logs policy.
Limits and adsWhich free VPNs work on UAE networks: the best free VPN in the UAE.
How to set up a VPN on your phone
- 1Install from the official store
App Store or Google Play, published by the provider itself.
- 2Allow the VPN profile
iPhone and Android ask you to approve the VPN configuration the first time.
- 3Turn on auto-connect and the kill switch
So the app protects you on every Wi-Fi without you thinking about it.
- 4Pick a nearby server
Closer servers drain less time and keep video calls smooth.
ExpressVPN or Surfshark on your phone?
ExpressVPN is the simplest app. Surfshark costs less and covers every device in the family.
ExpressVPNOur top pickSurfsharkStrong alternativeRead the full ExpressVPN review and Surfshark review.
Best VPN for iPhone and Android: frequently asked questions
Short answers to what readers ask most. Question not here? Write to us.
ExpressVPN, our pick for phones: the simplest app we review, its kill switch (Network Lock) is always on on iOS, and it obfuscates automatically. Surfshark is the value alternative, with unlimited devices.
Proton VPN's free plan works on iPhone: no data cap, no ads and an audited no-logs policy, limited to one device and servers in 10 countries.
Yes: Proton VPN's free plan needs no subscription. CyberGhost's 7-day iOS trial and Surfshark's trial need a payment method.
ExpressVPN or Surfshark. On Android, CyberGhost's 3-day trial and Proton VPN's free plan let you try before paying.
If you use public Wi-Fi in hotels, airports or cafés, yes: a VPN encrypts everything between your phone and the server. It also lets you reach your home streaming services when you travel.
The best VPNs this month
Our full ranking with scores and prices, kept up to date.
See the full ranking