No VPN makes you anonymous. What a good one does is stop your internet provider or public Wi-Fi networks from reading your traffic.
No VPN makes you anonymous. What a good one does is stop your internet provider or public Wi-Fi networks from reading your traffic. Proton VPN and Mullvad are the only providers here that publish external audits and have no logging obligation. NordVPN is the most heavily advertised, not the most trustworthy. As of March 2026, Proton VPN remains the only option with a genuine free tier without a data limit, and Mullvad has further improved its iOS app. VPN apps for the iPhone are in greater demand than ever, yet no app market is so full of misleading promises, from military-grade encryption to claims of being 100 per cent anonymous or the fastest in the world. This comparison weighs speed on the German mobile network, real logging policy rather than marketing, transparency reports, independent audits and actual usability on the iPhone. It is aimed at iPhone users looking for a VPN for privacy, travel or public Wi-Fi who are unsure which provider's marketing promises they can trust.
Proton VPN is the best VPN app for the iPhone. The Swiss app is the only serious provider offering a genuinely usable free tier without a data limit, alongside a strict no-log policy, regular independent audits and a solid iOS app with WireGuard support. For anyone wanting maximum anonymity, Mullvad VPN is the alternative, with no account or email required, cash payment possible and a fixed price of €5 a month.
NordVPN is worthwhile mainly for streaming and offers the largest server network; IVPN convinces through complete open-source transparency. Anyone looking for a generous free data allowance is well served by Windscribe. Free VPN apps without a known company behind them are generally not advised: if you are not paying, you pay with your data.
Takes the most consistent privacy-first approach in the industry: no account is needed, no email is required, and payment works even in cash or crypto, at a flat €5 a month (around €55 a year). Based in Sweden, open source and independently audited, with no logging of user data. The recommendation for privacy maximalists, but there is no free option and fewer server locations than the large commercial networks.
Has the largest user base, fast connections and more than 7,000 servers worldwide, with subscriptions from around €3 a month on a two-year plan (around €12 for a single month). Independently audited. In 2018 it suffered a server breach that was communicated late, and for privacy-focused users it is good but not better than Mullvad or Proton. It suits frequent travellers unlocking content and anyone securing public Wi-Fi.
From Proton, with Swiss data protection, open source and a free tier with no data limit, making it the best value and the only serious free option. Around €4 a month for Plus, which adds servers and speed. It suits anyone who trusts Swiss privacy law more than US providers and wants a genuinely free VPN; the free tariff does not offer the fastest servers or many locations.
A small provider with a strong privacy focus, WireGuard, a transparent structure and open-source software with regular independent audits. Subscriptions start at around €6 a month (Standard) or €10 a month (Pro with multi-hop), with no email required and crypto payment supported. No free tier; little known but honest, and multi-hop routes your connection through two servers for extra anonymity.
A freemium VPN with 10 GB a month free, offering ad blocking alongside privacy protection, and a Pro subscription of around €4 a month for unlimited bandwidth and more server locations. A good compromise for occasional use and anyone wanting a generous free trial. It is less audited than Proton or Mullvad, and it does not prioritise maximum speed or many server locations.
A beginner-friendly VPN with a cute design and a verified no-log policy, usable with no technical knowledge. It offers 5 GB of free data a month, and the Unlimited subscription (around €3-5 a month paid yearly) unlocks unlimited data and all countries; the free version is fully sufficient for occasional use. It belongs to McAfee, which puts off privacy enthusiasts, power users will miss advanced settings, and intensive use outgrows 5 GB a month.
Based in Malaysia and offering 10 GB of free data a month on one free server location, with WireGuard speed and an audit in place. The premium subscription, from around €4 a month, unlocks all 75-plus server locations, unlimited data and multiple devices. The free version is already generous for occasional use, but free users cannot choose between server locations, and it has no clear edge over Proton.
Offers unlimited devices and strong value on multi-year subscriptions, with more than 3,200 servers, multi-hop and a built-in CleanWeb ad blocker, from around €3 a month on a two-year plan (around €11 a month billed monthly). The brand belongs to the Nord Security group. Solid but not an independent privacy leader; it suits anyone wanting to protect every device on one cheap subscription, but those concerned about Nord Security or disliking aggressive marketing should look elsewhere.
Fast, with many servers and good apps, spanning more than 3,000 servers in 105 countries, from around €7 a month on a two-year plan (around €13 a month billed monthly). It works reliably for streaming from other countries and is very simple to use without technical knowledge. Among the most expensive providers, and after being bought in 2021 by a company with links to intelligence services, trust in it has reduced; anyone avoiding Kape Technologies-owned providers should pass.
Download price only. In-app purchases and subscriptions may cost extra.
Yes, if you regularly use public Wi-Fi in cafes, hotels or airports. A VPN encrypts all of your traffic and protects you against man-in-the-middle attacks. It also makes sense if you want to stop your internet provider logging your browsing. For ordinary everyday use on a home network, though, it is not strictly necessary.
Proton VPN offers the only genuinely worthwhile free tier, with no data limit, no ads and no sharing of your data. Windscribe also has a generous free tier with 10 GB a month. Stay away from completely free VPN apps from unknown providers, as they almost always fund themselves by selling your usage data.
Yes, in Germany and across the EU using a VPN is completely legal, and you may use it to protect your privacy and encrypt your connection. Illegal activity naturally stays illegal even with a VPN. Some countries, such as China or Russia, impose restrictions on VPN use.
Some loss of speed is normal because your traffic is routed through an extra server. Modern protocols such as WireGuard reduce that loss to a minimum; in testing, Proton VPN and Mullvad were only 5-15 per cent slower than without a VPN. With cheap providers the loss can be noticeably larger.
Apple's Private Relay encrypts only Safari traffic and is limited to iCloud+ subscribers. A VPN encrypts all traffic on your iPhone, across every app and service. It also lets you change your virtual location, which is not possible with Private Relay.
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