How to Get a VPN on iPhone [2025] | Step-by-Step

Increasing online safety when on the go is becoming more and more important as we’re steadily switching to a more mobile-oriented lifestyle, and installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) app on your phone is one of the most efficient ways to do that. In this guide, we’ll explain how to get a VPN on your iPhone to help you safeguard your data and enjoy a more secure internet experience on your mobile. 

Enjoy effortless online privacy with a VPN & guard your identity with a single app

• Surf the web without being tracked

• Hide your IP address and encrypt your sensitive data

• Get alerted of data breaches targeting your personal information

• Massive 3,200+ high-speed servers fleet in 100+ countries

• Change digital locations to access websites while travelling

3200+ Servers

Get Started

What is a VPN?

The cybersecurity market is expected to hit around $212 billion as we head into 2025, so it’s no secret that digital safety and privacy are becoming a top priority for many internet users. Since many of us spend most of our time online on mobile devices, using a VPN to ensure our online activity is private is more than a good idea. 

In addition, VPNs allow users to bypass geographical restrictions, giving them access to content that may be blocked in their country or region.

To make the most out of an iPhone VPN service, it is essential that you find a reliable and security-focused VPN provider with a solid reputation, positive user reviews, robust encryption protocols, and a wide range of available server locations. 

How to get a VPN on iPhone: Step-by-step

Finding and installing a good mobile VPN on your iPhone is easy. All you have to do is follow these simple steps: 

Step 1: Researching and choosing a VPN provider

First, you’ll have to do some research by looking into different VPN providers. Of course, you’ll have to eliminate those that do not offer iOS apps, but most importantly, you ought to look for a reliable provider with a good track record and enough positive user reviews to warrant a download. 

When looking into different VPN options, consider factors such as:

• Your needs: Your ideal VPN choice might depend on what exactly you’re looking to achieve with it (accessing geo-restricted content, enhancing your online privacy, securing your internet connection while using public Wi-Fi, etc.);
• Security and privacy features: In addition to geographical bypasses, some VPNs offer features such as torrenting;
• The interface: If you’re new to VPNs, an app with an intuitive user interface will be more than welcome;
• Performance: Some VPNs slow down your internet speed, which is something that should be taken into account.

We recommend using Surfshark due to its massive 3,200+ high-speed servers fleet in 100+ countries, innovative approach to its products, and good business reputation worldwide.

Step 2: Choosing the subscription plan

Once you’ve decided on which VPN provider to use, you can choose a subscription plan. Surfshark, for example, includes several pricing plans, and you can get it for as low as 1.99$ a month as of December 2024.

There are also free VPNs you can check out before committing to paid alternatives. Note that there are a lot of differences between free and paid VPNs and that you typically won’t be able to experience all the benefits a solid mobile VPN can provide unless you subscribe to a premium service. You can read more about the costs involved with using a VPN in our dedicated VPN costs guide.

Enjoy effortless online privacy with a VPN & guard your identity with a single app

• Surf the web without being tracked

• Hide your IP address and encrypt your sensitive data

• Get alerted of data breaches targeting your personal information

• Massive 3,200+ high-speed servers fleet in 100+ countries

• Change digital locations to access websites while travelling

3200+ Servers

Get Started

Step 2: Downloading the VPN app and signing in

Next, it’s time to download the actual app. For the purposes of this guide, we’ll be downloading the iOS Surfshark app.

First, go to the app store and search for VPN Surfshark (the app you’re looking for should be the first result). Then, click on the download button in the upper right corner, as shown below:

Next, click on the Open button to launch the app:

Once you’ve launched the app, you’ll have two options: Creating an account and signing in. If you have an account already, tap on the Existing user? Log in button. If you don’t, tap on the blue Create account button:

Step 4: Connecting to the VPN network

Once you’ve downloaded your app and signed in or made a new account, you can connect to the VPN server. With Surfshark, you can simply click on the Quick connect button to activate the VPN quickly if you don’t want to experiment with the app just yet:

Step 5: Testing the connection

After establishing a VPN connection, it is important to ensure that everything is working properly. To do that quickly, you can:

• Google your own IP address to check if it’s changed to the new VPN IP address;
• Perform an internet speed check to see whether the connection has slowed down.

If everything is working fine, you can continue exploring the VPN app or browsing the internet.

Conclusion

Setting up a VPN on your iPhone is straightforward, and it offers numerous advantages for your online privacy and security. By following the instructions above, you can easily download a VPN app from the app store, create an account, and establish a connection to a remote VPN server.

FAQs about how to get a VPN on iPhone

Enjoy effortless online privacy with a VPN & guard your identity with a single app

• Surf the web without being tracked

• Hide your IP address and encrypt your sensitive data

• Get alerted of data breaches targeting your personal information

• Massive 3,200+ high-speed servers fleet in 100+ countries

• Change digital locations to access websites while travelling

3200+ Servers

Get Started