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NordVPN was the strongest overall performer in Gizmodo’s October 2026 iPhone 17 Pro comparison, with the smallest measured speed loss and a connection that held through every Wi-Fi-to-cellular switch the testers tried. That is a test-specific result, not a guarantee for every iPhone, carrier, location, or type of use. ExpressVPN is a better fit if you prioritize low battery impact and a straightforward app; Proton VPN is worth considering for privacy-focused use and a free plan with significant restrictions.
Which iPhone VPN performed best in the 2026 comparison?
Gizmodo tested five VPNs on an iPhone 17 Pro and measured average speed loss against a 54.7 Mbps download baseline on home Wi-Fi. NordVPN had the smallest loss, at 13.6%, followed by ExpressVPN at 16.2%. Gizmodo also reported that NordVPN maintained its connection through every Wi-Fi-to-cellular switch in its test.
The testers connected to UK, US, and Japanese servers using WireGuard, NordLynx, or Lightway, depending on the provider. Results on another iPhone, network, server, or protocol may differ. Gizmodo’s October 5, 2026 comparison is a useful head-to-head snapshot, not a prediction of your own connection speed.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches| VPN | Average speed loss in Gizmodo’s test | Extra battery drain in a 20-minute test | What stood out |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 13.6% | 2% | Smallest speed loss; held connection through every tested network switch |
| ExpressVPN | 16.2% | 1% | Lowest extra battery drain in this test |
| Proton VPN | 17.5% | 2% | Free plan available, with restrictions |
| Surfshark | 21.4% | 3% | Unlimited simultaneous devices, according to Gizmodo |
| Private Internet Access | 24.2% | 3% | Most adjustable settings in Gizmodo’s comparison |
For the battery comparison, Gizmodo measured additional drain during 20 minutes of YouTube video at 1440p with each provider’s additional protections enabled. The percentages describe that short test and should not be read as a forecast of your battery life over a day.
#1 Best Overall
- 【DUAL BAND AX TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 574Mbps (2.4G)+2402Mbps (5G); 2.5G Multi-gigabit WAN port and a 1G gigabit LAN port; USB 3.0 port; Wi-Fi 6 offers more than double the total Wi-Fi speed with the MT3000 VPN Router.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Beryl AX automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 150 Mbps (OpenVPN); 300 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【OpenWrt 21.02 FIRMWARE】The Beryl AX is a portable wifi box and mini router that runs on OpenWrt 21.02 firmware. It supports more than 5,000 ready-made plug-ins for customization. Simply browse, install, and manage packages with our no-code interface within Beryl AX's Admin Panel.
- 【PROTECT YOUR NETWORK SECURITY】Our pocket wifi, unlike other vulnerable portable wifi hotspot for travel purposes supports WPA3 protocol–Preventive measures against password brute-force attacks; DNS over HTTPS & DNS over TLS–Protecting domain name system traffic and preventing data eavesdropping from malicious parties; IPv6–Built-in authentication for privacy protection, eliminating the need for network address translation.
- 【VPN CASCADING AT EASE】Surpassing the mediocre performance of most VPN routers for home usage, the Beryl AX is capable of hosting a VPN server and VPN client at the same time within the same device, enabling users to remote access local network resources like Wi-Fi printers or local web servers, and accessing the public internet as a VPN client simultaneously.
Which iPhone VPN should you choose?
NordVPN: best pick for overall performance
Choose NordVPN if speed and staying connected while moving between Wi-Fi and cellular are your main concerns. It had the lowest speed loss of the five VPNs Gizmodo tested and maintained its connection during all of the network switches the testers tried. Gizmodo lists 10 simultaneous devices and a starting price of $3.49 per month for a 27-month plan at the time of its comparison; check the provider’s current checkout terms for the total charge and renewal price, since subscription offers can change.
ExpressVPN: a strong choice for battery use and simplicity
ExpressVPN had the lowest extra battery drain in Gizmodo’s 20-minute video test, at 1%, and its reported speed loss was 16.2%. Gizmodo lists a 10–14 device allowance in its comparison. Top10VPN separately found it performed well for speed and Wi-Fi/cellular handoff, but noted that it lacks native automatic connection to public Wi-Fi. That distinction matters if you want the VPN to turn on automatically when joining an unfamiliar hotspot. Top10VPN’s iPhone VPN comparison covers its separate testing and app observations.
Rank #2
- 【AC1200 Dual-band Wireless Router】Simultaneous dual-band with wireless speed up to 300 Mbps (2.4GHz) + 867 Mbps (5GHz). 2.4GHz band can handles some simple tasks like emails or web browsing while bandwidth intensive tasks such as gaming or 4K video streaming can be handled by the 5GHz band.*Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【Easy Setup】Please refer to the User Manual and the Unboxing & Setup video guide on Amazon for detailed setup instructions and methods for connecting to the Internet.
- 【Pocket-friendly】Lightweight design(145g) which designed for your next trip or adventure. Alongside its portable, compact design makes it easy to take with you on the go.
- 【Full Gigabit Ports】Gigabit Wireless Internet Router with 2 Gigabit LAN ports and 1 Gigabit WAN ports, ideal for lots of internet plan and allow you to connect your wired devices directly.
- 【Keep your Internet Safe】IPv6 supported. OpenVPN & WireGuard pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers. Cloudflare encryption supported to protect the privacy.
Proton VPN: privacy-oriented option with a restricted free plan
Proton VPN is an option if you want a privacy-oriented service or prefer to start with a free plan. RTINGS says the free tier has unlimited data but allows only one device at a time, does not let users select a server location, and provides access to five free server countries. It also does not officially support streaming or torrenting on that plan. Those limits make it a poor fit if you need to choose a particular country, use the VPN on several devices, or rely on it for streaming.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →RTINGS’ iPhone VPN comparison also recommends Proton VPN Free for unlimited free use, with restrictions. Its broader recommendations differ by priority: RTINGS names Mullvad for a privacy-focused, simple experience and NordVPN for streaming. No VPN can ensure that a particular streaming library will always be available.
Rank #3
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
Surfshark: consider it when device count matters
Gizmodo lists unlimited simultaneous devices for Surfshark, which may suit a household with many devices to cover. In the same iPhone test, it had a 21.4% average speed loss and 3% extra battery drain. Whether the device allowance is worth that measured trade-off depends on your network and priorities.
Private Internet Access: for users who want more controls
Private Internet Access offered the most adjustable settings among the five services Gizmodo compared. The review also described a domain-based iOS split-tunneling workaround; do not mistake that for full per-app split tunneling. It had the highest measured speed loss in that comparison, at 24.2%.
Rank #4
- 【DUAL BAND WIFI 7 TRAVEL ROUTER】Products with US, UK, EU, AU Plug; Dual band network with wireless speed 688Mbps (2.4G)+2882Mbps (5G); Dual 2.5G Ethernet Ports (1x WAN and 1x LAN Port); USB 3.0 port.
- 【NETWORK CONTROL WITH TOUCHSCREEN SIMPLICITY】Slate 7’s touchscreen interface lets you scan QR codes for quick Wi-Fi, monitor speed in real time, toggle VPN on/off, and switch providers directly on the display. Color-coded indicators provide instant network status updates for Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater, and Cellular modes, offering a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- 【OpenWrt 23.05 FIRMWARE】The Slate 7 (GL-BE3600) is a high-performance Wi-Fi 7 travel router, built with OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213) for maximum customization and advanced networking capabilities. With 512MB storage, total customization with open-source freedom and flexible installation of OpenWrt plugins.
- 【VPN CLIENT & SERVER】OpenVPN and WireGuard are pre-installed, compatible with 30+ VPN service providers (active subscription required). Simply log in to your existing VPN account with our portable wifi device, and Slate 7 automatically encrypts all network traffic within the connected network. Max. VPN speed of 100 Mbps (OpenVPN); 540 Mbps (WireGuard). *Speed tests are conducted on a local network. Real-world speeds may differ depending on your network configuration.*
- 【PERFECT PORTABLE WIFI ROUTER FOR TRAVEL】The Slate 7 is an ideal portable internet device perfect for international travel. With its mini size and travel-friendly features, the pocket Wi-Fi router is the perfect companion for travelers in need of a secure internet connectivity on the go in which includes hotels or cruise ships.
Mullvad: a privacy-first alternative
RTINGS recommends Mullvad for a privacy-focused, fuss-free iPhone experience. It says Mullvad does not actively optimize servers to bypass geographic restrictions, so it may be a less suitable choice if getting around streaming-region blocks is your main goal.
What matters when comparing iPhone VPNs?
- Speed and ping: Results depend on the server location, protocol, network, and starting connection. A result measured on one home Wi-Fi line cannot tell you how the app will perform on your carrier’s network.
- Network handoff: If you move between Wi-Fi and cellular, look for iPhone-specific testing of connection stability. A VPN can briefly disconnect or reconnect as the phone changes networks.
- Battery impact: Treat battery figures as comparisons under stated conditions, not as all-day estimates. Video playback, signal strength, background activity, and app settings all affect battery use.
- Privacy practices: A VPN routes your internet traffic through its service, but it does not make you anonymous or protect you from every online threat. Evaluate the provider’s privacy practices and independent audits rather than relying only on marketing claims.
- iOS app controls: Consider whether you need automatic connection on public Wi-Fi, protocol choices, or more advanced settings, and check which controls are actually available in the iPhone app.
- Devices and subscription terms: Compare simultaneous-device limits and the full subscription terms, including renewal pricing. A listed introductory monthly equivalent may depend on paying for a longer plan upfront.
- Streaming: A VPN may work with some services or libraries and fail with others. Access can change, and no provider can guarantee that a specific catalog will remain available.
Reviewers also weigh these factors differently. Security.org says it assessed more than 50 iPhone VPNs for app usability, speed and battery, privacy and security protocols, and compatibility with iOS features. Its methodology and the other reviewers’ priorities help explain why there is no single recommendation that fits every iPhone owner. Security.org’s iPhone VPN comparison describes its testing categories.
Best Value
- 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐦 𝟔 𝐀𝐗𝟏𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥-𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 - Wi-Fi 6 Speeds up to 1,201 Mbps (5 GHz) and 300 Mbps (2.4 GHz) for up to 60 devices simultaneously. Actual Wi-Fi speeds vary based on source bandwidth, environment, distance to devices, and obstacles. ◇§
- 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 - Roam 6 AX1500 is a pocket-sized travel router compactly designed for trips and adventures, featuring a 1 Gbps WAN/LAN port and a 1 Gbps LAN port for reliable wired connectivity.
- 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗪𝗶-𝗙𝗶 𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝗴𝗼 - Connects to public Wi-Fi and creates a private, secure network for all your devices. Supports multiple devices at once, ideal for hotels, Airbnbs, airports, and even home use. VPN connectivity enables secure remote work.
- 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 - (1) Router Mode: Connects to public Wi-Fi, ISP, or phone (USB tethering). (2) AP/RE/Client Mode: Adds WiFi to wired setups, extends WiFi, or connects wired devices wirelessly.
- 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - TP-Link is a signatory of the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s (CISA) Secure-by-Design pledge. Advanced security is integrated into the device’s design, development, and ongoing maintenance.
What a VPN can—and cannot—do on an iPhone
A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your device and the VPN provider’s server. This can help protect traffic on networks where you do not fully trust the local connection and can make websites see the VPN server’s IP address rather than your network’s address. It does not stop phishing, prevent every form of tracking, make an account anonymous, or guarantee that a streaming service will accept a connection.
Choosing a VPN is therefore a trade-off: you are routing traffic through a provider, so its privacy practices matter. A VPN app is one layer of privacy and network protection, not a substitute for careful account security, software updates, or recognizing suspicious links. TechRadar’s iPhone VPN guide provides additional provider and feature comparisons.
How to make the choice
- Decide what you value most. For the strongest result in Gizmodo’s particular speed and handoff test, start with NordVPN. For its lowest measured battery drain and a simple-app focus, consider ExpressVPN. For a free plan, check Proton VPN’s location, device, and use-case restrictions before relying on it.
- Check the app’s iOS controls. Confirm the features you need—especially automatic public-Wi-Fi connection, protocol selection, or advanced settings—are available on iPhone, not just on another platform.
- Read the current subscription terms. Confirm the upfront total, renewal amount, term length, and device allowance on the provider’s checkout page. Published plan prices and offers can change.
- Test it on your own networks. After installing the app, try it on your usual Wi-Fi and cellular connections, including a handoff between them. Check the services and locations you actually need rather than assuming a benchmark or streaming claim will transfer to your setup.
Other 2026 comparisons cover different priorities and methods, including Tom’s Guide’s iPhone VPN guide and Macworld’s iPhone and iPad VPN recommendations. Their rankings are best treated as additional perspectives rather than a single universal ordering.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
