Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
There is no single best VPN app for every iPhone owner. In Gizmodo’s October 2026 comparison on an iPhone 17 Pro, NordVPN had the lowest reported average speed loss and kept its connection through the network changes they tested. Proton VPN is a better fit if privacy features or a free tier matter most; ExpressVPN had the lowest battery impact in that test; and the right choice still depends on plan terms, server locations, and the controls you need.
How the four iPhone VPN apps compare
The figures below are Gizmodo’s reported results, not guarantees for other iPhones, networks, servers, or VPN plans. Gizmodo tested the apps on an iPhone 17 Pro in October 2026. Its home Wi-Fi baseline was 54.7 Mbps download and 37 ms ping; it measured speed across UK, US, and Japanese servers, battery drain during a 20-minute 1440p YouTube session, and stability while switching between Wi-Fi and cellular. It used WireGuard, NordLynx, or Lightway, with extra protections enabled.
| App | Gizmodo’s stated fit | Average speed loss | Extra battery drain | Devices listed | Starting price listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Overall pick; fastest in this test | 13.6% | 2% | 10 | $3.49/month |
| Proton VPN | Privacy and free-tier pick | 17.5% | 2% | 10 | $2.99/month |
| ExpressVPN | Battery and app smoothness | 16.2% | 1% | 10–14 | $2.99/month |
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | Price and settings | 24.2% | 3% | Unlimited | $2.19/month |
All benchmark values, device counts, and starting prices in this table are from Gizmodo’s October 2026 comparison. Prices are term-dependent starting prices, not necessarily the cost of monthly billing or the renewal rate; device allowances and plan details can change. Check the current terms before subscribing.
Which app fits your priority?
For speed and connection handoffs: NordVPN
NordVPN had the lowest average speed loss in Gizmodo’s test, at 13.6%. Gizmodo also reported that it maintained the VPN tunnel through every Wi-Fi-to-cellular switch it tested. That is a result from this particular iPhone and test setup, not a promise of uninterrupted service everywhere. Gizmodo found the interface dense and noted that its trial was Android-only.
#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.
For privacy features or a free tier: Proton VPN
Gizmodo describes Proton VPN’s iOS client as open source and highlights its privacy features. RTINGS says the free plan has unlimited data but is limited to one device and does not let users choose a server location manually. RTINGS also says official streaming and torrenting support is reserved for paid users. Those limits make the free tier less suitable if you need a particular country or a specific supported use.
For lower battery impact or a simpler start: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN showed the lowest extra battery drain in Gizmodo’s video-session test: 1%, compared with 2% or 3% for the other three apps. TechRadar separately describes it as beginner-friendly in its own review. These are different editorial assessments, so the battery figure should not be read as a general battery-life ranking across iPhones and usage patterns.
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.
For price and settings: Private Internet Access
Gizmodo lists PIA’s starting price as the lowest in its comparison and calls it a price-and-settings option. It also says PIA offers domain-based routing as a workaround for the lack of individual-app exclusions it observed in the compared iOS apps. Its reported average speed loss was 24.2%, the highest of the four in that test. Check whether the current app’s controls fit your needs before choosing it for settings alone.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
What the speed and battery numbers do—and do not—tell you
Gizmodo reported average speed loss, not a guaranteed percentage reduction on every connection. Your results can differ with your iPhone, internet provider, distance to the VPN server, server load, protocol, and network conditions. Its battery figures came from an extra-drain comparison during a single 20-minute 1440p YouTube session, so they are not estimates of all-day battery life.
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
The ranking also changes with the question being asked. TechRadar’s separate review presents ExpressVPN as a beginner-friendly option and discusses service-specific iOS features; RTINGS recommends NordVPN for streaming and describes trade-offs in Proton VPN Free. Those judgments use their publishers’ own approaches and should not be merged into one universal ranking. Streaming availability can also vary by service, location, and time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.iPhone VPN limits and iCloud Private Relay
Gizmodo reports that none of the four apps in its comparison could exclude individual apps from the VPN tunnel on iOS; it identifies PIA’s domain-based routing as a workaround. Treat this as the comparison’s observation, not a universal statement about every iOS VPN setup or future app version. If per-app routing is essential, check the current app documentation and test the setting before relying on it.
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.
iCloud Private Relay is not a full substitute for a VPN. Macworld explains that Private Relay hides your IP address in Safari, but does not encrypt all internet traffic from other apps and browsers. A VPN covers traffic more broadly through its tunnel, but it does not make you anonymous or guarantee safety on every network.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
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.
Choose by checking the details that affect your use
- Server location: Confirm that the service offers a location you need and that the plan lets you select it.
- Plan and renewal cost: Compare the full term, renewal price, billing interval, and refund or trial conditions rather than relying on a starting-price headline.
- Device allowance: Match the current simultaneous-connection limit to the number of devices you will actually protect.
- iOS controls: Check whether the app supports the routing, protocol, and connection behavior you expect on your iPhone.
- Your main trade-off: Use Gizmodo’s results as one controlled comparison: NordVPN led its speed and handoff results, while ExpressVPN had the lowest measured battery impact. Neither finding predicts every user’s experience.
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.
