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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsNordVPN was the strongest general-performance pick in Gizmodo’s October 2026 iPhone 17 Pro test, with the smallest measured speed loss and uninterrupted connections through every Wi-Fi-to-cellular switch the testers tried. ExpressVPN is a better fit if you prioritize low battery use and a simple app; Proton VPN is a privacy-oriented option with a free plan, but that plan has important limits.
Those findings are a head-to-head snapshot, not a guarantee for every iPhone, carrier, location, or workload. The test used one iPhone, one home Wi-Fi connection, three server regions, selected protocols, and a short battery test.
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Which iPhone VPN performed best in the 2026 test?
Gizmodo tested four VPNs on an iPhone 17 Pro and reported average speed loss and additional battery drain during a 20-minute video session. NordVPN had the smallest speed loss; ExpressVPN had the lowest extra battery drain.
| VPN | Average speed loss | Extra battery drain | What the result suggests |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 13.6% | 2% | Best measured speed result; it also maintained the connection through each Wi-Fi/cellular switch tested. |
| ExpressVPN | 16.2% | 1% | Lowest battery drain in this short test and a strong fit for readers who value a straightforward app. |
| Proton VPN | 17.5% | 2% | A privacy-oriented option that also offers a free plan with restrictions. |
| Private Internet Access | 24.2% | 3% | Gizmodo found the most adjustable settings, but also the largest speed loss in this comparison. |
Gizmodo’s speed figures came from a baseline home Wi-Fi connection measuring 54.7 Mbps download and 37 ms ping. Testers connected to servers in the UK, US, and Japan, using WireGuard, NordLynx, or Lightway as applicable. Battery drain was measured during 20 minutes of YouTube at 1440p, with each provider’s additional protections enabled. These results describe that setup; your speeds and battery use will depend on your connection, chosen server, protocol, and activity. Gizmodo’s iPhone VPN test was published October 5, 2026.
#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.
Choose by what matters most on your iPhone
For general performance and network handoffs: NordVPN
In Gizmodo’s test, NordVPN had the lowest average speed loss and kept its connection through every Wi-Fi-to-cellular transition the testers tried. Gizmodo lists 10 simultaneous devices and a starting price of $3.49 per month for its 27-month plan at the time of publication. That is a plan-specific starting price, not a guarantee of the amount you will pay over time; check the current price and renewal terms before subscribing.
For battery use and a simple app: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN had the least additional battery drain in Gizmodo’s 20-minute test. A separate iPhone 17 Pro comparison by Top10VPN also reported good speed and Wi-Fi/cellular handoff, while noting that the app lacks native auto-connect for public Wi-Fi. The feature matters if you want the VPN to connect automatically when your phone joins an unfamiliar hotspot. Top10VPN’s iPhone VPN comparison discusses that limitation.
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 a free plan or privacy-focused option: Proton VPN
RTINGS reports that Proton VPN’s free plan has unlimited data, but it allows one device at a time, does not let you choose a server location, and provides access to five free server countries. RTINGS also says the free plan does not officially support streaming or torrenting. Those restrictions make it more suitable for basic use than for selecting a specific country or using the service across several devices. RTINGS’ iPhone VPN comparison covers its free-plan terms and recommendations.
For more adjustable settings: Private Internet Access
Gizmodo found Private Internet Access offered the most adjustable settings among the four tested apps, including a domain-based iOS split-tunneling workaround. That is not the same as full per-app split tunneling. It also had the highest measured speed loss in that comparison, at 24.2%.
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
For a privacy-first, uncomplicated experience: Mullvad
RTINGS recommends Mullvad for a privacy-focused, simple iPhone experience. It says Mullvad does not actively optimize its servers to bypass geo-restrictions, so it is not the natural pick if accessing region-specific streaming catalogs is your main goal.
How to interpret speed, battery, and streaming results
Speed depends on the route, not just the app
A VPN routes your traffic through a VPN server, so the result depends on the server location, protocol, network conditions, and the service you are using. A test on a 54.7 Mbps home connection does not predict the speed you will get on a different Wi-Fi network or mobile carrier. A ranking based on a fast desktop lab connection would not, by itself, establish which iPhone app behaves best on mobile.
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.
A short battery test is not a full-day forecast
The reported battery differences came from one 20-minute video activity with extra protections enabled. They can help compare apps under that test’s conditions, but they do not show how much battery each VPN will use over a day of mixed browsing, calls, downloads, and time on cellular data.
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Streaming access can change
VPN providers may work with some streaming services at some times, but a service can change how it detects VPN traffic. RTINGS cautions that “no VPN can ensure that a particular library will always be available.” Treat streaming access as a changeable capability, not a permanent promise. RTINGS’ review explains this limitation.
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 to check before subscribing
Choose based on your own use rather than a single overall ranking. Compare these details on the provider’s current plan page and in its iPhone app:
- Speed and latency: Look for results relevant to the locations and protocol you expect to use; test your own usual network during any refund or trial period.
- Handoffs: If you move between Wi-Fi and cellular often, check whether the VPN reconnects reliably and whether the app offers the automatic connection behavior you want.
- Privacy evidence: Consider documented privacy practices and independent audits rather than treating a provider’s own claims as proof of anonymity. A VPN changes how your traffic is routed; it does not make you anonymous or protect you from every online threat.
- iOS controls: Check the app’s available settings, including connection automation and any split-tunneling feature. Confirm what a feature actually does on iOS rather than assuming it works like its desktop counterpart.
- Devices and price: Verify simultaneous-device limits, the initial subscription term, and the renewal amount. Prices and offers can change.
- Free-plan restrictions: Check location choice, device count, and whether streaming or other intended activities are supported, not just the data allowance.
Security.org says its reviewers assessed more than 50 iPhone VPNs across usability, speed and battery, privacy and security protocols, and compatibility with iOS features. Its categories illustrate why recommendations differ: the best app for one priority may not be best for another. Security.org’s iPhone VPN comparison describes its evaluation areas.
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.
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