An iPad does most of what a laptop can, and it’s far easier to carry around. That also means it spends more time on hotel Wi-Fi, airport networks and café hotspots than most of your devices. Those are exactly the places where a VPN for iPad helps most, encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address from whoever runs the network.
The catch is that VPNs on iPad rarely match their Windows or Android versions. Apple’s tighter rules for developers mean features like split tunneling are often missing or cut back, and some providers drop others, like auto-connect. The App Store is also full of free VPNs with no independent audits behind them, so we’ve focused on which of the best VPNs keep the important tools on iPadOS, and which leave them out.
We put each provider through our latest speed and streaming tests, and checked its iPad app feature by feature. The full rankings are below, with NordVPN, ExpressVPN and Surfshark leading the way.
The 3 best iPad VPNs at a glance
How we chose the best iPad VPNs
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For this guide, we looked at how each VPN’s app works on an iPad. That meant checking how each provider’s iOS app adapts to the iPad’s larger screen, and comparing it feature by feature with the same provider’s Android app. Kill switches, auto-connect, split tunneling and protocol options often differ between the two, and those gaps matter if your iPad is your main device.
Next, we put every VPN through our streaming tests. We connected to servers in five regions – the US, the UK, Canada, Japan and Australia/New Zealand – then tried to watch each region’s content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ and YouTube, along with local services like BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 9Now and 10 Play. If a service blocked us, it counted as a fail.
Speed results come from our most recent tests of each VPN. We run them on a Windows cloud PC with a 10 Gbps connection, in morning and evening sessions, connecting both to a nearby US server and to the UK. A connection that fast means the results reflect what each VPN can do, not the limits of the line it’s tested on.
Finally, we weighed up each provider’s privacy credentials, from independent no-logs audits to how its kill switch held up in testing. We also looked at extras like ad and malware blocking, password managers and identity theft protection. These are nice to have rather than essential, but they can tip the balance between two otherwise similar VPNs.
Read more about how we test VPNs for an in-depth look at our testing process.
The best iPad VPN overall
What we like:
NordVPN is the best VPN service we’ve tested, and its iPad app lives up to that.
Its main screen feels a bit crowded on an iPhone, but I found the iPad’s larger display gives it room to breathe. You get the full iOS app without the cramped navigation.
That includes a solid choice of protocols. On iPad, you can pick NordLynx – NordVPN’s WireGuard-based protocol – or NordWhisper, which disguises your VPN traffic on restrictive networks, as well as OpenVPN over UDP or TCP. NordLynx also brings post-quantum encryption, so your data stays protected against future decryption attempts.
You also get Threat Protection Lite, which blocks ads and malicious websites at the DNS level, and auto-connect, which switches the VPN on whenever you join a Wi-Fi network.
Streaming is a big strength, too. In our latest tests, NordVPN unblocked Amazon Prime Video in all five regions we tried, along with BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 9Now and 10 Play. Its only misses were some YouTube channels such as Formula 1 in the US, UK and Australia, Disney+ in Canada, and Netflix in Japan.
Speeds are strong, if not class-leading. NordVPN hit 1,427 Mbps on a nearby US server using NordLynx, and 939 Mbps connecting to the UK. That puts it behind Surfshark and Proton VPN on this list, but it’s still far more than you need to stream, game or browse on your iPad.
Its server network is the widest here, with 8,000+ servers in 167 countries, so there’s likely to be one near wherever you take your iPad. If you travel often, our guide to the best travel VPNs covers more options.
If you need extra privacy, the iPad app includes Onion over VPN, which gives you access to the Tor network without the Tor browser. There’s also Double VPN, which routes your traffic through two servers so neither one sees both your real IP address and the sites you visit. NordVPN’s no-logs policy has also passed six independent audits, most recently by Deloitte, with results published in February 2026.
Finally, there’s a kill switch, which protects you if the VPN disconnects. When I forced my VPN connection to drop during testing, it cut me off straight away, with no leaks.
What could improve:
The iPad app is strong, but it doesn’t get everything NordVPN offers on other platforms.
For example, you get Threat Protection Lite rather than Next-Gen Antivirus, NordVPN’s more robust URL-based malware and ad blocker (formerly Threat Protection Pro). Next-Gen Antivirus is only available on desktop apps, and only with its pricier plans.
NordVPN also doesn’t offer split tunneling on iOS, so you can’t exclude certain apps or sites, like banking apps, from the VPN. This is common on iPad due to Apple’s restrictions, but Surfshark does offer a website-only version, so it can be done.
Then there’s the price. At $3.49 per month ($94.23 plus tax upfront for 27 months), NordVPN is the most expensive VPN on this list.
That price is also only for your first term. If you let your plan auto-renew, the Basic plan jumps to $11.59 per month. To avoid this, turn off auto-renewal, then buy a new plan with the same email address before your current one runs out.
🔒 Read our in-depth NordVPN review for all the details.
Buy NordVPN if:
✅ Streaming is a priority. In our latest tests, it got into nearly every service we tried, including Amazon Prime Video in all five regions.
✅ You travel with your iPad. It has servers in 167 countries, more than any rival on this list
✅ Security matters most to you. Double VPN, Onion over VPN and post-quantum encryption all come with the iPad app.
Don't buy NordVPN if:
❌ You want to route some traffic outside the VPN. The iPad app has no split tunneling. Surfshark is the only VPN here that offers it on iPad, and only for websites.
❌ Price comes first. At $3.49 per month on a two-year plan, it’s the priciest of our five picks.
The easiest to use iPad VPN
What we like:
If you’ve never used a VPN, ExpressVPN is the easiest place to start. Its iPad app is built around one large connect button, and it’s the same app that tops our best iPhone VPN guide. You can also switch it to Twilight, a dark theme that’s easier to look at late in the evening.
ExpressVPN is our second-ranked pick among the best Mac VPNs, so it’s a natural fit if your iPad sits alongside a MacBook. It holds the same spot in our best Windows VPNs guide, too.
On iPad, you can pick between Lightway (ExpressVPN’s own protocol), WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2. Lightway and WireGuard both come with post-quantum encryption, built to hold up against tomorrow’s quantum computers.
There’s a kill switch, too. When I forced the VPN to drop during testing, it blocked my internet access instantly. ExpressVPN has also passed 27 independent audits, more than any other VPN we’ve tested. KPMG last checked its no-logs policy in June 2025, so you don’t have to take the company’s word for it.
Streaming has improved since our previous round of testing. ExpressVPN now gets into US Prime Video and premium YouTube channels such as Formula 1, both of which it missed last time. It also got into BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 9Now and 10 Play on the first try.
The plans are now split into three tiers. Basic covers 10 devices and includes DNS-level blocking of ads and malicious sites. Advanced raises that to 12 devices and adds the Keys password manager, plus Identity Defender in the US, which comes with $1M of identity theft insurance. Pro covers 14 devices and adds a dedicated IP. New users can test it for a week through the iPad app before paying.
What could improve:
ExpressVPN’s headline speed doesn’t carry over to iPad. Its Lightway Turbo mode hit 1,810 Mbps in our latest tests, but Turbo only works on Windows. Without it, ExpressVPN reached 1,119 Mbps on a nearby US server, which makes it the fourth fastest VPN on this list. That’s still more than enough for 4K streaming.
The iPad app is also missing two features that some rivals offer. Unlike NordVPN and Surfshark, it has no auto-connect, so you’ll have to switch the VPN on yourself each time you join a new Wi-Fi network. It doesn’t offer split tunneling, either.
Outside the US and UK, streaming was patchier. In Canada, ExpressVPN couldn’t unblock Netflix or YouTube, and in Japan it missed Amazon Prime Video and YouTube. YouTube in Australia was blocked, too, and Netflix in Japan also took several attempts.
Finally, live chat now opens with an AI chatbot, though a human agent took over within a couple of minutes when we tested it.
🔒 Read our in-depth ExpressVPN review for all the details.
Buy ExpressVPN if:
✅ This is your first VPN. The iPad app keeps things simple, with one button to connect and very little to configure.
✅ You want extra security tools in one subscription. Upgrading adds Keys, ExpressVPN’s password manager, plus identity protection if you’re in the US.
✅ You stream US services. Amazon Prime Video and premium YouTube channels such as Formula 1 both unblocked immediately in the US in our latest tests.
Don't buy ExpressVPN if:
❌ Speed matters most to you. Its fastest mode only works on Windows, and without it ExpressVPN ranks fourth of our five picks.
❌ You watch Netflix in Canada. It couldn’t unblock Netflix in Canada in our latest tests, or YouTube in three of the five regions we tried.
The best cheap iPad VPN
What we like:
Surfshark gives you premium performance at a budget price, and it’s one of our best cheap VPNs. The two-year plan costs $2.49 per month ($67.23 plus tax upfront for 27 months), and one subscription covers every device you own.
It was the fastest of our five picks in our latest tests. Using WireGuard, it hit 2,005 Mbps on a nearby US server and 1,739 Mbps connecting to the UK, the best results on this list for both.
It’s also the only VPN here with split tunneling on iPad. Apple’s restrictions mean its Bypasser feature works for websites only, not apps, but you can still choose sites that skip the VPN, like your online banking.
Streaming results have improved, too. Surfshark unblocked Netflix in all five regions we tested, along with BBC iPlayer, ITV, Channel 4, 9Now and 10 Play. Amazon Prime Video now works in the US and UK, after it failed both in our previous tests. Premium YouTube channels such as Formula 1 in the US took a few attempts. If streaming is your top priority, it’s worth seeing how Surfshark compares with our best streaming VPNs.
Privacy is well covered. Surfshark’s WireGuard connections have used post-quantum encryption since January 2026, and Dynamic MultiHop lets you route your traffic through any two of its servers. Its first no-logs audit came in 2022, and a second audit in 2025 reached the same conclusion. An infrastructure audit followed, with results published in January 2026.
The iPad app also has a kill switch and auto-connect. Every plan includes CleanWeb, which blocks ads, and Alternative ID, which gives you a separate identity and email address for online sign-ups. Surfshark One adds antivirus, Alert and private search, and One+ adds Incogni.
What could improve:
Surfshark’s 7-day free trial comes with a catch: you have to enter payment details to start it. If you decide it’s not for you, cancel before the week is up. Even so, it tops our ranking of the best VPN free trials.
There were a few streaming misses as well. Surfshark couldn’t unblock Disney+ or YouTube in the UK, or YouTube in Australia, Canada and Japan.
The iPad app doesn’t give you much to tinker with, either. That’s fine if you want a VPN you can set and forget, but if you like fine-tuning your connection, PIA or Proton VPN will suit you better.
Finally, the low price only covers your first term. When your plan renews, the Starter and One plans more than triple in price. You can avoid that by switching off auto-renewal and buying more time while your current plan is still active.
🔒 Read our in-depth Surfshark review for all the details.
Buy Surfshark if:
✅ You want the fastest VPN here. No other pick on this list matched its 2,005 Mbps top speed.
✅ Your household has lots of devices. There’s no device limit, so everyone can share a single subscription.
✅ You need split tunneling on iPad. It’s the only VPN on this list that offers it, though only for websites.
Don't buy Surfshark if:
❌ You want a no-strings free trial. The 7-day trial asks for your payment details upfront.
❌ You like to fine-tune your settings. The app keeps things simple, so there isn’t much to configure.
The most secure iPad VPN
What we like:
Proton VPN is built around privacy, and it ranks second in our most secure VPNs guide. Every Proton VPN app is open source, the company owns and runs all of its own servers, and its no-logs policy passed its fourth independent audit in September 2025.
Its standout feature is Secure Core, which routes your traffic through hardened servers in Switzerland, Iceland or Sweden before it reaches your chosen location. On iPad, you can connect using WireGuard or Stealth, Proton’s own protocol for disguising VPN traffic on restrictive networks. Its kill switch also held firm through every test we threw at it.
It’s also very fast, and among the fastest VPNs we’ve tested. Proton VPN reached 1,783 Mbps on a nearby US server and 1,397 Mbps connecting to the UK in our latest tests, second only to Surfshark on this list.
Netflix is a particular strength. Proton VPN unblocked all five Netflix libraries we tested – the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan – which makes it one of the best Netflix VPNs. It also got into BBC iPlayer, Channel 4, 9Now and 10 Play on the first try.
Proton VPN’s redesigned iOS app also fixed a gripe I had in my previous review. The disconnect button used to sit where most apps put their home button, which made accidental disconnections easy. That button is gone now, and the app is far less cluttered. If you want more control, Profiles let you save a country, server, protocol and Secure Core setting, then connect to it in one tap.
Unlike most of its rivals, Proton VPN has a single paid plan with every feature included, at $2.99 per month ($71.76 for 24 months). If you want Proton’s whole privacy suite, Proton Unlimited starts from $9.99 per month ($119.88 for 12 months) and bundles the VPN with Proton Mail, Calendar, Drive and Pass.
What could improve:
Proton VPN offers split tunneling on Windows, Android, Mac and Linux, but not on iPad. If you need to route certain sites outside the VPN, Surfshark is the only pick on this list that can do it.
NetShield, Proton’s built-in blocker, is good at stopping ads but weak against malware. In our testing, it blocked 88% of ads, but only 4% of malware sites.
Its streaming record has a few gaps, too. Proton VPN couldn’t unblock Amazon Prime Video in Australia, Canada or Japan. Premium YouTube channels such as Formula 1 in the US and TVNZ+ in New Zealand took several attempts, as did Disney+ and ITV in the UK.
Support could also be easier to reach. Live chat is only available through Proton’s website, and it isn’t staffed around the clock.
Finally, there’s no free trial. Proton VPN Free, one of our best free VPNs, is a good way to try the app, but it doesn’t support streaming, so you won’t get a true sense of the paid service.
🔒 Read our in-depth Proton VPN review for all the details.
Buy Proton VPN if:
✅ Privacy is your top priority. Secure Core, fully open-source apps and four independent no-logs audits make it the most privacy-focused pick on this list.
✅ Netflix is your go-to streaming service. It unblocked every Netflix library we tried, in all five regions.
✅ You often connect to servers abroad. It hit 1,397 Mbps connecting from the US to the UK, second only to Surfshark.
Don't buy Proton VPN if:
❌ You need split tunneling on iPad. Proton VPN only offers it on desktop and Android.
❌ You’re hoping to stream on the free plan. Proton VPN Free doesn’t support streaming at all.
The best iPad VPN for experts
What we like:
PIA is the cheapest VPN on this list, costing at most $2.19 per month. It’s also one of the few that won’t hit you with a big bill later. Renewal prices on longer plans rise by just 8%, while most rivals charge far more once your first term ends.
The app is one of the most configurable here, too. On iPad, you can choose between WireGuard, OpenVPN and IKEv2, and automation rules let you decide what happens when you join different types of network – for example, switching the VPN on whenever you connect to unsecured public Wi-Fi. You can even connect and disconnect with Siri shortcuts.
PIA’s privacy record is hard to fault, and it earns a place in our most private VPNs guide. Its no-logs policy was audited by Deloitte in 2024, its infrastructure was audited again in February 2026, and its no-logs claims have held up in court. The apps are open source, too, and PIA publishes a transparency report every quarter.
There’s a kill switch on iPad, and you can connect as many devices as you like. PIA reportedly runs more than 10,000 servers, second only to Proton VPN on this list, though server count isn’t the whole story. It also has a server in every US state, which makes it a strong option if you’re after one of the best US VPNs. Every one of its servers supports P2P, too, and PIA takes first place in our best torrenting VPNs guide.
In our most recent streaming tests of PIA, it unblocked Netflix in the US, Canada and Australia, along with BBC iPlayer, 9Now and 10 Play. On desktop, MACE, its built-in blocker, stopped 87% of ads in our testing.
You can pay by card, PayPal, Amazon Pay or cryptocurrency, and there’s a 7-day free trial in the iPad app.
What could improve:
PIA is the slowest VPN on this list by a wide margin. It reached 419 Mbps on a nearby US server and 256 Mbps connecting to the UK in our latest tests. It can still handle 4K streaming, but it’s well behind the other four.
The app can also be confusing. I found the row of quick-settings icons below the connect button hard to work out, because none of them are labeled – you have to dig into the settings to see what each one does. If you’re new to VPNs, ExpressVPN or Surfshark will be easier to pick up.
There’s no split tunneling on iPad, since PIA only offers it on Windows and Mac, and no post-quantum encryption on any platform. On desktop, MACE is also far weaker against threats than ads. It blocked just one of the 100 malware and phishing links we tested it with.
The iOS app hasn’t had a significant update in more than a year, either.
Streaming was patchy in places. PIA couldn’t unblock Amazon Prime Video in the US, or Amazon, Disney+ and YouTube in Canada. Netflix in the UK and Japan, ITV, Channel 4 and US Disney+ all took several attempts.
🔒 Read our in-depth Private Internet Access review for all the details.
Buy Private Internet Access if:
✅ You want the lowest price. It’s the cheapest VPN on this list, and it stays cheap when your plan renews.
✅ You like to fine-tune your VPN. Automation rules, Siri shortcuts and a choice of three protocols give you plenty to configure on iPad.
✅ You want a proven no-logs VPN. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited, and it has held up in court.
Don't buy Private Internet Access if:
❌ Speed is a priority. At 419 Mbps in our latest tests, it trails every other pick here.
❌ You’re a VPN beginner. Unlabeled icons and deep settings make the app harder to learn than ExpressVPN or Surfshark.
What is the best iPad VPN?
NordVPN is the best iPad VPN we’ve tested. It pairs strong privacy tools, such as Double VPN and Threat Protection Lite, with excellent streaming results, including Amazon Prime Video in every test region.
Every VPN on this list has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try any of them on your iPad first.
Does the iPad have a built-in VPN?
No. iPadOS supports VPN connections, and you can add one manually in Settings, but Apple doesn’t offer its own VPN service.
The easiest option is a VPN app from the App Store. The first time you connect, the app asks permission to add a VPN configuration – tap Allow and you’re set.
If you pay for iCloud+, iCloud Private Relay hides your IP address while you browse in Safari. It isn’t a full VPN, though, and you can’t choose which country you appear to be in.
Should I use a VPN on iPad?
Yes, especially if you use your iPad on public Wi-Fi. A VPN encrypts your traffic, so whoever runs the network can’t see what you’re doing, and it hides your real IP address from the websites you visit.
Many VPNs also include extra privacy tools. Most on this list block ads, and some go further. Surfshark’s Alternative ID creates a separate identity for online sign-ups, for example, while ExpressVPN’s Advanced plan adds a password manager.
A VPN can also help you watch your usual streaming services while you’re traveling, by connecting you to a server back home.
Can I use a free iPad VPN?
You can, but every free VPN limits something. PrivadoVPN Free caps you at 10 GB of full-speed data per month, for example, while Proton VPN Free doesn’t support streaming.
Free plans from paid providers will also push you to upgrade, but they’re far safer than free VPNs with no paid plan behind them. Those have to make money some other way, sometimes by selling your data or hiding malware in the app. Our guide to the best free iPhone VPNs covers the free services we’d trust on iOS.
Are iPad VPNs safe?
The five on this list are. Each has had its no-logs policy independently audited, and I’ve used them all on my own devices.
Be wary of free App Store VPNs that promise unlimited data, fast speeds and every streaming service. Apps like these often make their money by selling your data, installing malware or adding your device to a botnet. Stick to VPNs that have passed an independent audit by a respected firm.
How to choose the right iPad VPN
Check the features first, since iPad apps often have fewer than their desktop or Android versions. All five VPNs here have a kill switch on iPad, but Surfshark is the only one with split tunneling, which works for websites alone.
Then think about ease of use. ExpressVPN suits first-timers best, while PIA and Proton VPN give you more control.
Finally, match the VPN to how you’ll use it. For streaming, check which services each one unblocked in our tests. For speed, Surfshark and Proton VPN were the fastest of our five.
The experts that test VPNs at Tom's Guide
Olivia joined Tom's Guide in October 2023, and is currently VPN Commissioning Editor. She regularly uses VPNs to make sure they deliver what they promise, and specializes in testing VPNs with streaming sites. For this guide, they tested all the VPNs listed on iOS in order to evaluate their ease of use, streaming support, and speed.
Mo has written about VPNs for Tom's Guide, day-in, day-out, for five years. He's an expert when it comes to what makes a VPN truly usable, and loves it when a VPN makes staying safe online as easy as possible. He is also a contributor to TechRadar, T3, and What Hi-Fi?.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
