The Best VPN for iPad 2022: Complete Guide

Last updated: January 19, 2023
William Sams

William Sams

Apple’s products have been the rage since the turn of the 2nd millennium, with popular brands like iPod and the iPhone raking up sales in millions of units sold per year. But, as the popularity of the iOS-powered brands grew, so did the threats targeted towards it in the online domain.

Smart hackers are always on the prowl to break into your iPad and get their hands on your data. The best VPN is your safest bet to make your iPad achieve the level of security needed to ward off such dangerous threats.

Here is a comprehensive guide by BestVPN.co for the best VPN for iPad, that is aimed towards making you equipped with all the information to make the right decision when it comes to choosing the most appropriate and iPad-friendly VPN.

Best VPN for ipad

Best VPN for iPad: Quick Overview

  • ExpressVPN: Best Overall VPN for iPad.
  • NordVPN: Best Secure VPN for iPad.
  • Surfshark: Best Budget-Friendly VPN for iPad.
  • CyberGhost: Best Powerful and Featured-Pack VPN for iPad.
  • PureVPN: Best Low-Cost VPN with all Features on iPad.

5 Best VPN for iPad: In-Depth Analysis

Here is a list of one of the top-tier VPN providers that are the best fit for your iPad.

1. ExpressVPN: Best Overall VPN for iPad

A distinguished name among VPNs, ExpressVPN offers one of the greatest feature packs for offering premium user convenience.

On top of its immensely convenient and supremely easy-to-use iOS app client, it can offer more than 3000 servers, zero bandwidth limit, blistering fast speeds that don’t get bogged down by server bottlenecks, AES 256 grade encryption, and other exclusive feature like split tunneling for extra security.

EpressVPN for iPad

This VPN might be a bit expensive than its peers but it does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee for those who don’t want to remain with the service after initial use. But, that rarely happens.

There are three different plans on offer with Express VPN on iPad. The monthly plan comes in at $12.95, which is too exorbitant to consider, the plan for 6 months costs $59.95 billed once, but their best plan remains the yearly one which costs just $99.95.

Specifications

  • 3000+ servers in 90+ countries.
  • Dedicated router app.
  • 5 simultaneous connections.
  • Smart DNS (MediaStreamer).
  • Automatic kill switch.
  • AES 256-bit encryption.

Pros

  1. Top Gear Speeds as a VPN for iPad.
  2. Dedicated Apps and Extensions for Browsers.
  3. Tough, Military Grade Encryption.
  4. Multiple Protocol Support.
  5. Zero Logs Policy.

Cons

  1. No Dedicated P2P servers.
  2. Expensive relative to competing services.

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Also, check out our dedicated ExpressVPN review guide.

2. NordVPN: Best Secure VPN for iPad

NordVPN still concentrates on offering the most basic feature of a VPN i.e. ultra-grade security, in the best manner possible.

Apart from the standard 256-grade encryption and multiple protocol support, you can add extra layers of security with NordVPN’s exclusive features like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, CyberSec, IPv6 leak protection, and more.

NordVPN for iPad

However, that does not mean it cannot bypass geo-restricted content. NordVPN is Netflix friendly and on your iPad, you would have no difficulty in accessing any content that was not originally supposed to reach you.

The plans are a bit on the higher side however as the yearly plan costs $83.38. However, you can get the best deal if you go for their 36-month subscription plan which will set you back just $125.64.

Specifications

  • 5000 servers in 59 countries.
  • CyberSec.
  • 6 simultaneous connections.
  • Onion over VPN.
  • Double VPN.
  • Dedicated IP address.
  • NordLynx Protocol.
  • DNS leak protection.

Pros

  1. Double Encryption Available.
  2. 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.
  3. Multiple Payment Methods.
  4. OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPSec, and NordLynx protocols.
  5. SmartPlay Feature for Streaming Sites.

Cons

  1. Expensive Monthly Plans.

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Want to know more about NordVPN? Check out our dedicated NordVPN review guide.

3. Surfshark: Best Budget-Friendly VPN for iPad

Surfshark is the economical VPN service and the best one to opt for your iPad. You don’t have to carry out any manual setups as you can find the Surfshark app easily on the Apple Store.

It is registered in the British Virgin Islands which is outside of the jurisdiction of the 5, 9, or 14 Eyes Alliances. Other than that, Surfshark has a strict no-log policy and it has been independently audited by Cure53.

Surfshark

Surfshark’s one-month plan costs $12.95. The 1-year plan costs $3.99/month (billed $96 every 1 year) and the 2-year plan costs $2.49/month (billed $59.76 for the first time).

Surfshark offers plenty of features like MultiHop, CleanWeb, Bypasser, and Smart DNS which can come in handy to hide your online presence on the web.

Moreover, Surfshark has 3000+ servers in 65 countries, which means you can easily stream famous platforms like Netflix, BBC IPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, and many more with access to different country catalogs.

Specifications

  • 3000+ servers in 65 countries.
  • MultiHop.
  • Unlimited simultaneous connections.
  • Automatic kill switch.
  • CleanWeb.
  • WireGuard protocol.
  • Compatible with Asus routers.
  • Smart DNS.

Pros

  1. Double Encryption Available.
  2. 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.
  3. Multiple Payment Methods
  4. OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 protocols.
  5. SmartPlay Feature for Streaming Sites

Cons

  1. Expensive Monthly Plans.

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Take a look at our dedicated guide on Surfshark VPN.

4. CyberGhost: Best Powerful and Featured-Pack VPN for iPad

CyberGhost was founded in 2011 and it’s based in Bucharest, Romania. It has a classic yellow-black theme and you can get the CyberGhost VPN app for iPad easily from the Apple Store.

Just like every other top-tier VPN provider, CyberGhost too offers a 256-bit encryption system and the most advanced protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard.

With a server fleet of 6000 servers in 88 countries, you can connect to any region with ease.

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is among the VPN providers that offer the longest money-back guarantee offer of 45 days.

The one-month plan of CyberGhost costs $12.99. Other plans include a 1-year plan costing $4.29/month (billed $51.48 every year), a 2-year plan costing $3.25/month (billed $78 every 2 years), and a 3-year plan costing $2.29/month (billed $89.31 every 3 years).

And keep in mind that the one-month plan only offers a 14-day money-back guarantee whereas all the other plans are covered with a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Moreover, CyberGhost works great on streaming platforms. You can easily unlock different catalogs of streaming platforms with CyberGhost’s optimized servers. All the popular streaming platforms including Netflix, Hulu, BBC IPlayer, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video are working with CyberGhost.

Specifications

  • 6000 servers in 88 countries.
  • P2P sharing.
  • 7 simultaneous connections.
  • DNS and IP leak protection.
  • Smart DNS.
  • Split tunneling.
  • 2 mode kill switch.
  • AES 256-bit encryption.

Pros

  1. 30-day Money-Back Guarantee.
  2. 24/7 live chat support.
  3. OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 protocols.
  4. Unblocks Netflix easily.

Cons

  1. Limited payment options.

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Check out our detailed guide on CyberGhost VPN.

5. PureVPN: Best Low-Cost VPN with all Features on iPad

Surely one of the most affordable VPNs out there, PureVPN offers everything that the best VPNs can, at a fraction of the cost. If you are thinking of buying a VPN that can unblock geo-restricted streaming services then PureVPN can offer you just that.

PureVPN for iPad

You can watch Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime for any region with PureVPN’s amazing 6500 servers that are spread across the world. Apart from that, a subscription with PureVPN secures you the right to have features like Split Tunnelling, Onion over VPN, multiple protocol support, and more.

At just $53.95 for a two-year subscription plan, the subscription is too hard to ignore with PureVPN as you’ll be getting it for $1.99/month with 3 free months.

Other subscription plans include a one-month plan costing $10.95 and a 1-year plan costing $3.24/month. And all the plans are covered with a 31-day money-back guarantee offer.

Specifications

  • 6500 servers in 91 countries.
  • AES 256-bit encryption.
  • 10 simultaneous connections.
  • Supports torrenting.
  • Automatic kill switch.
  • Smart DNS.

Pros

  1. Affordable VPN plans for iPads.
  2. DDoS Protection.
  3. Dedicated Streaming support.
  4. P2P and Torrent servers.
  5. 750+servers in 141 countries.
  6. VPN Hotspot.
  7. Nat Firewall.
  8. Multiple Protocol Support Including OpenVPN and L2TP.
  9. Allows Split Tunnelling.

Cons

  1. Free trial not available.

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Check out our dedicated PureVPN review guide.

How to choose the best VPN for iPad

When you have decided to opt for a VPN service to provide security cover for your iPad, there are some important factors you need to take into consideration, before settling on a certain provider. Below is a list of what features a provider should offer to make its service be considered the best VPN for iPad:

How to choose the Best VPN for iPad

Here is a list of what features a provider should offer to make its service be considered the best VPN for iPad

Strong Encryption:

Data protection is done by encrypting it as it passes through the internet. If the encryption is strong enough, even if someone tracks and gets hold of your data, all they would see is gibberish that they won’t be able to decipher.

The best kind of encryption is AES 256 grade, which is used by governmental agencies, militaries, and other sensitive data installations.

Multiple Protocol Support:

While your data gets encrypted, it’s always better to ensure that no one can even get hold of it while it is in transit over the internet.

This is done by passing it through a “Protocol”, which is a kind of an encrypted tunnel that no one can get into. The Top VPNs offer multiple protocol support which includes dedicated support for OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, and more.

Robustness of the Server Infrastructure:

On entertainment-oriented devices like the iPad, you need a VPN that can provide the maximum number of servers in multiple locations spread out equally.

The more the number of servers, the better your chances are of unblocking geo-restricted content easily.

Some Top VPNs even provide dedicated servers for activities like Torrenting, P2P, obfuscated servers, and more, so this can be an added plus.

Compatibility with iPad:

Apple’s devices are not that welcoming to apps and resources that originate from outside its trusted developer community.

For a VPN to be good for an iPad, it needs to provide a high degree of compatibility with the device. Many VPNs offer dedicated iOS apps for serving exactly this need.

Exclusive Features:

Top VPNs don’t just simply offer basic features as that wouldn’t justify their top-ranked perch atop the world of VPNs.

The exclusive features can range from kill switches to Double VPN and even Onion over VPN, all of which can allow users to increase the security cover on their iPads.

How to setup VPN on iPad Manually

The best VPN for iPad offers highly convenient, native apps for easy compatibility on all iOS platforms. They can be easily downloaded from a VPN’s website or from the iOS store if you already have an account with the provider, however, if you still want to install a VPN on your iPad manually, here’s how you can get it done in a breeze:

  1. Subscribe to a VPN service by buying a plan suitable for your needs and budget requirements.
  2. Download Configuration Files from your preferred VPN provider. (It’s best to always ask the customer support team to provide a link to this resource as every VPN has a different place where they store it. There’s no uniformity involved)
  3. Once the VPN profile has been downloaded on your iPad, your device will prompt you to install them. “Install” is where you need to tap.
  4. For system authorization, you would now need to enter your passcode or give in your Touch ID.
  5. If you are shown a warning now, tap on “Install”.
  6. Now you need to re-confirm the installation process authorization by again tapping on “Install”.
  7. After the device is done with the installation, it will notify you with a prompt. Tap “Done”
  8. Now you need to select a server to move on with using the VPN.
  9. For this, you need to go to Settings on your iPad. Once here, select “general” and then select VPN.
  10. Now you will be prompted with the server menu which will contain the VPN servers available by your service provider.
  11. Toggle the Connection status switch to the right to initiate a connection and then select a server.
  12. The VPN is now working.

If you want to turn the VPN off, then switch that same Connection status switch back to the left side, resulting in a disconnection of the VPN.

How to connect multiple iPad devices to the VPN at the same time

If you have more than one iPad device in your household or if you just want to connect all of your devices like MacBook, iPhone, and iPad to the VPN then go with a VPN service that allows simultaneous connections.

A low-quality VPN service will only allow you to connect 2 or maybe 3 devices at the same time whereas the VPN providers we suggested above are all premium quality VPNs and you can use your VPN service on multiple devices with no hassles.

Here is the number of simultaneous connections that these VPN services allow:

However, if you think this is not enough then you can directly install one of these VPN services on your router. Just make sure your router is compatible with the VPN services.

Installing a VPN on your router will only count as one device which will be covering all the devices that connect to your router, even those devices that have no VPN support.

And if you’re going for the router option, then we recommend that you go for ExpressVPN as it has a dedicated router app and it has compatibility with all the major routers including Netgear, Asus, and Linksys. Check out our detailed guide on how to install ExpressVPN on a router.

For more information, visit our detailed guide: Best VPN for Multiple Devices

Best iPad VPN: FAQs

Should I install a VPN on my iPad?

Yes, you should install a VPN on your iPad. A VPN encrypts all of your traffic and hides your online identity. It keeps you away from hackers and marketing agencies that might steal your personal information.

Do iPads have a built-in VPN?

No, iPads do not have a built-in VPN but you can easily download one from the Apple Store. All the top-tier VPNs are available on the App Store.

How do I watch Netflix on an iPad with VPN?

All you need to do is connect to a VPN server location of your preference, minimize the VPN tab, and access the Netflix app on your browser or the Netflix app on your mobile phone.

How do I get a VPN on my iPad?

You can easily download a VPN on your iPad from the Apple Store. Head to the Apple Store and enter the name of your VPN service in the search panel and download the VPN app.

Why is VPN not connecting to my iPad?

A firewall or any other security software can stop your VPN from connecting. Make sure your firewall is allowing VPN traffic and your VPN software is up to date.

Why is VPN not working on iPad?

Try the basic turning on and off method to see if your VPN works. If this doesn’t work, check if your VPN is being blocked by the firewall or any antivirus software. Change the settings so that your firewall can allow VPN traffic to pass.

What VPN does Apple recommend for iPad?

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for iPad. It offers a 256-bit encryption system, allows 5 simultaneous connections, has a dedicated router app, and has all the necessary features that can come in handy. It is secure and free of WebRTC/IP/DNS leaks.

How do I get a free VPN on my iPad?

Getting a free VPN on your iPad is just downloading and installing the VPN app from the Apple Store. However, we don’t recommend using a free VPN.

Free VPNs come with a lot of limitations and there is always a chance that it’ll log your personal information and sell it to concerned parties for a profit.

So it is better to go for a paid VPN service that has a strict no-logs policy, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

Is it safe to use a VPN on an iPad?

Yes. It is safe to use a VPN on your iPad. A VPN further helps you in maximizing your online privacy. It keeps you away from hackers and data thefts that might target you with annoying ads.

A VPN doesn’t let prying eyes monitor your online data whether it be your ISP or government authorities.

Conclusion

iPads are the best manifestation of the concept of “Having a computer in the palm of your hand”. These machines are fast, ultra-convenient, super smart, and above all, amazingly beautiful. Our lives now revolve around such fantastic machines that have made our lives easier by allowing us to streamline our tasks and enjoy much more of our free time.

But our devices are our responsibility and the control of their security should lie within our hands. We need to not just deploy VPNs on our iPads but resort to more-safer privacy practices like not divulging our information on social media handles or clicking on malicious links to ensure a safer and more robust online interaction for everyone.

From the above list, ExpressVPN wins the race as the best VPN for iPad. However, NordVPN and Surfshark are a close second. CyberGhost and PureVPN are placed 4th and 5th but that doesn’t mean they’re any less of a top-class premium VPN service. Now it’s up to you to choose a provider according to your necessities.

We at BestVPN.co strive toward making the internet safe for everyone and we believe that this has to be a collective effort on part of all the users of the free internet. If you have any suggestions for improvements or criticism that can allow us to better our services, then feel free to interact with us in the comments below.

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