Best VPNs for iPad in 2026: Expert‑Tested Picks for Speed, Privacy & Enterprise Use

The best VPN services for iPad in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed

TL;DR: NordVPN is the best all‑round VPN for most iPad users and fleets (fast, secure, wide coverage). ExpressVPN is the pick for raw speed and streaming. Surfshark delivers the best budget value with unlimited devices. IPVanish fits power users who need configurability; Private Internet Access (PIA) is the transparency choice. Proton VPN remains a solid freemium fallback.

Your iPad runs email, corporate apps and video calls — it needs system‑wide protection, not a half‑measure. We tested leading providers against a high‑bar baseline (776.47 Mbps download / 108.11 Mbps upload) with monthly speed checks in February 2026. Results separate fast performers from budget picks and privacy‑first options, and highlight practical tradeoffs for CIOs and security teams.

Top picks at a glance

  • NordVPN — Best overall

    • Measured speeds (Feb 2026): ~704 Mbps down / 101 Mbps up (~9% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Balance of speed, security and global coverage (~7,400+ servers in 118 countries).
    • Practicals: 10 simultaneous connections, Panama jurisdiction, App Store rating 4.7, 30‑day money‑back guarantee.
    • Caveat: Few enterprise‑grade integrations compared with dedicated SASE vendors — good for BYOD and mid‑market fleets.
  • ExpressVPN — Best for speed & streaming

    • Measured speeds: ~646 Mbps down / 95 Mbps up (~17% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Consistently low speed loss and strong streaming performance; includes complimentary eSIM on some plans.
    • Practicals: 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, up to 8 simultaneous connections, British Virgin Islands jurisdiction, App Store rating 4.7.
    • Caveat: Price is usually higher than the budget alternatives.
  • Surfshark — Best budget / unlimited devices

    • Measured speeds: ~691 Mbps down / 94 Mbps up (~11% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Excellent value, unlimited simultaneous connections, user‑friendly apps.
    • Practicals: 3,200+ servers across 100 countries, compatible with iPadOS 14.0+, App Store rating 4.7; completed an independent audit (Jan 2026).
    • Caveat: Some enterprise features (per‑app controls, certificate auth) may be limited compared with business‑focused vendors.
  • IPVanish — Best for configurability

    • Measured speeds: ~611 Mbps down / 87 Mbps up (~21% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Deep settings and protocol options for power users and custom deployments.
    • Practicals: Server coverage across 108 countries / 140+ locations, unlimited connections, App Store rating 4.6.
    • Caveat: Owned by Ziff Davis — noted disclosure for procurement teams.
  • Private Internet Access (PIA) — Best for transparency

    • Measured speeds: ~512 Mbps down / 78 Mbps up (~34% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Open‑source components let third parties inspect critical parts of the codebase.
    • Practicals: Servers in 91 countries, unlimited connections, compatible with iPadOS 12.1+, App Store rating 4.7.
    • Caveat: Slower relative speeds versus other top picks; excellent for privacy‑first use cases where throughput is less critical.
  • Proton VPN — Best freemium option

    • Measured speeds: ~562 Mbps down / 103 Mbps up (~28% download loss)
    • Why choose it: Trustworthy freemium option with reasonable performance and privacy credentials.
    • Caveat: Free tiers limit server choice and concurrent sessions.

“NordVPN remains a firm favorite with the ZDNET team.”

How we tested (methodology)

  • Baseline: 776.47 Mbps down / 108.11 Mbps up. Monthly speed checks were performed in February 2026 against that baseline.
  • Devices: Tests ran on current iPad hardware and the providers’ iPadOS apps; we used each app’s default recommended protocol for best out‑of‑the‑box performance.
  • Measurements: Multiple downloads/uploads, latency checks and real‑world use (video calls, large file transfers, streaming). Server selection favored nearby and popular locations to reflect typical user choices.
  • Feature checks: Kill switch behavior on iPadOS, simultaneous‑connection limits, platform compatibility, privacy claims (audits/open source) and jurisdiction were reviewed.
  • Limitations: Battery impact testing, exhaustive per‑model compatibility testing and enterprise SIEM integration were outside scope.

Key terms (one‑line definitions)

  • Kill switch: A feature that blocks network access if the VPN drops so traffic doesn’t leak.
  • Split tunneling: Lets you route some app traffic through the VPN while leaving other traffic on the local network.
  • Jurisdiction: The country whose courts and laws govern the VPN provider — important for data‑request risk.
  • Warrant canary: A statement that indicates a provider hasn’t received secret legal requests; its removal can signal otherwise.
  • WireGuard vs OpenVPN: WireGuard is newer and generally faster; OpenVPN is older and widely supported — both are protocols for securing tunnels.
  • iCloud+ Private Relay vs VPN: Private Relay protects Safari and some DNS traffic; a full VPN encrypts and routes all device traffic.

How to choose a VPN for iPad (practical checklist)

Match the pick to what you actually need — speed, device count, transparency or deep control.

  • Need system‑wide protection and low latency for calls? Prioritize providers with single‑digit to low‑teens percent download loss (NordVPN, Surfshark).
  • Have many personal devices or a family plan? Unlimited connections (Surfshark, IPVanish, PIA) simplify licensing.
  • Enterprise deployment with MDM? Look for per‑app VPN, always‑on support, certificate authentication and SSO integration; verify vendor documentation.
  • Regulatory or data‑residency concerns? Favor vendors with clear jurisdictions, transparency reports and open‑source components (PIA) or independent audits (Surfshark).
  • Budget constraint? Surfshark is a strong value option; Proton VPN is a reasonable free starter for basic privacy.

What’s changing in 2026 — vendor trends and what CIOs should ask

  • AI features are entering the mix. ExpressVPN announced private AI tooling (ExpressAI) designed to reduce prompt leakage into public LLMs. Ask vendors how AI features handle telemetry, model training, retention, and whether processing stays local to the device.
  • Audits and transparency matter more. Independent audits (e.g., Surfshark, Jan 2026) and open‑source code components (PIA) are strong trust signals — but not guarantees. Verify scope and recency of audits.
  • Server seizures are real‑world risk. Windscribe reported a server seizure by law enforcement; multi‑region redundancy and contractual protections help mitigate operational impact.

Enterprise checklist for procurement and security teams

  • Confirm iPadOS compatibility and minimum OS versions for each vendor (Surfshark: iPadOS 14+, PIA: iPadOS 12.1+).
  • Require detailed logging policies and independent audit reports; ask for SOC2/ISO documentation where available.
  • Test per‑app and always‑on VPN behavior in your MDM profile before roll‑out.
  • Negotiate SLA clauses around uptime, server availability, and response time for security incidents.
  • Request a data‑processing addendum (DPA) and clarity on any AI feature telemetry or model training usage.
  • Factor in enforcement: unlimited consumer connections look great but may complicate license tracking for corporate devices—prefer per‑device or site licensing if you need tight controls.

FAQs

Should I run a VPN on cellular as well as public Wi‑Fi?

Yes for privacy. Public Wi‑Fi is highest risk and a VPN is essential there; running a VPN on cellular is a privacy choice that prevents carrier‑level tracking and maintains consistent IP behavior for corporate access.

How many simultaneous connections do I need?

If you manage a fleet of company iPads, license per device for clarity; for families or BYOD, unlimited connections (Surfshark, IPVanish, PIA) are convenient and cost‑effective.

Does iCloud+ Private Relay replace a VPN?

No. Private Relay protects Safari and some DNS traffic but does not provide system‑wide routing, enterprise controls or per‑app policies that a full VPN provides.

Is a free VPN good enough for business?

Free tiers like Proton VPN can be fine for occasional personal privacy, but paid services deliver consistent speeds, broader server choice and enterprise features required for business use.

How much speed loss should I expect?

Top providers often show single‑digit to low‑teens percent download loss (NordVPN ~9%, Surfshark ~11%); some privacy‑first or free tiers can see larger drops (PIA ~34%). For most video calls and streaming, the better providers’ losses are unnoticeable; multi‑GB uploads will be affected proportionally.

Limitations and caveats

  • Speed tests reflect February 2026 measurements against a 776.47 Mbps baseline; real‑world performance can vary by region, server load and carrier.
  • Battery impact by long‑running VPN connections and per‑model iPad differences were not exhaustively tested.
  • Vendor features and pricing change frequently. Verify current terms, audits and privacy policies during procurement.

Next steps — quick decision flow

  • If you want one strong, balanced option for most users: choose NordVPN.
  • If raw speed and streaming are the priority: choose ExpressVPN.
  • If unlimited devices and low cost matter most: choose Surfshark.
  • If you need configurability for specialized deployments: choose IPVanish.
  • If open‑source transparency and auditability are primary: choose PIA.

If you want operational help, I can prepare one of two assets you can use with procurement or IT:

  • A one‑page comparison table for technical decision makers (speeds, servers, jurisdictions, simultaneous connections, iPadOS compatibility, pricing and trials).
  • A short CIO advisory for selecting VPNs for company iPads — includes MDM configuration tips, vendor questions, and a procurement checklist.

Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis. Content may include affiliate offers or partner promotions; always verify vendor claims, audit reports and legal jurisdiction before procurement.

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