Best Mobile VPN of 2023 – CNET

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If a TV show or movie is blocked from viewing in your location, a mobile VPN can also help. These apps disguise your true IP address and replace it with that of the server you’re being redirected to. One simple click can unlock geographically restricted content that may have been unavailable for streaming, previously.  

A VPN for mobile devices is particularly useful for anyone who travels a lot or anyone whose work, location or online activities require heightened privacy. If you’re a journalist, doctor, attorney, dissident, activist or whistleblower, for example, you’d benefit from a mobile VPN to protect your online privacy while you’re on the go. If you’re in a location where the government censors the internet or engages in online surveillance, you can use a mobile VPN to circumvent the censorship efforts while keeping your online activity private. And a mobile VPN is a handy tool if you’re simply looking for a way to watch your Netflix shows while traveling abroad.   

The best VPN providers all offer excellent mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices. And mobile VPN apps continue getting better and more useful as online services overall continue becoming increasingly mobile-first. It’s more important than ever to use a VPN on your mobile device, but if you’re an iOS user, you need to be aware of a vulnerability that can compromise your privacy while using a VPN on your iOS device.

ExpressVPN

49% off with 12-mo plan (+3 free months)

Surfshark

$2.49/mo with 24-mo plan (+2 free months)

NordVPN

Savings 66% off with 12-mo planLatest tests DNS leaks detected, 58% speed loss in spring 2022 testsNetwork 2,000-plus servers in 75 locations across 52 countriesJurisdiction United States

If you’re new to VPNs, just want an easy-to-use app and don’t care about all the extra bells and whistles, IPVanish is a solid choice. You’ll get a capable VPN that’s slightly easier on the pocketbook than ExpressVPN and NordVPN, and customer support is easily accessible directly through the app whenever you need help.

To be clear, this issue is on Apple’s side and affects all VPNs on iOS devices, so it didn’t influence my assessment of the top mobile VPNs, but is nonetheless crucial for iOS users to know. The vulnerability was reported to be present since at least iOS 13. Apple has not responded to multiple requests for comment on the issue, including whether the company plans to issue a fix ahead of the expected release of its latest mobile operating system, iOS 17, later on this fall. 

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