Betternet is a terrific VPN service. It’s perfectly easy to activate on iPhone with one tap and connect to the “optimal” location. If you need to connect to a specific location, you can do so at several areas in the world including multiple U.S. points for a low monthly fee. It’s secure, fast, and consistently works well.
Editor’s Note: I would strongly recommend Private Internet Access VPN over Betternet. We recently completed a comprehensive review of Private Internet Access and found it the complete package for your iPhone, iPad, Android device, Mac or PC.
Download Betternet for iOS:
➤ Betternet in the App Store (free)
There are plenty of legitimate reasons to start using a VPN. A VPN, or virtual private network, shields your IP address by instead running your Internet connection through a different one at a different location. This tricks websites you visit into thinking you’re connecting from somewhere else while protecting your own identity.
You don’t need to use VPN all the time, but they’re ideal for when you have to use an unsecured public Wi-Fi network or if you can’t access location-restricted websites. On iPhone, the best VPN apps are ones that don’t log your data and invade your privacy — something VPNs are meant to protect — and they have a simple, easy-to-use interface. Our pick for the best free VPN on iPhone is Betternet.
Setting Up Your Betternet VPN
Apple bakes VPN functionality right into the core of iOS so Betternet just acts as a means for an access point. When you first download the app, you have to install a configuration profile in Settings to let iOS know you want to connect to your VPN through Betternet.
It’s just a matter of following the prompts. You should be done in about two taps. Then you can switch back over to Betternet to get started. The easiest way to connect is to literally just press the giant Connect button. Within a few seconds or less, Betternet has you connected and you can already go about browsing. It’s totally free and safe, no questions asked.
Betternet does not snoop into your data nor sells it for money. In fact, I greatly admire the transparency Betternet offers about how it makes its money and continues to run. It has a page on its website explaining just how it makes money, none of which include selling your data or showing you annoying ads as you browse.
The only ways Betternet make money are through ads within the app — not while you browse — and videos. Every so often to connect to the VPN you’re asked to watch a short advertisement first. The button will say “Watch a video and connect” but within moments, your VPN is active. Of course, there is an easy workaround to this though. Just tap “Skip and connect” right underneath.
Feel free to dodge the app entirely the next time you want to enable VPN. Open the Settings app and toward the top, switch on VPN. As long as you have the Betternet app installed and you added the profile, it’ll connect right away without any video advertisements or opening any apps at all. Then again, if you want to continue to support Betternet, by all means use the app and watch the quick ad.
Advanced Features and Location Changing
Betternet’s quick one-tap activation should be more than adequate for most people looking to use VPN, but not for all. Some, particularly those trying to access websites blocked either in the office or in entire countries, need more control.
For that, Betternet offers a premium version of its service. Premium gives you several location options, plus the promise of an even faster connection and prioritized tech support should you need it. It costs $4.99 per month or $29.99 on an annual basis — the latter is a nice 50 percent discount.
Your location options with Premium include seven cities in the United States: Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Virginia, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Seattle. (Virginia is a state, not a city, so that’s weird.) Plus you can also connect through an IP address out of the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, France, Australia, Germany, Singapore or Hong Kong. This provides fine-tuned control over your location in an already intuitive VPN app.
While it is a downside that Betternet charges to change your location, the cost is pretty inexpensive especially if you purchase annually. The other downside is that Betternet doesn’t appear to show your IP address or location even if you’re connected for free. It just says you’re connected from an “optimal location” in the United States but doesn’t specify what or where that is.
I’ve been using Betternet for years and it has always reliably connected me to the Internet through a VPN. The simple interface and the trustworthy policy of never selling or logging data make it a winner.
Download Betternet for iOS:
➤ Betternet in the App Store (free)
Editor’s Note: I would strongly recommend Private Internet Access VPN over Betternet. We recently completed a comprehensive review of Private Internet Access and found it the complete package for your iPhone, iPad, Android device, Mac or PC.
