FollowNet
FollowNet guides
Clear, practical VPN guides for iPhone — from first setup to safe Wi‑Fi on the road and fixing problems.
Getting started
What a VPN is, whether you need one and how to set it up on iPhone.
What is a VPN?
A VPN (virtual private network) encrypts the connection between your device and a VPN server, so the Wi‑Fi you are on and your internet provider see far less of what you do. Here is how it works, what it protects, what it does not — and how FollowNet does it on iPhone.
How a VPN works
A VPN looks like a single switch, but four things work together behind it: an encrypted tunnel, the protocol that builds it, the server where your traffic exits, and the DNS resolver that turns names into addresses. This guide walks through each one using FollowNet on iPhone as the example.
Do I need a VPN?
You do not need a VPN for everything — but in a few common situations it is the simplest protection you can add. This checklist helps you decide based on how you actually use your phone, without fear marketing.
VPN for beginners
Never used a VPN before? You do not need to understand protocols to be protected. This beginner guide covers installation, the one iOS permission you will see, what the main screen means and the three settings worth knowing.
How to set up VPN on iPhone
Install FollowNet from the App Store, sign in with an email code, allow the VPN configuration once, and connect in one tap — Free weekly traffic included, Premium when you need unlimited.
VPN for iPhone
FollowNet is an iOS VPN built for iPhone and iPad: one tap to connect, WireGuard and IKEv2, Smart Connect for restrictive networks, and a free tier with no credit card.
VPN for iPad
FollowNet is available for iPhone and iPad as an iOS app, with the protocols and account features shown in the current App Store build.
Best VPN for iPhone
The best iPhone VPN for you is native to iOS, transparent about privacy, fast on your networks, and honest about Free vs paid. Here is a practical checklist and how FollowNet fits — without claiming to be #1 for everyone.
Secure VPN for iPhone
Security on iOS means more than a padlock icon. FollowNet combines WireGuard or IKEv2 encryption, optional Auto-connect, custom DNS, and a published Privacy Policy.
Wi‑Fi and travel
Cafés, hotels, airports and remote work — where a VPN matters most.
VPN for public Wi‑Fi
Coffee shops, airports, hotels, and guest networks are convenient but risky. FollowNet encrypts iPhone and iPad traffic to the VPN server on Wi‑Fi you do not fully trust — within Free weekly traffic or Premium unlimited use.
Hotel Wi‑Fi VPN
Hotel Wi‑Fi is shared, often old, and usually sits behind a login page. That makes it one of the best places to use a VPN — and one of the most frustrating if you connect in the wrong order. Here is the routine that works.
Airport Wi‑Fi VPN
Airport Wi‑Fi is free, crowded and full of look-alike networks. A VPN keeps your traffic encrypted while you wait for your flight. Here is how to connect safely, what to expect from speed and how to make the most of a limited Free allowance.
Captive portal + VPN
A captive portal is the login page some Wi‑Fi networks show before letting you online. It is the most common reason a VPN “does not work” on public Wi‑Fi. Here is why, and the simple order of steps that avoids the problem.
VPN for travel
Travel means unfamiliar Wi‑Fi, foreign SIMs, and sometimes filtered networks. FollowNet keeps the same iOS workflow while Smart Connect helps choose a protocol for the current network.
VPN for remote work
Working remotely means email, documents and calls over networks you do not control. A personal VPN keeps that traffic encrypted. Here is a practical setup for remote workers — and where your employer’s rules take priority.
VPN for students
Students spend most of the day on shared networks: campus Wi‑Fi, dorms, libraries and cafés. A VPN encrypts that traffic on the way to the server. This guide covers when it is worth using, how to start with Free and how to stay within your school’s rules.
VPN for banking apps
Opening a bank app on café or hotel Wi‑Fi is exactly the situation where a VPN helps: it encrypts the path between your iPhone and the VPN server. But it does not replace Face ID, two-factor codes or the bank’s own fraud checks. Here is how to use them together without triggering extra security checks.
VPN for gaming on iPhone
Use FollowNet on iPhone when you need encrypted mobile gaming on untrusted networks — and measure latency with Speed Test so you know whether WireGuard or another protocol is worth it.
Protocols and features
Smart Connect, WireGuard, IKEv2 and the rest — plus profiles, Auto-connect and widgets.
Smart Connect VPN
Smart Connect is FollowNet’s adaptive mode: it uses network context when available and chooses among WireGuard, IKEv2, AmneziaWG, Hysteria2, and VLESS Reality — with fallbacks and egress checks so you spend less time on manual trial and error.
WireGuard vs IKEv2
WireGuard and IKEv2 are the two most common VPN protocols on iOS, and FollowNet supports both. They are equally secure in practice; the difference is in speed, behaviour when you move between networks and how easily networks recognise them.
WireGuard for iOS
FollowNet includes native WireGuard on iPhone and iPad, plus AmneziaWG and other protocols when networks block standard VPNs. Smart Connect can switch for you so you stay connected without guessing.
IKEv2 VPN for iOS
IKEv2 is a proven VPN protocol for iPhone and iPad: fast reconnects when you switch Wi‑Fi and cellular. FollowNet supports IKEv2 alongside WireGuard, AmneziaWG, and Smart Connect.
AmneziaWG for iOS
AmneziaWG is an enhanced WireGuard-based protocol for unstable or congested networks. FollowNet includes AmneziaWG on iOS and can activate it automatically via Smart Connect.
Hysteria2 for iOS
FollowNet includes Hysteria2 on iPhone and iPad alongside WireGuard, IKEv2, and AmneziaWG. Use it manually or let Smart Connect pick a protocol when your network is lossy or hostile to classic VPN traffic.
VLESS Reality
VLESS Reality is a newer VPN transport designed to look like ordinary encrypted web traffic. FollowNet includes it alongside WireGuard, IKEv2, AmneziaWG and Hysteria2. This guide explains what it does differently, when it helps and why it is not always the fastest choice.
Network Profiles
One FollowNet profile packs protocol, DNS, Auto-connect, and server mode so a café and home Wi‑Fi do not share the same defaults. Built-in presets match what ships in the app.
Auto-connect on iOS
FollowNet Auto-connect starts VPN automatically on Wi‑Fi, mobile data, or any network — so you do not need to tap Connect every time you join a hotspot or switch from Wi‑Fi to LTE.
VPN widgets for iOS
FollowNet widgets show connection status at a glance on iPhone and iPad so you know the tunnel is up without opening the app every time.
Apple Shortcuts
FollowNet works with the Shortcuts app: you can connect, disconnect or apply a Network Profile without opening the app. This guide shows practical shortcuts for work, travel and evenings, and how they fit together with Auto-connect.
VPN Speed Test
FollowNet includes a Speed Test so you can compare download speed and latency on iOS with VPN on or off, and between server locations — before upgrading to Premium.
Privacy and security
DNS, kill switch, split tunneling and what we really process.
VPN privacy
FollowNet aims to minimize data collection. Read our Privacy Policy for exactly what is processed for account access, VPN operation, support, and analytics — not an absolute “zero logs” marketing line.
Custom DNS VPN
FollowNet lets you choose DNS profiles on iOS: stick with system DNS, or switch to Quad9, Cloudflare, AdGuard, and other presets while the VPN tunnel is active.
DNS leaks
Every time you open a site, your device first asks a DNS server for its address. If those lookups bypass the VPN, the network can still see which sites you visit — that is a DNS leak. Here is what it means in practice and how FollowNet’s DNS presets fit in.
What is a kill switch?
A kill switch is a safety net: if the VPN connection drops, it stops traffic from flowing unprotected. How it works depends on the platform. Here is what it means on iPhone, in FollowNet’s Chrome extension, and how to set things up so a drop does not expose you.
Split tunneling on iOS
Split tunneling means sending only some traffic through the VPN and the rest directly. On Windows and Android many apps let you exclude individual apps. On iPhone, consumer VPN apps work differently. This guide explains Apple’s limits honestly and shows which FollowNet tools solve the same tasks.
Troubleshooting
When the VPN will not connect, feels slow or drains the battery.
VPN not connecting
When a VPN refuses to connect, the cause is almost always one of five things: the iOS permission, a Wi‑Fi login page, the traffic limit, a network that blocks the protocol, or a temporary glitch. Work through this list in order — most problems are solved in the first three steps.
VPN is slow
Some slowdown with a VPN is normal; a lot of it is not. The trick is to measure before changing anything. This guide shows how to find out whether the network, the server or the protocol is the bottleneck — and what to do in each case.
VPN battery on iPhone
A VPN does cost some battery, but usually far less than people think. The real drain comes from the radio, weak signal and networks that keep breaking the tunnel. This guide shows how to measure the impact on your own iPhone and set up FollowNet so protection costs as little power as possible.
Plans and devices
Free vs Premium, the weekly limit, and FollowNet in Chrome.
Free VPN for iPhone
Looking for a free VPN on iPhone without a credit card? FollowNet Free includes a weekly traffic allowance, modern protocols, Smart Connect, and the tools you need to evaluate the service before Premium.
Free VPN vs paid
“Free” VPNs range from honest limited plans to apps that sell your data. Paid plans are not automatically better either. Here is what actually differs, what to check before trusting either, and how FollowNet’s Free and Premium compare.
Free weekly traffic
FollowNet Free is a full VPN with one honest limit: a weekly traffic allowance shown in the app. Here is what counts toward it, when it resets, how to make it last and what happens when you reach it.
Premium unlimited
Premium is for people who use a VPN every day. It removes the weekly Free limit, unlocks Premium locations, covers up to five devices and removes ads. Here is exactly what changes, what stays the same and how billing works.
VPN Chrome extension
Need FollowNet when you are not on iPhone? The Chrome extension covers browser traffic in Chrome on desktop with the same account and honest Free weekly vs Premium limits — while iOS remains the system-wide VPN for the whole device.
VPN vs proxy
Both a VPN and a proxy send your traffic through another server, so they are often confused. The real difference is scope: a VPN covers the whole device, a proxy usually covers one app — typically the browser. Here is when each makes sense, with FollowNet’s iPhone app and Chrome extension as examples.