Free VPN for iPhone & iPad — FreeGuard on the App Store

FreeGuard’s free VPN for iPhone and iPad is a native Swift app on the App Store. Built on Apple’s Network Extension framework with on-demand VPN rules. Siri Shortcuts are not currently integrated.

How You Actually Install FreeGuard on iOS

Distribution is App Store only. There is no TestFlight beta, no sideloading, no alternative marketplace.

Install FreeGuard from the App Store listing on iPhone or iPad. It is a native Swift / SwiftUI app built on Apple’s NEPacketTunnelProvider Network Extension framework.

Features That Actually Ship on iOS Today

What you get: native Swift app, Network Extension-based tunnel, on-demand VPN rules, DNS resolver picker. What is not there yet: Siri Shortcuts integration, a polished Home Screen widget.

• Protocols: anytls, hysteria2, trojan
• Network Extension tunnel: system-level VPN via NEPacketTunnelProvider — managed by iOS, survives app suspension
• On-demand VPN rules: configure automatic connect/disconnect based on network type and SSID (Settings → On-Demand Rules in the app)
• DNS resolver picker: route DNS through the tunnel to your chosen public resolver
• iPhone and iPad: universal build for both form factors, iOS 16.1+

Not yet implemented on iOS:

• Siri Shortcuts: there is no SiriKit / INIntent integration in the current build. Voice control with “Hey Siri, connect FreeGuard” does not work today
• Home Screen widgets: only an internal Live Activity scaffold exists; a finished widget with connect/disconnect controls is not shipped
• Focus Mode automations: tied to Shortcuts, which is not integrated yet

How to Get Started

1. Step 1: Install FreeGuard VPN from the App Store
2. Step 2: Open the app, sign in to your free account, and approve the VPN configuration prompt
3. Step 3: Tap Connect — optionally add On-Demand rules in the app’s Settings for automatic activation on untrusted Wi-Fi

Frequently Asked Questions

Which iOS versions and devices are supported?

iOS 16.1 and later, on both iPhone and iPad. Older iOS versions lack Network Extension features we depend on.

Can I use Siri to connect FreeGuard with a voice command?

Not today. The current iOS build does not integrate Siri Shortcuts or SiriKit intents. “Hey Siri, connect FreeGuard” will not work. It is on the roadmap.

Does FreeGuard have a Home Screen widget?

A polished Home Screen widget with connect/disconnect controls is not shipped yet. The codebase contains a Live Activity scaffold, but it is not the user-facing widget experience you may have seen on other VPN apps.

What are on-demand VPN rules?

They let iOS automatically connect or disconnect FreeGuard based on conditions — for example, auto-connect on any Wi-Fi that is not your home SSID. Configure them in the app’s Settings → On-Demand Rules.

Can FreeGuard run at the same time as iCloud Private Relay?

No. iOS prioritizes a configured VPN over Private Relay and will disable Private Relay while FreeGuard is connected. This is standard iOS behavior for any third-party VPN.

Does FreeGuard encrypt traffic from all apps or just Safari?

All apps. Because FreeGuard runs as a system VPN extension, every app’s network traffic goes through the tunnel, not just Safari.

Does FreeGuard on iOS have a kill switch?

Use iOS’s “Connect On Demand” plus the app’s on-demand rules to keep the tunnel enforced when on specific networks. An explicit in-app kill-switch toggle is not a separate feature on iOS.

Why did iOS ask me to install a VPN configuration profile?

Because FreeGuard uses the Network Extension framework. On first connect, iOS asks you to approve the tunnel configuration. This is a one-time prompt per install.