Here's a fact that surprises most people: almost no decentralized VPN project has a working iOS app. The ones that do have them barely function, crash frequently, or have been removed from the App Store. DeVpn launched its native iOS app in February 2026 — and it actually works.
Why Most dVPNs Can't Get on iOS
Apple's App Store has strict rules for VPN apps:
- Must use Apple's NEPacketTunnelProvider — Custom VPN implementations aren't allowed. You must use Apple's networking framework.
- Strict review process — Apple manually tests VPN apps and rejects anything that doesn't meet their reliability standards.
- No background hacks — Many dVPN protocols require maintaining complex peer-to-peer connections that iOS kills in the background.
- WireGuard only works natively — Custom protocols that compete with WireGuard or IKEv2 often get rejected.
Most dVPN projects use custom networking protocols that can't fit within Apple's VPN framework. They end up as Android-only or desktop-only projects.
How DeVpn Solved It
DeVpn's technical approach was designed from day one to work on iOS:
- Pure WireGuard protocol — No custom protocol layer. DeVpn uses standard WireGuard, which Apple supports natively through NEPacketTunnelProvider.
- Direct peer connections — The app connects directly to the exit node's WireGuard endpoint. No relay servers, no complex peer-to-peer handshakes that iOS would kill.
- Simple session management — The control plane handles session setup via a simple REST API call. The app gets WireGuard config, activates the tunnel. Clean and reliable.
- Smart reconnect — If a node goes offline, the app automatically detects it and switches to another healthy node without dropping the VPN tunnel.
iOS App Features
- One-tap connect — Smart Connect picks the best available node automatically
- Server selection — Choose a specific country or city
- Kill switch — Block all traffic if the VPN disconnects
- Background protection — VPN stays active when the app is backgrounded
- WireGuard performance — Minimal battery impact, fast connections
Available on the App Store
DeVpn is available for free download on the App Store. Create an account, choose a plan starting at $1/year, and connect.
Android users can find DeVpn on Google Play. Windows and macOS apps are also available.