iCloud Private Relay vs. VPN: what’s the difference?
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Kamso Oguejiofor-Abugu
If you’ve turned on iCloud Private Relay and wondered whether you still need a VPN, the answer depends on what you want to protect. Private Relay isn’t a VPN, even though the two get mixed up a lot.
While both help protect your privacy, they cover different ground. Private Relay helps make your web browsing more private when you’re using Safari. A VPN encrypts traffic routed through it from supported apps and browsers.
Understanding these differences can help you decide whether iCloud Private Relay is enough for your needs or whether a VPN makes more sense. This iCloud Private Relay vs. VPN breakdown walks through what each one actually does, where they overlap, and where they don’t.
What is iCloud Private Relay?
iCloud Private Relay is an iCloud+ privacy feature that hides your IP address from the websites you visit, making it harder for them to track your activity or determine your exact location. Instead of showing your actual network address, it gives you a temporary one while letting you maintain your general location or use a broader location based on your country and time zone.
It also makes it harder for your internet service provider (ISP) to see which websites you visit, so they can’t compile a history of your Safari browsing activity.
To use Private Relay, you need an iCloud+ plan, Apple’s paid option for extra storage and privacy tools on iCloud. Keep in mind that availability varies depending on your country or region.
What does a VPN do?
A VPN protects traffic across your device rather than working only inside one browser. It creates an encrypted tunnel between your device and the VPN server, covering traffic from supported apps and browsers, not just Safari.
It also masks your public IP address, so websites and online services see the address of the VPN server you’ve connected to instead. This can make your IP-based location harder to determine.
Unlike Private Relay, which assigns a location automatically, most VPNs let you select specific cities or countries. This gives you more control over your apparent IP-based location while traveling.
iCloud Private Relay vs. VPN: Side-by-side
While both a VPN and Private Relay can improve your online privacy, they differ in how much of your internet activity they cover and what they let you do. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | iCloud Private Relay | VPN |
| Coverage | Safari browsing, DNS requests, and some unencrypted app traffic | All apps that allow VPN routing, not just Safari |
| Device support | Available on supported Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac | Works across most platforms, including Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and some home routers |
| Encryption | Encrypts Safari browsing, DNS requests, and some app traffic | Encrypts internet traffic between your device and the VPN server |
| IP address | Replaces your IP address with one associated with your country and time zone | Replaces your IP address with the IP address of the VPN server you connect to |
| Server choice and location changing | Works automatically in the background; you cannot select a specific city or country | Allows you to manually choose and switch server locations |
| Public Wi-Fi | Helps keep your Safari activity private on open networks, though it does not provide device-wide coverage | Encrypts traffic routed through the VPN, adding protection on public Wi-Fi |
| Cost | Included with iCloud+, depending on your country or region | Usually requires a separate subscription or security plan |
Which should you use?
Choosing between the two mostly comes down to how you spend your time online and where you need protection. Both tools are helpful, but they serve different roles depending on which apps you use and where you connect.
Private Relay may be enough when:
- You do most of your web browsing in Safari, whether that’s reading the news, looking up recipes, or checking a favorite site.
- You want extra privacy built into your browser without having to set up or manage new software.
A VPN like Intego VPN, included with Intego ONE Complete, makes more sense when you want broader coverage or more control:
- You often work or travel away from home, connecting to shared Wi-Fi networks in places like cafes, hotels, or airports.
- You rely on separate apps like dedicated email clients, banking apps, or alternative web browsers, and want that internet traffic protected too.
- You need control over where your connection appears to originate from.
You can use both, but they may conflict. If Intego VPN and Private Relay cause connectivity issues, turn off Private Relay while the VPN is connected.
Common misconceptions about Private Relay
iCloud Private Relay is helpful when you browse in Safari, but its scope is fairly specific. It helps to clear up a few common misunderstandings about what it actually does:
“Private Relay makes me invisible online.”
It masks your IP address in Safari, but it doesn’t wipe away your digital footprint. If you sign into an account on a website, that site still knows who you are and can track what you do while you’re there.
“Private Relay protects everything I do online.”
It primarily protects Safari browsing and also covers DNS resolution requests and some unencrypted traffic from apps, rather than providing full-device protection. If you check your bank in its dedicated app, send a message, or open a different web browser, that activity travels through your normal connection.
“Private Relay is just Apple’s version of a VPN.”
They share a similar idea, but they work at different scales. A VPN can route traffic from supported apps and browsers through an encrypted tunnel, while Private Relay focuses on Safari browsing, DNS requests, and some unencrypted app traffic.
“Private Relay works everywhere.”
It requires an iCloud+ plan and isn’t available in every country or region.
FAQ
iCloud Private Relay vs. VPN: Are they the same?
No, they aren’t. Private Relay helps protect your Safari browsing by hiding the sites you visit from your ISP and your IP address from those sites. A VPN extends protection beyond Safari by encrypting internet traffic across supported apps and browsers.
Is iCloud Private Relay worth using?
Yes, Private Relay is worth using if you already subscribe to iCloud+. It takes almost no effort to turn on, giving your everyday browsing in Safari a steady, sensible layer of privacy.
Does Private Relay protect all apps?
Not in the same way it protects Safari. Private Relay also covers DNS requests and some unencrypted app traffic, but it doesn’t provide device-wide protection across all apps and browsers.
Can you use Private Relay and a VPN together?
Some VPNs may conflict with Private Relay, so if you experience connectivity issues while using both, you may need to turn off Private Relay while your VPN is connected.
Does Private Relay work on public Wi-Fi?
Yes. It protects Safari browsing and certain other traffic on public networks, but it doesn’t provide device-wide coverage. A VPN can route traffic from supported apps and browsers through an encrypted tunnel.
Does Private Relay change your location?
It changes the IP-based location websites see. You can maintain your general location or use a broader location based on your country and time zone. A VPN lets you choose a server in a specific city or country.
Why would I use a VPN if I already have Private Relay?
Because a VPN can protect traffic across supported apps and browsers, not just Safari browsing. It also lets you choose server locations and replaces your public IP address with the VPN server’s IP address.
