What is Apple Private Relay? Learn the difference with a VPN

The new function that Apple has put on its mobile devices aims to improve our privacy while we browse. This is Apple Private Relay. If you’ve heard of VPNs, they’re very similar, but are they really the same thing? In this article I am going to tell you what exactly Apple Private Relay is and how it differs from a VPN. And you’ll see how easy it is to improve your privacy while browsing.

What is Apple Private Relay?

Apple Private Relay is a tool that is included in iCloud+ subscriptions and its main objective is to protect your online privacy while browsing Safari. Its function is quite simple: it hides your IP address and encrypts the traffic you send and receive in Apple’s browser, making it difficult for third parties to track your activity on the web. In other words, what Private Relay does is make sure that your identity cannot be linked to what you do in Safari.

This feature, however, is not the same as a VPN. Although both tools seek to protect your privacy, they do it differently and have different limitations, which is what we are going to see below.

How does Apple Private Relay work?

To understand how Apple Private Relay protects your privacy, you need to know that it uses a method called “double hop.” This means that your traffic passes through two different servers before reaching its final destination.

1. First hop: The first server, controlled by Apple, encrypts your traffic and hides your IP address. Although Apple can see your IP address, it cannot see what sites you are visiting.
2. Second hop: The second server belongs to a third-party provider (not Apple), and it decrypts your traffic to send it to the site you want to visit, but it does not have access to your original IP address.

This process masks your identity and real location, preventing the websites you visit from knowing who you are or where you are.

Differences between Apple Private Relay and a VPN

Although at first glance Apple Private Relay and a VPN seem similar, there are key differences between the two:

• Extent of protection: Apple Private Relay only encrypts Safari traffic, while a VPN protects all traffic on your device, including apps and other browsers.
• Server Selection: With Private Relay, you can’t choose which country or region you connect from. Instead, VPNs let you select servers around the world, which is useful if you need to access location-restricted content.
• Use on different networks: VPNs are usually more versatile and allow you to bypass blocks on specific networks, such as work or institutional networks. However, Private Relay may not work on all networks, especially those that block proxy servers.

Advantages and disadvantages of Apple Private Relay

If you’re just looking to protect yourself while browsing Safari and don’t mind the lack of customization, Apple Private Relay may be enough for you. However, if you need greater control over your virtual location, unblock restricted content, or protect all traffic on your device, a VPN is still the best option.

Advantages

• Hassle-free privacy: It’s built into iCloud+ and requires no additional setup.
• Encrypt your traffic in Safari, offering a basic level of protection without the need for an extra application.
• It is ideal for users who are looking for simplicity and do not need complete protection for all traffic on their device.

Disadvantages

• Limited to Safari: If you use other browsers or applications, your traffic will not be protected.
• You can’t choose your IP location, which limits its use to bypass geoblocks.
• It is not as reliable on corporate or restricted networks.

For all this, Apple Private Relay is an excellent option for iOS and macOS users looking for hassle-free privacy, but if your priority is total security in all your online activities, opting for a VPN is the way to go. Our recommendation of VPN services are NordVPN, surfshark, PureVPN, PrivateVPN and also cyberghost.