It adds one more layer of security. Generally they are super easy to install and use on all iOS devices. There are many to choose from, probably all just about the same in terms of cost and features.

I’m using “private internet access”, I needed both pc and iOS support and global access. No major problems, other than sometimes having to manually switch access points.

Has many US and international locations. Re-connects automatically if disconnected somewhere in the internet.
VPNs come in handy to access those " not in your country" videos.

This is my go-to site for VPN ratings:

https://torrentfreak.com/vpn-services-keep-anonymous-2018/
( PIA is the 2nd one in the list down the link page )

Most VPNs are pretty cheap, under 20.00 a year.

If I can do it, almost anyone can.

Sounds pretty positive. I will check out some of the apps you've all suggested.

Here's an excellent site for VPN info: https://thebestvpn.com/what-is-vpn-beginners-guide/

I'm still trying to make up my mind which VPN to use, there seem to be several good ones. I'm mainly concerned about ease of use and speed, and customer service if needed. Hoping to have a simple app that I can turn on and off as easily as any of the rest of the apps on my Ipad. Thanks again.

Depending on one's level of paranoia, I'd be a little bit careful. Just realize that the VPN servers you are going through are a really nice place for the bad guys to sit and capture all of your traffic.

I have no evidence that this is happening, but if I were the NSA (or the FSB or China or N. Korea), I'd work to either setup a so-called "private" VPN service or compromise the existing ones.

can be anywhere, but isn't that the purpose of using an encription service?

Yes, the bad guys could be anywhere. But the people running a VPN service are in a unique position to (more) easily steal lots of comms.

Basically think the hacker next to you in the coffee shop can peek at your unencrypted DNS queries (so they see what sites you're using), but your encrypted (https) traffic won't be decodable. Of course if you use HTTP then that traffic is unencrypted and visible too.

But the state spying agency that's compromised a VPN service can vacuum up all the traffic you send it, and could likely get around the https encryption as well.

Basically use VPN to avoid the WiFi traffic sniffer in the coffee shop, but I wouldn't trust them if you're a Chinese dissident trying to avoid arrest.

Still trying to make up my mind to use one or not.