A new study reveals that, due to insufficient security protocols, Meta and Yandex secretly collect data from Android users to create advertising profiles. Similar cases—like Google tracking Android data without consent—have led many users to seek alternative, security-first mobile solutions to better protect their privacy.
GrapheneOS and iOS are both privacy-focused operating systems and popular replacements for stock Android. Still, they differ in the features and level of security they offer.
This GrapheneOS vs. iOS guide compares their baseline security and privacy, including app compatibility, device support, and overall usability, to help you make an informed decision. You’ll also learn how to address security gaps in mobile OSs with network-level device protection.
GrapheneOS: An Overview
GrapheneOS is a free, open-source mobile operating system that prioritizes data security and privacy. It was released in 2014 and is designed for security-conscious Google Pixel users.
As it doesn’t use any Google applications or services, this OS includes more robust privacy features than stock Android. De-Googling ensures data protection from tracking, which is important in light of a recent lawsuit revealing that Google continued collecting personal data even after users disabled tracking.
On top of a de-Googled OS, Graphene’s hardened system uses security- and privacy-focused features, such as:
- Encryption
- Sandboxing
- A secure browser
- Anti-tracking and ad-blocking tools
With these and other advanced features, GrapheneOS minimizes the attack surface and shields user data from exploitation.
iOS: An Overview
iOS stands for iPhone operating system and is a closed-source OS designed for Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad.
The OS prides itself on creating user-friendly products and services that prioritize user privacy. To ensure data protection, it includes features like:
- Cryptography
- Enhanced permission controls
- Private Cloud Compute (PPC)
- A private browser
Due to its closed ecosystem, iOS is typically considered more secure than Android. The main reason is that Apple controls both its software and hardware, which means the system undergoes stricter security checks. In contrast, Android’s open-source OS allows anyone to examine its code, making it easier for attackers to study and exploit it.
How Does GrapheneOS Compare to iOS in Terms of Security and Privacy?
Compared to Android, both GrapheneOS and iOS include more advanced security and privacy features. However, each operating system has a unique approach to providing high-level security measures and preventing data tracking.
The following section explores how iOS and GrapheneOS compare in terms of privacy and security.
GrapheneOS vs. iOS Security
Both operating systems incorporate sandboxing to minimize data sharing and enhance privacy. This means their applications are isolated from the system and each other, running in their own environment, to prevent apps from accessing one another’s data without explicit permission.
Still, the two differ when it comes to the specific security features. Here is a closer look at how each OS secures user data.
GrapheneOS Security Features
GrapheneOS provides maximum security with the following hardened security measures:
- Verified boot: This feature ensures the code comes from a trusted source, protecting the system from malware and corrupted software.
- Encrypted backups: Graphene uses end-to-end encryption to back up user data through its integration with SeedVault.
- Memory protection: The OS wipes sensitive data from memory, as well as leftover data from the previous boot, to protect the system from vulnerabilities. It also uses a hardened libc to safeguard your device from memory corruption and similar security flaws.
- App disabling: Graphene lets users disable installed applications if they notice suspicious behavior without having to uninstall them and lose all data.
- Attack surface reduction: To minimize the chances of remote, local, and proximity-based attack surfaces, GrapheneOS disables debugging tools and optional features like Bluetooth. Additionally, it blocks new USB connections while the device is locked to prevent attackers from connecting to it.
iOS Security Features
iOS protects users’ personal data by incorporating these advanced security mechanisms:
Takeaway: GrapheneOS offers more granular control over permissions and data access, while iOS provides advanced hardware-level security features in a closed ecosystem.
GrapheneOS vs. iOS Privacy
Although both OSs prioritize user privacy, GrapheneOS offers stronger protections overall. It doesn’t include any Google apps and services, as they’re known for tracking data even before users log in to their Google account, providing an anonymity-first experience.
Meanwhile, iOS incorporates strong privacy features, although it still relies on Apple’s apps and services, which track and collect user data. The operating system includes some privacy measures to minimize data access and collection.
Here’s an overview of how each mobile OS protects your privacy.
GrapheneOS Privacy Features
GrapheneOS enhances data privacy and prioritizes anonymity by using the Vanadium browser instead of Google Chrome to prevent data tracking. Its privacy-focused browser is a hardened version of Chromium, designed without any Google integrations and enhanced with robust security and privacy protections. Vanadium’s two most prominent privacy protocols include:
- Hardware memory tagging extension (MTE): Adds tags to memory pointers to prevent memory safety violations
- Control Flow Integrity (CFI): Validates the program during run time to protect the system from attackers attempting to change the original control flow
On top of this, GrapheneOS improves privacy measures with features such as:
- Sandboxed Google Play: Graphene’s secure version of Google Play allows users to install Google apps in a safe environment by keeping applications isolated from one another and disallowing data sharing between apps without permission.
- PIN scrambling: This feature randomizes the position of numbers each time users enter a PIN, making it harder for attackers to steal it.
- Wi-Fi privacy: The OS supports per-connection MAC randomization, which means it changes a MAC address every time a user connects to the Wi-Fi, preventing data tracking across networks.
iOS Privacy Features
Like GraphenOS, iOS has its own secure browser called Safari that enables anonymous browsing, safeguards against cross-site tracking, and minimizes data collection. For instance, Safari protects privacy by not:
- Adding sites you visit to your browsing history
- Saving the data when you fill out online forms
- Remembering your searches
Safari also uses advanced tracking and fingerprinting protections, along with private browsing windows that lock automatically when not in use. The windows can’t be unlocked without your device password, providing high-level privacy protection.
iOS also incorporates the following privacy features:
- Location fuzzing: As your location can give away your identity to potential attackers, iOS Maps obscures the location from which you performed a search within 24 hours.
- Encrypted calls and messages: iMessage and FaceTime use end-to-end encryption to keep your conversations private. None of your messages can be accessed without a password.
- Private Cloud Compute: PCC is designed to securely handle requests that require greater computational capacity. It runs on Apple silicon-based servers to ensure only essential data is processed and no sensitive information is stored. However, this feature is currently limited to several iPhone 15 and 16 models.
iOS vs. GrapheneOS: What Else Sets Them Apart?
While both operating systems offer strong security and privacy features, the difference in everyday usability can be a deciding factor for many users. Here is a breakdown of how iOS and GrapheneOS compare in two key areas:
- App and device compatibility
- Usability and reliability
1. App and Device Compatibility
Both GrapheneOS and iOS have relatively limited device compatibility. Graphene only works on Google Pixel phones, while iOS is exclusively compatible with Apple devices like iPhones and iPads.
Although neither of these operating systems relies on Google apps, they allow users to install them through their dedicated versions of Google Play.
GrapheneOS users can install most Google apps through the sandboxed Google Play. However, banking apps that use SafetyNet or Play Integrity security checks may not work well because these checks rely heavily on Google services, which Graphene doesn’t support.
iOS is compatible with most Google applications, but they’re not essential since the OS has its own user-friendly versions of popular apps like Google Maps and Google Chrome. Additionally, Android-specific apps like Tasker and Google Files can’t be installed on iOS.
2. Usability and Reliability
iOS and GrapheneOS both receive regular updates, which makes them reliable and popular among privacy-conscious users. However, iOS is oriented more toward user-friendliness, while GrapheneOS prioritizes security above all else. Refer to the table below for a detailed comparison:
GrapheneOS or iOS: How To Choose
Although both iOS and GrapheneOS emphasize security and privacy, Graphene’s hardened, de-Googled system and comprehensive security measures provide stronger protection from vulnerabilities than iOS. This makes GrapheneOS a solid choice for those looking for maximum mobile security.
iOS, on the other hand, offers a user-friendly interface that anyone can get accustomed to and incorporates a robust suite of advanced security mechanisms enough to protect the private data of general customers.
Whether you choose GrapheneOS or iOS, remember that both focus on device-level security and cannot fully protect you at the network level. Incidents such as data breaches and location tracking can still happen due to gaps in traditional telecom infrastructure.
That’s where Cape comes in.
Switch to Cape for an Extra Layer of Security
Cape is a privacy-first mobile carrier that provides premium, nationwide 4G/5G connection without any compromise to your privacy and safeguards your private data from unauthorized access and exploitation. Unlike major telcos like Verizon and AT&T—which have been involved in numerous data breaches—Cape ensures minimal data collection and stores information for as little time as possible.
Cape offers a range of advanced security designed to protect consumers’ data and privacy at every level. These include:
All of these security features, along with outstanding network connectivity, are available in one comprehensive plan. For $99/month, you can get unlimited calls, texts, high-speed 4G/5G internet, and even international roaming (for eligible devices and locations)—no hidden fees.
Sign Up for Cape
Cape allows subscribers to create an account without sharing any personal information. To get started, visit cape.co/get-cape.
Cape has partnered with Proton to offer discounted application-level protections. For instance, Cape subscribers can get Proton Unlimited or Proton VPN Plus for only $1 for six months.