Improve your privacy with the Best VPNs for Android mobile devices. We tested our competitors to help you choose the best VPN for Android for your needs.
When you connect to a virtual private network or VPN, your web traffic is routed over an encrypted connection to servers operated by the VPN service. Observers watch all web traffic (and traffic from other VPN clients) going to and from your VPN server, not your Android device. Additionally, your real IP address is hidden when you are connected to a VPN. Prying advertisers and capricious spies see only the VPN server’s IP address. This protects your privacy but makes it difficult for others to ascertain your location because your IP address is geographically dispersed.
All of these help protect your privacy online. Advertisers and businesses want to know your habits, but a VPN makes it harder for them to track you online. An Android VPN also prevents your ISP from knowing what you are doing. This is a good thing because ISPs are also interested in monetizing your data. Read on for the best Android VPNs we tested and everything you need to know to choose the right app for your needs.
Table of Contents
Best VPNs For Android in 2023
Proton VPN
Why did I choose it?
ProtonVPN offers a lot of features at a very affordable price and has the best free subscription. Some particularly attractive features include a kill switch and NetShield, Proton’s ad and tracker blocker. We are happy to see that the Android app successfully ported the ProtonVPN experience to mobile devices.
Who is it for?
VPN users on a budget. Download the free version of Proton VPN, upgrade to a paid version once you’re comfortable with it, and give the VPN a try.
Pros
- The best free VPN subscription
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent speed test scores
Cons
- Awkward ChromeOS implementation
Mullavad VPN
Why did I choose it?
Mullvad VPN has an unusual account system that focuses on privacy. I think the simplicity of the Android app makes it a little more accessible than the desktop client. This app has very few features, but it works efficiently and reliably while maintaining a VPN connection.
Who is it for?
Mullvad VPN will appeal to people looking for a basic VPN service without revealing sensitive personal information. Additional bonuses include advanced features like multihop and port forwarding.
Pros
- Affordable
- Requires no email or account information
- Radically transparent
- Multi-hop, split tunneling, and port forwarding
Cons
- Awkward desktop interface
- Servers in a small range of countries
- Pay-as-you-go system may confuse some customers
Nord VPN
Why did I choose it?
With a large network of servers and an excellent suite of privacy tools, NordVPN is second to none. The Android app offers many of the Service’s best features, as well as some unique features for mobile devices.
Who is it for?
Experienced VPN users can get the most out of their NordVN subscription. Features like the company’s own mesh net product are interesting, but can be confusing for those new to using VPNs.
Pros
- Multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections
- Excellent design
- Traffic routing and file-sharing with Meshnet
- Built-in antivirus tools
Cons
- Expensive
- Lackluster malware-blocking results
- Limited utility of free Meshnet traffic routing
IVPN VPN
Why did I choose it?
IVPN uses an account system that protects your privacy from the start. I also like how the simple design of the service is clean on Android. The app offers many useful features such as app-level split tunneling, a kill switch, and a setting to match the device’s GPS location with his IVPN server’s location.
Who is it for?
His minimalist VPN users will love IVPN’s lean design options. Affordable pricing and built-in privacy make IVPN even more attractive.
Pros
- Flexible, affordable pricing
- Powerful multi-hop system
- Privacy is baked into its account system
- Strong stance on transparency
Cons
- Offers few server locations
- Multi-hop and account ID features might confuse some
Surfshark VPN
Why did I choose it?
Surfshark VPN offers almost all the privacy features you need. Existing customers will be happy to see the service’s great design carry over to Android.
Who is it for?
Privacy-conscious VPN users will appreciate Surfshark’s suite of tools to help keep their traffic habits private. Surfshark also has the largest server presence in the world, giving you plenty of connection options.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Large global server presence
- Multi-hop and split tunneling tools
- Intriguing potential in Surfshark Nexus
Cons
- High monthly price
- Some issues with IP rotator feature in testing
- Privacy policy needs clarification
Tunnel Bear VPN
Why did I choose it?
While the friendly bear design makes the app approachable, TunnelBear VPN offers strong privacy protections and amazing transparency. Android apps can use app-level split tunneling instead of site-level split tunneling in the iOS version of the application.
Who is it for?
VPN novices will appreciate TunnelBear’s easy-to-use and quirky Android app. VPNs also offer top-notch privacy features.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policies
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design (with bears!)
Cons
- No multi-hop connections
- Split tunneling not available on all platforms
- Data limit on free subscription
CyberGhost VPN
Why did I choose it?
CyberGhost has large VPN servers and a recent visual overhaul to give it a modern look. What I particularly like is that the Android app retains some of the advanced features of his Cyber Ghost desktop app.
Who is it for?
All of these servers around the world, combined with CyberGhost’s excellent speed test results, are perfect for VPN users who love to travel. The company also offers various add-ons for subscribers, such as antivirus programs.
Pros
- Large, well-distributed server fleet
- Allows up to seven simultaneous connections
- Several add-ons, including antivirus
- Outstanding speed test scores
- Newly completed third-party audit
Cons
- Expensive
- Confusing privacy policies
Express VPN
Why did I choose it?
For his Android owner on the go, ExpressVPN is an attractive but expensive proposition with widely distributed server locations.
Who is it for?
VPN users are looking for many options for server locations. ExpressVPN also offers strong security features.
Pros
- Large, diversely distributed fleet of servers
- Strong privacy and security practices
- Split tunneling
- Stylish interface
Cons
- Expensive
- No multi-hop connections
Mozilla VPN
Why did I choose it?
Mozilla VPN provides VPN protection to customers while supporting the non-profit organization Mozilla. It’s a repackaged version of Mullvad VPN’s WireGuard-based product, and it looks great.
Who is it for?
If you’re a Mozilla fan, this is the VPN for you. This product is simple, expensive, and a repackaged version of another company’s product. So this VPN is primarily a way for people to support non-profit organizations and receive services in return.
Pros
- Helps support nonprofit Mozilla
- Powered by privacy hawk Mullvad VPN
- Simple, classy design
- Multi-hop and split tunneling
Cons
- Few server locations
- Gathers some user information
- Expensive compared with Mullvad VPN
Private Internet Access VPN
Why did I choose it?
Private Internet Access offers several smart mobile VPN tools, including a snooze button. Supports WireGuard and OpenVPN on all platforms including Android.
Who is it for?
Mobile VPN-only users will appreciate the app’s split tunneling and multi-hop capabilities. However, be aware that this product is more expensive than many of its competitors.
Pros
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Split tunneling and multi-hop
- Numerous server locations
- Completed third-party audit
Cons
- Expensive
- No free version
What does a VPN do on Android?
What’s special about mobile devices is that you can access the internet via both WiFi and mobile communications on board. They also travel with us to all sorts of places, away from our secure home networks. There are some notable studies pointing to the privacy impact of mobile devices. Fake his Wi-Fi devices masquerading as known networks can trap thousands of unsuspecting devices, and fake base stations track phones (and even intercept data is also possible). These are unusual concerns, but it’s important to understand worst-case scenarios to protect yourself. The security industry relies heavily on consumer fears, anxieties, and doubts. Threats to privacy and security exist, but no single tool can prevent them all.
Some of his VPN services claim to protect users from malware and phishing websites, but standalone antivirus software does a better job here. One of the most dangerous threats to humans is account takeover by attackers. To protect yourself from such incidents, I highly recommend using a password manager to create strong and unique passwords for each of her websites and services you use. We also recommend enabling multi-factor authentication when available. A VPN makes it harder to be tracked online, but there are a variety of tools available to advertisers and snoopers, such as browser fingerprinting. We strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with the privacy settings of the Android operating system and your chosen browser.
Keep in mind that while a VPN improves your online privacy, it is not a true anonymization service and cannot be used to connect to hidden websites on the dark web. Both activities require the use of the Tor anonymization network. The Google Play store has a Tor client Android app that makes it easy to go online using Tor.
After all, a VPN can potentially give you as much insight into your online activity as your ISP. Therefore, choosing a reliable VPN is important. When reviewing VPNs, read their privacy policies and interview company representatives to understand their efforts to protect their customers. If a particular VPN seems unreliable, choose another VPN. there are many.
How can I test VPN for Android?
It should come as no surprise that redirecting your connection to another, possibly remote, server can have a negative impact on your internet speed. Using a VPN usually significantly increases latency, slowing down downloads and uploads. The severity of the impact depends on the location of the VPN server and the network infrastructure his VPN provider has access to.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, access to the PCMag Labs test network has been limited, necessitating a change in how VPN speed tests are conducted. Instead of testing all products consecutively once a year, we continue to test VPNs and update our results continuously. Note that VPN performance over cellular connections is not considered. Because you have no control over how and when your phone connects to a cell tower. Instead, test speed only on Windows machines. See the table below for the latest results.
Which is the best free VPN for Android?
Proton VPN is the only service with no data caps and the only truly free VPN on our list. However, the free tier limits server locations to the Netherlands, Japan, and the US, and he can only use the free VPN service on one device at a time.
Proton VPN’s excellent reputation is built on the success of its sister product, ProtonMail. ProtonVPN also has an excellent privacy policy and is regularly audited by third parties.