10 Best VPN apps for Android phones and tablets

Using a VPN on your Android mobile or tablet will vastly improve your internet privacy, security and allow you unblock websites and apps that are unavailable in your location.

The quality of VPN software for Android devices has vastly improved in recent years, as VPN services have become more and more popular. However, not all VPNs are up to scratch. In fact, the large majority of the 200+ VPN services on Google Play Store lack the security features needed to keep users safe. In addition to this, we found that over 40% of free Android VPN apps leak users’ personal data. With these dodgy services about, it can make it difficult to find a trustworthy VPN. We have searched the VPN market to find the very best VPNs for Android, these are listed below.

1. 
   ExpressVPN
   
   – The best VPN for Android. Through the Android app you get lightning fast speeds, a seamless experience & 24/7 live chat support.
2. 
   NordVPN
   
   – An easy to use Android VPN app. The Android app is easy to navigate and the service is secure and fast, plus it accepts bitcoin!
3. 
   CyberGhost VPN
   
   – A great Android VPN app for beginners. A robust VPN service with great value thanks to an amazing selection of features.
4. 
   Surfshark
   
   – The cheapest VPN app for Android on our list. Rated 4+ stars on the Play Store, $2.49 a month, it’s fast and packed with features.
5. 
   VyprVPN
   
   – A VPN app that balances privacy and speed. The interface is straightforward to use and the service offers no logs and fast servers.

There are plenty of reasons to use a VPN. A lot of us rely on public Wi-Fi to stay up to date when we’re out and about, but connecting to a public Wi-Fi network carries risks as a lot of them are insecure. On top of this, there are still thousands of websites out there that lack basic encryption. VPNs encrypt your data to ensure that hackers can’t target your phone or tablet.

Another benefit of using a VPN for Android devices is that they allow you to unblock apps, websites, and streaming services that are unavailable in your location.

How we test Android VPN apps

As avid Android users ourselves, we know how important it is to have apps that are properly optimized for Android devices. As well as a great app, there are several other things that we look for in an Android VPN:

• Robust privacy policies
• Top-grade encryption
• Fast servers for streaming and downloading
• Key security features, such as kill-switches
• A seamless Android app

If, and only if, a VPN meets our above criteria can it be considered for inclusion in our list of the best VPNs for Android devices.

The Best VPNs for Android Devices to use in 2021

Below, you’ll find our full list of the best Android VPNs – recommended by our experts by for both mobile phones and tablet. All of the services we’ve hand-picked offer stellar security measures, privacy features, and geo-unblocking powers – as well as myriad other benefits. If you’d like an even more in-depth look at the providers mentioned here, check out our detailed reviews.

ExpressVPN is our #1 best VPN for Android. Combining a well-rounded VPN app with fast speeds and good privacy – you’re on to a real winner!

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ExpressVPN is easily one of the most well-recognised and respected names in the VPN industry – and it’s easy to see why. ExpressVPN pioneered the idea of “one-click connect” in its mobile apps, and offers users a now industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee as well as outstanding 24/7 live chat support.

Its Android app has a 4.1-star rating in the Play Store and is compatible with all Android 5.0+ devices. It can be downloaded from either the Play Store, or, for the more Google-phobic out there, as an APK file for sideloading onto your device. ExpressVPN provides L2TP/IPSec setup instructions for users of Android versions 2, 3, and 4.

The app is easy to use and offers split-tunneling, which allows you to decide which of your apps use the VPN tunnel and which don’t. It also features a kill-switch (called “network protection”), which is something we wish more Android VPN apps would include.

ExpressVPN is a no-logs VPN service with servers in over 90 counties and a strong focus on privacy.

NordVPN is a great pick if you want a VPN app that is chock full of features and is easy to use. A superb VPN at a superb price point, a real solid choice.

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NordVPN is a no-logs VPN service is based in NSA-free Panama. Its Android app has a very respectable 4.3-star rating on the Google Play Store and is compatible with all Android 5.0+ devices.

The app is quite distinctive in the way it looks thanks to its dynamic map of server locations. It uses OpenVPN in UDP mode by default, although TCP (presumably using port 443) is also an option. Besides this, the app allows you to connect to NordVPN’s special Obfuscated servers, which use XOR encryption to evade VPN blocks.

The app also sports a kill-switch and NordVPN’s “CyberSec” feature. As with its desktop apps, this uses a DNS blocklist to protect users from malware, help prevent botnet control, and block many intrusive web ads.

As is increasingly common, its APK is also available to download directly from the NordVPN website, which will auto-update when new versions become available. This is perfect for those who wish to avoid the Google Services Spyware Framework.

CyberGhost is a value-packed Android VPN for beginners. It’s a feature-rich app that’s incredibly easy-to-use, while still offering good levels of customization.

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If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option with great geo-spoofing capabilities and a huge network of servers, then CyberGhost might be the VPN for you. The service is based in Romania, which is great news for anyone looking to avoid the jurisdiction of the 14-Eyes spying alliance. You’ll also be able to unblock a veritable ton of geographically restricted content thanks to servers in key locations around the world. We’d like to see CyberGhost adopt some obfuscation (stealth) measures in the future, but users are still able to cloak their VPN usage by running TCP over port 443. 

The Android app uses OpenVPN encryption (which is our recommended protocol for security), and with CyberGhost’s fast servers, you won’t be waiting on buffering screens. Overall, CyberGhost is a high-functioning, low-cost VPN that’s great for newer VPN users.

Try it for yourself with its generous 45-day money-back guarantee on subscription plans longer than one month.

Surfshark is the cheapest VPN on our Android list. It offers great speeds, versatile unblocking, and strong privacy at a fantastic price point.

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  ^$2.49 –
  ^$12.95

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SurfShark is registered in the British Virgin Islands and offers an Android 5.0 app rated 4.3 stars in the Play Store. We are pleased to see that you can also download the .APK direct from the Surfshark website.

Surfshark has always impressed us with the incredible amount of bang it offers for your buck, and its Android app is no different. It includes a kill-switch, split-tunneling (“Whitelister”) for apps you want to exclude from the VPN, a DNS adblocker, an incognito mode for web searches, and even a GPS override feature that ensures your browser’s GPS location matches your VPN location. It is also has a fantastic privacy policy and keeps no logs.

The Surfshark Android app uses IKEv2 by default, but also offers OpenVPN (UDP and TCP, although port numbers are not specified). It also offers the Shadowsocks protocol for those who need to evade restrictions on VPN use.

VyprVPN is the value lover’s choice. It’s run on a private network of servers & access to Chameleon privacy technology – all at a great price point.

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VyprVPN is based in Switzerland and is notable for owning its own server network, which gives it complete control over its infrastructure. It’s great for the security-conscious Android user looking for privacy because it keeps no logs. The app supports all versions of Android, but we recommend sticking to 4.0.3 and later.

VyprVPN for Android has a somewhat modest 3.9-star rating in the PlayStore, but it has nonetheless always worked flawlessly in our tests. It has a fully-featured app with a kill-switch, DNS leak protection, ad and malware blocking, and public WiFi protection to ensure the VPN connects each time that your device joins a new network.

The app uses OpenVPN, and you can switch between ports, which is great. Plus, the Android app offers VyprVPN’s obfuscation feature called Chameleon, which is known to be great at defeating VPN restrictions in countries where VPN use is frowned upon. This is a lot of features for an Android VPN app, and users get the benefit of a large network of servers in over 70 countries; which makes it excellent for unblocking content worldwide.

For ease of access, the app is available as an .APK download in addition to being featured in the Play Store.

IPVanish is a great all around Android VPN. It provides fast speeds, easy to use app that work seamlessly & is packed full of great features.

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IPVanish is a high-profile no-logs US-based VPN service. Its Android 4.0.3+ app rates 3.9 stars in the Play Store, but, again, has always worked well for us and is packed with useful features.

The IPVanish app does not include a built-in kill-switch per se., but on Android 8+ devices it provides instructions for enabling Android’s new built-in kill-switch feature to work with the app.

The app features split tunneling, insecure network notification, and XOR Scramble obfuscation technology. It uses OpenVPN in either  UDP or TCP mode, and you can select which ports it uses.

And, as with all the Android apps on this list, you can download the .APK from IPVanish’s website for improved privacy.

Ivacy is the cheapest VPN for Android on our list. For $1.50 you can access servers in over 100 countries, decent speeds for streaming and a superb Android app experience.

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  ^$9.95

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Ivacy VPN is a service based in Singapore that has superb apps for all platforms – including for Android mobiles and tablets. The VPN has everything you would need in a VPN to gain privacy and security on Android both at home and on public WiFi. And, if you want to bypass restrictions on a work or school network – to watch YouTube or access Reddit, for example – this VPN will work perfectly.

The Android app comes with all the features you need to protect your online activity from your ISP and the government. As a result, you will be able to bypass government censorship, or access restricted torrents or streams in total privacy without being tracked. We enjoy using Ivacy thanks to its servers in over 100 countries around the world. And, this is one of the few VPNs that reliably unblocks Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube TV, and other popular streaming services. A superb VPN that provides fast speeds for streaming.

Well worth comparing to our other options using its 30-day money-back guarantee. Cheap subscription prices – and can be used on up to 10 devices simultaneously. 

ProtonVPN is a trusted VPN app for Android users. From the guys behind ProtonMail, this VPN is fast, secure and just as reliable as it is on Windows, macOS and iOS.

• Free option

  Yes

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ProtonVPN is a superb service that is based in Switzerland – a location that is considered fantastic in terms of data privacy. The VPN can be used for free thanks to its basic subscription plan, however, this is restrictive in terms of server locations and speeds. On the other hand, if you like the service and want to be able to unblock Netflix US with unlimited speeds – you can simply subscribe to a premium subscription plan.

ProtonVPN has superb apps for all platforms, including Android, with the features you need to gain privacy and security both at home and on public WiFi. And, because this VPN has servers in 50 locations worldwide – you will always be able to unblock virtually anything you desire. We love using this VPN to unblock content on our Android devices when we are on a restricted network. And, we trust this VPN to protect our online habits from snooping WiFi providers and ISPs. Admittedly, this isn’t the fastest Android VPN on the market. However, it will let you stream in HD and it does unblock iPlayer and other sought-after streaming services.

A superb all-rounder that comes with great provenance. Well worth taking for a test drive using its 30-day money-back guarantee. 

PrivateVPN is a great VPN app for Android users looking to stream. This reliable VPN from Sweden has great features for unblocking and speeds that can easily handle HD content.

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PrivateVPN is a VPN provider from Sweden that is often recommended by VPN users. The VPN is pretty cheap considering what you get – and it is perfect for unblocking content from all over the world on an Android smartphone or tablet. With PrivateVPN you get apps for all platforms, and you can run it on up to 6 devices simultaneously. This makes it great for people who need it on their desktop, laptop, and mobile devices too. We love that this VPN can unblock more international Netflix catalogs than just about any other VPN service – and it also works with highly sought-after streaming services like iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube TV, HBO Max, and pretty much anything else you can think of.

We are always impressed by PrivateVPN’s live chat support, which can provide help unblocking content or setting up the VPN any time that you need it. And, with PrivateVPN you get the benefit of a no-logs policy, a kill-switch, port forwarding, and obfuscation – which makes it great for torrenting or engaging in other sensitive online tasks.

We think this VPN is amazing, but you don’t have to take our word for it thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

PIA is a great no-logs Android VPN app. It’s both affordable and secure, being one of the only providers to have proven its zero-logs policy in court.

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Private Internet Access (PIA) offers top-shelf VPN security and features with apps for all platforms, including Android. It’s great for both new and advanced users, offering a simple interface with lots of options for customization. Users can select from a wide range of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN and WireGuard. 

PIA boasts excellent server speeds, with P2P support and built-in ad-blockers to improve your internet experience.

If you’re looking to protect multiple devices, PIA allows for up to 10 simultaneous connections, so you can protect your Android device along with pretty much any other computer or device you own all at the same time.

Test it for yourself, risk-free, with a 30-day no-hassle money-back guarantee.

The fastest VPNs available for Android Now

A fast Android VPN is better for streaming, making video calls, playing games, and anything else that requires more data throughput. To help you tell which VPN apps are the fastest, we run speed tests three times per day on our top picks and display the results in the table below.

Advantages of using a VPN for Android

Below, we look at how a VPN can help you stay secure online from hackers and snoopers, including your ISP and the Government. But, before we get into the benefits, let’s start with the basics…

How does a VPN work on your Android device?

When you access the internet all your data passes over a local network before going through an ISP’s gateway servers. This path to getting online creates two potential opportunities for your web visits and data to be tracked and potentially harvested and sold on. Once on the local network, and when you pass through your ISPs gateway.

What a VPN does is it encrypts your data before it leaves your Android device, before routing it to a VPN server. This ensures that nobody can see what you are doing online and prevents websites and online services from detecting your actual IP address.

This setup might sound simple, but it can supercharge your mobile internet experience in the following ways:

The privacy benefits of a VPN for Android users

Android VPNs for Netflix

That’s right, with a VPN, you can “spoof” your geographic location in order to watch streaming services such as the US version of Netflix on your phone or tablet, which has a much larger catalog of titles than paying Netflix customers living elsewhere can access. You can also unblock other free services, for example you can watch BBC iPlayer outside the UK, which are only available in certain countries. For more information about this topic, check out our how to unblock Netflix on Android page.

Android VPNs for Gaming

There are benefits for gamers too. Particularly if you live in a country that restricts access to certain gaming titles. With a VPN, you can change your Google Play region with a VPN to unblock apps that were previously unavailable to you. Or even connect to new servers to play against opponents from other countries.

Beware of some Android apps

If you’re an Android user, you must be aware that, while a VPN app will do its job to secure your sessions when using a mobile browser, it can’t stop Android apps from sending personal data back to their developers – as well as Google, via the Play Services Framework.

You should therefore always use a service’s web portal rather than its Android app whenever possible when you’re using your VPN. It’s not always an option, but when it is, it’s the best way to maximize your privacy.

Setting up a VPN on Android

Using a VPN on an Android device isn’t really much different to using a VPN on any other platform, so if you want to know more about VPNs, in general, then please check out our Beginner’s Guide to VPNs for more info on what they are and how they can make your life better.

If you would like help getting set up with your VPN, check out our step-by-step guide on how to install a VPN on Android.

Can I get a free VPN for Android?

There are plenty of free Android VPNs for Android users lurking in the Google Play Store, but don’t be lured in – the vast majority of these providers are known to be risky. Studies have revealed that most free VPNs are a scam, designed to harvest user data. Free VPNs have been found to have dangerous privacy policies, critical leaks, unreliable apps, weak encryption, and even adware or spyware.

Running a VPN is an expensive business, and it incurs a lot of costs and upkeep. As such, it’s impossible to run a VPN that’s entirely free without also creating a revenue stream from user data. Most free VPNs for Android users are, in actuality, a honey pot designed to snoop on you – and that’s the exact opposite of what a VPN should do!

The good news is that there are some reputable free VPN services on the market that offer a free plan. These limited free plans cap speeds, limit data usage, and limit the number of servers you can use. Thus, they are only really there to offer a trial version of their service designed to make users upgrade onto a paid subscription. 

Using our recommended VPNs is not dangerous, because other than the limitations they involve, they don’t skimp on privacy or security in any way. So, if you do need a free VPN, please be sure to stick to our recommendations. Using other free Android VPN apps on the Play Store is dangerous and will cause you to have your data harvested. In fact, some free VPN services on Google Play can even contain exploits that infect your phone or tablet to steal more data.

Remember, if you are not paying for the product, then you are the product! Nobody is offering a “free” service simply out of the goodness of their hearts.

Want a Free VPN for Android? We Recommend Windscribe (Best Free VPN for Android)

Windscribe is a no-logs, privacy-friendly, Canadian VPN service that offers users 2GB data allowance per month completely free, or a very generous 10GB in exchange for your email address.

Windscribe’s speeds are decent for a free service. We achieved 55 Mbit/s download results using a server in our own country (UK), although this will depend on the speed of your raw broadband or 4G connection. 

Free users can connect to servers in ten countries, including the USA, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania. Switzerland, the UK, and Hong Kong. This is actually quite generous for a free service and gives free users plenty of options for unblocking content.

This superb free VPN is offered by Windscribe in order to advertise its full-featured premium plan. By upgrading, you’ll be able to access Netflix and other sought-after streaming services from all over the world.

Try an Android VPN without risk

You might be on the fence about VPNs if you’ve never used one before. And this is totally understandable! After all, you won’t know what a VPN can do for you until you try one for yourself. The good news is that you can do just that with all of the VPNs in this guide, thanks to their money-back guarantees. 

This allows you to test the VPN out for unblocking content and gaining privacy online – without actually risking your hard-earned cash. We think once you experience the freedom of being able to access blocked content at work or in school, or experience unrestricted access to geo-restricted services around the world – you will decide to keep your VPN. 

However, don’t forget that if you want to, you can try a few different services to see how they each differ. That’s the beauty of these refund promises; it allows you to shop around and decide which service you prefer. 

Google VPN – another option

If you’re a Google One user – good news! You’ll soon be able to check out a new VPN as part of your subscription, (provided you’re paying for one of the higher tiers).

VPN by Google One will be available as part of the $9.99 p/m plan, which also provides an extra 2TB of expanding Drive storage. The VPN is also baked into the 10, 20, and 30TB plans. Keep an eye out for updates over the next few weeks – Google plans to introduce the VPN to Android users in the near future, and it’s reported that customers will be able to enable and/or disable the service via their mobile app.

Android VPNs to avoid

There are literally dozens of bad or dangerous VPNs for Android. Far too many to list here. That is why searching for a VPN on the Play Store is so risky. The best advice is to stick only to our recommended VPNs, as those are known to be reliable and secure.   

Paid-for services that also have full desktop VPN support (so are not just otherwise no-name Android apps) are more likely to be trustworthy, but we still recommend hunting down reputable VPN reviews before trusting them with your privacy.

FAQs