However, if you simply head to the Play Store and search ‘VPN’, you’ll be flooded by a huge number of apps. Some of these will be legitimate offerings, but a huge number will be dodgy free VPN options that may put you at more risk than without a VPN at all. So, to make sure you’re getting the best Android VPN experience as possible, we’ve reviewed dozens of VPNs – big and small – and rounded up the five services that are best suited for your device.
How we’ve chosen the best Android VPNs
Our review process delves deep into the apps and privacy policies of VPN providers, and we also undertake lengthy hands-on tests to determine how good a VPN is for unblocking streaming sites, what connection speeds you can expect, and generally how pleasant it is to use. We think ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Android users because it aced just about every challenge it faced in out testing process. Its Android app is second to none when it comes to usability, it’s super secure, and it’s excellent for streaming too. However, here we’ve rounded up four other competitors that we’re more than happy to recommend to anyone. They all offer slightly different features and – most importantly for many – different price points. All you need to do is keep scrolling to find out.
Our list of the best Android VPNs today
ExpressVPN is the best Android VPN: claim your exclusive 3 months FREE (opens in new tab) Topping our list of the best Android VPNs is ExpressVPN, and it’s here because no matter what you ask of it, you’ll get results. With over 3,000 servers in 94 countries worldwide there’s a huge spread of locations to choose from, and its simple, intuitive and powerful Android app will have you up and running in no time. Installation is a breeze and finished in a minute or so, and when the app’s up and running you’ll be met with a large, inviting on/off button. Tap it, and you’ll be connected to your nearest server in seconds. If that’s all you need, close the app and carry on with your day – set it and forget it. When we dug into ExpressVPN’s Settings menu, though, we found that despite Express’s simple appearance there’s a ton of power under the hood. With AES-256 encryption as standard alongside the open-source Lightway protocol, split tunneling, a kill switch and 100% RAM-only servers, you can be sure your data won’t be compromised. That’s all backed up by frequent app updates, and an independently audited logging policy which ensures no identifiable data is kept about you or your connections – so even if ExpressVPN is somehow compelled to hand over logs, there’ll be nothing to see. It’s not all about privacy, though. Express is our highest-rated VPN when it comes to streaming, too, so wherever you are in the world you’ll be able to watch content you pay for. And if you’re worried about buffering, don’t be – in our tests for our full ExpressVPN review, the provider delivered excellent speeds of around 560Mbps. Although the five-device limit isn’t the most generous, it should be enough to cover all your mobile devices plus your desktop computer and smart TV to boot – but if you’ve got tons of devices, a provider that offers unlimited connections like Surfshark may appeal. If you have any issues, the class-leading online support and live chat will help you out in minutes should you need it, and if you’re not sure, it’s worth making the most of Express’s risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use the service as much as you like for a month, and if it doesn’t live up to your expectations you can claim your money back. We reckon that’s unlikely, though – and ExpressVPN’s 4.6/5 Play Store rating is testament to that. For those looking for a cheaper alternative to ExpressVPN, Surfshark offers a seriously powerful VPN for Android at a very compelling price. You’ll have access to 3,200 servers in 100 countries – a big jump from what we saw in our previous Surfshark review – and connection speeds have been supercharged up to a blistering 950Mbps. Try ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days (opens in new tab) While some providers dump every feature under the sun into their Windows VPN app yet neglect mobile offerings, we found Surfshark’s Android app to be fully featured – and even offers a couple of features not seen on any other platforms. You’ll get a kill switch, split tunneling, AES-256 encryption, a range of static IPs and a Multi-Hop feature. However, something unique is its fake GPS location spoofer. As the only VPN we know to offer this, it’s perfect if you want to trick games like Pokémon GO into thinking you’re overseas. Auto-connect on untrusted networks is also a nice addition. Surfshark’s streaming performance is also excellent, and while in the past we’ve seen some inconsistencies, our latest testing showed it’s currently able to unblock just about every site we can think of. Another standout feature is the unlimited connections policy. If you’re a Marques Brownlee-type with a drawer full of phones, you’ll be able to install Surfshark on any and all of them and still be able to cover any laptops, desktops and routers without hassle. There are a couple of downsides. In our stress-testing we found that Surfshark’s kill switch could fail (although we stayed protected), and if you want to use OpenVPN – necessary for using Camouflage mode – speeds were significantly slower than rivals. However, when you consider how much cheaper Surfshark is than ExpressVPN – or just about any other VPN for that matter – it’s an excellent Android VPN that we’re more than happy to recommend. Sign up now on the Surfshark website (opens in new tab) Rounding off the top 3 is NordVPN, and in terms of price it holds the middle ground between ExpressVPN and Surfshark. With over 5,500 servers in 60 countries, you’ll have plenty of servers to choose from, and with an excellent 4.4/5 rating in the Play Store, users appear to like it almost as much as our #1 pick. Nord’s Android app has a lot to offer, and just like the two above, it doesn’t skimp on features when compared to its desktop brethren. You’ll have the standard AES-256 encryption alongside split tunneling, a kill switch (that, admittedly, we found to be a bit too hidden away in the settings), and Double VPN – plus Nord specialties like Onion over VPN. You’ll also get Nord’s CyberSec malware and phishing protection too, and the fact it has recently been certified by a second independent audit to be truly zero-logging will be a big tick if privacy is a top priority. However, in our NordVPN review we did find the layout of the app slightly less intuitive than some other providers thanks to the map interface. While on larger screens it can be pleasant to use, on smaller touchscreens (including its iPhone VPN sibling) we’d much rather just have a well-ordered list of servers to begin with. That’s a minor gripe though, and streaming fanatics will be thrilled to hear that NordVPN is one of the best Netflix VPN services on the market, unblocking a wide range of libraries. The speeds the NordLynx protocol can deliver are excellent, too – topping out at a massive 820Mbps, it delivers marginally faster peak speeds than ExpressVPN. Nord also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and with fair pricing across the board, it’s a good middle-ground choice as an Android VPN. Sign up now on the NordVPN website (opens in new tab) While the VPNs above have long been in the limelight, only recently has Proton VPN developed into a world-class VPN – but in our in-depth Proton VPN review we found that in the last couple of years the security-obsessed Swiss provider has well and truly earned its place amongst the big guns. ProtonVPN offers 1,800+ servers across 66 countries, which in our experience is more than enough to ensure speedy connections in every location. All of these servers are owned by Proton too, which keeps any user traffic out of third-party hands. We discovered that the Android VPN app is much like the desktop version – plenty of server info, a map interface that’s a little better than Nord’s, the ability to activate split tunneling, a kill switch, and more. It’s even got a landscape mode, which could prove useful to tablet users. However, Proton VPN isn’t cheap – at regular price it’s almost as pricey as ExpressVPN. While some may prefer Proton’s techy interface, for most we expect our #1 pick will offer better value for money. Overall though, ProtonVPN is well worth considering. Sign up now on the ProtonVPN website (opens in new tab) Rounding off our Android VPN recommendations is CyberGhost, and the Romanian provider is a great cheap VPN that covers all the bases. In our CyberGhost review we found that while its apps across the board are impressive, the Android app is a real standout. Along with standard features like AES-256 encryption and the choice between OpenVPN and WireGuard, you’ll also be able to autoconnect on insecure Wi-Fi, choose which apps route through the VPN with split tunneling, and even activate a random port feature which could help sidestep VPN blocking. The built-in content blocker is a minor bonus – although we think dedicated apps are more effective – and domain fronting is another useful trick to avoid VPN blocking. With all of that, then, it’s unusual that CyberGhost has chosen not to include a kill switch, and while you can get around this by using Android’s own kill switch, it’s a workaround we’d prefer not to have to do. CyberGhost is well known as a streaming VPN, and in our testing it performed well – although be aware that we couldn’t unblock UK Netflix or Disney+. Combined with a huge 9,200+ servers and excellent speeds on most of them, it shouldn’t be hard to find a location that suits you. Considering the price and performance of CyberGhost, and the power of its VPN for Android, it’s definitely worth considering – especially if you’ll make use of its unusual features. Sign up now on the CyberGhost website (opens in new tab) However, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, we also recommend checking out Surfshark (opens in new tab). Priced around the $2-a-month mark, it’s a proper bargain and gives ExpressVPN a real run for its money. While many are protected with passwords and encryption, there are still plenty around that can leave you open to attacks from other users that are connected. An Android VPN’s encryption protects you and your data from any potential hackers, and for just that we’d say the small monthly fee is worth it. However, one of the biggest reasons users sign up to use their VPN for streaming. If you’re abroad, it’s likely you won’t be able to access the shows you watch at home without a VPN – even if you’ve paid the subscription. This is because online TV services geo-block their libraries for licencing reasons (Netflix and iPlayer, to mention a couple). Using a VPN can make your device appear to be in a country of your choice, and you’ll therefore be able to access the same media anyone else in that country can. Some countries have banned VPNs entirely – Belarus, China, and Iran to mention a few. VPNs are still widely used in these locations, and while we don’t recommend breaking the law in any circumstance, if you do choose to use a VPN in these countries, make sure you choose a secure provider that offers obfuscated servers. That means you’ll be able to install your VPN on your PC or Mac, and often on your smart TV, games console or router as well. There, you can make the most of the power VPNs can offer. Staying safe by using a torrenting VPN is one of the major benefits, as P2P sharing is an activity that poses a real risk to those who engage in it without protection. Another reason is to avoid any restrictions on your internet service – especially useful for students, those in rented accommodation or those at work – and means you can surf the web without anyone blocking what you want to look at. Firstly, you’ll need to download the app from either the Play Store or directly from the provider’s website. From there you can install the app as usual, and once the app has opened you’ll be asked to sign in to your account. Once you’ve signed in, your device will ask for your permission to set up a VPN connection. This will appear no matter what Android VPN you’ve signed up for. After you’ve allowed those permissions, your VPN is set up and ready to go. All the VPNs on this page have excellent support networks, so if you do run into any problems they’ll always be happy to help. However, a VPN doesn’t give you absolute immunity – if you enter details on a bogus site or download malware, your VPN won’t be able to protect you. You still have to be savvy online, but if you’re smart, a VPN will boost your protection to the next level, and stop your data from leaking when it’s not your fault.
