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When you connect to a virtual private network (VPN), it routes your web traffic through an encrypted connection to a server operated by the VPN service. An observer will see all your web traffic (and the traffic of other VPN customers) flowing in and out of the VPN server, not your Android device. This protects your privacy and makes it harder for anyone to discern your location because IP addresses are distributed geographically. An Android VPN also prevents your ISP from seeing what you're up to, which is good because they're also keen to monetize your data. We've been testing VPNs for more than 10 years, and these are our top choices for Android. Proton VPN is our overall winner, thanks to its free tier and robust coverage, but there are plenty of worthy VPNs on this list that might be best for you.
Our Top Tested Picks
Surfshark VPN
Mullvad VPN
Windscribe VPN
IVPN
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Best Overall
Proton VPN
- The best free VPN subscription
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent speed test scores
- Awkward ChromeOS implementation
Proton VPN is packed with features at a very affordable price and has one of the best free subscriptions we've seen. Particularly appealing features include a Kill Switch and NetShield, the latter of which is Proton's ad and tracker blocker. We were pleased to see that the Android app does a good job translating the Proton VPN experience to mobile.
VPN users on a budget should consider trying Proton by downloading the free version first. After learning how to use it and determining whether it best suits the needs of your Android device, you can upgrade to the paid version.
Best for Experienced VPN Users
NordVPN
- Support for multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections
- Bevy of available features and add-ons
- Good speed results
- Built-in antivirus tools
- Excellent design
- Friendly onboarding wizard
- Expensive
- Threat Protection Pro lacks full antivirus capabilities
- Deceptive annual renewal pricing
With a large server network and a remarkable collection of privacy tools, NordVPN's offering on Android is hard to beat. The Android app brings many of the service's best features, including some unique to mobile.
Experienced VPN users will get the most out of a NordVPN subscription. Features like the company's unique Meshnet offering are interesting and expansive, but they may be confusing to anyone unfamiliar with VPN use.
Best for Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
Surfshark VPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Large global server presence
- Multi-hop and split tunneling tools
- Intriguing potential in Surfshark Nexus
- High monthly price
- Some issues with IP rotator feature in testing
- Privacy policy needs clarification
Surfshark VPN has just about every feature you'll need, including unlimited simultaneous connections. Existing customers will be happy to see that the service's excellent design from the desktop client carries over to Android, making it simple for even the most novice VPN users to navigate the app.
VPN users with privacy concerns will appreciate Surfshark's wealth of tools to keep their traffic habits under wraps. Surfshark also has a large global server presence, so you get many local options no matter where you're trying to connect from in the world.
Best for First-Time VPN Users
TunnelBear VPN
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policies
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design (with bears!)
- No multi-hop connections
- Split tunneling not available on all platforms
- Data limit on free subscription
While its friendly bear design makes the app approachable, TunnelBear VPN is a ferocious defender of privacy with a remarkable transparency policy. Its Android app allows you to use app-level split tunneling rather than the website-level split tunneling found in the iOS version of the application.
VPN beginners will appreciate TunnelBear's easy-to-use and whimsical Android app, while the VPN also offers top-notch privacy features for the configurator in all of us.
Best for Global Travelers
ExpressVPN
- Large, diversely distributed fleet of servers
- Strong privacy and security practices
- Split tunneling
- Stylish interface
- Expensive compared with VPNs with similar feature sets
- No multi-hop connections
For the frequent flying Android owner, ExpressVPN is enticing with its large collection of far-flung server locations that allow for quick speeds and low latency across many different parts of the globe.
VPN users looking for many server location options will appreciate the sheer size of ExpressVPN's server network alone, but the company also offers strong security features across all its mobile offerings, Android included.
Best for Bargain Hunters
Mullvad VPN
- Affordable
- Requires no email or account information
- Radically transparent
- Multi-hop, split tunneling, and port forwarding
- Awkward desktop interface
- Servers in a small range of countries
- Pay-as-you-go system may confuse some customers
Mullvad VPN has an unusual, privacy-focused account system for an unbeatable price. We find the simplicity of its Android app a little more accessible than its desktop client, as the app is light on features but performs capably and reliably while maintaining a VPN connection.
Mullvad VPN will appeal to people seeking basic VPN coverage at a good price without having to fork over sensitive personal information. Advanced features such as multi-hop and port forwarding are added bonuses.
Best Company Transparency
Windscribe VPN
- Industry-leading company transparency and communication
- Large number of payment options
- Best free plan of any VPN we've tested
- Helpful AI support bot
- Open Netflix access in all regions benchmarked
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections and devices
- Anonymous signup allowed
- Middling speed results
Windscribe's stalwart dedication to user privacy will jibe well with the Android crowd, who almost always prefer deep system customization and settings transparency over more closed systems. Add to that a stellar mobile experience on Android, and you have a recipe for mobile VPN success.
Like many VPNs on the market, Windscribe is reasonably priced and fully featured. However, where it stands head and shoulders above others is its transparency regarding user privacy. As a no-logs provider, Windscribe guarantees that no identifying information about its customers will be handed to law enforcement who submit records requests.
Best for Minimalist Design Fans
IVPN
- Flexible, affordable pricing
- Powerful multi-hop system
- Privacy is baked into its account system
- Strong stance on transparency
- Offers few server locations
- Multi-hop and account ID features might confuse some
IVPN uses an account system that protects your privacy from the start. We like how crisp the service's minimalist design looks on Android, and the app also offers many helpful features, including app-level split tunneling, a kill switch, and a setting that will match your device's GPS location to the IVPN server location.
Minimalist VPN users will love IVPN's pared-down design choices. IVPN's affordable pricing and baked-in privacy further sweeten the deal.
What Does a VPN Do on Android?
Mobile devices move around with us, out of our safe home networks and into all sorts of other places. We've seen some remarkable research hinting at the privacy consequences of mobile devices: phony Wi-Fi devices that impersonate familiar networks can ensnare thousands of unsuspected devices and bogus base stations that can track phones (and perhaps intercept data). These are exotic concerns, but it's important to understand the worst-case scenarios to protect yourself.
Too much of the security industry relies on fear, uncertainty, and doubt among consumers. Although there are threats to your privacy and security lurking out there, no single tool will protect against all of them.
How a VPN Works
While some VPN services claim to protect you against malware and phishing sites, standalone antivirus software does a better job at this. One of the most dangerous threats people face is having an account taken over by an attacker. To protect against this, we strongly recommend using a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for every site and service you use. We also recommend enabling multi-factor authentication wherever it's available. While VPNs make it harder for you to be tracked online, advertisers and snoopers have various tools at their disposal, such as browser fingerprinting. We strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with the privacy settings in Android OS and in your browser of choice.
Remember that although VPNs improve your privacy online, they aren't deep anonymization services, and you can't use one to connect to hidden websites on the dark web. For both of those activities, you should use the Tor anonymization network. Some VPNs enable you to connect to Tor directly from the client. Tor client Android apps are also on the Google Play store, so getting online with Tor is simple if you know where to look.
Finally, a VPN could potentially have as much insight into your online activity as your ISP, so it's essential to pick a VPN you can trust. When we review VPNs, we read through privacy policies and interview company representatives to understand their efforts to protect customers. If you don't trust a particular VPN, choose another. There are plenty.
Do Android VPNs Work With Netflix?
One everyday use of VPNs is location spoofing. When you send your web traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a remote server, the data appears to originate from the VPN server rather than your actual location. Journalists and activists have used this capability to get around restrictive internet controls imposed by various governments.
But for most people, location spoofing with a VPN is for streaming content restricted to specific geographic regions. That said, video streaming services are starting to fight back. We've noticed Hulu and Amazon Prime Video also frequently block access when they detect a VPN. Note that streaming companies are well within their rights to block VPN users. Just because you're paying to watch Netflix in the US doesn't mean you can view UK Netflix. We've compiled our own testing of Netflix compatibility across many different VPN services, which you can see below:
Some VPNs work with Netflix, but their effectiveness can change daily as streaming companies and VPN services play a cat-and-mouse game of spoofing and blocking. We keep our list updated twice annually and refresh each result as VPNs are reviewed throughout the year.
What Is the Best VPN for Android?
Although Android phones and tablets have radically different form factors than desktops and laptops, what we look for in a VPN remains the same.
The number and distribution of available VPN servers the service provides are important. Having lots of servers in lots of places means finding a server near where you live, and while traveling, it should be easier than with a service with only a few server locations. A surfeit of servers also means there are many options when spoofing your location.
The location of a VPN company is also important. Depending on where the company has its corporate headquarters, local laws may require it to retain user data. That's not good if maintaining your privacy is your primary concern.
Another important feature Android owners should look for is split tunneling. This lets you designate which apps send their data through the VPN connection and which travel outside. That's useful for apps that frequently block VPN access or require a lot of bandwidth but no security, such as video or music streaming apps and mobile games.
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The price and number of licenses per subscription are key factors to consider. VPN services range from free to incredibly expensive, but it's typical for a service to allow five to ten simultaneous accounts per subscription. Some companies have started moving away from this restrictive model, which is good news for consumers. If you're paying more than $10 per month, be sure the VPN service offers features that justify the price. Our list of the cheapest VPNs is an excellent place to start, and our list of free VPNs gets the job done without requiring you to open your wallet.
Finally, it's worth considering the experience provided by a VPN app. You probably won't use it if it's ugly, confusing, or hard to use. A good VPN app doesn't need to be a work of art, but it should be reliable and easy to use. Look for apps with simple interfaces and those that provide most, if not all, of the functionality you'd find in the app's desktop version.
Which Free VPN Is Best for Android?
Proton VPN is the only service that does not have data restrictions, making it the only genuinely free VPN on our list. However, the free tier limits your server location to the Netherlands, Japan, and the United States, and you can only use the free VPN service on one device at a time.
Proton VPN's excellent reputation was built on the success of its sibling product, ProtonMail. ProtonVPN also has good privacy policies and regularly submits to third-party audits.
Kim Key and Max Eddy contributed to this article.
