Best Mobile VPN of 2024

ExpressVPN is CNET’s pick for the best VPN overall. The veteran VPN provider consistently demonstrates a strong commitment to privacy and transparency, is excellent for streaming plus remains user-friendly on any platform. Its minimalist interface is simple to use, whether you’re an advanced VPN user or if you’ve never used one before. The app settings on both Android and iOS or iPadOS are easy to navigate and finding a server location is straightforward. If you want the best for streaming, ExpressVPN is a good bet because it effortlessly unblocks all sorts of streaming content, including Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. 

In 2024, CNET Labs measured a 24.8% average speed loss with ExpressVPN. This is still fast, considering many VPNs can slash your internet speeds by 50% or more. But it’s not quite at the same level of performance as the fastest VPNs we benchmarked, including NordVPN (11% speed loss), Surfshark (17% speed loss) and Proton VPN (21%). ExpressVPN’s speeds were largely consistent and aligned with our expectations across protocols and server locations. Overall, ExpressVPN’s speeds were still fast enough for general browsing as well as for more data-intensive activities like streaming, gaming and videoconferencing -- particularly if you use its WireGuard-based Lightway VPN protocol, which provided faster, more stable speeds than OpenVPN.

ExpressVPN says it collects no logs, a claim bolstered by a 2022 no-logs audit by KPMG. In addition to its transparency efforts, ExpressVPN’s privacy protections are top-notch and forward-thinking. Express recently upgraded its proprietary open-source Lightway VPN protocol with Quantum Protection to help guard against future threats from quantum computers, along with encryption enhancements to better protect against threats like eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. And ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology elevates the protections of the traditional RAM-only server architecture by reinstalling the entire software stack with every reboot.

Surfshark is another excellent mobile VPN, and CNET's current Editors' Choice for the best value VPN. It packs a ton of features, is great for streaming and is the perfect choice if you're on a budget but still want the premium VPN experience. I just wish its speeds were more consistent. Surfshark's mobile app, like ExpressVPN's, is decluttered and simple to use. But it sometimes struggles to connect on the first attempt, which can be frustrating. Otherwise, it's a slick app with a lot of cool features at your fingertips. You can quickly bring up your connection status by tapping on the small arrow towards the bottom of the screen. If you're not connected, you'll see your true IP address and actual location. Once connected, you'll see your connection time and VPN IP address and location. You also have the option to either disconnect from the VPN server or pause your VPN connection for 5 minutes, 30 minutes or 2 hours. The Pause feature is useful for instances where you want to temporarily step off the VPN but not risk forgetting to turn the VPN back on.

I like how easy it is to create custom multi-hop connections with any two server combinations. Just pick any two servers to connect through from Surfshark's network of over 3,000 servers in 100 countries and add an extra layer of privacy to your connection by routing your traffic through two separate locations and encrypting it twice. Other VPNs, like NordVPN, also offer multi-hop connections, but not nearly at the scale and customizability that Surfshark does. Additional features include a kill switch, auto-connect, protocol selection and ad- and tracker-blocking technology. You can also choose to automatically rotate your IP address without disconnecting you from the VPN with Surfshark's Rotating IP feature. This helps mitigate risks of having your activity tracked online. Though Surfshark's speeds through the WireGuard protocol are exceptional, I found the VPN's speeds through OpenVPN to be disappointingly unreliable. The WireGuard protocol is, by all accounts, highly secure, but it's not nearly as battle-tested in the wild as OpenVPN. So if you're in need of a reliably fast connection paired with critical privacy protections, I'd recommend going with ExpressVPN. But if speed is your top priority over which VPN protocol you use, then Surfshark is more than capable of getting the job done via WireGuard. And if you're into streaming content online while on the go, Surfshark is an excellent choice. It's great for streaming Netflix content from multiple Netflix libraries around the world. I was able to easily stream content from Max, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus as well.

Surfshark is a budget-friendly choice that's priced at $15.45 a month, $42 for the first year of service or $60 total for two years of service, then $60 a year for any subsequent years of service. That's significantly cheaper than ExpressVPN, though the monthly price at $15.45 without any discounts or introductory offers is the higher than Express's $13 a month.

NordVPN is a popular virtual private network option because of its fast connections, privacy-focused features and excellent geo-unblocking for streaming services. Its intuitive design that doesn't compromise on settings makes it an exceptional choice for casual VPN newcomers and seasoned power users alike. With excellent mobile apps for both Android and iOS/iPadOS, Nord is a solid mobile VPN. 

At $13 a month, $69 a year or $100 total for two years, NordVPN sets you back less initially than premium VPN rivals like ExpressVPN, but more than budget-oriented companies like Surfshark and PIA. However, subsequent price hikes drive the price to $100 per year, which aligns with many other VPN providers, including Express. NordVPN's global server network comprises more than 6,300 servers spanning 111 countries -- the most of any VPN provider we tested.

We appreciate NordVPN's commitment to privacy and security. Alongside features like Onion over VPN (Tor) and a Double VPN, which provide extra encryption, a 2023 audit by Deloitte backed up its no-log claims for improved transparency. Folks with serious privacy needs can even purchase a Nord subscription using cryptocurrencies for pseudo-anonymity. While zero-logging policies are difficult to verify with total certainty, third-party audits provide peace of mind. On the entertainment side, we had no issues streaming US and UK Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus libraries on most devices. In addition to uncomplicated mobile apps, NordVPN runs on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android TV, browsers and even Apple TV.

At just $12 per month, $40 per year or $79 for three years, Private Internet Access is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market. With great Android, iOS and iPadOS apps, PIA is a wallet-friendly VPN for your phone or tablet. Many rivals, including ExpressVPN, normally charge more for a year of service than PIA’s cost-effective three-year plan. We typically don’t suggest shelling out for more than a year of service at once -- your initially fast and private virtual private network may be slower or suffer a data breach over the course of a year. However, PIA’s three-year subscription may be the exception to the rule because it runs you less than you’d pay for an annual plan with other VPNs.

While PIA is easy on the pocketbook, it doesn’t cut corners. You get a solid privacy suite of basics including 256-bit encryption, a kill switch which stops your internet if your VPN gets disconnected and split tunneling for routing some apps through a VPN but not others. Impressively, PIA packs more advanced privacy amenities like multi-hop which routes your connection through another server for additional privacy, and obfuscated servers that make it harder for apps or ISPs to identify when you’re using a VPN. PIA’s unlimited simultaneous connections make it a good choice for multi-device use -- by comparison, the pricier NordVPN and ExpressVPN limit you to six and eight simultaneous connections respectively. 

PIA’s exhaustive server network of 35,000 servers spread throughout 91 countries rivals that of competing VPNs like NordVPN (111), ExpressVPN (105 countries) and Surfshark (100), while ousting competitor IPVanish (56). Thanks to its generous server network, Private Internet Access works well for travel. In our testing PIA unblocked Disney Plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on both US and UK servers, making it a great VPN for streaming.