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A virtual private network (VPN) routes your web traffic through an encrypted connection to a server operated by the VPN service. That process doesn’t change on Android. Your mobile service provider won’t be able to read the data you send to the VPN server since it is encrypted. Once your traffic is decrypted and sent out from the server, it can’t be traced back to you. Anyone who follows that thread back will find that it appears to originate from the VPN’s server instead of your Android device. We put a wide range of VPNs through our rigorous testing process and picked our top choices for Android. Proton VPN is our Editors' Choice winner, thanks to its free tier and robust coverage, but plenty of worthy VPNs on this list might work better for you, so read on for all of our top picks.
Our Top Tested Picks
The Best VPN Deals This Week*
- Surfshark VPN — $1.99 Per Month + 3 Months Free (87% Off 2 Years Starter Plan)
- Norton VPN Standard — $3.33 Per Month for 5 Devices (50% Off 1 Year Plan)
- NordVPN — $4.39 Per Month + $20 Amazon Gift Card (70% Off 2 Years Plus Plan)
- ExpressVPN — $4.99 Per Month + 4 Months Free (61% Off 2 Years Plan)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- Best free VPN subscription yet
- Numerous advanced privacy tools
- Strong customer privacy stance
- Large server network
- Slick, accessible client
- Excellent upload speed scores
- High latency scores
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.
- 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.
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Excellent privacy policy
- Annual independent audits
- Friendly, approachable design
- No multi-hop connections
- Unimpressive customer support
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.
- Large, diverse, widely distributed fleet of servers
- Fast speed test results
- Strong privacy and security practices
- Support for post-quantum encryption protocols
- Expensive monthly and annual plans
- No multi-hop connections
- Ad blocking is spotty
- Ownership with a sketchy past
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.
- Excellent server coverage and performance
- Impressive suite of security features
- Well-defined privacy policy
- Quarterly transparency reports
- Affordable long-term plans
- High monthly cost
- Average server network size
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 Bargain Hunters
Mullvad VPN
- Affordable
- Requires no email or account information
- Radically transparency
- Open Netflix access in all regions tested
- Awkward desktop interface
- No transparency report or warrant canary
- Servers in a small range of countries
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.
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What Does a VPN Do on Android?
Any device you take on the go is much more susceptible to being compromised than your home system, including your phone, laptop, and tablet. Trusting a public wireless network puts your data at risk. That goes for your favorite coffee spot, too. Just because nothing has happened yet doesn’t mean it won’t. Someone could walk into that shop and set up a fake Wi-Fi connection that impersonates a trusted network. Your personal data could be compromised once you connect to that network.
It’s easy to dismiss these events as unlikely, but these attacks happen daily to even the most tech-savvy individuals. It’s important to be realistic and understand the threats to your privacy.
A VPN is a layer of security that protects your data from malicious actors and entities that may want to sell that data, such as your ISP. In the situation described above, a VPN would prevent your sensitive details from being readable by the network spy. However, a VPN doesn’t stop every type of threat you may face online.
While some VPN services claim to protect you against malware and phishing sites, standalone antivirus software does a better job. To protect against account takeovers from password leaks, we strongly recommend using a password manager to create strong, unique passwords for every site you use. We also recommend enabling multi-factor authentication wherever it's available. VPNs make it harder for you to be tracked online, but advertisers and snoopers are not defeated so easily. Advertisers can still read and track data saved to websites or in your browser. In addition to a VPN, you can better act to protect your data by reading and understanding the privacy policies of Android and your browser of choice.
VPNs improve your online anonymity, but it doesn't remove traces of your activity from saved logins, protect you from malware, or secure your passwords. It is also key to pick a trustworthy VPN; otherwise, it could have as much insight into your online activity as your ISP. When we review VPNs, we read through privacy policies and interview company representatives to understand their efforts to protect customers. It also helps if the VPN company has undergone a third-party audit of its privacy policy and security measures. However, where we draw the line may differ from where you do. Pick a VPN that you feel comfortable trusting with your personal information.
Do Android VPNs Work With Netflix?
Some do, but the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. You can use a VPN for location spoofing to access regional Netflix catalogs or your home catalog when traveling abroad. Aside from streaming access, journalists and activists have used this capability to get around restrictive internet controls imposed by various governments.
That said, video streaming services and VPNs have been locked in a never-ending battle as both services have grown in popularity. Once a VPN finds a new way around a block, the streaming service employs a fresh method to thwart that access. This can be a difficult field to navigate as a user of both services. We have our most reliable picks for services like Netflix, but their policies and methods have been known to change fast. You could find a reliable VPN you’ve used for years run into a block one day.
We've compiled our testing of Netflix compatibility across many different VPN services, which you can see below:
It is best to proceed cautiously and try a VPN’s free trial or tier before you lock in a lengthy subscription. If you primarily use your VPN to access streaming services, it may even be best to stick with a monthly subscription.
Recommended by Our Editors
Which Free VPN Is Best for Android?
Regardless of platform, price is a key concern. Most VPNs average out around $10 for a monthly subscription. It’s normal for that figure to fluctuate a couple of dollars in either direction, but you should be wary of paying more than that without adequate justification. Likewise, be cautious of deals that appear too good to be true. 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.
Proton VPN is the only service without data restrictions, making it the only genuinely free VPN on our list. However, the free tier limits your server location to five random countries, and you can only use the free VPN service on one device at a time.
Chris Stobing & Kim Key contributed to this article.
