Best VPN for Android

NordVPN is a good all-round provider, even if it can’t quite compete with the premium package offered by ExpressVPN. Downloads of up to 292Mbps on local connections make it one of the fastest options on the current market, and it’s also one of the only services that still reliably works with both Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

The Android app is simple and user-friendly but the software is unfortunately limited to the more popular platforms, however a generous connection limit means you can protect six devices simultaneously. Nord offers a strict zero-logs policy, but we were disappointed to see that some of the essential privacy features (e.g. the VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection) included in its other apps are not currently available for Android.

The quality of customer support is fantastic but responses to email and live chat can be slow. A bargain price of $2.99 per month on the three-year plan means that even though it falls a little short of ExpressVPN it’s still fantastic value for money, so if you’re looking for core performance on a budget, look no further than NordVPN.

IPVanish is a great choice for Kodi and torrenting due to fast speeds, a strict no-logs policy and a suite of advanced privacy tools. It’s incredibly quick on local connections, peaking at 345Mbps down and nearly 226Mbps up, but less consistent across longer distances. It does work with Netflix but fans of BBC iPlayer should look elsewhere.

The Android app is pretty slick in comparison to the desktop app, however there are more user-friendly options out there. IPVanish is a good shout if you like having lots of manual settings to fiddle with, and it’s pretty unusual to find a provider that’ll let you drill down to individual IP addresses. The VPN kill switch is missing on mobile, which is disappointing.

Customer support is improving and now has live chat. It’s fairly pricey but you can reduce the monthly cost by 46% to a reasonable $6.49 if you opt for the annual plan. The best VPN for Android-owners with a heavy P2P habit but also for those seeking privacy and excellent local performance.

CyberGhost is the best budget VPN on the current market. It has recently stepped up its speed game to compete with more premium rivals such as ExpressVPN and is even nipping at its heels with downloads of up to 417Mbps on local connections. Access to Netflix and other popular services through dedicated servers is another bonus.

CyberGhost’s innovative approach to its Android app means you can optimize your experience based on what you want to do online, which is an interesting approach. You can also protect up to a generous seven devices at once. Privacy-wise it’s a safe choice, with a strict zero-logs policy and first-party DNS servers, as well as a VPN kill switch.

Customer support is really helpful with friendly, well-informed agents and rich online resources. CyberGhost’s ridiculously low price of $3.50 per month on the 18-month plan make it very easy to overlook minor shortfalls, as it really is excellent value for money.

HideMyAss! offers a good level of performance over a huge global server network. Speeds are very quick indeed on local connections, peaking at over 306Mbps down and 211Mbps up, however internationally they’re less reliable. Access to Netflix and BBC iPlayer is possible through dedicated servers.

The Android app is sleek and modern, and great for those who want to just click-and-forget without fiddling with loads of settings. HMA! falls down when it comes to privacy however, with an intrusive logging policy where your connection details are stored for up to three months. It’ll do the job if you just want to hide your IP address though.

Customer support is incredibly quick and helpful with 24/7 live chat. You can save 75% by opting for the three-year plan, bringing the monthly cost down to $2.99, which is good value considering the vast server network and raw speed on offer.