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The Best VPN Apps for Android
Simon Migliano
Simon Migliano is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times and more. Read full bio
The overall best VPN for Android is ExpressVPN, with a superb 9.4/10 test rating. Its Android app is fast, secure, and doesn’t log identifying data. It also has an .apk file for installation outside the Google Play Store. Proton VPN is our preferred free alternative, with unlimited data and no registration, but you can’t choose a specific VPN server location.
There are hundreds of Android VPNs on the Play Store and .apk websites, but many are unsafe to use.
Almost 90% of free Android VPNs we tested had data leaks and 71% shared data with third parties. 53% of paid Android VPNs leaked data but it was typically less serious.
After putting 61 VPNs to the test with Android 14.0, we found two 100% safe free apps and three excellent paid ones. They won’t leak your IP address, log your internet activity, or ask for unnecessary permissions.
Summary: The Best VPNs for Android
Based on our rigorous tests, these five VPNs are the best for use on Android smartphones:
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
Android VPNs Investigated
150
Total Hours of Testing
30,000+
Test Devices
Pixel 7 Pro & Samsung Galaxy S9
Top Android VPNs Compared
Here’s a quick summary of the best VPNs for Android, comparing download speeds, privacy policies, monthly data caps, and more.
We used ExpressVPN to watch geo-restricted content on US Netflix, Disney+, Max and more on mobile. It’s also effective for bypassing stricter web restrictions in countries like Turkey and India.
User-friendly & Secure Android App
Simply install the app on Android, log in and tap the large power button to connect to a nearby server. You’ll know when you’re connected when the app turns from red to green.
At the bottom there are multiple tabs for easy navigation between the VPN, password manager, helpful guides, and app settings. The VPN launches and connects in seconds, making it our VPN of choice when traveling with your phone.
ExpressVPN has loads of features to keep you safe online, including: an ad blocker, malicious website blocker, adult website blocker, split tunneling, auto-connect, and a custom Android kill switch.
The app is extremely secure, with open-source software to improve transparency. It uses virtually unbreakable AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption and trusted VPN protocols like OpenVPN and Lightway.
ExpressVPN is a trustworthy VPN service that doesn’t log your IP address, browsing activity, or device information. It also doesn’t share your data with third-party advertisers, like so many other Android VPNs do.
ExpressVPN server list on iOS (left) and Android (right).
If you want to try it out risk-free, ExpressVPN offers a 7-day free trial on Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Excellent for Streaming & Torrenting
When it comes to streaming, ExpressVPN is the unrivalled champion among VPNs. The VPN unblocks 95% of streaming platforms we’ve tested it with, including Netflix, Disney+, Hotstar, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.
In total, it can unblock 18 Netflix regional libraries, giving you access to a huge selection of TV shows and movies. In each streaming test, ExpressVPN assigned us a server that worked with that country’s streaming services.
Fast Connections Speeds
Using a Samsung Galaxy S9, we connected to an ExpressVPN server in just one second. This is faster than any other Android VPN we tested.
Connected to a local ExpressVPN server, we experienced minimal 3% download speed loss. Even on long distances, ExpressVPN’s download speeds hold up against its competitors.
ExpressVPN is reliable and fast enough for full HD streaming and online mobile games, like PUBG and COD Mobile.
NordVPN is a high-quality VPN app that lets you stream buffer-free and protect your privacy on Android. The VPN has secure AES-256 encryption and features trusted VPN protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard.
Android App Full of Privacy Features
Compared to ExpressVPN, NordVPN has a lot more elements in the Android app. There’s a map, quick connect button, devices tab, and specialty servers on the home screen.
To connect to a VPN server, simply drag up the server menu and tap on a country. Unlike most Android VPNs, NordVPN doesn’t have a specific connect button (though there is a quick connect button).
NordVPN offers specialized double VPN, P2P, and obfuscated servers on Android.
Settings are tucked away in the Profile tab. You can use auto-connect, split tunneling, Threat protection, tapjacking protection, multifactor authentication, and even switch between light or dark mode.
Disappointingly, NordVPN doesn’t offer a custom kill switch for Android, like ExpressVPN and Surfshark do. But there is Android’s native kill switch you can use.
Beyond extra features, you can choose between the lightweight Nordlynx protocol (WireGuard) for faster speeds and trustworthy OpenVPN for optimum privacy — both with highest encryption standards.
What makes NordVPN stand out most is its exceptionally fast global speeds. On average, our download speed dropped by only 5% on local connections.
This means if you want to watch US Netflix from Europe, or Japanese Netflix from the US, you can expect a much smoother experience than from most other VPN services, even when streaming in HD.
Unblocks 9 Netflix libraries, Hulu, Disney+ & more
Android-exclusive GPS spoofing tool & kill switch
.apk file for sideloading
Delayed connections
Kill switch not enabled by default
Confusing Android app layout
Pricing Plans
$15.45/mo
$2.99/mo over 16 months
$1.99/mo over 28 months
Countries with Servers
100
Compatible with
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Router
Chrome
Surfshark is the most affordable VPN we recommend for Android. It also offers a 7-day free trial if you sign up via Android.
While it doesn’t unblock as many streaming services as NordVPN or ExpressVPN, Surfshark still unblocks an impressive 9 Netflix libraries, and offers a host of Android-specific features — like GPS spoofing and small packet mode.
Cluttered App But Amazing Android-Specific Features
Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Android, but we found the app to be cluttered and slightly overwhelming for a beginner.
You can connect in seconds using the auto-connect button, select a recommended server location, or go through to the server list yourself for more locations. Once connected, you’ll be prompted to turn off battery optimization as it can slow down your connection, which is a nice touch.
There’s a ton of technical features like auto-connect, an ad, tracker, and malware blocker, a custom kill switch, split tunneling, rotating IP, and a small packet mode for increased compatibility with mobile networks.
Surfshark’s unique selling point is its Override GPS location feature. This spoofs your GPS location, preventing apps from detecting your real location, which is great for accessing geo-blocked streaming services. Not even ExpressVPN or NordVPN offer this feature.
Surfshark lets you override your device’s GPS to match your VPN location.
Surfshark also offers an Alternative ID feature on Android, which generates a random name, address, and email for anonymous online browsing. It comes up with a random country, state, city, and even postal code details — which is a pretty unique feature among VPNs.
Affordable VPN for Streaming Netflix
Surfshark only costs $1.99 per month on a two-year subscription. This is significantly less than ExpressVPN and NordVPN ($4.99 and $2.99 per month respectively).
With its servers and fast speeds, you can watch content from 9 Netflix libraries:
Brazil
Canada
France
India
Italy
Mexico
Singapore
UK
US
Surfshark VPN also works with Disney+, Hotstar, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video.
Slower than Competitors
Compared to lightning-fast VPNs like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, Surfshark does slightly struggle to keep up. This is most evident with the time it takes to actually connect to a server.
Connected to a local server, we measured 5% speed loss, which is still fast enough for HD streaming and lag-free online gaming — provided your internet speeds are fast enough.
Doesn't work with US Netflix Disney+, Max or BBC iPlayer
No custom kill switch
Paywalls advanced features
Torrenting not allowed
Data Cap
Unlimited
Countries with Servers
5
Compatible with
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Amazon Fire TV
Android TV
Apple TV
Router
Chrome
Proton VPN Free is the best safe and 100% free Android VPN despite its limitations because there are so few safe and effective free VPN competitors. It doesn’t require you to register, has extremely fast speeds, advanced technical features, and a privacy-friendly logging policy.
It has 5 free server locations (the US, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the Netherlands), but it doesn’t let you choose a server, instead it automatically selects your closest free server.
In addition, it doesn’t work to unblock streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Hulu.
Secure & Private Free Android VPN
Unlike other free Android VPNs, Proton VPN takes your privacy very seriously and doesn’t collect any information that could compromise user anonymity.
All connections are secured with strong AES-256 or ChaCha20 encryption, and you have secure protocols (WireGuard and OpenVPN) to choose from.
The app is also completely open-source, meaning its code is open for all to scrutinize and find bugs. The security of its Android app has been proven in multiple independent audits.
User-Friendly Android App
Proton VPN Free is extremely quick and easy to set up. Simply install the app from the Play Store and tap on “Continue as guest” to use the VPN without registering.
Proton’s Android app is thankfully much simpler and more intuitive than its desktop counterparts. The home screen has three tabs, letting you easily switch between a server list, a map, and your profile.
However, we don’t like that the connect button is Proton VPN’s logo. Most VPNs go with a simple button labeled ‘connect’, which is much more intuitive. That’s the only major issue we have with the app’s design.
Proton VPN Free doesn’t let you choose a server location on Android.
Doesn't Let You Choose Server Location
As with most free VPNs, Proton VPN imposes restrictions to encourage users to upgrade to its paid service.
You’re limited to 200 servers in only 5 countries. Even worse, you can’t select a server location, Proton VPN Free only lets you connect to your closest free server.
Features like split tunneling, NetShield (ad, tracker, and malware blocker), and VPN accelerator are also annoyingly paywalled.
And despite its fast speeds, the VPN doesn’t work for streaming or torrenting. In our Android tests, it didn’t unblock any Netflix libraries, Disney+, Hotstar, or any other popular streaming platforms. All torrenting traffic is completely blocked on the VPN’s free servers.
Windscribe Free offers lots more server locations than Proton VPN Free and unblocks many more streaming services, but it comes with a monthly data cap.
With Windscribe Free, we managed to stream BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Max, and more on mobile. There’s also a huge amount of technical features available to free Android users.
Intuitive App with Tons of Extra Features
Windscribe’s mobile apps are simple and easy to use. Tap on the large connection button to connect to a nearby server. The flag of the country you’ve chosen will display in the background.
The free US and Canada servers are conveniently placed at the top of the list, but the rest of the free servers are annoyingly buried in the server list. We would prefer it if they were grouped together.
Windscribe Free provides servers in 10 countries.
The VPN uses IKEv2 by default on Android, which is a fast protocol built for switching between cellular data and WiFi seamlessly. However, it’s not the safest option, so we would prefer Windscribe default to WireGuard or OpenVPN, with the option to switch to IKEv2 in settings.
In our testing, we occasionally got pop-up prompts to invite friends for an additional free 1GB per month, which got annoying over time, but it’s a good way to get additional free data.
Other than that, Windscribe’s Android app has some great benefits. It has a huge amount of technical features which are all available on the free tier.
Settings are split into three main categories. In appearance, you can pick light or dark mode, set custom images to show you’re connected to the VPN, and even adjust haptic feedback.
In connection settings, there’s split tunneling, auto-connect, packet size adjuster, GPS spoofing, and much more. There’s also an IP blocker (called R.O.B.E.R.T) that can block websites known for ads and trackers, social networks, porn, gambling, clickbait, or custom websites you choose.
Free Servers in 10 Countries
Windscribe Free’s standout feature is its ability to unblock multiple Netflix regions (including the UK and France) and many more streaming platforms.
This is thanks to its generous free server network spanning: Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, the UK and the US.
Unlike Proton VPN Free, which doesn’t let you choose a server location, Windscribe Free lets you switch between these server locations as much as you like.
The ability to unblock streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video, and Hulu, is incredibly rare among free VPNs.
It’s important to note it can’t unblock as many streaming services as paid VPNs. Windscribe Free fails to stream Hotstar India and US Netflix. We also did notice some buffering when streaming live content, which wouldn’t have happened if we paid for a subscription.
10GB Data Cap & Chatbot Support
Unlike paid VPNs, free VPNs usually enforce a restrictive monthly data cap. Windscribe Free users can only use 10GB of data per month using the service.
It’s also slower than its competitors — both paid and free. You’ll find the free VPN is prone to occasional buffering when streaming.
Windscribe’s customer support also needs improving. It doesn’t offer human live chat support — just a chatbot called Garry.
In our research, we were disappointed to find Windscribe hosts their official .apk on APKMirror — a third-party website known for unsafe downloads potentially infected with malware.
Most trustworthy VPNs host .apk files on their official website or GitHub, so customers can avoid potentially dangerous imitation apps on .apk websites.
The truth about free Android VPNs is more alarming than most users realize. Millions of people rely on these servers, yet many are fraught with significant risks and vulnerabilities.
While the benefits of a free VPN is alluring, the truth is that many free Android VPNs cannot be trusted with your sensitive data. Here’s why:
Logging Practices: Many free Android VPNs track your IP address, web activity, and internet usage, compromising your privacy.
Data Selling: Some free VPNs monetize by selling your personal information such as your location or purchase history to advertisers or even reporting your activities to government agencies.
Security Flaws: Some free Android VPN include malware, allowing attackers to remotely access your sensitive data.
We tested 100 free Android VPN apps and found that many of these VPNs send your personal data directly to third parties like Bytedance and Yandex.
Free Android VPNs to Avoid
In our testing process, we came across several VPNs that are simply too dangerous to install on your Android.
Some of these VPNs failed to encrypt our traffic, and others log sensitive information that can be used to identify users.
VPN Service
Reasons to Avoid
Turbo VPN
Business ties to mainland China
Excessive in-app advertising
Throttles internet connection
Snap VPN
Logs your ISP, bandwidth usage, and VPN server location used
Ties to mainland China
Ridiculous amount of in-app advertising
Thunder VPN
Logs your real IP address
Uses insecure SSL protocol
No Android kill switch
SuperVPN
Logs your real IP address
Business ties to mainland China
Intrusive unskippable ads
Hola VPN
Removed from Play Store due to malware
Excessive data logging
Data sharing partnerships
Doesn’t encrypt your connection
How We Test VPNs for Android
To make our recommendations, we tested 61 VPNs in six different categories, rating each category out of 10. We then combine these ratings to calculate an overall rating for Android.
Use the table below to see how the top free and paid VPNs for Android performed in our key testing categories:
Read on for the specifics on how we assess these criteria, as well as our recommended standards for each one:
1. Android App (20% of Overall Rating)
Test Conducted: We personally tested each VPN’s Android app and recorded our experience with it. We assess the installation process, ease of use, and Android-specific features, such as GPS spoofing and tapjacking features.
Why It’s Important: A well-designed app makes for a seamless VPN experience.
Optimal Results: A well-designed mobile app that offers tailored features for Android.
2. Speed (20% of Overall Rating)
Test Conducted: Performed in-house speed tests to assess each VPN’s download and upload speeds, as well as ping times.
Why It’s Important: Fast connections allow you to browse, download, and stream content at maximum resolution, no matter whether you’re using WiFi or cellular data.
Optimal Result: Less than 10% download speed loss when connected to a local server.
3. Privacy & Logging Policy (20% of Overall Rating)
Tests Conducted: We read each VPN’s privacy policy and noted what data they collect and for how long. We also take into account whether VPNs use diskless servers and a VPN’s jurisdiction.
Why It’s Important: Some free Android VPNs are subsidized through advertising and data sharing partnership. They collect sensitive data, such as your IP address, timestamps, and websites you visit, which can be used to identify a user.
Optimal Result: No-logs policy confirmed by real-world events, transparent ownership, privacy-friendly jurisdiction, and diskless servers.
4. Security & Technical Features (20% of Overall Rating)
Tests Conducted: We tested each VPN for security features, noting whether they offer WireGuard or OpenVPN protocols and ChaCha20 or AES-256 encryption on Android. We also tested each VPN’s kill switch, IP leak blocking with a mix of in-house and third-party tools.
Why It’s Important: Many VPNs in the Play Store are actually insecure proxies that don’t provide encryption. Robust security is essential for establishing an encrypted VPN connection and preventing the monitoring of your activity. Subpar security measures could expose you to data breaches and cyberattacks.
Optimal Result: A VPN with WireGuard or OpenVPN protocols, strong data encryption, an effective kill switch, and no known vulnerabilities.
5. Streaming (10% of Overall Rating)
Test Conducted: We tested each VPN with 97 global streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hotstar and more. We continually conduct these tests to determine a VPN’s reliability with any given streaming platform.
Why It’s Important: Our favorite VPNs work with geo-restricted streaming services, providing you access to movies and TV you otherwise wouldn’t be able to watch.
Optimal Results: A VPN that consistently bypasses geo-blocks on more than 10 Netflix libraries, Max, JioCinema, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more.
6. Torrenting (10% of Overall Rating)
Test Conducted: We tested each VPN with Libretorrent on a Samsung Galaxy S9 and qBittorrent on a PC to determine which has the fastest bitrate. We also tested each VPN’s kill switch and noted whether VPNs offer P2P servers across their network.
Why It’s Important: Lots of mobile torrenting apps fall short compared to their PC alternatives. Data caps and throttled speeds lead to bad experiences torrenting on mobile.
Optimal Results: A VPN with an average bitrate of at least 8MiB/s, an effective kill switch, private logging policy, and safe jurisdiction.
Data Cap Penalty
Nearly all free VPN services implement a data cap. As with most limitations on free VPNs, this is used to encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription.
The best free VPNs offer 10GB a month, or 500MB a day for free. This adds up to enough for light streaming throughout the month or a shorter high-intensity period of streaming.
We recommend paid Android VPNs that come with unlimited data. We also look for services that don’t throttle or limit certain types of traffic, such as P2P.
We apply a penalty to the VPN’s overall rating for Android based on its data cap:
Unlimited bandwidth: No deduction to the overall rating
10GB per month: -20% to the overall rating
500MB per day: -25% to the overall rating
5GB per month: -30% to the overall rating
1GB or 2GB per month: -35% to the overall rating
200MB per day: -40% to the overall rating
500MB per month: -50% to the overall rating
FAQs
Is There a Free Android VPN without Registration?
Proton VPN Free and Hotspot Shield Basic are the only free VPNs with no registration we’ve reviewed. Hotspot Shield logs your real IP address, so we recommend opting for the safer of these two – Proton VPN.
Most free Android VPNs require you to create an account before using the app, including Proton VPN Free and Windscribe Free. Thankfully they don’t require any payment details at all, but you will need to enter an email, username, and password.
Can I Use a Paid Android VPN for Free?
If you want to use a paid VPN on your Android device for free, there are a few ways you can do this without spending a cent.
You can also take advantage of the risk-free money-back guarantees paid VPNs offer. You can use them without restrictions for up to 45 days, and then get your money back.
Likewise, you will have to subscribe and provide payment details, but you will receive your refund within a few days. Remember to cancel before the refund period is up, though.