If you use an Android smartphone or tablet and don’t like the idea of your device or apps giving away your location information all the time, you might want to consider using a VPN or virtual private network. Will a VPN completely eliminate all your privacy concerns on your mobile device? Of course not. But the best Android VPN can give you device-wide protection so that Google can’t see your geographic location, your ISP can’t see your app usage or browsing activity, and owners of your other apps I won’t know what you’re doing outside their app. And that kind of protection is enough to keep you from being low-hanging fruit in an age of constant surveillance and rapidly growing data breaches.
According to the latest Android-specific trend reports AfL downloads accounted for roughly 75% of mobile VPN growth over the past few years. More than 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded worldwide in just 12 months between 2019 and 2020, according to research firm Top10VPN. This is about 54% more than a year ago. Although free services accounted for 84% of all mobile VPN downloads, we strongly recommend that you use a tried and true paid VPN and avoid using a free Android VPN whenever possible. It is not about promoting premium services; it’s about security. In the murky world of VPNs, you really do get what you pay for.
However, if you’re trying to save money or just need a temporary VPN on your Android device, we suggest you test one of Our recommended VPN providers with a 30-day money-back guarantee. While it’s not the same as a forever free VPN, most premium VPN providers are more than willing to provide you with a sample of their wares to prove that their service is worthy of a long-term subscription.
Below, you’ll find the best Android VPN options we’ve tested. While CNET’s directory of the best VPN services ranks these apps and others according to how well they stood up during the testing and evaluation process, this list of the best Android VPNs focuses specifically on each VPN service provider’s mobile offerings. CNET regularly tests and rates new VPN apps — so be sure to check back here to get up to speed when new contenders emerge.
Read more: You must use a VPN on your phone. Here’s how to set it up in under 10 minutes
saving 49% off with 12-month plan (+3 months free)The last tests No leaks detected, 2% speed loss in spring 2022 testsThe network Over 3000 servers in 160 locations in 94 countriesjurisdiction British Virgin Islands
Despite struggling with major turmoil towards the end of 2021, ExpressVPN won our Editors’ Choice award for Best VPN in 2022. One of the two largest providers globally, the VPN titan has been in business since 2009 and again aggressively raised the industry bar for service transparency this year.
saving $2.49/month with 24 month plan (+2 months free)The last tests Zero data leakage and 19% internet speed loss in Fall 2022 testsThe network Over 3,200 in 99 countriesjurisdiction Netherlands
Surfshark boasts an impressive set of privacy and security features, unlimited simultaneous connections, easy-to-use interface, and extensive global network. And it’s still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. That’s what helped Surfshark win CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best Value VPN in 2022.
saving 59% off with 24-month plan (+ 3 additional months)The last tests No leaks detected, 13% speed loss in summer 2022 testsThe network Over 5,600 servers in 84 locations in 59 countriesjurisdiction Panama
NordVPN is one of the most popular brands in the VPN field. Part of that brand recognition is based on its distinctive and straightforward design. Nord’s Android app is just as easy to interact with as its desktop VPN client, with a similar design. It presents no learning curve for a first-time user looking to switch from desktop to mobile.
saving 66% off with the 12-month planThe last tests DNS leaks detected, 58% speed loss in Spring 2022 testsThe network Over 2000 servers in 75 locations in 52 countriesjurisdiction United States
A big win for IPVanish is its fun and configurable interface, which makes it an ideal client for those interested in learning how to understand what a VPN does under the hood. With its newly redesigned Android app, IPVanish manages to pack the same extensive suite of digital bells and whistles into a refreshingly clean mobile interface to impressive effect.
Android VPN FAQ
What is the best Android VPN right now?
Thanks to its impressive performance, speed and usability, ExpressVPN is CNET’s current top pick for best Android VPN. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the fastest of all the VPN options right now. Surfshark it’s a close second among Android VPN choices and offers a simple and effective app. NordVPN, the third best option is a heavy hitter that costs more than Surfshark but less than Express. While it doesn’t offer as many server locations as others, NordVPN’s network is constantly getting faster and more secure, and it’s easily the most reliable service we’ve tested. Rounding out the set, IPVanish it’s a solid choice for beginners.
A mobile VPN is a VPN that is optimized for use on mobile devices. The best VPN providers we’ve tested all offer great mobile apps that work well on Android and iOS devices. Using a mobile VPN can also deliver faster speeds than desktop VPNs as they generally require less processing power and have a smaller memory footprint. Check out CNET’s other mobile-specific VPN guides below for more information on mobile VPNs. They are regularly updated with new information as we continue to test VPNs, so check back often.
What is the best free VPN?
We do not recommend using a free VPN because they are dangerous to use. Free VPNs usually make money by selling user data, and some have even been found to be loaded with malware. Additionally, free VPNs are often slow, impose usage and data limits, offer a minimal selection of servers, and are generally less secure than paid VPNs. Check out CNET’s list of the cheapest VPNs if you want to find a budget-friendly premium VPN.
Can you get into trouble for using a VPN?
Unless you’re in a country like China or Iran where VPN use is banned or illegal, you don’t have to worry about getting into any legal trouble just for using a VPN. In most countries, using a VPN is perfectly legal. But if you are in a country where VPN usage is restricted, you will have to connect to a shady server. Doing this will disguise your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS internet traffic, so the authorities won’t know you’re using a VPN in the first place.
What are the downsides of using a mobile VPN?
Using a mobile VPN has a number of disadvantages, but they depend on a few key factors: your usual geographic location, your choice of VPN provider, the quality of your phone’s mobile service, and the relative processing speed of your phone.
- Slower speeds: VPNs can slow your typical browsing speed down to half of their typical pace. However, we’ve speed tested the VPNs we recommend and update them routinely so you can find the fastest speeds if you’re worried about a slowdown. Check out our list of the fastest VPNs we could find.
- Broken links: If you live in an area with poor mobile data speeds or poor internet service connection quality, you’ll notice that a VPN can cause you to drop your internet connection more often. You can prevent this by switching from a UDP-based protocol (like Wireguard, used by Surfshark or NordLynx by NordVPN) to a TCP-based protocol. The tradeoff is that UDP is generally faster, while TCP is generally more stable. If you are an ExpressVPN user, we recommend switching to Lightway in the settings menu. It’s a custom encryption protocol that combines UDP speed with TCP stability for a much smoother experience.
- Some sites will be inaccessible: Some sites rely on your IP address to verify your identity and allow you to use their services. A VPN hides your IP address. If those sites can’t identify you, they may not let you in. Other sites, such as Netflix, often fight VPN user access and will block you from accessing their services if they detect your VPN. Few VPNs are able to bypass the Netflix block, but we test each VPN for streaming ability and report the results in our full reviews. So if mobile streaming is important to you, be sure to check out the full review before committing to a subscription.
What does my ISP see when I’m connected to my VPN?
Your ISP will see that you’re connected to a VPN, but won’t be able to see any of your internet activity like the websites you visit or your browsing history since your traffic is encrypted. It will also look at things like the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting through, the timestamps of when you connected, and the amount of data transmitted. You can connect to an obfuscated server, if provided by your VPN, to hide the use of the VPN from your ISP.
Can a mobile VPN make me completely anonymous online?
No VPN can make you completely anonymous online. There seems to be a common misconception that VPNs can make you anonymous, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security when using a VPN. Anonymity online is virtually impossible to achieve, given the size of the average person’s digital footprint. VPNs are great for protecting your privacy and keeping your data safe from online snoopers, but you can’t rely on your VPN to give you absolute anonymity online — even if it claims it can.
