If you’re an Android user and don’t like the idea of your phone or apps giving out your geolocation information 24 hours a day, using a VPN is a good idea. Will a virtual private network totally eliminate all your privacy concerns when using a mobile device? Definitely not. But the best Android VPN can give you device-wide protection so your ISP can’t see your app usage or browsing activity, Google can’t see your geo-location, and owners of your other applications won’t know what you’re doing outside their application. And that kind of protection is enough to keep you from being a low hanging fruit in an age of constant surveillance and rapidly increasing data breaches.
Android specific vpn downloads accounted for about 75% of the surge in mobile VPNs over the past few years, according to the latest trend reports. More than 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded worldwide in just 12 months between 2019 and 2020, according to research company Top10VPN. This is 54% more than the previous year. Although free VPN services account for 84% of all mobile VPN downloads, we strongly recommend that you avoid using a free Android VPN and instead opt for a trusted paid VPN from one of our recommended providers. It’s not about promoting premium services; it is a matter of security. In the murky world of VPNs, you really get what you pay for.
If you’re on a budget and trying to save money or just need a temporary VPN on your Android device, we suggest you try one of the following. our recommended VPN providers with a 30-day money-back guarantee. While not the same as a permanently free VPN, most premium VPN providers are more than willing to give you a sample of their products to prove that their service is worthy of a long-distance subscription.
Check out the best Android VPN options we’ve tested. While CNET directory of the best VPN services Ranks these apps and others by how well they held up during the testing and review process, this list of the best Android VPNs focuses specifically on each VPN service provider’s mobile offerings. CNET regularly tests and evaluates new VPN apps – so be sure to check back here to keep up to date with new competitors emerging.
Learn more: You must use a VPN on your phone. Here’s how to set it up in less than 10 minutes
Savings 49% off with the 12 month plan (+3 months free)Last tests No leaks detected, 2% speed loss in Spring 2022 testingNetwork 3,000+ servers in 160 locations in 94 countriesJurisdiction British Virgin Islands
Despite major upheavals through the end of 2021, ExpressVPN won our Editor’s Choice Award for Best VPN of 2022. One of the two largest providers in the world, the VPN titan has been in business since 2009 and once again raised the industry bar for service transparency this year.
Savings $2.49/month with 24 month plan (+2 months free)Last tests No Data Leaks and 19% Internet Speed Loss in Fall 2022 TestingNetwork More than 3,200 in 99 countriesJurisdiction The Netherlands
Surfshark offers an impressive suite of privacy and security features, unlimited concurrent connections, an easy-to-use interface, and an extensive global network. And it’s still significantly cheaper than most of its competitors. It’s what helped Surfshark win CNET’s Editors’ Choice for Best VPN in 2022.
Savings 59% reduction with the 24 month plan (+ 3 additional months)Last tests No leaks detected, 13% speed loss in summer 2022 testingNetwork 5,600+ servers in 84 locations in 59 countriesJurisdiction Panama
NordVPN is one of the most recognized brands in the VPN field. Part of this brand’s recognition is its distinct and simple design. North application for Android is just as easy to interact with as its desktop VPN client, with a similar design. It poses no learning difficulties for a novice user who wants to switch from desktop to mobile.
Savings 66% off with a 12 month planLast tests DNS leaks detected, 58% speed loss in Spring 2022 testingNetwork 2,000+ servers across 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 who want to learn to understand what a VPN does under the hood. With its newly redesigned app For AndroidIPVanish manages to pack the same comprehensive suite of buttons and digital dials into a refreshingly clean mobile interface to impressive effect.
Android VPN FAQs
What is the best Android VPN right now?
Thanks to its impressive performance, speed and ease of use, ExpressVPN is CNET’s current top pick for best Android VPN. It’s not the cheapest, but it’s the fastest of all VPN options right now. Surfshark is a runner-up among Android VPN picks and offers a simple and effective app. NordVPN, the third best option, is a heavyweight that costs more than Surfshark but less than Express. Although it doesn’t offer as many server locations as others, NordVPN’s network is constantly getting faster and more secure, and is by far the most reliable service we’ve tested. To complete the group, IPVanish is a solid choice for beginners.
A mobile VPN is a VPN optimized for use on mobile devices. The best VPN providers we’ve tested all offer excellent mobile apps that work well on Android and iOS devices. Using a mobile VPN can also provide faster speeds than desktop VPNs because 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’re regularly updated with new information as we test VPNs, so check back often.
What is the best free VPN?
We do not recommend using a free VPN because using them is risky. Free VPNs typically make money selling user data, and some have even been found to be riddled with malware. Additionally, free VPNs are often slow, impose usage and data limits, offer minimal server selection, and are generally less secure than paid VPNs. Check out CNET’s list of the best cheap VPNs if you want to find a budget-friendly premium VPN.
Can you get in trouble 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 in 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 need to connect to an obfuscated server. This will disguise your VPN traffic as normal HTTPS internet traffic, so authorities won’t know you’re using a VPN in the first place.
What are the disadvantages of using a mobile VPN?
There are a few downsides to using a mobile VPN, 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 your phone’s relative processing speed.
- Slower speeds: VPNs can slow your usual browsing speeds to half of their normal rate. However, we’ve tested the speeds of the VPNs we recommend and update them regularly so you can find the fastest speeds if you’re worried about lag. Check out our list of the fastest VPNs we can find.
- Broken connections: If you live in an area with poor mobile data speed or internet service connection quality, you will 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 from NordVPN) to a TCP-based protocol. The trade-off is that UDP is generally faster, while TCP is generally more stable. If you’re an ExpressVPN user, we recommend switching to Lightway in the settings menu. It is a custom encryption protocol that combines UDP speed with TCP stability for a much more seamless 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 these sites cannot identify you, they may not let you in. Other sites like Netflix frequently 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 blockade, but we test every VPN for streaming ability and report the results in our comprehensive 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 are connected to a VPN, but they won’t be able to see any of your internet activity like websites you visit or browsing history since your traffic is encrypted. It will also see things like the IP address of the VPN server you’re connecting to, timestamps when you’re connected, and the amount of data transmitted. You can connect to an obfuscated server, if offered by your VPN, to hide your VPN usage from your ISP.
Can a mobile VPN make me totally anonymous online?
No VPN can make you totally anonymous online. There seems to be a common misconception that VPNs can make you anonymous, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security when using a VPN. Online anonymity is nearly 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 spies, but you can’t rely on your VPN to give you complete anonymity online, even if it claims to.
