Best Android VPN for 2024
Protect your privacy on your mobile device with one of the best VPNs for Android.
Factors to consider in a VPN for Android
Internet speed loss
Privacy
Server network
Device support
Streaming capabilities
Cost
Best VPN Service Overall
ExpressVPN
Best Cheap VPN
Surfshark
Best VPN for Speed
NordVPN
Factors to consider in a VPN for Android
Internet speed loss
Privacy
Server network
Device support
Streaming capabilities
Cost
What's the best VPN for Android right now?
ExpressVPN is currently CNET's top pick for the best Android VPN, thanks to the outstanding performance of its Android app, along with its commitment to privacy and transparency. The Android app is uncluttered, easy to use and connects to VPN servers immediately. It's the best option for boosting your privacy and streaming content on the go, although it's admittedly more expensive than others on this list.
Surfshark is a solid wallet-friendly VPN that doesn't break the bank or cut corners on features. Despite its comparatively affordable price, Surfshark boasts a large server network, fast internet speed allowances and excellent streaming service unblocking capabilities.
NordVPN is the fastest VPN we tested, and an outstanding choice for Android phones and tablets if you want to stream movies and TV shows in 4K or play online mobile games.
ExpressVPN | Surfshark | NordVPN | |
Price | $13 per month, $60 for six months or $100 for a year | $15 per month, $45 the first year or $60 for the first two years (one- and two-year plans renew at $60 per year) | $13 per month, $60 for a year or $83 for two years (one- and two-year plans auto-renew at $100 a year) |
Server network | 3,000-plus servers in 105 countries | 3,200-plus servers in 100 countries | 6,400-plus servers in 111 countries |
Average internet speed loss | 25% | 17% | 11% |
Simultaneous connections | 8 | Unlimited | 10 |
Supported platforms | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers | Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, iOS, iPadOS, Apple TV, Fire TV, Web browsers, Routers |
About Android VPNs
A virtual private network masks your public IP address, making it look like you're in another city, state or even country. With a VPN enabled, your browsing activity remains hidden from apps, websites and your internet service provider (ISP). For instance, if you're in New York City but connected to a London VPN server, apps like Netflix and websites think you're in the UK rather than NYC.
A mobile VPN lets you bypass wireless carrier video throttling limits, stream region-restricted content like foreign Netflix libraries or improve your privacy while web browsing on your Android phone or tablet. We selected the best VPNs for Android by evaluating each of virtual private network providers based on their overall performance on Android mobile devices through rigorous hands-on testing. In addition to Android, we also considered the app experience on other devices, like Windows, MacOS and Linux PCs, iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Amazon Fire TV streamers and Android TV boxes. To assess each VPN, we ran over 250 individual internet speed tests per VPN provider, streamed several hours of videos from apps like Netflix, used each app on Android handsets and pored over privacy policies.
How to choose the right VPN: Factors to consider in an Android VPN
With so many Android VPN apps available, it can be difficult to choose the right solution. Based on our extensive research and hands-on testing of VPNs over the years, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN:
Privacy
The primary consideration for any VPN should be privacy. If your Android VPN is unable to sufficiently protect your online privacy, then your VPN is useless. At a minimum, your VPN should employ industry standard AES 256-bit encryption over the OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols, or ChaCha20 over WireGuard. You'll also want basic privacy protections like a kill switch (which cuts off your internet connection completely in the event of an unexpected VPN disconnection), DNS leak protection (to hide your public IP address) and a no-logs policy (proving that your VPN provider isn't recording the websites you visit or apps you use while you're connected to a VPN server). Power users may appreciate advanced features like split tunneling, which lets you use a VPN for some traffic but not others -- for instance, you can route your Chrome web browser through a VPN for streaming Netflix in a browser, while downloading a game from Steam without a VPN connection for faster speeds, all on the same computer.
For critical privacy needs -- like if you're an investigative journalist, asylum-seeker, political activist or concerned torrent-user -- you'll also want a VPN provider that is based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation and has a RAM-only server architecture. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities for additional encryption, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections which encrypt your data more than a single VPN server. Also, look for a VPN that undergoes regular third-party security audits, as audits can help bolster trust in the VPN's ability to protect its users' privacy.
Speed
The speed of your VPN can have a major effect on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming and general web browsing. To keep things running as smoothly as possible, you'll want to look for a VPN that will have as minimal an impact on your regular internet speeds as possible. The fastest VPNs we've tested only drop your internet download speeds by an average of 25% of loss, with the snappiest VPNs delivering a lightning-quick less than 15% average internet download speed loss.
Usability
A good Android VPN should run smoothly and be easy to use regardless of your technical expertise. It should have all of the features you need easily accessible with a tap of your finger. Many Android VPN apps also include an easy way to get in touch with support directly from the device, which can be helpful if you need assistance on the go. Your Android VPN should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably from wherever you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from various regions.
Cost
VPN pricing varies greatly from provider to provider, so if you're on a budget, you may want to consider the cost and overall value of your Android VPN. Typically, you can expect to spend about $5 to $13 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where prices can range from roughly $30 to $100 per year. Be careful with free VPNs because you may end up putting your privacy at risk instead of protecting it. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends. Most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee that can be anywhere from a week to 45 days. You can also get a seven-day free trial with many VPNs when you sign up through the Play Store. So you'll most likely have options to try various Android VPNs risk-free before you decide whether to fully invest in one.
How we test Android VPNs
In evaluating the best VPNs for Android, we run through the features offered on each VPN's Android app and we test them to see how they stack up to similar features offered by other VPN providers. We evaluate the look and feel of the app and the overall usability of the software and we test to see how easy it is to connect to a server and how easy it is to search for and find a specific server to connect to. Additionally, we test the performance and reliability of the VPN connection on each of the protocols available in the provider's Android app. Because privacy is paramount, we test for leaks and assess each service's kill switch functionality to ensure it's working as it should. To gain a sense of speed loss, we run over 250 individual internet speed tests per provider. We test each VPN's ability to circumvent geographical restrictions, and we evaluate each provider's pricing to determine the service's overall value.
Other VPNs we tested
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is a Swiss-based open-source VPN provider that is staunchly committed to user privacy. Proton VPN's Android app is easy to use and includes a kill switch that is always on by default and a VPN Accelerator feature that can boost your VPN speeds. If you're looking for a free VPN, Proton is the only one that CNET recommends.
Proton VPN's free tier doesn't include access to all of the 6,500-plus servers spread across 112 countries that you can hop onto with its premium tier, but its ad-blocker tool or advanced privacy features like its Secure Core servers or Tor Over VPN function, there are no usage limits and the encryption, obfuscation and leak protection are the same for free users as they are for paid users. Premium plans are priced at $10 per month or $60 for your first year or $108 for two years (the one- and two-year plans renew at $80 annually), with a 30-day money-back guarantee included.
IPVanish
A big win for IPVanish is its fun, configurable interface, which makes it an ideal client for those who are interested in learning how to understand what a VPN does under the hood. In its Android app, IPVanish manages to pack the same extensive suite of digital knobs and dials into a refreshingly clean mobile interface to impressive effect. If you want to do some precision tuning to your VPN connection, IPVanish is a solid bet. With a bevy of switches controlling things like the kill switch, split tunneling, VPN protocol and LAN connection allowance, IPVanish is an app for the methodical tech tweaker who enjoys having exact control over their mobile internet traffic. Its leisurely 44% average speed loss and comparatively small server network of just 2,400-plus servers spread across only 55 countries lag significantly behind the competition.
IPVanish costs $13 per month, $40 for the first year or $53 for the first two years combined (then $90 annually for the one- and two-year plans). At the price, it's hard to recommend considering its small server fleet and sluggish speeds. The provider offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, but only if you get the yearly plan -- which could be a disappointment to anyone who bought a monthly subscription and decided they didn't like the service.