Best Android VPN for 2024
Protect your privacy on your mobile device with one of the best VPNs for Android.
Best Overall VPN
ExpressVPN
Best Cheap VPN
Surfshark
Best VPN for Speed
NordVPN
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. That said, the other VPNs listed here are also excellent VPNs for Android if ExpressVPN isn't the best fit for you.
About Android VPNs
A virtual private network hides your public IP address, making it look like you're in another city, state or even country. Accordingly, your browsing activity is hidden from apps, websites and your internet service provider (ISP). A mobile VPN is a great option for bypassing wireless carrier video throttling, streaming region-restricted content like foreign Netflix libraries, traveling abroad or simply bolstering your privacy while web browsing. Because of their privacy benefits, a VPN is an excellent app to install on your Android phone or tablet.
To help you pick out the right VPN for your Android device, CNET put together a list of the best VPN services. We evaluated each of these providers based on their overall performance on Android mobile devices through rigorous hands-on testing. In assessing each VPN, we ran hundreds of internet speed tests, streamed hours of videos, used every provider's apps on Android handsets and pored over privacy policies. We regularly tests and rate new VPN apps, so visit this page regularly to stay up to speed on new contenders when they emerge.
Read more: You Need to Be Using a VPN on Your Phone. Here's How to Set It Up in Under 10 Minutes
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 along with offering basic privacy protections like a kill switch, DNS leak protection and a no-logs policy. For critical privacy needs, 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, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections. 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.
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. We test the performance and reliability of the VPN connection on each of the protocols available in the provider's Android app. We test for leaks and each service's kill switch functionality to ensure it's working as it should. 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. While Proton VPN's free tier doesn't include access to all of its servers, 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. But its leisurely 44% average speed loss and comparatively small server network of just 2,400-plus servers spread across only 56 countries lags significantly behind the competition.
IPVanish costs $13 per month, $48 for the first year or $72 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.