There are various reasons why it might be worth choosing one of the best VPNs for Android . If you travel a lot and use an Android tablet , for example, connecting from the free hotspots provided by hotels and airports could expose you to tracking, your data could be compromised and, in general, you could not browse in total safety. This particularly applies to those who travel to areas of the world where there are severe limits to individual freedoms or severe restrictions on surfing the Internet , such as Russia and China, for example.
To use a VPN service on your Android device, you will need to download an app and subscribe to the relevant provider . Not all VPN platforms available on the market offer this possibility and, for the rest, an assessment must always be made regarding the use that you will have to make of the VPN itself , the cost of the service and, above all, the quality of the Android apps made available. . In this guide, we point out what for us are the best VPNs for Android to consider.
But what is a VPN?
VPN technologies involve the use of a virtual private network ( Virtual Private Network ) and allow you to access public and private networks securely and anonymously . Through the application of cryptographic techniques and IP address masking, VPNs allow you to change your IP address and block certain information such as your browsing history and online activity, blocking any attempts to intercept your data and your identity .
The concept is much more complex and several factors come into play, including the protocols used and the service use criteria defined by the providers , but let’s say that, in general, you can use a VPN to:
- Protect your connection to public networks (such as at the airport or hotel)
- Replace your IP address with that of another location and block the tracking and interception of your online activities
- Access geo-localized content by communicating an IP address from an authorized area to the service.
If you want to learn more, we have made a couple of articles specifically for this purpose: ” VPN: what it is, how it works and what it is for ” and ” What is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) “.
What are the best VPNs for Android?
We have compiled a list of the best VPNs currently available. Not all of them offer an app for Android and not all those that do are distinguished by the quality or the number of options available, for this reason, here we want to focus on those that could be most useful to you if you need to use the service with a smartphone or an Android tablet .
In this guide we will focus exclusively on the Android app offered by the services listed , if you want to learn more about the other reasons why it might be worth choosing one provider rather than another, we refer you to the respective reviews, which you will find conveniently linked in each section .
ExpressVPN
- Supported devices:Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox
- Maximum number of connections: 5
- ExpressVPN Review
- Click here to sign up for ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is at the top of our rankings for many reasons, and we have to say that it also stands out for its various apps. In particular, the Android app is very quick to install and easy to use . In our tests, we found it to run smoothly, with the same performance we found on PC. To switch servers, you don’t need to close the app and you can monitor the latest connections made. With the Android app you can try the service for free for 7 days and we were very satisfied, although the settings are not many compared to the PC counterpart.
Yes, ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive services , but the quality is very high and you can try it with a 30-day money back guarantee , without risk and without too many explanations.
The subscription plans currently available are:
- 1 month | € 11.44 per month
- 6 months | € 8.83 per month
- 12 months + 3 months free | € 5.89 per month
NordVPN
Credit: Photo by Stefan Coders from Pexels
- Supported devices:Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox
- Maximum number of connections:6
- NordVPN review
- Click here to subscribe to NordVPN
NordVPN’s Android app is one of the most popular apps , with over five million installs and an average rating of 4.4 stars on Google Play . The app looks very good from the layout point of view and is easy to use: at the top you will find the available positions and everything is managed through an interactive map, which unfortunately could be uncomfortable with smaller screens.
That said, you will be able to arrange the countries in alphabetical order and when you select one, you are automatically connected to the best server available . The app is based on OpenVPN and is very stable. In general, it offers a good compromise between what is present on the Windows client and what is needed to browse from mobile.
In general it is very functional and easy to use, just a pity that it lacks a kill switch .
The subscription plans currently available are:
- 1 month | € 10.16 per month
- 1 year | € 4.18 per month
- 2 years | € 2.80 per month
Surfshark
- Supported devices: Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, PlayStation, Xbox
- Maximum number of connections: unlimited
- Surfshark review
- Click here to subscribe to Surfshark
Surfshark’s Android app features the same interface as the Windows version, with the Connect button highlighted. Switching from OpenVPN to IKEv2 is very simple and convenient, and you can also optimize data consumption by selecting the mode designed for the transmission of smaller packets .
The application is very responsive and adapts perfectly to the screen of your Android device .
The subscription plans currently available are:
- 1 month | € 10.99 per month
- 6 months | € 5.49 per month
- 2 years | € 1.91 per month
CyberGhost
- Supported devices: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Chromecast, PlayStation, Xbox
- Maximum number of connections: 7
- CyberGhost review
- Click here to subscribe to CyberGhost
CyberGhost offers several apps, for pretty much all platforms you might want to use a VPN on. These naturally include Android and even Android TV .
Although the active wireless connection is not visible, the Android app shares many features with the desktop client for Windows . The favorites list allows you to add the servers you use most often, which is particularly useful on the phone as the display limitations do not allow you to easily manage overly long lists.
You cannot choose the protocol, however it is possible to use a random port on the connection, which is very useful for bypassing some blocks. But the lion’s share is the split tunneling feature, which allows you to choose which apps to use with the VPN and which not. Other features inherited from the computer version include ad and tracker blocking, data compression, and URL filtering to block dangerous sites.
The subscription plans currently available are:
- 1 month | € 11.99 per month
- 6 months | € 5.93 per month
- 2 years | € 1.9 per month (+ 2 months free)
Private Internet Access
- Supported devices:Android, Windows, Mac, iOS. Linux
- Maximum number of connections: 10
- Click here to subscribe to Private Internet Access
The Private Internet Access Android app , along with the provider’s other applications, stands out for its simplicity and ease of use. It offers important information such as speed and latency and offers more advanced features such as split tunneling . Although it is not officially supported, it is possible to download via torrent with the SockS5 protocol . In general, it allows you to make the most of the VPN, without going crazy behind a thousand settings.
Subscription options:
- 1 Month | € 9.29 per month
- 1 year | € 3.10 per month
- 2 years | € 1.79 per month (Halloween timed promotion)
Hotspot Shield
- Supported devices: Android, Windows, Mac, iOS. Linux
- Maximum number of connections: 5
- Click here to sign up for the Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield’s apps , including the Android version, are extremely easy to use , clear and with a neat interface. Just open the application and select Connect to access a small map and select the server to connect to. Inside it is possible to configure the app to connect to the fastest server available , and this is an exclusive of the Android version , since it is not found on iOS.
The app also offers a malware scanner and a tool to extend the autonomy of the device . As usual, the kill switch is unfortunately missing here too .
