The best VPNs for Android

The best protection for your device.

By Stan Schroeder, Joseph Green

Oct. 18, 2024

Credit: Pexels

NordVPN

Best For Security

You can't go wrong with Nord. It's a well-known and reliable VPN that has over 5,000 servers worldwide and doesn't track your activity.

Pros & Cons

CyberGhost VPN

Best For Simplicity

CyberGhost makes staying protected on your Android device easy.

Pros & Cons

PureVPN

Best For Customisation

Android users can profit from the customisable modes used to optimise their connection.

Pros & Cons

Tunnelbear

Best For Beginners

This VPN offers a simple and fun user-interface that'll show your connection through cute animations.

Pros & Cons

ProtonVPN

Best For Free

ProtonVPN's network is small but its offering is strong.

Pros & Cons

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Many people resist the urge to get a decent VPN for their Android phone or tablet. Why bother with an extra app just to get online?

Over time, however, the scenarios in which you might need a VPN become more common. You could need to check what a site looks like from another geolocation, or test something that isn't available in your country. What often acts as the final straw is being unable to watch some of your favourite TV shows while travelling.

What is a VPN?

VPNs provide protection for your data and identity by creating a private network that hides your real IP address. All of your activity is untraceable and secure because everything passes through an encrypted tunnel. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside is protected against online threats.

Do you need a VPN for your Android?

Investing in a VPN is one of the best ways to ensure your safety and anonymity online. VPNs are important tools in the fight against scammers and cybercriminals, meaning you can use your Android device safe in the knowledge that you're secure from these threats.

VPNs can also be used to unlock streaming services from around the world, including the likes of Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+. All you need to do is open up your preferred VPN, connect to a server from another country in order to spoof your IP to another address, and then head to your preferred streaming site. This process tricks the site into thinking you are based in another country, meaning you can watch all that great content that is normally blocked. If you stream on your Android, you could benefit from a VPN.

Should you use free VPNs?

The good news is that there are plenty of free versions of popular VPNs out there, plus free trials with full access to everything you get with a premium plan. The bad news is that there tends to always be a catch.

With free versions of popular VPNs, you normally get limited data usage. These plans will work fine if you aren't really online, but if you're going to be streaming or downloading anything, this simply isn't going to work. Free trials come with everything you get in a paid plan, but don't tend to last very long. So you'll be all set for a short time, but this isn't really a long-term solution.

What is the best VPN for Android?

Choosing a VPN provider is both easy and incredibly difficult. There are a lot of options to consider, but it's very hard to test how reliable they are in different scenarios. So below, you'll find a list of some VPNs that are just plain good. We've checked out everything on offer and highlighted a selection of the best providers, including popular names like PureVPN and CyberGhost VPN.

These are the best VPNs for Android in 2024.

NordVPN

Best For Security

The good

One of the sturdiest, most reliable VPNs Fast servers Can connect six devices Doesn't log activities

The Bad

It's expensive

The Bottomline

If you want a VPN that has a fast service and allows you to connect to multiple phones at once, try out NordVPN.

Specs

Monthly: £10.39/month
One-year plan: £3.99/month
Two-year plan: £3.19/month

Read our full review of NordVPN.

NordVPN has a reputation for being amongst the sturdiest, most reliable VPNs out there. NordVPN has fast servers that are also not on any blacklists. You should be able to stream Hulu or Netlfix shows in several European countries without any issues.

NordVPN says it offers over 5,000 servers worldwide. It lets you connect six devices at the same time, and it claims to keep no logs of your activities. INordVPN is one of the most secure VPNs, with a wide range of advanced security features that combine to protect your data and identity.

CyberGhost VPN

Best For Simplicity

The good

Great security features Easy to use with Android Generous money-back guarantee

The Bad

Speeds can drop

The Bottomline

CyberGhost VPN keeps things real simple, and focuses on strong security features.

Specs

Monthly: £10.89/month
Six-month plan: £6.19/month
Two-year plan: £1.92/month

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

Cyberghost VPN has a really simple interface with easy-to-understand terminology explaining all of its features. It keeps things easy and focuses on strong security features. It’s very fast to set up and has intuitive apps for a variety of popular devices.

CyberGhost might be easy to use but that doesn't mean it's not on par with other options on this list. Users have access to 3,600 servers in over 60 locations around the world, with unlimited bandwidth and traffic. This makes for reliable streaming, but some users have said connections can be slower than with other VPN offerings.

PureVPN

Best For Customisation

The good

Customisable modes Private connection possibilities Protection against viruses and ads

The Bad

The modes can actually be limiting

The Bottomline

Android users should love the customisable modes that can be used to optimise connection.

Specs

Monthly: £8.37/month
One-year plan: £2.86/month
Two-year plan: £1.75/month

PureVPN is different to other virtual private network services, due to its customisable nature.

Your connection is based on what 'mode' you select. Some of the options include streaming, 'internet freedom', privacy, file-sharing, and dedicated IP modes.

Some Android users might actually find this a bit limiting, but all your activity is kept private no matter what mode you're in, and that's the most important thing. The dedicated IP mode helps deal with some of the speed issues VPNs frequently face, too.

PureVPN also has many of the other features you expect to get from a VPN, such as the ability to change your location, and in-built protections against malware, viruses, and ads.

Tunnelbear

Best For Beginners

The good

Simple Fun animation Friendly user-interface

The Bad

Only get 500MB for free

The Bottomline

TunnelBear makes using a VPN less intimidating through its animated user-interface.

Specs

Monthly: £7.78/month
One-year plan: £3.89/month
Three-year plan: £2.59/month

Read our full review of TunnelBear.

TunnelBear's main selling point is simplicity and ease of use, and it delivers. After downloading the app, all you need to do is create an account (only your email address and password is needed), confirm the registration via email, and you're good to go. The animation of a bear actually tunneling from one place to another is pretty great, too.

The app is free, but it only gets you a monthly 500MB, which will be enough for a little bit of work but definitely won't do for video streaming. If you want more, you can get a paid account with unlimited data.

ProtonVPN

Best For Free

The good

Impressive free version Shielded by Swiss laws Kill-switch

The Bad

Small network Not the fastest speeds

The Bottomline

ProtonVPN is a stong option for any Android user who likes to have choice.

Specs

Monthly: £9.87/month
One-year plan: £5.15/month
Two-year plan: £4.29/month

ProtonVPN offers users a lot of choice, with three different annual plans, as well as a free service.

Android users can choose from ProtonVPN's Basic, Plus, and Visionary annual plans, with each one offering a different package of features.

ProtonVPN has a lot of advantages over the competition. It's Switzerland-based for a start, meaning your data is shielded by Swiss privacy laws, which are some of the strongest in the world. ProtonVPN also has a no logs policy meaning none of your data can be revealed to third parties. Other than that you are also getting a kill-switch, DNS leak prevention, and more.

The Basic plan provides access to servers all around the world, on two devices, with high speeds and peer-to-peer networking.