The Best VPN for Android in 2024 | Paid and Free Android VPNs

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Having the best Android VPN on your device will ensure you can use the internet safely and securely. By cloaking your IP address, VPNs allow you to access the internet from locations around the world and encrypt your browsing data, ensuring privacy. This means you can get around internet censorship, access streaming libraries from abroad, and stop ISPs and even governments from tracking you online.

Our comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to find the best VPN for Android. It can be difficult to compare the pros and cons of the various solutions on the market, but our top pick for the best Android VPN is ExpressVPN — a decision we came to after thorough research and testing. Read on to learn more.

The Best Android VPN in 2024 | Shortlist

Based on our extensive research, these are the top twelve best Android VPNs available on the market. They come at a range of different price points and offer a variety of features to help you use the internet privately and securely.

1. 1. ExpressVPN: Overall, the best VPN for Android. $6.67/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
   2. NordVPN: Powerful VPN for Android. $3.29/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
   3. IvacyVPN: Popular Android VPN With Affordable Plans. $1/month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
   4. PureVPN: Exceptional Android VPN for Privacy-Conscious Users. $2.08/month + 31-Day Money-Back Guarantee
   5. Surfshark: A VPN that Excels in Data Security. Secure Unlimited Devices at $2.49/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
   6. PrivadoVPN: Best Free VPN for Android. Starts Free + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee For Paid Plans
   7. CyberGhost: VPN with the Highest Number of Serves. Longest Money-Back Guarantee of 45 Days. Starts at $2.29/Month
   8. Private Internet Access: Best Android VPN for Beginners. Cheapest VPN for Android, $2.03/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee.
   9. PrivateVPN: Best VPN for Streaming. Very Cheap at $2/Month For 36 Months +30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
   10. IPVanish: Best VPN for IP Masking. Unlimited Device Coverage. $3.99/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
   11. ProtonVPN: Fastest VPN for Android. $4.99 for 10 Devices + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
   12. VyprVPN: One of the Cheapest VPNs for Android. Simple Pricing. Starts at $5/Month + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

The Best Android VPNs in 2024 | In-Depth Reviews

We hope you’re ready to dive into the details of each of our top picks for the best Android VPN on the market right now, including their best features, pricing, pros, and cons! Well, if you’re not, or if you’re short on time, head over to our comparison table below the review sections to see how the VPNs compare against each other in less than a minute!

1. ExpressVPN: Overall, the Best VPN for Android

ExpressVPN is available in more than 94 countries and stands out for its wide range of servers, which give you unparalleled speed and an anonymous browsing experience no matter where you are – which are just some of the reasons we’ve ranked it as the best Android VPN overall.

The service comes with an integrated password manager that keeps your passwords locked away, far away from the reach of malicious hackers and notorious online users, keeping you safe and undetectable.

An ExpressVPN feature we find compelling is how it covers multiple types of devices, be it phones, tablets, computers, or routers — protection remains uninterrupted. To take its accessibility a notch higher, it also supports multiple operating systems like Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and more.

With a variety of pocket-friendly plans and stellar customer support — plus its 30-day money-back guarantee — ExpressVPN is undoubtedly worth a try.

Best Features 

• IP masking is available at all times
• Best-in-class encryption and data security
• Threat manager to disrupt the connection between your website and cyber attackers
• Integrated password manager to keep your passwords private and secure

Pricing

For beginners, we recommend the 1-month plan to get to know the platform better. But, if you’re convinced that ExpressVPN is your cup of tea — we see no reason why you shouldn’t get yourself the best deal by selecting the 12-month plan at $6.67 per month.

Plus, its 30-day money-back guarantee will have your back if you want to discontinue and move out without losing any money.

2. NordVPN: Powerful VPN for Android

NordVPN offers phenomenal browsing speed and its ever-growing fleet of advanced features like Threat Detection, under which all websites and apps you access are automatically scanned for threats even if you are not connected to a VPN server, it’s no wonder that NordVPN is one of the world’s leading VPN service providers.

Another unique feature offered by NordVPN is the dark web monitor, which instantly notifies you if your personal information is leaked in the dark web so that you can take the necessary action before it’s too late.

You also get an extra layer of security with NordVPN — obfuscated servers that mask your online traffic. And needless to say, you get the usual set of security features a VPN tags along with, like IP masking and a no-log policy.

Currently, NordVPN has more than 5000 servers in over 59 countries, enabling you to connect to secure internet, irrespective of your location. The dense distribution of servers helps you get great speeds and a seamless browsing experience.

Best Features

• Keeps your IP masked at all times
• Can handle up to 6 devices at a time, including mobile devices
• NordVPN Threat Detection protects your information even when you are not connected to a VPN server
• Dark web monitor protects your information from being leaked in the dark web

Pricing 

The Standard plan at $3.29 per month is more than enough to cover all your VPN needs. It’s an awesome value-for-money proposition that has all the features you’ll need for day-to-day protection and even advanced anonymity, for that matter.

Now, for companies or professionals that deal with a lot of sensitive data and users, the Complete plan has additional features to offer, which, again, are very affordably priced. Try NordVPN risk-free before committing to it, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

3. IvacyVPN: Popular Android VPN With Affordable Plans

IvacyVPN is one of the best choices for Android users that enjoy watching their favorite TV shows and movies on popular streaming services, such as Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, or Netflix.

This VPN provider is one of the few to cover heavily censored countries like Russia, Turkey, and Vietnam, making it the best choice for their residents and digital nomads. Besides preventing your government, ISP, and WiFi hotspot owners from spying on you, it also prevents DNS and IPv6 leaks.

It lets you have peace of mind knowing it automatically prevents malicious files and APKs from harming your device. And beyond this, it also has powerful DDoS protection that mobile phone gamers will appreciate because it ensures a smooth gaming experience without interruptions.

Besides your Android mobile device, you can extend IvacyVPN’s military-grade encryption to your Android TV, resulting in a safe and buffer-free streaming experience.

Best Features 

• Smart Purpose Selection for secure downloading, streaming, and browsing
• No bandwidth restrictions for uploads and downloads
• Multiple login support for up to ten devices
• P2P-optimized servers for torrenting and file-sharing

Pricing

IvacyVPN has a budget-friendly five-year-long plan that costs as little as $1/month. In addition, this VPN provider offers a Dedicated IP and Port Forwarding bundle for just $1.99/month. Try it risk-free today, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. PureVPN: Exceptional Android VPN for Privacy-Conscious Users 

PureVPN is ideal for users who value their privacy and need a transparent provider that frequently passes zero-logging audits. In fact, it’s one of the few VPN services with an “always on” zero-logging policy that lets independent cybersecurity experts test its claim without prior notice.

Besides keeping your information confidential, PureVPN prevents your ISP, WiFi hotspot owners, and internet snoopers from logging your browsing history by having DNS and IPv6 leak protection, meaning you can safely use public WiFi.

You can also rest easy knowing this VPN service will automatically disconnect you from the internet if you accidentally turn the encryption off, preventing your IP address from leaking. Plus, it has a convenient Quick Connect feature for Android devices that helps encrypt your connection before you continue browsing.

And to top it off, PureVPN has some of the fastest servers on the market, with multiple 20Gbps servers in Europe and the US to help you reach the highest download speeds. That makes its long-term plan a wise and future-proof investment, especially if you plan on upgrading your internet connection speed.

Best Features 

• Reliable split tunneling feature to connect apps separately
• Supports robust security protocols like WireGuard, SSTP, and IKev2
• One-click protection
• Helps you evade ISP bandwidth throttling

Pricing

PureVPN has an outstanding 24-month subscription plan that nets you three months on top of what you paid for and costs just $2.08/month. You can connect up to ten devices using a single subscription, making it great for families. Thanks to its 31-day guarantee, you can use it for a month before committing to a subscription.

5. Surfshark: A VPN that Excels in Data Security

Surfshark prioritizes data security and privacy over everything else. That’s why along with granting you access to content and websites from all over the world, it goes a step ahead to protect your personal information too, as any sound VPN should — Surfshark executes it a little more flawlessly than most VPNs.

For starters, it instantly notifies you if any of your personal information is leaked so that you have ample time for damage control. To avoid such a mishap in the first place, Surfshark tells you about your password’s strength and how many times it has been breached so that you know when to change it.

To top it off, you’re also notified any time your email address appears on breached online databases so that you can take timely action. Another commendable feature of Surfshark is its diverse, secure payment options. From credit cards and Paypal to Google Pay and Crypto, pay with whatever works best for you.

Best Features 

• Can handle unlimited devices at the same time
• Avoids third-party audits to minimize data leaks
• Kill switch to prevent data leaks in case the VPN malfunctions
• Double up your anonymity by connecting to two servers at the same time

Pricing 

All Surfshark plans are very affordable, but the 24-month plan at $2.49 per month is a lottery! Say you don’t want a long-term commitment and aren’t completely convinced of the VPN’s suitability for your needs.

In that case, you can go ahead with the 1-month plan — the 30-day money-back guarantee will ensure you do not lose a dime in the testing phase. No matter what plan you choose, you’ll be able to protect unlimited devices simultaneously, and that too, at top speeds.

6. CyberGhost: VPN with the Highest Number of Servers

For users not too sure about investing in a new VPN platform, we suggest CyberGhost. It has the most luxurious and extended money-back guarantee of 45 days, depending on the plan you choose.

With 9200+ servers all over the world, it’s easily amongst the top 3 VPN providers with the highest number of servers. And no surprises for guessing the phenomenal speed CyberGhost offers its users because of its slew of servers.

Along with that, you also get access to customer support 24/7 — whatever issue you run into, expert support is just a click away.

Other pertinent features include access to all streaming services, including the ones that are blocked in your region, protection from malware on public WiFi, ad blocking, and a reliable kill switch to protect your privacy if the VPN malfunctions.

Best Features

• 100% no log policy to keep your personal activity private
• 10 Gbps speed with unlimited bandwidth through 9200 servers
• Can handle multiple devices, including Mac, iOS, Fire TV, Android, and more
• Create your own privacy triggers with Smart Rules to manage your data better

Pricing 

Cyberghost often surprises their users with amazing deals. So before you purchase any plan, make sure you keep an eye on their current offers for maximum savings. The pricing is usually displayed in regional currency, so you won’t have any trouble with conversions.

Each plan also comes with adequate money-back protection (14 days for the 1-month plan and 45 days for the rest) so there’s no financial commitment from the get-go.

7. PrivadoVPN: Best Free VPN for Android

If you’re not ready to invest in a VPN service yet, PrivadoVPN is the right choice for you. It’s one of the few platforms to offer a safe VPN plan for free. You can connect unlimited devices and surf without the PrivadoVPN team logging your activity.

That said, you’ll be restricted to only 10GB of data every 30 days with servers from only 12 cities, which might affect the speed. But at $0, one would say it’s more than a fair deal — an awesome one, in fact! Overall, PrivadoVPN is a great start compared to other free options available that are infamous for being shady and unreliable.

Once you’re satisfied with Privado’s service and see your VPN needs rising, consider signing up for its paid plans, which come with additional benefits like up to 10 simultaneous connections, active server connection across 62 cities, and unlimited data.

Plus, it also offers multiple payment options and allows you to pick whichever is most convenient for you.

Best Features 

• Zero log policy for all users, including the free plan
• Access any content from anywhere in the world
• Specially encrypted tunnels for IP leak protection
• Automated kill switch protection that disables your internet activities if the VPN fails.

Pricing 

The free plan offers sufficient features for individual users. But if you stay with your family, the paid plans, especially the $4.99/month plan, with simultaneous connections and access to more servers, might be a better match for you.

8. Private Internet Access: Best Android VPN for Beginners

Our favorite thing about Private Internet Access (PIA) is how easy it makes getting started with a VPN for first-timers.

Sure, its 30-day money-back guarantee on all its plans is undoubtedly a beginner’s favorite but the rich knowledge base and solutions to common VPN issues help center it provides with its guides and tutorials are unseen by its peers.

For any complex problem that cannot be solved through these guides, PIA’s support team is only a text away. To further simplify using VPN on an Android device for people who aren’t tech-savvy, PIA comes with a straightforward installation process.

All you have to do is choose a plan that suits you, download the PIA app, and verify your account to be protected within minutes. Other features like lightning-fast speed, 24/7 customer support, an open-source platform, and multiple premium add-ons together make PIA a perfect choice for beginners.

Best Features

• Better transparency with 100% open-source configuration
• Secures your browsing sessions from ad trackers and malware
• Conceals your online traffic from your ISP as well as your network operator
• Can handle up to 10 devices with different operating systems at the same time

Pricing 

The best bargain is clearly the 3 years + 3 months plan at only $2.03/month. That’s unheard of, isn’t it? Despite being the cheapest VPN provider on our list, PIA comes with all the features that you’d expect from a top-quality VPN, and it’s fair to say that a similar catalog of features at this price isn’t something you’ll come across every day.

Remember, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee too. We see no reason why you shouldn’t try PIA now!

9. PrivateVPN: Best VPN for Streaming

PrivateVPN is a champion of letting its users access restricted content, making it one of the best Netflix VPNs. Be it social media or streaming platforms, you can access any geo-restricted content within minutes with PrivateVPN.

The cherry on top has to be PrivateVPN’s lightning-quick connection that gives you a buffer-free streaming experience regardless of what platform you are on. The quality of the videos remains uncompromised, even if they are in HD.

Your activities remain completely hidden from both hackers and government officials at all times. Unlike other platforms like CyberGhost, which uses 256-bit AES encryption, PrivateVPN uses a 2048-bit military-grade AES encryption that makes its coverage almost impenetrable.

Note that we put CyberGhost above PrivateVPN for the former’s unprecedented 45-day money-back guarantee. Plus, PrivateVPN is one of the few VPN service providers to offer premium support from in-house developers who actually understand the platform instead of random agents of a call center.

Best Features 

• Strong military-grade protection to prevent data leaks
• Helps you bypass every censorship and access any content you want
• Amazing speed whether you are using public WiFi or connected to your home WiFi
• Complete anonymity from search engines, hackers, and government officials

Pricing 

All three plans offer decent savings and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re looking for a safe yet adequate plan, try the 3-month package. It’s affordable and safe and gives you all the features you need without too long a commitment.

10. IPVanish: Best VPN for IP Masking

The best thing about IPVanish is its large database of over 40,000 IP addresses that masks your true identity online, conceals your location and personal information, and keeps every move you make online anonymous.

And since these IPs are shared by all their users, no internet activity can be traced back to an individual user, which further increases your anonymity. In addition to that, IPVanish saves your online traffic from different types of intruders and attackers like snoopers, hackers, and advertisers with its advanced encryption system.

As a part of the most basic benefit of using a VPN service, IPVanish keeps no log of your activity. Another benefit of using IPVanish is you can connect multiple devices and protect them all at the same time — perfect if you’re looking to get a VPN service for your entire family.

Best Features 

• Connect multiple devices at the same time
• 40,000 shared IP addresses to conceal your activities better
• Encrypted browsing to save you from different types of online attacks
• Internet activity remains hidden from everyone, including the IPVanish team

Pricing 

IPVanish’s 1-month plan at $10.99 is slightly expensive, but its diverse features, unparalleled security, and seamless user experience make it a sound investment and something we recommend. That said, if you’re convinced that this is the VPN for you, the yearly plan costing only $3.99 per month is a solid deal!

11. ProtonVPN: Fastest VPN for Android

Proton VPN is at the top of the fastest VPN list and is second to only Privado as far as awesome free VPNs are concerned. Unlike many other free VPN options, it doesn’t sell your data to third parties or serve you ads to make up for the free service; it simply uses the revenue from paid users to subsidize your prices.

What makes ProtonVPN even more popular is how beginner-friendly it is! The interface is navigable, it’s easy to download and set up, and help is always just a click away — even on the free plan!

Along with all these features, it also never compromises on speed. Most of its servers offer a speed of over 10Gbps using its unique suite of VPN accelerator technologies that increases speed by 400%.

Best Features

• Zero data leaks and a strong no-log policy
• Secure core physical servers protected from cyber attacks
• VPN Accelerator that gives you a speed of 10Gbps
• NetShield (ad blocker) to protect you from malware and ad trackers

Pricing

ProtonVPN might seem a little expensive for beginners, but its annual plans offer decent savings. If you’re not ready to commit yet, go for its free version or use the 30-day money-back guarantee. The free plan comes with good speed, 1 VPN connection, 100+ servers, and a no-log policy.

12. VyprVPN: One of the Cheapest VPNs for Android

VyprVPN likes to keep things simple, especially when it comes to pricing packages. That’s why it offers only two simple plans — $10 for a month and $5/month for 12 months so that the plans are cheap for everyone and you aren’t overwhelmed by too many numbers.

Now, VyprVPN is pretty secure, to begin with, but we love its seriousness regarding security — it does not hire any third party. All the work is done in-house, and even then, it keeps no track of your activities. You can connect it to 10 devices at the same time, including Androids, Mac, and iOS. routers, and more.

Best Features

• Split tunneling for better privacy
• DNS leak protection to keep your personal data secure
• More than 100+ server locations with unparalleled speed
• Automated protection against hackers and malware on public WiFi

Pricing 

Vypr has straightforward pricing. Both the plans boast the same features; the difference is the prices, which are based on the plan duration. You can try it now for 30 days and get your money back if you’re unimpressed by it.

Best VPNs for Android Comparison Table

Here are the specifications for all the top Android VPNs from our list in a single chart to make it easy to compare all the features and functionality that they offer. Whether you want wide coverage or a cheap plan, there’s a perfect VPN package out there for you.

How Do I Choose an Android VPN?

There are a few things to consider while choosing an Android VPN. And even though Android devices are quite different from standard desktops or laptops, the key considerations remain the same.

Number of Servers

The first is the number and distribution of available VPN servers. Here, the more servers there are, the better it is. A larger number of servers means you have a wider array of options to choose from. It also means that you stay close to a VPN server even when you’re on the move.

Location of the VPN 

The next aspect is to consider the location of the VPN provider. Their local laws will dictate certain operational procedures, such as the retention of user data. This is not desirable as an important factor for using VPN is to maintain one’s privacy online.

Knowing which region the VPN provider is from would allow you to choose a provider that doesn’t need to save user data.

Pricing

Pricing, obviously, is a critical factor that determines the VPN service you would be availing. Try to compare plans from multiple VPN providers and minutely examine what features are being offered to justify the prices quoted.

Even though you might be tempted to opt for the cheapest provider, a thorough examination might reveal weaker security or data privacy issues that negate the entire point of using a VPN.

User Experience

Lastly, consider the user experience of navigating the VPN interface. This is true for any critical app or tool you may want to use on your Android device. The simpler the interface is, the easier it will be to use the tool and select the right options, especially on a mobile Android device with smaller screen sizes.

This is especially crucial if you’re someone that is not a technological savant.

Android VPN Testing Methodology | What Makes a Good Android VPN?

Our analysis of the best VPN apps for Android has revealed the imperatives you must look for while selecting the right Android VPN. They include:

Logging Policy

You don’t want your VPN provider to store your data if you value your online privacy. Knowing about the logging policy of VPN providers will help you stay protected. Here, selecting a provider with a “no logging policy&” is crucial.

Encryption Level

Not all VPNs are equally secure. Make sure your VPN offers 256-bit encryption and not the significantly weaker 128-bit one. The former adds more security as it’s harder to break.

App Availability

If you select your VPN provider on a desktop/laptop-based platform, you need to ensure they have an app that’s compatible with your Android device. In many cases, android apps may be compatible with phones but not tablets.

So, make sure the VPN provider has an app that caters to your specific device, and it’s not just “Android compatible.&”

Parallel Connections

To obtain the most out of your VPN account, you must ensure that your provider enables multiple simultaneous connections that are platform agnostic. This way, your VPN will not be limited to your device only but to any other device you may have.

Server Location

The more servers your VPN provider has, the better your connection will be due to proximity to servers. This becomes more important if you are frequently traveling and using VPNs on the move.

Kill Switch

One of the most useful features is a kill switch that automatically disconnects your internet connection if you lose your VPN. This protects your online anonymity.

Free VPN Services for Android

There are several VPN services available for free on Android. However, it’s important to know the caveats of using a free VPN service. We suggest using Proton and Privado free VPN services.

Privado VPN

Privado is one of the best free VPN services that’s available on the market. It offers a strong streaming performance, a simple software interface for easy usage, and high data limits; you get 10GB of data every 30 days.

With servers in more than 12 cities and the ability to connect unlimited devices at $0, PrivadoVPN offers a compelling package considering its free service. Try it now.

Proton VPN 

ProtonVPN is a fabulous free offering from a major provider. Its features include:

• 100+ servers, even on the free plan
• Great user experience
• Fast connection speeds of up to 10Gbps
• Robust privacy credentials
• No data cap

And the limitations with streaming and P2P sharing notwithstanding, Proton Free VPN is still a great choice for the average user. Get started with ProtonVPN today!

What is a VPN? | Why Do I Need a VPN?

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a tool that secures your internet connection and browsing session, especially on public networks. It protects your internet presence from hackers, interferences, and other intrusions by encrypting your internet traffic and disguising your online identity.

This makes stealing your data and tracking your activity a significantly harder proposition for any third party. Originally used to protect remote workers while logging onto secure corporate networks, VPNs are among the most useful tools today for anyone willing to explore the public internet.

The data encryption of VPNs allows for your traffic to be routed through another system local to the VPN server. Thus, it hides your location and identity by effectively ensuring you are online from a remote computer and not your own.

Will a VPN Slow My Connection Down?

Even though a VPN doesn’t technically slow down your internet connection, you are still limited by the speeds that the VPN offers. This is why it is important to select a VPN service that offers maximum speeds without compromising on security.

The Fastest Android VPN

In our testing, we found ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and IvacyVPN to be the fastest VPN providers. Pretty much all of them offer download speeds of around the 500Mbps mark. That said, the actual speed will depend on your internet connection.

For example, if your internet provider’s maximum speed is 250Mbps, you can expect the same, i.e., 250Mbps, when running any of the three fast VPNs we mentioned.

Wireguard Encryption and Android VPNs

WireGuard is one of the latest VPN protocols that offer significantly higher speeds with comparable security when pitted against other VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2.

Introduced in 2016, WireGuard uses cryptography to connect devices to a VPN server and has seen rapid adoption by VPN providers due to its speed, ease of usage, and security. Our tests have concurred with the findings as we have observed substantial speed gains on VPNs using WireGuard encryption.

How Do I Set Up an Android VPN?

Setting up a VPN on your Android device is straightforward, as most VPN services have a similar installation process. Here is a quick guide on installing ExpressVPN, the best VPN for Android this year:

Step 1: Subscribe to any ExpressVPN Plan

Head to the provider’s website and pick the best plan based on your budget and needs.

Step 2: Download the ExpressVPN Android App

Download the ExpressVPN Android app directly from Google PlayStore, if available in your region.

Alternatively, you can download the APK from ExpressVPN’s website.

Step 3: Install the App and Log Into Your Account

Enter your ExpressVPN credentials to log into your account, and allow your device to approve connection requests by ExpressVPN.

Step 4: Connect to an Encrypted Server and Browse Safely

Tap the button on your screen to encrypt your connection and hide your online activities from your ISP, the government, and WiFi hotspot owners.

Android VPN FAQs