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 for Android:
Privacy
No matter which VPN you use on Android or any other device, the bare minimum for consideration is that it protects your privacy. Look for a VPN that uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption over the OpenVPN protocol, or ChaCha20 over WireGuard or IKEv2. These protocols have received intense scrutiny from the open-source community and are trusted by thousands of enterprises worldwide, so you can trust them to keep your data private.
There are also a few privacy features you’ll need to look out for. Any serious VPN provider will offer a kill switch, which stops your data from leaking unencrypted if you suddenly get cut off from your VPN. Be warned, you’ll need to look carefully — even if a provider claims it offers a kill switch, it might not offer it for Android. DNS leak protection is also essential — it stops your device from sending unencrypted website requests so your ISP can’t tell what apps or websites you use and visit. You’ll also want to look for an audited no-logs policy. It’s vital for your privacy that your provider states clearly that it doesn’t record your online activity while connected to its servers, but an audit can help add credence to those claims. Independent audits are one of the best ways to assess whether or not a VPN provider is truly invested in keeping your data private. It’s also important to review your VPN’s privacy policy, which should be easy to understand and include clear language related to data collection and sharing.
If you’re a power user, you 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’s based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation and has a RAM-only server architecture. Obfuscation works to hide the fact that you’re using a VPN by disguising your VPN traffic as normal HTTPS browsing traffic. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities for an extra layer of privacy, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections, which encrypt your traffic twice through two separate VPN servers rather than just one.
Speed
Your VPN’s speed performance can have a major effect on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming and general web browsing. To keep things running smoothly, you’ll want to look for a VPN that has as minimal an impact on your regular internet speeds as possible. A fast VPN should only drop your internet download speeds by an average of 25% or less, with the fastest VPNs we’ve tested dropping our speeds by a mere 3%. Keep in mind that you might end up with slower speeds and worse latency if you’re connecting to a server that’s far away from your current location. It’s worth checking out a VPN provider’s server location list before you commit to make sure there’s a server relatively close to you.
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 $115 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where introductory prices range from roughly $30 to $100 for the first year and renewal prices come in around $50 to $150 annually. 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.
There are a lot of other free VPNs out there, especially on mobile platforms. Unfortunately, it’s very hard to confirm whether most of them have sensible no-logs policies. Especially in the case of completely free VPNs, they tend to monetize your data use by showing you ads or selling your browsing data to marketing companies. In the very worst cases, they’re just spyware apps masquerading as VPNs that hackers use to scoop up your passwords and bank account details for identity theft attacks. You might be tempted to save a few dollars by using a free VPN, but it could end up costing you more than you bargained for.
There are several ways to try out a VPN before you buy one, especially if you’re mostly concerned about Android devices. It’s not unusual for a VPN provider to offer some sort of money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with the service, which usually covers anywhere between the first week to 45 days of a subscription. Be warned, you should look up the terms beforehand to make sure you’re eligible for a refund. Some providers won’t offer you a refund unless there’s an explicit technical issue with the VPN, whereas others will hand your money back with no questions asked. There’s also the option of trying out a seven-day trial through the Play Store, which most VPN providers offer when you sign up. Again, you need to be savvy here. You’ll be charged through your payment details linked to the Play Store at the end of the free trial period, and depending on the provider, you may be locked into a year-long plan or longer up front. If you’re not happy with the service, make sure you unsubscribe fully and delete the app before your trial period is over.
Streaming
While VPNs are privacy tools first and foremost, they’re also great for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. Because you can make apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer think you’re in another location — like the UK or Canada — you can watch foreign content libraries, and maybe even save money using a VPN for streaming. For streaming on Android phones, tablets or Android TV boxes, you may want to consider one of the best VPNs for Netflix or best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video.
