Secure Android is a challenge; you need to change your IP and stay connected and unblocked anywhere you go. Use the best compatible VPN with Android devices and get privacy.
A VPN is a crucial cyber security tool to safeguard your online presence. But we often overlook its importance while using our smartphones. Using the best VPN apps for Android can fortify your digital security and privacy and help you avoid several concerns. However, with the number of VPN options available on Google Play Store claiming to be the best, it can get tricky and time-consuming to choose one that is efficient and reliable.
So, if you’re on the search for VPNs for Android in 2023, we’ve got you. This article has mentioned some of the most trusted and reputable VPNs to use on your Android devices. Keep reading the article to find out about them.
Top Picks
45-day money-back guarantee
$2.19/month
2 Months FREE
Secure up to 7 devices
9.6
30-day money-back guarantee
$3.49/month
Best For Streaming
Secure up to 6 devices
9.9
30-day money-back guarantee
$6.67/month
4096-bit DH key
Secure up to 5 devices
9.2
30-day money-back guarantee
$2.30/month
AES-256
Unlimited Users
9.6
30-day money-back guarantee
€4.99/month
Highest VPN speed
Secure up to 10 devices
8.8
Why Use a VPN For Android?
There are many reasons to use a VPN for Android, but some of the most common causes include:
Accessing blocked sites and bypassing censorship:
VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and route it through a server in another location. This encryption makes it appear as if you are accessing the Internet from a different country, which can be helpful for bypassing censorship restrictions and accessing geo-blocked content.
Getting past ISP throttling:
ISPs sometimes throttle their customers’ internet speeds, especially when streaming videos or downloading large files. A VPN can help bypass ISP throttling by encrypting your traffic and routing it through a different server. Since the encryption hides your activity, preventing ISPs from monitoring, it ultimately helps bypass throttling issues.
Ensuring security on public Wi-Fi networks:
Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, so hackers can easily intercept your data. A VPN can help to protect your data on public Wi-Fi networks by encrypting your traffic and routing it through a secure server.
Protect your privacy online:
A VPN can help to protect your privacy online by hiding your IP address and encrypting your traffic. It encrypts your data traffic and carries it in encrypted packets within an encrypted tunnel to prevent online surveillance. Moreover, it also routes your traffic through secure third-party servers to hide IP addresses. This helps ensure online privacy and security.
Secure online shopping and banking:
When you shop or bank online, you are sending sensitive financial information over the Internet. A VPN can help to protect your financial information by encrypting your traffic and routing it through a secure server.
Overall, a VPN for Android is a great way to improve your security, privacy, and online experience.
Factors to Look For in the Best VPN for Android
Choosing the right VPN for your Android device is critical in safeguarding your online security and privacy. With a multitude of options available, each with its own set of features and capabilities, it’s essential to consider various factors to ensure proper protection. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an Android VPN:
- Security and Encryption: Ensure the VPN uses robust encryption methods like AES-256 and secure protocols like OpenVPN or WireGuard.
- Server Locations: Check if the VPN has servers in multiple locations. Having numerous server options can help you pick the fastest one.
- Speed and Performance: Test the VPN’s speed by using it for tasks like streaming or gaming. Some VPNs may slow down your connection more than others.
- Jurisdiction: Consider the VPN provider’s location, as this can affect their legal obligations regarding data retention and sharing with authorities.
- Privacy Policy: A reputable VPN should have a strict no-logs policy, meaning they don’t keep records of your online activities.
- User-Friendly Interface: A well-designed and intuitive Android app can make your VPN experience smoother. Look for one that’s easy to set up and use.
- Price and Plans: Look for VPNs with competitive pricing and any money-back guarantees.
- Reviews and Reputation: Research user reviews and expert opinions to gauge the VPN’s reliability, performance, and trustworthiness.
In addition, look out for VPNs that offer extra features like ad-blocking and malware protection. Taking the time to evaluate these factors thoroughly will help you choose the best VPN for your Android device and online security needs.
5 Best VPNs for Android (Expert Choice)
To save you from the daunting task of searching for a VPN for Android, we’ve compiled the five best VPNs for Android below. So, let’s have a look:
1. CyberGhost VPN
- Vast server network
- Ad and malware blocker
- IP address and DNS leak protection
- Robust encryption
- Reliable and consistent speeds
You can even use the CyberGhost VPN on your Android phone and enjoy a safe and secure browsing experience. The VPN comes with an extensive server network spread in 91 countries and guarantees consistent and reliable speeds. With such a vast server network and reliable speeds, you can stream and play online games without buffering and connection lags.
Like all other VPN providers, CyberGhost also offers a dedicated VPN app that is easy to install and use. It provides separate servers for streaming, gaming, and torrenting, which you easily find in the app. The VPN uses solid encryption and secure ciphers to increase your digital privacy. Besides this, CyberGhost uses impressive features like a kill-switch, ad and malware blocker, Tor over VPN, and VPN leak protection to ensure that no one can invade your online security.
You can use CyberGhost VPN on your Android phone without any trust issues. Because it has its headquarters in Romania, it is safe to operate a VPN company. Also, it abides by a no-log VPN policy that means the VPN won’t log any of your data and thus is a private VPN. You can use CyberGhost VPN on seven simultaneous devices for only $2.25/m.
2. NordVPN
- Excellent security and online protection
- Fast speeds
- VPN leak protection
- Verified no-logging policy
- Ad-blocker
NordVPN is an ideal VPN for Android that comes with a dedicated VPN app and ensures maximum online protection. It offers excellent downloading and browsing speed that makes your experience worth amazing. The VPN provider’s extensive server network, fast speed, and robust online security and privacy make Android the best VPN. All these features allow you to stream and play unlimited online games on your mobile phone.
The VPN uses AES-256 bit encryption that protects your data from all snooping eyes. Along with the secure NordLynx and OpenVPN protocol, the VPN provider also uses IKEv2, giving fast speed on mobile phones. It also offers a variety of privacy-focused features like a kill switch, dedicated IP address, and Tor over VPN. Moreover, with the cybersec feature, you can prevent intrusive pop-up ads that interrupt your browsing experience.
The most impressive feature of NordVPN is the double VPN that adds an extra layer of protection while you browse the web. The VPN belongs to a safe jurisdiction of Panama Island and follows a strict no-log policy. You can use NordVPN on Android as well as on five other simultaneous devices at just $3.67/m.
3. ExpressVPN
- Fastest server connection speed
- RAM-only servers
- IP,DNS, and WebRTC leak protection
- User-friendly app
- Lacks ad-blocker
The next best VPN for Android on our list is ExpressVPN. It belongs to the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of the British Virgin Island that doesn’t retain users’ data under the data retention laws nor is a part of the global surveillance alliance. Also, the VPN provider has a verified no-log policy which means that the VPN provider is safe and reliable to use.
It also has an extensive server network that’s spread in 60 countries. Also, the speed test result shows that it offers the fastest server connection. When it comes to protecting your privacy and security, ExpressVPN is no less. It uses strong encryption and security protocols. Moreover, it offers private DNS servers, trusted DNS technology, RAM-only servers, and a kill switch feature that enhances your online security.
The dedicated VPN app is easy to install and use. The interface is well organized and clean. You can easily navigate through the options even if you’re using them for the first time. With ExpressVPN, you can unblock US Netflix and other popular streaming platforms.
Even with such fast and consistent speed, you can access games of any region. With a single ExpressVPN account, you can connect up to five simultaneous connections, and you can avail of all these benefits for $8.23/m. But, since ExpressVPN doesn’t offer any ad-blocker, you have to use the best ad-blockers to prevent ads.
4. Surfshark VPN
- Affordable price
- VPN leak protection
- Privacy-friendly jurisdiction
- Camouflage mode
- Easy-to-use app
The next on our list is the Surfshark VPN, which comes with excellent features at an affordable price. The VPN provider offers a decent server network with no slow speed issues. The speeds are ideal for streaming, browsing, and playing online games. Like ExpressVPN, it also belongs to the British Virgin Islands, which falls outside the jurisdiction of the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and 14 Eyes alliance. Moreover, it follows a no-log policy and has a third-party log audit report to prove its stance. All this is enough to ensure that Surfshark VPN is reliable for Android phones.
The VPN provider doesn’t compromise on providing top-notch security and online protection. It uses robust encryption and various privacy-enhancing features to strengthen your online security. The VPN does offer the camouflage mode that ensures an ad-free browsing experience. Other than this, Surfshark comes with a kill switch, multi-hop, dedicated IP address, and Tor over VPN feature.
Besides this, the VPN provider offers a clean intuitive, dedicated VPN app that’s light in weight and is easy to use. With the obfuscated servers, you can bypass censorship and access the blocked streaming content. You can use a single subscription of Surfshark VPN on unlimited devices for just $2.49/m.
5. ProtonVPN
- Safe jurisdiction
- Verified log audit report
- VPN leak protection
- Wide server network
- Free plan
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs for Android. It is based in Switzerland, a secure jurisdiction with strong privacy laws. It also has an extensive network of servers in 69 countries, all of which are owned by Proton, which means that user traffic is never in the hands of third parties. Proton VPN’s Android app is well-designed and easy to use.
It offers a variety of features, including a kill switch, split tunneling, and a map interface. It also has a landscape mode, which is helpful for tablet users. One of the VPN’s standout features is its Secure Core technology. It adds an extra layer of security by routing user traffic through a very secure Proton VPN server in Sweden, Iceland, or Switzerland before connecting to the destination of choice. The VPN also has a strict no logs policy that is backed by a log audit report.
It offers good connection speeds for streaming, gaming, and torrenting. Moreover, It provides a free plan with unlimited data and no ads. This is a great way to try the service before committing to a paid subscription. Overall, Proton VPN is an excellent choice for users who are looking for a secure and reliable VPN for Android.
Are free Android VPNs safe to use?
Free VPN providers might be tempting, but they often come with substantial security vulnerabilities. It is considered wiser to invest in a paid VPN option than relying on a free one. Free VPNs lack critical security and privacy features like a kill switch and IPleak protection. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that a free VPN will employ military-grade encryption to shield your data effectively. Sometimes, these VPNs may fail to encrypt your data traffic, exposing you to your ISP and other prying eyes.
Moreover, free VPNs typically have limited server networks, leading to connection lags and buffering issues while you are browsing. They’re not great for streaming or online gaming. Free VPNs are notorious for sharing your data with advertisers and third parties to make money. Moreover, using a free VPN can ruin your browsing experience with intrusive and potentially malicious ads.
For all these reasons, opting for a premium VPN is strongly recommended to ensure your online security and privacy remain intact while enjoying a seamless browsing experience.
Is It Worth Using a VPN on Android?
The best VPN for Android comes with great benefits. They help in preventing ISP tracking and surveillance and ensure a safe browsing experience. Moreover, you can stream and download games without any restrictions and without worrying about your online privacy. Most importantly, by encrypting the data, the VPN providers reduce the threats and risks that Android OS faces so, therefore, it is worth investing in the best VPN for Androids.
How to Setup a VPN for Android?
If you want to install a VPN on Android, then make sure you know the proper steps. Here are the step-by-step instructions for setting a VPN on Android:
- Select any VPN from the list mentioned above and subscribe to it.
- Sign up for an account.
- Download the VPN app from the VPN’s official site or through Google PlayStore. Get done with the installation process.
- Launch the VPN app.
- Sign in to your account
- Choose a server and tap to connect.
Within a few seconds, you will be connected to a VPN and can browse the web in the way you want.
Does Android have a built-in VPN? Is it safe to use?
Android does come with a built-in VPN client. However, it’s important to note that this built-in VPN relies on outdated VPN protocols like PPTP, L2TP/IPSec, and IPSec, and they are not as safe as modern protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard. Moreover, the built-in VPN client lacks several features commonly found in third-party VPN apps, including ad-blocking and malware protection.
If you’re considering using a VPN on your Android device, opting for a third-party VPN app from a reputable provider is strongly advisable. These third-party apps offer many advantages over the built-in client, including enhanced security, improved privacy, faster speeds, additional features like ad blocking and malware protection, and more reliable customer support.
If you prioritize your online privacy and security, investing in a paid third-party VPN app from a trustworthy provider is recommended.
Final Thoughts
Bolstering up your Android device security is imperative to safeguard your digital presence. A VPN is a crucial security tool that adds an additional layer of protection and privacy to your online activities. But with the countless VPN providers available on PlayStore, finding the best one is tricky. We have mentioned some of the best Android VPNs above that are known for providing robust security and privacy features to protect you. So, consider using any of them to secure your online presence from looming threats.
FAQs on Best Android VPNs
While free VPNs may seem enticing, they have significant security and privacy limitations. It is always best to use a reputable paid VPN for proper protection.
In 2023, some of the best safe VPNs include NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and ProtonVPN. These providers are known for their robust security features and commitment to user privacy.
A mobile VPN is designed for mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets. It encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, which helps protect your privacy and security online.
A VPN on Android encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, which helps to protect your privacy and security online. It can also help you to access geo-blocked content.
You can download a VPN app from the Google Play Store to get a VPN on your Android device. Or you can choose a VPN and download the dedicated app from its official website. Many different VPN apps are available, so be sure to choose one from a reputable provider.
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a technology that encrypts your internet traffic to help you protect your privacy and security online. It also allows you to access geo-blocked content and bypass internet censorship.
Whether a VPN logs your information depends on the VPN provider. If you are concerned about your privacy, choosing a VPN provider with a guaranteed no-logs policy is essential.
