With so many VPN apps for Android 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 features to consider when choosing a VPN for Android:
Privacy
No matter which VPN you use on Android or any other device, the minimum consideration is that it protects your privacy. Look for a VPN that uses standard AES 256-bit encryption over the OpenVPN protocol, or ChaCha20 over WireGuard or IKEv2. These protocols have received intensive scrutiny from the open source community and are highly trusted, so you can rely on them to keep your data private.
You’ll also need to look at a few privacy features. Any serious VPN provider will provide you with a kill switch, which kills your internet connection if you are unexpectedly disconnected from your VPN, keeping your IP address and internet activity private. You’ll also want to look for DNS leak protection and an audited no-logging policy. An independent audit is one of the best ways to check whether a VPN provider is truly committed to 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.
For important privacy needs — such as if you’re an investigative journalist, asylum seeker or political activist — you’ll also want a VPN provider that’s based on privacy and provides anonymity. Obfuscation works to hide the fact that you are 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, and multihop connectivity, which encrypts your traffic twice with two separate VPN servers rather than one.
Speed
The speed performance of your VPN can have a significant impact on activities such as 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 little impact on your normal internet speed as possible. A fast VPN should only slow down your internet download speed by an average of 25% or less, where the fastest VPN we tested only slowed it down by 3%. Keep in mind that you may end up with slower speeds and worse latency if you connect to a server far away from your current location. It’s a good idea to check the VPN provider’s server location list before you commit to make sure there’s a server near you.
Usability
A good VPN for Android should work well and be easy to use, no matter how technical you are. It should have all the features you need easily accessible with the tap of your finger. Most Android VPN apps also include an easy way to contact support directly from the device, which can be useful if you need help on the go. Your VPN for Android should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably no matter where you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from different regions.
Costs
VPN prices can vary 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. In general, you can expect to spend around $5 to $15 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can choose an annual subscription, where introductory prices range from about $30 to $100 for the first year and renewal prices come to about $50 to $150 per year. Be careful with free VPNs because you can end up compromising your privacy instead of protecting it. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN recommended by CNET.
You can find many other free VPNs out there, especially for mobile platforms. But it is very difficult to confirm that most of them have no-logs policies. Especially in the case of completely free VPNs, they often make money by using your data by showing you ads or selling your browsing data to marketing companies. In the worst cases, spyware is just spyware masquerading as VPNs that hackers use to collect your data for identity 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.
You have a few ways to try out a VPN before you sign up for one, especially if you’re more concerned about Android devices. It’s not uncommon for a VPN provider to offer some kind of money-back guarantee if you’re not happy with the service, which usually covers anywhere between the first week to 45 days of signing up. Note: You must check the terms in advance to make sure you are eligible for a refund. Some providers won’t give you a refund unless there’s a clear technical problem with the VPN, while others will refund your money with no questions asked.
PlayStore also offers the option to try the VPN with a seven-day trial, which most VPN providers offer when you sign up. Again, you need to be creative here. You will be billed to your payment details linked to the Google Play Store at the end of the free trial period; depending on the provider, you may be locked into the plan for a year or longer. If you are not happy with the service, be sure to fully unsubscribe and delete the app before your trial period ends.
Broadcasting
While VPNs are privacy tools first and foremost, they are also great for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. Because you can make apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer register your connection as coming from somewhere else, you can watch libraries of foreign content, and maybe even save money by using a VPN to stream. For streaming on Android phones, tablets or Android TV boxes, you may want to consider one of the best VPNs for Netflix or the best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video.