Sometimes you look for a good VPN for mobile devices. Some people work especially from their smartphone, access bank accounts or other private data from this device, etc. That is why they need a more secure encrypted navigation. Therefore, you should know about some of the best VPN services out there for the Android platform.
Furthermore, choosing a VPN for Android would imply paying special attention to speed from service. And it is that, although many mobile devices are constantly connected to WiFi networks at home or at work, sometimes the data rate is simply used. Although mobile connectivity is currently fast, there is not always adequate coverage and the service can slow down, even more so if you hire a slow VPN...
Selection of the 10 best VPNs for Android
There are many VPN services with compatible clients for Android, many of them have their own app available for download from Google Play. But not all offer the same, that's why you have to know these recommendations:
Our favorite VPNs
NordVPN
CyberGhost
Surfshark
Security | Privacy | Speed | Connected devices | Featured | App on Google Play | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ExpressVPN | AES-256 encryption
Tor Compatible Kill Switch | No logs
RAM servers | Quick | 5 simultaneous | Very secure and works well with streaming services. | Yes, free. |
NordVPN | AES-256
Double encryption Compatible with Onions Kill Switch | No logs
obfuscated servers | Very fast | 6 simultaneous | The fastest, optimization for P2P, good performance with streaming services. | yes free |
CyberGhost | AES-256
Built-in malware blocking Kill Switch | Strict no-logging policy | Quick | 7 simultaneous | Easy for beginners, profiles dedicated to streaming and torrent. | yes free |
Surfshark | AES-256
Clean Web security software Kill Switch | Strict no-logging policy | Quick | Unlimited | Many functions, very friendly with streaming services and P2P. | yes free |
VPN by Private Internet Access | AES-256
Antimalware and antitracking Kill Switch | No logs | Quick | 10 simultaneous | Affordable, and excellent compatibility with streaming services. | yes free |
PrivateVPN | AES-256 with 2048-bit DH Key | No logs | Good | 6 simultaneous | Simple and friendly, with a good system for P2P and streaming. | yes free |
VyprVPN | AES-256
NAT firewall Kill Switch | No logs | Good | 3 simultaneous | Best for bypassing blocked services or avoiding censorship thanks to its unique Chamaleon protocol. | yes free |
IPVanish | AES-256
DNS leak protection | Strict no-logging policy | Good | 10 simultaneous | Great support for users and very easy to use. It works well with streaming services. | yes free |
ZenMate | AES-256
Built-in tracking and anti-malware | Strict no-logging policy | Good | 5 simultaneous | Great integration with Windows, and very friendly for streaming services and P2P downloads. | yes free |
WindScribe | AES-256 | Strong no-logging policy | Good | Unlimited | Optimized for Netflix thanks to its Windflix optimized servers. It is also very torrent friendly. | yes free |
Everything you need to know about your VPN for Android
For Choosing a VPN for Android Properly, you need to recognize what are the highlights of one of these services to ensure that the provider is giving you a good product. Those points are:
- Safety: It is the most important thing, since the majority of users who hire a VPN do so to increase the security of their browsing. Therefore, always choose services that have strong encryption such as AES-256, and also make use of other protocols and tunnels such as OpenVPN, L2TP/Ipsec, Wireguard, like most of the Top10 services highlighted above.
- Speed: Especially important when it comes to mobile devices, which are often connected to LTE networks that do not have the capabilities of fiber optics. Although 4G and 5G have a very fast speed, but the coverage may not be the best at all times, so speed has to be a vital thing to choose a good VPN for Android. Otherwise, when connecting the VPN will slow down and in case your data rate is slow, the performance can be really insufferable.
- Versatility– Not every user needs an all-rounder VPN with full-featured coverage, but you should at least make sure it has what you're looking for. For example, if you want it to access certain restricted content, make sure that the service provides you with an IP from the country where that service is allowed. Or if you are going to use it for Netflix for, for example, your Android TV Box, make sure that it can work well with these streaming platforms. In general, on a mobile you will not need P2P or .torrent downloads, so it would be secondary.
- App: It is important that you have a client app for Android. All Top10 services have it on Google Play, another point in its favor. You will simply have to install the app from the store and you can easily connect to the VPN. Keep in mind that if it is on Google Play it will be better than if they have a native Android app but you have to install it by downloading it from the provider's website (third-party sources). The reason is that these types of apps are not verified or go through Google filters, and could be malicious.
- Kill Switch: It is important that the Android app has a Kill Switch function. Many of the VPNs may have it for their PC client and do without it on the mobile client. In the ones shown above, some like PrivateVPN and IPVanish do not have it integrated for Android, which can be a disadvantage in certain situations. What Kill Switch does is that if the VPN service gets disconnected for any reason, it will cut off your Internet connection automatically. In this way, it allows you to rest assured that all the traffic you send or receive is encrypted. When this function is not available, it could happen that the service stops responding and you continue browsing as if nothing had happened, with the peace of mind that you are still protected by your VPN, but this is not the case. That is, a false sense of security...
- Technical support: It is important that they have good support for users. Most offer 24/7 customer support, so if you have a problem you can get help.
- Price: Most VPN services for Android are affordable, although some are cheaper than others, such as NordVPN. In addition, they have the possibility of paying through various payment methods so that you can choose the one you prefer. Some of the apps on Google Play also allow payment through the service built into Android, which is also convenient if you don't already have a subscription prior to installing the app.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
When it comes to a VPN for Android, they are sure to come to mind any doubts beyond the choice of your VPN. Here I will show you some frequently asked questions that users have and the answer to solve your uncertainty.
Do I really need a VPN on an Android device?
To improve the security and privacy in your navigations it is important to use a VPN just like you do with your PC. And of course, they are very useful to unblock certain restricted apps in your geographical area, or access streaming content blocked in your country, etc.
Also keep in mind that if you are looking for a good level of security and privacy and you are protecting everything except your mobile devices, then there will be a weak link through which you can penetrate and attack the network. So the ideal is that protect all your devices equally.
but I go something beyond, and it is that today the mobile has almost become our work agenda, the way in which you make payments, check bank details, send documents, have work conversations, etc. Therefore, mobile devices handle a large amount of sensitive information, even more than a PC in some cases. Therefore, you should seriously consider using a VPN to be protected.
How do I get my VPN working on Android?
You do not need technical knowledge to get it started. In general, it is as simple as following these simple steps to be enjoying the VPN service on your Android:
- Download the app of the chosen VPN from the Google Play Store.
- Open the application.
- will ask you to do login entering the details of your VPN service. If you do not have it, it will guide you so that you can register and pay.
- Once you have it, from the app it will show you a button or option so you can turn VPN on or off at your whim As simple as that, although you can also make some changes in the configuration, such as choosing an IP from a specific country, etc.
Should you choose a free VPN service?
Paid VPN services always offer a better quality than the free ones. Free VPNs have limitations on the number of devices connected simultaneously, which is usually one; in the amount of data traffic per day or per month, which is usually from 100MB to 500MB per month; or in other services offered (they will not work for streaming, P2P, torrent,…).
Besides that, be careful, as some paid services offer a free trial registration. But these types of services hide behind small print that is not always favorable for the client. For example, some use resources from their free users to give them to paying users, so they will be taking performance away from you to give it to other clients, or they will show a lot of annoying ads, and they could even record your activity to be able to use it to get some kind of benefit in exchange for the free service.
Beware of some Android apps that claim to be VPNs and are totally free. These types of apps do not really hide a VPN behind, but simply they are proxies They will simply encrypt the data when you browse from the app itself, but if you leave it and use any other app connected to the network, it will be fully exposed.
Is it legal to use a VPN?
It is totally legal in most parts of the world. There are only a few exceptions in countries like China, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Turkey, Oman, North Korea, or the United Arab Emirates. But in the rest of the countries it is something totally legal. What is illegal is what you, under your responsibility, can do with it. That is, if you use it to carry out cyber attacks or pirated downloads, then it is obviously a crime...
Can I use the same VPN on my Android on my PC as well?
YesIn fact, most VPN services have client applications for most operating systems, such as Linux, Windows, macOS, as well as iOS, Android, and even for smart TVs in some cases or to configure them on your router. There are even extensions for browsers like Chrome/Chromium, Firefox, Opera, etc.
As you can see in the Top10, with a single subscription you can have them connected multiple devices simultaneously. Therefore, with a single payment you will be able to connect several platforms without problem to protect all the equipment in your home or office.