Over the previous few years we’ve examined an excellent variety of VPN companies for the PC and compiled them into an inventory of our greatest VPN picks. However with every of our opinions we additionally do in depth VPN testing for Android apps. Whereas some companies are good on any platform, others significantly shine when used on Android units, and we’ve curated an inventory of our favorites that will help you select.
When figuring out the perfect VPNs for Android, we contemplate a number of standards. First, it’s essential that it’s a prime performer on the OS. Additionally, since Wi-Fi could be inconsistent at occasions, we check these apps over a number of days to take a look at velocity and consistency of service. Lastly, we thought of the Android app itself and its ease of use, in addition to different issues equivalent to pricing and the variety of simultaneous units allowed per account. All of those components assist us decide the perfect Android VPNs offered under.
Why you need to belief us: Right here at PCWorld we’ve been testing pc {hardware}, software program, and companies because the Nineteen Eighties. We’re regularly testing all the main VPNs in the marketplace and lots of lesser-known companies with a purpose to curate an inventory of the perfect VPNs throughout a wide range of classes. For a extra in-depth information, you possibly can take a look at our article on how we check VPN companies at PCWorld. Under you’ll discover our favourite VPNs and extra details about how we check these companies in addition to useful recommendation about what to search for when selecting a VPN in your Android machine by yourself.
With out additional ado, listed below are our suggestions for the perfect VPNs for Android.
Up to date March 28, 2024: Take a look at our newest assessment of AVG Safe VPN. With an easy-to-use Android app, this VPN from a trusted safety model does the fundamentals proper however lacks extra superior options for energy customers.
NordVPN – Greatest Android VPN total
Professionals
- Nice function set
- Glorious speeds
- No-logs coverage
- Engaging and intuitive interface
Why we like NordVPN
NordVPN is definitely one of the crucial fashionable VPN companies round. The corporate presents over 60 nation places with 5,000+ servers. It additionally guarantees that its service will work with Netflix. Whereas it doesn’t provide devoted servers for this, as a substitute, Netflix is simply imagined to work irrespective of which server you’re on, and in our assessments it at all times did.
Its Android app is much like the desktop app in that it has the identical type of map that you should use to pick a location. The remainder of the app may be very cellular pleasant with a movable carousel of fashionable places, and a full nation record beneath. The Android app additionally helps Nord’s specialty servers for P2P file sharing, Meshnet, and double-hop VPNs. NordVPN additionally presents top-notch safety features with ad-blocking and malware safety as nicely.
NordVPN has a thrice-verified no-logs coverage and good track-record for each privateness and safety. It’s a higher-priced VPN, but it surely’s additionally feature-filled, and quick. In our assessments, Nord maintained almost 73 p.c of the bottom web velocity, which is excellent.
Who can purchase NordVPN
Those that have an Android cellphone or different machine and desire a VPN ought to place NordVPN on the prime of their record. Not solely will you get the nice total options that come from a prime service like NordVPN, however the Android app can also be one of the crucial intuitive and easy-to-use we’ve ever seen.
Learn our full NordVPN assessment
ExpressVPN – Greatest Android VPN runner-up
Professionals
- Very easy-to-use app
- Glorious speeds
Cons
- Logs information switch quantities
- Larger-priced possibility
Why we like ExpressVPN
Combining ease of use with its glorious speeds, ExpressVPN is a good selection for everybody. In our assessments, ExpressVPN maintained 72.14 p.c of the bottom velocity, which is superb and earned it a spot amongst our very quickest VPNs. Switching places is as simple as tapping on the tile beneath the on/off button on the prime. When the VPN shouldn’t be lively the app background is pink, and when the VPN is linked the background turns inexperienced.
ExpressVPN for Android additionally helps break up tunneling, auto-connect, and a kill change to assist preserve privateness ought to the VPN connection drop.
This VPN is bit expensive and never fairly as consumer pleasant as NordVPN and that’s why it narrowly missed out on the highest spot. Regardless it’s nonetheless a incredible possibility and comes with huge help in case you have different non-Android units as nicely. Categorical VPN prices about $100 for the primary 15 months for the multi-device subscription.
Who can purchase ExpressVPN
Similar to NordVPN, we expect that ExpressVPN is a prime choose for nearly everybody. And since ExpressVPN helps nearly each machine you possibly can think about, it’s an amazing possibility for many who rock many alternative units with completely different working methods and wish to be protected on all of them.
Learn our full ExpressVPN assessment
CyberGhost – Greatest Android VPN for rookies
Professionals
- Simple-to-use interface
- Independently verified no-log coverage
- Severely spectacular server unfold
Cons
- Lacks some frequent options equivalent to multi-hop and double VPN
- Server speeds are hit-or-miss, particularly in Asia
Why we like CyberGhost VPN
One other sensible choice for newcomers is CyberGhost from Kape Applied sciences. This VPN has a really intuitive and pleasant design. It has a easy on/off button on the prime of the app, and beneath that’s the tile the place you possibly can choose the nation location. Tapping on the nation location possibility takes you to an inventory the place you possibly can select a connection primarily based on the nation, or you possibly can select a streaming location, or select from your personal favorites record. In our assessments, CyberGhost maintained respectable sufficient speeds to do most actions you’d need with a VPN equivalent to internet shopping and streaming.
That’s about all there’s to this app, which makes it a superb possibility for first timers. For the total program CyberGhost expenses $56.94 for a single 12 months, or you possibly can pay by the month for $12.99.
Who can purchase CyberGhost VPN
VPN newbies and novices will love how simple CyberGhost’s Android app is to make use of. Plus, the value is cheaper than some alternate options, which suggests you gained’t have to fret about paying further for area of interest options that you could be by no means use.
Learn our full CyberGhost VPN assessment
Mullvad – Greatest Android VPN for privateness
Professionals
- Glorious privateness measures
- Most suitable choice for pseudo-anonymity
Cons
- Not as many further options as different choices
- Not assured to work with Netflix
Why we like Mullvad VPN
It’s no shock to see Mullvad as our best choice for privateness. It’s merely unbeatable relating to staying as nameless and personal on-line as attainable whereas utilizing a VPN. Not like most different companies, Mullvad doesn’t even ask in your e mail deal with. As a substitute, it generates a random account quantity and you then use that to log in and pay for the service. The service will even settle for money, in addition to Bitcoin, PayPal, and bank card providing you with a good wider variety of choices to remain as nameless as attainable.
Mullvad guarantees it gained’t observe your shopping habits (as all of the companies on this roundup do), and it has good speeds. In our assessments, Mullvad for Android maintained round 57 p.c of the bottom velocity. That’s inferior to among the different companies, but it surely’s positively ok for many makes use of. Mullvad expenses €5 per thirty days, which at this writing was a bit of over $5.
Who can purchase Mullvad VPN
If privateness is your primary concern whereas utilizing a VPN than you possibly can’t go fallacious with Mullvad. Your anonymity will stay intact from the time you enroll and pay for the service all through your time utilizing the service. It might not have all the fancy options of our prime picks on this record, however you possibly can relaxation assured your privateness will at all times be Mullvad’s prime precedence.
Learn our full Mullvad assessment
ProtonVPN – Greatest VPN for privateness runner-up
Professionals
- Good speeds, however inferior to on Home windows
- Plenty of options
Why we like ProtonVPN
If Mullvad isn’t your velocity then one other stable selection for privateness is ProtonVPN. This service is only one half of a bigger suite of companies that features ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonDrive. You don’t need to subscribe to every thing as ProtonVPN is out there as a standalone service, although you may get a cope with ProtonMail if you happen to like. In our assessments, ProtonVPN maintained round 56 p.c of the bottom velocity. It has a large variety of nation decisions, its privateness coverage makes all the correct guarantees, and it helps Netflix streaming, TOR over VPN, and P2P on particular servers. It additionally has a safety function known as Safe Core you could examine on the corporate’s website. ProtonVPN expenses $71.88 for the primary 12 months.
Who can purchase ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is one other nice possibility for the privacy-conscious. The one actual distinction between this and Mullvad VPN is that you will want to register with an e mail deal with and supply an deal with upon sign-up. Other than that although, ProtonVPN does an outstanding job of defending your anonymity and privateness.
Learn our full ProtonVPN assessment
How we examined
We choose VPNs on a wide range of standards together with server community, connection speeds, privateness protections, ease-of-use, further options, and value. For a extra detailed information on how we check, take a look at our information on how we check VPN companies. We take the identical method on Android as we do on Home windows.
Velocity assessments are saved so simple as attainable. We common the connections between completely different international places for any given VPN after which examine them to our baseline web velocity to get an excellent image of the general connection speeds. We totally analysis and analyze the privateness insurance policies and histories of every VPN and notice any excellent discrepancies or information assortment points.
Expertise and ease-of-use are subjective, however we strive our greatest to present an correct illustration of the way it feels to work with the VPN. And eventually, we decide the worth of the service primarily based upon its value and extra options in comparison with the business common that will help you acquire an correct image of what you’ll get in your cash.
What to search for in a VPN for Android
One of many first issues you need to search for when procuring round for a VPN is the variety of servers and places. It’s tough to evaluate any VPN by only one function, however a semi-reliable approach to inform if a VPN is even price your time is to take a look at the server community. Something with 1,000 or extra servers and 30 or extra nation places will do.
The subsequent factor to think about is a VPN’s velocity. This can be difficult to do because you aren’t seemingly to have the ability to check connection speeds with out paying to make use of the service. Studying opinions on-line gives you a normal estimate. Search for opinions, like ours, that provide you with a relative common of connection speeds relatively than direct Mbps velocity comparisons.
You’ll additionally wish to learn up on a VPN’s privateness protections. Does it have a no-logs coverage? Has it undergone any impartial audits of its servers? The place is the VPN firm positioned? All of those gives you an thought of whether or not or not a VPN is clear with its information assortment insurance policies and if it’s topic to authorities information sharing necessities.
Different components you’ll wish to think about are the general ease-of-use, consumer expertise, and any further options. A few of these options, equivalent to split-tunneling and kill switches, could be extraordinarily helpful for sure functions and would possibly sway your subscription determination by hook or by crook.
Lastly, as with all subscription companies, you’ll wish to assessment the value of a VPN service. Would you like a month-to-month or yearly subscription? Some prime VPNs could be expensive month-to-month, however truly turn into fairly reasonably priced with long-term plans.
That’s it for our roundup of the highest Android VPNs. In order for you to try extra VPN companies take a look at PCWorld’s finest VPN roundup. Whereas the opinions are centered on PC, nearly all the companies we’ve coated provide an Android app as nicely.
FAQ
What’s a VPN?
A VPN, in any other case referred to as a digital non-public community, disguises your identification and encrypts your web visitors whereas shopping. As well as, you possibly can connect with VPN servers all internationally. So if you wish to entry location restricted content material like streaming companies, you possibly can connect with the suitable nation’s server and acquire entry to that nation’s particular content material.
How does a VPN work?
A VPN successfully hides your IP deal with by redirecting it by a distant server hosted by the VPN firm. If anybody is watching, the VPN server then seems to be the supply of your information as a substitute of your self. These distant servers could be positioned each in your personal nation in addition to in numerous international locations around the globe. Moreover, your community visitors out of your pc to the VPN is encrypted including an additional layer of privateness.
In case you are linked to a VPN whereas shopping the web, the VPN will act as a type of intermediary between your pc and an internet site. When your pc sends a request to the VPN, it then passes it alongside to an internet site. The web site in return, sends its response again to the VPN, which forwards it through a safe connection all the way in which to your pc.
Are VPNs authorized to make use of?
Sure! In the USA in addition to most international locations, utilizing a VPN is authorized. You could discover that sure web sites attempt to block VPN connections, however they’re nonetheless okay to make use of. It’s best to know although, whereas utilizing a VPN is authorized, among the actions accomplished whereas utilizing a VPN could be unlawful. Actions equivalent to downloading pirated copyrighted content material or accessing darkish internet markets are each unlawful with and and not using a VPN.