The best VPN for Android will keep all of your mobile-based internet activities private and discreet. Our phones are one of the main ways that we access the internet these days, so it only makes sense for us to protect our privacy while we do so.
So which is the best VPN for Android? Well, good question. There are loads of VPN providers after all, and who has time to look over all of them? Apart from us (since that’s our job). To save you the arduous task of checking the details of an endless list of providers, we’ve picked out four stand-out choices for you to consider.
Below, we’ve got overviews of these VPN providers for you, detailing the unique benefits that each of them provide. Our top pick is ExpressVPN (you can find out why below) and we’ve highlighted the benefits of the others too (e.g. which is the fastest VPN). It goes without saying that each of these has its own dedicated Android app.
The best VPNs for Android are:
- ExpressVPN – best for Android
- Ivacy VPN – best price
- Surfshark – best for unlimited devices
- NordVPN – fastest VPN
- Atlas VPN – best free option
1. The best VPN for Android
If you want the best VPN for Android, then our top recommendation is ExpressVPN, which is generally one of the best VPN providers overall. Part of this comes down to the fact that is has more than 3,000 servers available across over 90 different countries, providing an impressive range.
Speaking of its thousands of servers, another reason this service is so appealing is that it refreshes its IP addresses at a much more frequent rate than many other VPN providers. It also uses a selection of protocols (including Lightway, OpenVPN, and IKEv2) and then determines which one will be best to use in order to maximise performance for your network. It may be a slightly more expensive VPN service, but it’s a case of getting what you pay for.
2. The cheapest Android VPN
For those who are seeking a comprehensive VPN package that’s as cheap as can be, we recommend Ivacy VPN. We have an exclusive deal for our readers that allows you to get five years of cover from this VPN provider for what works out as just $1 per month – that’s $60 paid in one go, and then no worries about VPN expenses for half a decade afterward. Gosh, you’ll probably change phones more than once in that period.
Ivacy VPN offers a substantial service. With military-grade 256-bit encryption, it’ll keep your online search history as private as possible. Meanwhile, with over 5,700 servers spread out across over 100 countries, it has a larger range than any of the other providers mentioned on this list. Naturally, it also has super-handy Android app too.
3. The best VPN for unlimited devices
Just as a shark has a seemingly unlimited number of teeth as you stare into its gaping maw, Surfshark allows you to have an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. That’s particularly handy for anyone who has a large household that they want to keep private online – and though you might expect that to be quite an expensive service, it remains a relatively cheap VPN, and one that has a VPN free trial for anybody who wants to test the waters before committing.
Surfshark customers have a selection of over 3,200 servers to choose from, which are spread between 65 countries. If you want to download region-exclusive games, or get region-exclusive bonuses in games you already play, this should make it easy for you to do so. Meanwhile, as it is compatible with most major streaming services, we’d say that it’s one of the best VPNs for streaming too. You could use it to turn your phone into an international entertainment centre.
4. The fastest VPN
NordVPN is a provider that probably needs no introduction, but we’re going to introduce it anyway because we don’t want to make assumptions. Since its humble origins back in 2012, NordVPN has grown to become one of the biggest fish in the VPN pond, offering one of the fastest VPN services you’ll ever find.
NordVPN has over 5,000 servers across 60 different countries, and boasts an average server speeds of 65.79Mbit/s. This might come in particularly handy if you’re planning to use it to relocate yourself to other countries in Pokémon GO, where you’re not going to want to deal with lag as soon as a shiny regional Pokémon appears.
5. The best free VPN
Not everybody has room in their budget to pay for a VPN service, and if that’s the case for you, then you might want to consider using Atlas VPN. As a free VPN service, it might not have as many features to boast of when compared to the paid services, but that’s not to say that it doesn’t offer something pretty substantial.
If you’re not entirely sold on the idea of getting an Android VPN yet, then you could almost look at the free plan as a kind of trial. It’ll give you a taste of what using a VPN is like, but if the three free servers aren’t enough, and the monthly 10GB data cap is too restrictive, then you know it’s time to upgrade to one of Atlas VPN’s paid plans. The features listed below are for the paid plans.
| Atlas VPN features | |
| Locations | 750 servers in 37 locations |
|---|---|
| Services unblocked | Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, YouTube |
| Free trial length | Free version available |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
| Router support | No |
We hope that this is a useful point of reference for anyone seeking out an Android VPN. We put this list together by carefully considering the strengths of the different providers and weighing them against one another, and against the needs of different Android users. ExpressVPN is our sincere top pick, but we understand that some of the other providers listed here may be more appropriate for some readers.
Still want to scope out the market a bit more? Check out our guide on the best mobile VPN for a more comprehensive list of suggestions. If you’re an Apple fan, you might find our guide on the best VPN for iPhone useful.
