With so many Android VPN apps 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 factors to consider when choosing a VPN for Android:
Privacy
No matter which VPN you use, the bare minimum for consideration is that it protects your privacy. Look for a VPN that uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption over the OpenVPN protocol, or ChaCha20 over WireGuard or IKEv2. These protocols have received intense scrutiny from the open-source community and are trusted by thousands of enterprises worldwide, so you can trust them to keep your data away from prying eyes while in transit.
There are also a few privacy features you’ll need to look out for. Most serious providers offer a kill switch, which stops your data from leaking over an insecure connection if you suddenly get cut off from your VPN provider. Be warned, you’ll need to look carefully — even if a provider claims they offer a kill switch, they might not offer it for Android. DNS leak protection is also essential — it stops your device from sending unencrypted website requests so your ISP can’t tell what apps or websites you use and visit. You’ll also want to look for a no-logs policy. It’s vital for your privacy that your provider states clearly that it doesn’t record your internet traffic, like the IP address you’re connecting from or the sites you’re using. Reading through its privacy policy can help, but the best thing to do is look for a VPN that regularly undergoes third-party audits. These audits are one of the best ways to assess whether or not a VPN provider is truly invested in keeping your data private.
If you’re a power user, you may appreciate advanced features like split tunneling, which lets you use a VPN for some traffic but not others. For instance, you can route your Chrome web browser through a VPN for streaming Netflix in a browser, while downloading a game from Steam without a VPN connection for faster speeds, all on the same computer.
For critical privacy needs — like if you’re an investigative journalist, asylum seeker, political activist or concerned torrent-user — you’ll also want a VPN provider that’s based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation and has a RAM-only server architecture. Obfuscation tries to disguise the fact that you’re using a VPN server by changing how the internet traffic looks so an outside observer only sees normal HTTPS browsing traffic. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities for additional encryption, ad and tracker blockers and multihop connections, which encrypt your data more than a single VPN server.
Speed
The speed of your VPN can have a major effect on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming and general web browsing. To keep things running as smoothly as possible, you’ll want to look for a VPN that has as minimal an impact on your regular internet speeds as possible. The fastest VPNs we’ve tested only drop your internet download speeds by an average of 25%, with the snappiest VPNs delivering a lightning-quick less than 15% average internet download speed loss. Keep in mind that you might end up with a slower speed and worse latency if it’s particularly far away from your current location. It’s worth checking out a VPN provider’s server location list before you commit to make sure there’s a server relatively close to you.
Usability
A good Android VPN should run smoothly and be easy to use regardless of your technical expertise. It should have all of the features you need easily accessible with a tap of your finger. Many Android VPN apps also include an easy way to get in touch with support directly from the device, which can be helpful if you need assistance on the go. Your Android VPN should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably from wherever you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from various regions.
Cost
VPN pricing varies 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. Typically, you can expect to spend about $5 to $13 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where prices can range from roughly $30 to $100 per year. Be careful with free VPNs because you may end up putting your privacy at risk instead of protecting it. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends.
There are a lot of other free VPNs out there, especially on mobile platforms. Unfortunately, it’s very hard to confirm whether most of them have sensible no-logs policies. Especially in the case of completely free VPNs, they tend to monetize your data use by showing you ads or selling your browsing data to marketing companies. In the very worst cases, they’re just spyware apps masquerading as VPNs that hackers use to scoop up your passwords and bank account details for identity theft 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.
Most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee that can be anywhere from a week to 45 days. You can also get a seven-day free trial with many VPNs when you sign up through the Play Store. So you’ll most likely have options to try various Android VPNs risk-free before you decide whether to fully invest in one.
Streaming
Many folks use a VPN for privacy, but virtual private networks are also great for streaming service geo-unblocking. Because you can make apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer think you’re in another location — like the UK or Canada — you can watch foreign content libraries. By unlocking international video libraries, you may even be able to save money using a VPN for streaming. For streaming on Android phones, tablets or Android TV boxes, you’ll want one of the best VPNs for Netflix so you can catch up on Squid Game and Bridgerton or best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video, which can help you get your Cross fix.
