With so many Android VPN apps available, it can be difficult to choose the right solution. Based on our extensive research and practical testing of VPNs over the years, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN for Android:
confidentiality
It doesn’t matter which VPN you use on Android or any other device, the minimum thing to consider is that it protects your privacy. Look for a VPN that uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption on the OpenVPN protocol, or WireGuard or Chacha20 on ICAEV2. These protocols have received intense scrutiny from the open-source community and are widely trusted, so you can rely on them to keep your data private.
You also need to pay attention to some privacy features. Any serious VPN provider will offer a kill switch that shuts down your Internet connection if you’re unexpectedly disconnected from your VPN, keeping your IP address and online activity private. You’ll also want to look for DNS leak protection and an audited no-logs policy. Independent audits are one of the best ways to assess 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 those with significant 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 in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and offers obscurity. It works to hide the fact that you are using a VPN by disguising your VPN traffic as normal HTTPS browsing traffic.
Additional privacy features worth looking for include Tor over VPN capabilities for an extra layer of privacy, and multihop connections, which encrypt your traffic twice through two different VPN servers instead of just one.
pace
Your VPN’s speed performance can have a big impact on activities like 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 minimal impact as possible on your regular internet speeds. A fast VPN should reduce your Internet download speeds by an average of 25% or less, with the fastest VPN we tested only causing our speeds to drop by 3%. Keep in mind that you may face slower speeds and worse latency if you’re connecting to a server that’s too far from your current location. It is worth checking the VPN provider’s server location list before using to make sure that a server is relatively close to you.
disposable
A good Android VPN should run smoothly and be easy to use, regardless of your technical expertise. It should have all the features that you can easily get 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 different regions.
Cost
VPN prices can vary significantly between different providers, 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 around $5 to $15 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where introductory prices range from around $30 to $100 for the first year and renewal prices range from around $50 to $150 annually. Be careful with free VPNs as you may be jeopardizing your privacy instead of protecting it. ProtonVPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends.
You can find plenty of other free VPNs out there, especially on mobile platforms. But it’s very hard to confirm whether most of them have sensible no-log policies or not. Especially in the case of completely free VPNs, they monetize your data usage by showing you ads or selling your browsing data to marketing companies. In the worst cases, they are just spyware apps masquerading as VPNs that hackers use to collect your data for identity theft attacks. You may be tempted to save a few dollars by using a free VPN, but it may cost you more than you expect.
There are a few ways for you to try out a VPN before you subscribe to it, especially if you’re mostly concerned about Android devices. It’s not unusual for a VPN provider to offer some kind of money-back guarantee if you’re unhappy with the service, which usually covers anywhere between 45 days to the first week of subscription. Be careful: You should review the terms beforehand to make sure you are eligible for a refund. Some providers won’t offer you a refund unless there is an obvious technical issue 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 smart here. At the end of the free trial period you will be charged via your payment details associated with the Play Store; Depending on the provider, you may be locked into a plan for a year or more. If you are not happy with the service, make sure you unsubscribe completely and delete the app before your trial period ends.
streaming
While VPNs are first and foremost privacy tools, they are also great for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. Because you can register your connection to apps like Netflix, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer as originating in another location, you can watch foreign content libraries, and perhaps even save money by using a VPN for streaming. For streaming on an Android phone, tablet, or Android TV box, you may want to consider one of the best VPNs for Netflix or the best VPN for Amazon Prime Video.
