Point-blank, Android may be one of the best open-source software around, but it really falls back in providing any means of what I deem as “good cybersecurity measures”. With the best VPN for Android, you’ll never have to worry about using unknown Wi-Fi sources or getting your phone hacked ever again.
Before moving ahead, here’s a quick look at the best in the league for Android:
- Surfshark – best all-rounder VPN allowing unlimited device connections with great speeds.
- NordVPN – known for the best security features, keeping you DNS and IP leak-free.
- ExpressVPN – top VPN with great speeds for torrenting and streaming worldwide.
- CyberGhost – providing secure and private surfing experience, with unlimited bandwidth.
- FastestVPN – known for the best security features, providing access to geo-blocked services.
When you hear the word Android, most assume you’re referring to just one subjected portion of it – your mobile phones. This blog expands beyond just the Android phone you use, but rather about each and every Android device you possess that needs protection.
Android is one of the largest operating systems in the world, with almost 2 billion monthly users, and the base of the most app downloads.
However, just because something as famous as Android is a “big deal” in the industry, among other operating systems like iOS, it still doesn’t come up with the effective security you need. I’ll discuss that further on, but first, let’s talk about why you need an Android VPN.
Why do you need a VPN for Android?
Before getting to why you need a VPN for Android, you must understand why you need a VPN in general. There are many cases where using your device unprotected, connected to multiple unknown networks or internet sources, could do a lot of damage.
Using a VPN for Android could put an end to you being bait to many heinous individuals, who set up fake Wi-Fi networks that are free to your disposal.
The thing is, you might never be able to tell the difference between a bad or a good source. A VPN for your Android could help you filter out the plagued websites.
Apart from just connecting to unknown sources, most websites you visit, or even your ISPs, tend to monitor the kind of activities you’re going through. Other “fake” websites infiltrate your traffic taking hold of any sensitive information you enter. This ranges from email IDs to passwords and even Credit Card details.
A VPN for Android gives you online protection against cybercriminals and surveillance agencies. It uses military-grade encryption and split-tunneling to provide you anonymity over the web and unrestricted access to geo-blocked content from around the world.
And speaking of global coverage, the best VPNs for Android mentioned in my list, have been deemed as great for multi-purposes, regardless of where you’re located. You can be from the US or UK or even Russia, these VPNs will do you justice.
The Best VPN for Android in 2020
Choosing the best VPN for Android doesn’t only mean finding the best VPN services best VPN services that only cater to your phone, but should be compatible with all your Android devices in general.
A few of the providers mentioned on my list are also best for Android Phones, Android Boxes and other devices using Android OS. It also supports numerous other devices just in case that’s what you’re looking for.
Now, since you understand a little regarding why you’d need the best Android VPN for maximum protection, here’s a little about on each of the 5 providers, showing you what makes them a top option overall. And, by overall I mean based on its performance as an Android VPN, and iOS VPN, and more. We start with:
1. Surfshark – Best All-rounder VPN for Android
| Price | $2.49/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | Surfshark.com |
Surfshark with origin in the British Virgin Islands is known to be one of the safest choices for Android. It has around 1700+ servers in 64 countries, with some of the greatest speeds, providing unlimited bandwidth.
It’s compatible with a wide range of devices and apps for Fire Stick, Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, Nvidia Shield, browser extensions, and even has a dedicated app for Android on Google Play Store.
Coming to its security, it ships a pretty impressive scale of features. Having impenetrable 256-bit AES encryption, a Kill Switch, Split-tunneling, Multihop, and a Whitelister feature making it one of the best options for Android and other platforms. It also gives you the freedom to bypass restricted services like the US Netflix library.
Apart from that, it also offers a 7-day free trial along with a 30-day refund policy, enough time for you to test the VPN out on your Android devices since it comes with unlimited multi-connections. For a full view on its performance, give my Surfshark review a look into.
2. NordVPN – Best Speeds and Security for Android
| Price | $3.71/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | NordVPN.com |
NordVPN is based in Panama and observes a strict no-data retention policy. It envelopes a good server list of 5000+ servers in 59 countries, all of which produce extremely good speeds. This is best for streaming on bigger restricted platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Speaking of being a great VPN for Android, it further supports a wide platform of devices and apps for Firestick, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android TV, Linux, and a lot more.
Among other VPNs, Nord stands out for having both good privacy policies and stronger security backing. It has military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, a Kill Switch by default, an advanced CyberSec feature, DNS and IP leak protection, and a lot more to check out in my NordVPN review.
To test out this amazing VPN, NordVPN offers a free trial for Android with full access to its premium services. If you’re on a budget, NordVPN offers discounts. Not satisfied with the service? Contact the NordVPN support team and ask them for a refund or account cancelation.
3. ExpressVPN – Best Android VPN for Accessing Netflix
| Price | $6.67/mo. |
| Refund | 30-days |
| Website | ExpressVPN.com |
ExpressVPN is another top VPN in the industry, with origin in the British Virgin Islands. Apart from that, it is also known for the best privacy policies and no-logging laws, making sure all your internet activities are completely anonymized.
It also gives you the liberty to bypass any geo-restricted platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and a lot more. ExpressVPN also has an impressive list of 3000+ servers spread across a wide coverage of 94 countries. These produce the best speeds and unlimited bandwidth, with an allowance to torrent safely using its P2P optimized servers.
Coming to devices, it has a dedicated app for Android. It also supports other apps for Nvidia Shield, Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Windows, iOS, macOS, Smart TVs, Routers, and a lot more.
Where security is concerned, ExpressVPN has a tight grasp over it. It runs on AES 256-bit encryption on all major protocols, has a functional Kill Switch, and is DNS and IP leak protected. Other features include a distinct Smart DNS feature called MediaStreamer, perfect for providing access to geo-restricted platforms.
For those who’d like to give the VPN a try, ExpressVPN offers a limited-time free trial for Android and iOS mobile devices and a 30-day refund. Not happy with the service? Then ask for a full refund or account cancellation.
Need more details on the provider? Find them in my ExpressVPN review.
4. CyberGhost – Best Android VPN for Privacy
| Price | $2.25/mo. |
| Refund | 45-days |
| Website | CyberGhost.com |
Hailing from Romania, CyberGhost is known for giving its users the best online ghosting experiences. Meaning, you don’t need to worry about anyone tampering with your privacy. It has huge coverage of 6000+ servers in 90 countries, springing some really reliable speeds and unlimited bandwidth.
It covers a vast portion of devices and apps, with the inclusion of an app for Android. Besides that, it offers apps for Windows, iOS, macOS, Android TV, Amazon FireStick TV, and a lot more. You can find a tutorial on its website, regarding how to get started or find solutions to various problems on setting up with your Android.
Besides being good for privacy, its security front is pretty impressive too. It runs on 256-bit encryption, an active Kill Switch, Perfect Port forwarding, and additional default features that include, Automated HTTPS Redirect and a lot more. With strong security, you’ll now be able to access any restricted websites that may have previously been blocked.
To test its speeds and overall performance, like I did in my CyberGhost review, you could try out its 24-hr free trial for PC, or ist 7-day free trial for Android phones. It unlocks the VPNs premium features. For those who’d like to test the VPN out a little longer, CyberGhost also has a reliable 45-day refund policy.
5. FastestVPN – Best Budgeted VPN for Android
| Price | $1.11/mo. |
| Refund | 15-days |
| Website | FastestVPN.com |
If you haven’t heard of FastestVPN, you should know that it is one of the best in the field for good download speeds and its ability to unblock any restricted services like Hulu, DAZN, US Netflix, and a lot more. It also practices some pretty strict privacy laws, having originated from a privacy-friendly region called the Cayman Islands.
Now don’t be too quick to judge its simple list of servers. It has around 350+ servers in 39+ locations. This includes a selective country coverage depending on the best services that the world is trying to access. For its full performance report, you can check out my FastestVPN review, where you’ll also find more details on the app’s features.
It supports a wide coverage of devices and apps for Fire Stick/Android Box, Windows, iOS, macOS, Routers, Chrome extension, Kodi, Smart TVs and includes a dedicated app for Android.
Besides the above, it also is known for having a pretty staunch security front. It runs on 256-bit AES encryption, has a Kill Switch, covers the biggest list of protocols, and includes other advanced features like split-tunneling and Smart Connect.
To put these features to the test, FastestVPN offers a 15-day refund policy, with premium access.
How to choose the best Android VPN
I completely get that our main focus is targeted towards Android, but you should know that all the 5 VPNs picked are capable of much more than just being the best for Android devices.
Not all VPNs work well for each and every digital situation, depending on what it offers. So, to choose the best for Android and other multi-purposes, I followed an important criterion.
For the best Android VPN, you should:
Focus on the level of security offered by with VPN provider
The main target for a VPN for Android is to look at the kind of security features it provides. It has to be up-to-par with the device you use. So for the best, always look for impenetrable encryption, and by that, I mean AES 256-bit encryption and nothing less.
A Kill Switch is also another feature that a VPN should possess. This helps protect your data or physical location from being tracked if ever the VPN connection fails. Other than that, look for other advanced features like Malware protection, DNS and IP leak protection, Split-tunneling, GPS Spoofing, and a lot more.
Privacy and no-logging policies
To avoid any further data leakages, make sure that the VPN provider you go for, doesn’t steal your data or log in any of your sensitive information, selling it to third parties. Go for VPNs that are located in privacy-friendly regions. And, if not a safe jurisdiction, at least one that provides reliable privacy and no-data retention policy.
Look for a smart collection of server locations
Most of us probably think, “Bigger is better”, but fail to see the lack of quality it provides. A VPN should always offer its services, worldwide. And, by that, I mean to incorporate a rich server list of locations spread across the globe.
Of course, you should look for a VPN that offers around 100 servers. But, as long as it covers up all the major parts of the world, for you to access every platform desirable, it’s good to go.
Connection speeds and unlimited bandwidth
Slow speeds can be a big bust when it comes to streaming or downloading large files. Choosing a VPN largely depends on the level of connection and download speeds.
If there are free trials or refund policies, this makes it easier for you to test the speed out using speedtest.net or other online sources. Besides that, of course, the need for unlimited bandwidth is vital. What are great speeds if combined with a limited amount of data usage?
Access to geo-restricted services from geo-censored locations
Keeping tight security, great speeds, unlimited bandwidth, privacy policies, and server rich platforms in mind, the VPN you choose should also be able to bypass restricted services.
Platforms like Netflix, Disney Plus, and a lot more aren’t readily available to every country. That’s where the services of the best VPN for Android come in. They should be strong enough to bypass some of the biggest blocks with anonymity.
User-friendly interface
You’ve probably heard that a million times on different platforms. There’s a reason user-friendliness plays a big part. A VPN software should be designed to encrypt your data with the heaviest of tools or features.
That doesn’t mean it should be built only to be operated on by professionals. A great VPN is developed to suit the needs of beginners and professionals alike. All the VPNs on this list provide a sleek and clean appearance, super-easy to operate.
Compatibility with multiple devices and connections
Besides a VPN being compatible, with Android operating systems, it’s imperative that it supports multiple other devices and apps, which include Windows, iOS, browser extensions, etc. The wider the compatibility range the better the VPN. Along with this, it should also allow you to make simultaneous multiple device connections per subscription.
Having a VPN that supports multiple device connections is a miracle! The majority of internet users are always logged into their media accounts in more than one device. It gets extremely expensive to constantly make separate VPN subscriptions according to the devices you use.
A free trial or reliable refund policy
Another vital policy to look into is one that offers either a reliable refund policy or free trial VPNs. In this way, it gives you the opportunity to test drive the VPN services, checking out its speeds and ability to access geo-restricted websites. You can also put its Kill Switch to the test.
What is a VPN app for Android?
An Android VPN app is similar to that of Windows, but with a simpler interface and easy navigation, with all features and options available. There can be countless great VPNs, but not every VPN provider offers an app for Android.
The ones mentioned on my list above (Surfshark, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and FastestVPN), all provide a dedicated VPN app for Android.
VPN apps can be downloaded both from the Google Play Store and from the VPN provider’s website. So, once you’ve chosen which VPN for Android to go with, head over to their website or search its app on the Google Play Store to proceed with downloading its app.
How to set-up your VPN on Android
You can download and install your preferred VPN on your Android devices in many ways. The easiest way is through the Google Play Store. So, to install your preferred VPN via Google Play Store here’s how:
- Subscribe to the best VPN for your Android device. I’ve recommended 5!
- Head to the Google Play Store on your Android device and look for the VPN app you chose.
- Or, visit the website of the VPN you went with to download their Android VPN app.
- Install the app on your device.
- Login with your VPN credentials.
- You can tweak around with the settings, choosing your desired protocol.
- Connect to the best server location
- And enjoy your internet freedom and anonymity!
Can I use a VPN on my Android Tablet?
Yes, you can!
Doesn’t matter if you use an Android cell phone or an Android Tablet, you can use a VPN exactly the same way for any Android device. The Google Play Store is available on most Android devices, if not all. You can get a VPN for Android Tablet from Google Play Store as well.
But this isn’t the case for Amazon Fire Tablets. Even though Fire Tablets run on Android, they don’t have Google Play Store. Instead, there is an Amazon App Store available for it. Not many VPN providers offer an app for Fire Tablets, and you won’t find many on Amazon App Store either.
Only FastestVPN has a dedicated VPN app for Amazon Fire. However, most VPNs offer manual setup through which you can easily install your preferred VPN on Fire Tablets.
Here’s how you can install a VPN on your Amazon Fire Tablet:
- Download the Android APK file of your VPN directly from the website.
- Side-load the VPN app
- Download OpenVPN for Android from the Amazon Store.
- Configure your VPN settings using the OpenVPN configuration files
- Root your Amazon Fire Tablet
- Take control of your online privacy and freedom on your Fire Tablet like never before.
To conclude
Looking for the best VPN for Android also means looking for the best app for mobiles, tabs, Smart TVs, and more. A great VPN must always be versatile in terms of performance. All the Android VPNs mentioned on my list (Surfshark, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and FastestVPN) are capable of producing the best speeds, access to restricted streaming, and torrenting platforms; all with unlimited bandwidth.
There are other great VPN services in the business, but what matters most is choosing one that works perfectly for the majority of devices you use, including providing apps for Android.
Besides, if you’re looking for affordable options, you can always check out this VPN deals page to get the best discounts!
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