Best VPN for Android

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:

1. Surfshark – best all-rounder VPN allowing unlimited device connections with great speeds.
2. CyberGhost – providing secure and private surfing experience, with unlimited bandwidth.
3. ExpressVPN – top VPN with great speeds for torrenting and streaming worldwide.
4. NordVPN – known for the best security features, keeping you DNS and IP leak-free.
5. 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 much more than 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, only with other operating systems like iOS, it still doesn’t come up with the effective security you need, which we’ll discuss further on.

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 – Tried and tested

Choosing the best VPN for Android doesn’t only mean finding the best VPN services that only cater to your phone, but should be compatible with all your Android devices in general. All the VPNs mentioned on my list provide a strong app for Android Phones, Fire TVs and Android Boxes as a whole. 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

Surfshark with origin in the British Virgin Islands is known to be one of the safest choices for Android. It has around 1040+ servers in 61+ 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. Surfshark also offers a tutorial showing you how to get started.

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.

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2. CyberGhost

Best Android VPN for Privacy

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. 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.

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3. ExpressVPN

Best Android VPN for Bypassing Netflix

ExpressVPN is another top VPN in the industry, with origin in the British Virgin Islands. 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 Hulu, BBC iPlayer and a lot more.

It 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 with its P2P optimized servers. Coming to devices, it has a dedicated app for Android. It also has a detailed tutorial on how to set up ExpressVPN on your Android device.

It 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, with the provision of premium features, ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. There’s a lot more that I couldn’t fit into this abridged coverage, which you could find in my detailed ExpressVPN review.

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4. NordVPN

Best Speeds and Security for Android

NordVPN is based in Panama and observes a strict no-data retention policy. It envelopes a good server list of 5500+ 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 Windows, macOS, iOS, Android TV, Linux, and a lot more. Here’s a quick link to download the app for your Windows, assuring you the smoothest test run period.

Among other VPNs, Nord stands out for having both good privacy policies and a stronger security backing. It has military-grade AES 256-bit encryption, a Kill Switch by default, DNS and IP leak protection and a lot more to check out, included in my NordVPN review.

To test out this amazing VPN, NordVPN also offers full access to its premium services through a 30-day refund policy. You don’t have to spend a dime to try out all its features within the given time frame.

Get NordVPN Now

5. FastestVPN

Best Budgeted VPN for Android

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 Disney Plus, 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.

It supports a wide coverage of devices and apps for Fire Stick/Android Box, Windows, iOS, macOS, Routers, browser extensions, Kodi, Smart TVs and includes a dedicated app for Android. Everything you need to know regarding getting started with FastestVPN on Android can be found here.

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.

Get FastestVPN Now

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. When choosing the best VPN for particular purposes, I always go for one that normally kills two birds with one stone.

There are many top-grade VPNs in the business, but not all 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 criteria.

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 a free trial. 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 VPN services, but not every VPN provider offers an app for Android.

The ones mentioned on my list above (Surfshark, CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, 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, CyberGhost, NordVPN, ExpressVPN, 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.