Best Android VPN apps in 2024 (2024)

Whether it's scrolling through social media, catching up on Netflix series, or indulging in some retail therapy, if you're anything like me, chances are that you and your Android are inseparable. However, there are a lot of threats lurking around every digital corner.

Fortunately, a virtual private network (VPN) can help you shore up your online privacy. These handy security tools route your traffic through a secure server, encrypting it, meaning nosy third parties (like hackers, your ISP, and even the government) can't keep tabs on your browsing history. You'll be assigned a new IP address, making it look like you're elsewhere in the world. This is especially handy if you're trying to access geo-restricted content or get around instances of censorship.

There are hundreds of Android VPN apps available to download, however, and figuring out which ones are reliable (and which ones are duds) can be a time-consuming process. Me and the AndroidCentral team have years of putting VPNs to the test—and I've compared the apps, performance, features, and unblocking capabilities of the best services to curate this list of the best VPNs for Android in 2024.

The three best Android VPNs in 2024

In a hurry? No problem. Check out my 3 top Android VPN picks:

There are many VPN providers out there, each of them offering something a little different in an attempt to stand out above the others. While ExpressVPN is our best Android VPN pick for most people, that doesn't mean it ticks every box for every person. It's not the cheapest, not quite the fastest, may not have the most servers, but that's where you need to decide what the most important part to you is. Each service offers some good and some sacrifice.

Luckily, we've taken the guesswork out of finding another VPN provider beyond ExpressVPN. Here are the rest of the best Android VPN options that you can sign up for now. We also highlighted all the best free Android VPNs in case you are looking to get started without spending any money.

The best Android VPNs in 2024

See how my top Android VPNs in my in-depth analysis, where I compare their roster of features and recent testing results, and reveal what I liked (and didn't like) about each service.

The best Android VPN overall

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 3,000+ | Server Locations: 160 in 94 countries | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros

• Servers in 94 countries
• Fast download speed
• Great customer support
• Easy to use Android app

Cons

• More expensive than some competitors
• Limited to five devices simultaneously

ExpressVPN has over 3,000 servers in 94 countries. This is the most servers and locations than any other VPN service. Plus, when connected, you will have access to download speeds of up to 100Mbps. This is over 40 percent faster than other VPNs and is fast enough to support TV and movie watching without experiencing buffering or slowdown on your device. On top of protecting your online identity, ExpressVPN also ensures your texts and instant messages are kept secure from being intercepted by encrypting all outgoing information from your device. You can tunnel the VPN service on your device to designate which apps use the VPN and which you're comfortable using without the added VPN protection.

All information sent from your device and through ExpressVPN is encrypted using the highest encryption code available. There is an automatic kill switch with this VPN that will block your personal information when either your internet or VPN connection goes down. My only complaint is that ExpressVPN is much more expensive compared to other VPN services I checked out. Even with the discount for paying a year in advance rather than month-to-month, is pricier than other programs. However, with unlimited bandwidth and no cap on how many devices can be connected at once, the cost may be ultimately worth it.

Be sure to check out our full ExpressVPN review and get started with the service today.

The best cheap VPN

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 3,200+ | Server Locations: 100+ in 65 countries | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros:

• Over 3,200 servers available
• Company based in British Virgin Islands
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Unlimited device connections
• One of the most affordable options

Cons:

• Privacy policy wording is vague
• Android app is less reliable than other versions

Surfshark's download speeds vary, but that is fast and consistent enough to not experience a slowdown or buffering while using this VPN. Plus, you get unlimited device connects with a single account, so everyone in your family can use Surfshark on their cellphones, tablets, and even home computers.

This VPN doesn't work well with streaming apps. It better designed to work with devices like the Amazon Fire Stick and Roku. It does work if you log into your TV streaming service through a web browser. The biggest caution with Surfshark, however, is its no-log policy. While Surfshark is located outside the U.S. and has a no-log policy, it's worded strangely and isn't clear at all. It sounds and feels like there are loopholes in the policy that may allow some logs to be kept. Surfshark may not be aware of how confusing its official policy is, and it may not keep any user information at all. I wish it was a bit more clearly written out it Surfshark's official policy.

The best VPN security suite

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 5,500+ | Server Locations: 80+ in 60 countries | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros:

• Over 5,500 servers
• Dual encryption
• Multiple plan options

Cons:

• Security breach in 2018
• Slightly slower than others

No VPN is as secure as NordVPN. While every VPN service encrypts your data, NordVPN sends it through a second server and encrypts it again, just to make sure if it is intercepted your information can't be stolen. Because of this double encryption, it does cause some slowdown to your connection, especially during the initial startup or when downloading large files. But the average download speeds for NordVPN is still 70Mbps, which is still really impressive and fast.

NordVPN has over 5,500 servers in 60 countries. This isn't the most servers or locations, but it's up there in the top five. Each time you log in with this VPN service, you are given the choice of being assigned a random IP address or to have a dedicated IP address. In both cases, your information is encrypted as it leaves your computer, making it hard for adware, trackers, and snoops to figure out your location and IP address. However, it's a little easier to break through when using a dedicated IP address.

The best P2P VPN

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 35,000+ | Server Locations: 65+ in 75+ countries | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros:

• Easy to use apps
• No data limits
• Supports 10 devices at once
• Military-grade encryption
• Over 35,000 servers

Cons:

• Based in the U.S.

Private Internet Access connects quickly to one of its 35,000+ servers in more than 75 countries and encrypts all outgoing and incoming information to keep your online identity private and secure. It has an average download speed of 25Mbps, which is fast enough for use with TV streaming services and allows up to 10 devices to be connected at one time before requiring you to purchase another account. And you get unlimited bandwidth, so you don't have to worry about your connection slowing down after reaching a monthly data cap.

Private Internet Access includes a firewall to monitor and block unwanted internet communications with your computer and internet connection. This is especially helpful when connected to public Wi-Fi. This VPN service is based in the U.S., however. Because of this, there may be personal information and some activity logs kept by Private Internet Access. Usually, this information isn't held for very long when a VPN service does collect information, 30 days max.

The best of the rest

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 6,500+ | Server Locations: 160 in 140 countries | Trial Period: 31 days

Pros:

• Good for TV streaming
• 300,000 IP addresses
• Automatic kill switch

Cons:

• Only works on five devices at once
• Few servers and locations

PureVPN is one of our favorite services. It's easy to use, secure, quick to connect to, and stays connected without a problem. You can get it for a decent price, it allows five devices to connect at once, and has an impressive download speed average of 60Mbps. This is fast enough to support streaming services and devices, including Android TV. Plus, PureVPN is one of the few services that will give you a dedicated IP address. This is helpful when streaming some live TV services, like Hulu, that rely on a static IP address.

You can choose to connect to any of PureVPN's over 6,500 servers. And since it has more than 300,000 IP addresses, it will be very hard for any website, cookies, trackers, etc., to monitor your online activity. Plus, it has an automatic kill switch that will block personal information, including your physical IP address, if your connection drops. The only reason PureVPN doesn't make it to the top is that it has fewer servers and locations than my number one choice. Its download speeds are also slower by 40Mbps. But PureVPN is still a solid choice for keeping your online identity safe and is excellent for tapping into TV streaming services.

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 2,600+ | Server Locations: 41+ | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros:

• App is super simple to use
• Uses independent specialists to conduct audits
• Apps available for major platforms

Cons:

• Limited server locations
• No torrent support
• No automatic kill switch

If you want to try out a VPN without providing a credit card or other personal information, we suggest looking at TunnelBear. Its free version caps access at 500MB per month, which goes quickly, but it's enough to get a feel and idea of how a VPN works. You can always upgrade to a paid account to get unlimited access, or downgrade back to the free service. With a paid subscription, you will always be connected to the TunnelBear VPN when your cell phone is on. If it detects an unsafe network attempting to connect to your phone, or if something happens to your internet connection, TunnelBear automatically blocks sensitive files and information on your device from being swiped.

TunnelBear doesn't have as many servers or locations compared to our top pick. It has servers in over 40 countries. It also doesn't support torrenting, which is a person-to-person file sharing technique. TunnelBear also isn't the best VPN to use if you're trying to use one to stream TV. However, if you're just starting out in the VPN world and want to test the waters, TunnelBear is a great way to do it.

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, YouTube | Servers: 3,200+ | Server Locations: 115+ in 70+ countries | Trial Period: 45 days

Pros:

• Unlimited bandwidth each month
• Over 3,200 servers
• Great free plan available

Cons:

• No longer supports OpenVPN protocol
• No direct app protection
• Reps hard to connect with

Hotspot Shield is a neat little VPN app that looks closely at your connection and information leaving and coming into your device, especially when connected to public Wi-Fi. Hotspot Shield encrypts all of your outgoing information using AES 256-bit encryption, the same level used by military organizations and financial institutions to secure their data. Hotspot Shield has over 3,200 servers in more than 70 countries to ensure you can connect quickly and easily to its service. You can set this VPN to automatically connect each time to open a browser or when you start your phone, so you don't have to remember to do it manually.

This VPN service doesn't work well to secure individual apps. This isn't a problem normally, since apps are technically covered and secured when the VPN is enabled on the device itself. However, it does interfere with TV streaming apps, like Hulu, Netflix, and others. The workaround to watch these programs is through a browser.

Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 1,300+ | Server Locations: 50+ | Trial Period: 30 days

Pros:

• Based in Switzerland
• Many servers utilize 10 Gbps connections
• Has great free plan with unlimited bandwidth

Cons:

• Free customers get lower speeds during peak times

Odds are that you've heard of ProtonMail before, the ultra-secure email service that offers full encryption. Well, the same company offers a VPN service that brings the same level of security-focus to your Android device. There are free and paid plans, which is outstanding since you can get started with a free plan and then upgrade if you want more features. The free plan doesn't require a payment method, but does have some limitations like you can only use it on a single device at a time, and you'll notice slower speeds during peak hours.

The company is Swiss-based, so you don't have to worry about logging laws or anything silly like that. If you are unsure about a VPN or the benefits that it could bring to you, we highly recommend checking this one out.

Android VPN FAQs

FAQs

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).

2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.