Best VPN for Android: Here’s Our Top 5 for Android Phones, Tablets & TV

Android is one of the most prominent Unix-based operating systems. On the market, it’s significantly more used than its iOS counterpart, making its way to smartphones, TVs, and tablets. No doubt, we’re talking about a very versatile operating system that enjoys worldwide popularity.

While obviously very secure, once you visit the internet, things start to change. With your IP address exposed, your ISP and hackers can intercept your connection and trace your online activities. Not to mention public Wi-Fi networks that are a far cry from being secure and present a more tangible threat.

Having that in mind, smartphone users are actively looking for the best VPN for Android in 2024. And today, we’re here to help them out by presenting our top 5 favorite Android VPN providers for the highest level of security and performance.

The 5 Best VPNs for Android in 2024 :

1. ExpressVPN
2. CyberGhost VPN
3. NordVPN
4. Surfshark VPN
5. Proton VPN

Best VPN for Android – The Top 5 Providers in 2024

When it comes to Android VPNs, you will find a LOT of them online. However, in this article, we will talk about the premium providers and not the free ones, given their inferiority in terms of security and overall performance.

Free VPNs do have some advantages but they offer drastically more disadvantages. With the premium choices we’ll present, we can guarantee the highest level of quality and the absolute best experience you can get.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the best VPNs for Android in 2024:

1. ExpressVPN

During my years-long experience, I always used ExpressVPN most of the time on my phone. I mean, it’s my favorite provider for Android phones, offering a very easy-to-use application that provides instant access to all servers and security features.

Best of all, it’s feature-rich, so Android users will get almost the same functionalities as Windows users get. Starting with 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN will impress you right off the bat. All servers offer substantial performance, which makes ExpressVPN the fastest VPN you can get.

Moreover, one of its strengths is security. Even on Android, you can enjoy 256-bit AES encryption, a reliable kill switch, and split tunneling. IP/DNS leak protection does its job well, as we never had any leaks while using this VPN – and we have used it for a very long time!

Now, ExpressVPN has something called Lightway. It’s a proprietary VPN protocol that not only boosts performance but also has a positive impact on security. Privacy-wise, you’ll be happy to know that ExpressVPN’s HQ is based in the British Virgin Islands.

Being an offshore location, no data-retention laws are active, allowing this provider to maintain a crystal-clear zero-log policy audited by PwC. If you need a VPN for streaming, though, know that ExpressVPN is the leading choice.

In our tests, it unblocked around 15 Netflix catalogs along with services like Disney+, Prime Video, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Thanks to great speeds, streaming will be buttery-smooth, which is important for the overall experience.

With this provider, torrenting on Android is also possible. You can then use uTorrent anonymously and download any torrent files you want. Needless to say, ExpressVPN is available for all platforms, including Android tablets and Android TV, so it supports them out of the box.

24/7 live chat support is here, as well as 8 simultaneous connections that make ExpressVPN a full package. Despite not being the cheapest, you can get its 49% discount and 3 months free for the 1-year plan, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee below.

Try ExpressVPN on Android

Head over to our ExpressVPN review to learn more.

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2. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is an affordable VPN for Android that brings a lot, yet, it doesn’t cost a fortune. For us, its Android app isn’t the prettiest and looks a bit dated compared to the PC version. However, everything functions well and you’ll rarely encounter any bugs or problems.

This is a great introduction to CyberGhost’s 11,600+ servers in 100 countries that you can access from this very app. Not only that but there are dedicated streaming servers in place that will help you unblock your favorite streaming platforms.

What about security? Well, disappointment is the last thing you’ll feel here. This provider secures your connection with 256-bit encryption and uses an automatic kill switch to prevent IP and DNS leaks. To that, we need to add an ad-blocker that ExpressVPN doesn’t have – it works nearly flawlessly on Android.

While not as fast as ExpressVPN, users will value its focus on users’ privacy. As a result, it stores no logs of your IP address and browsing history, backing everything up with transparency reports published 4 times a year as well as an independent audit by Deloitte.

On Android, CyberGhost provides stable connections that are essential for streaming and torrenting. Streaming is possible on Netflix US and a few more libraries and the VPN works with BBC iPlayer and Hotstar – nothing too impressive.

What is impressive is its overall device support. If you have an Android TV, you can install CyberGhost directly from the Google Play Store. It works well on tablets as well, along with other non-Android platforms like Windows and iOS.

Unlike ExpressVPN, it supports 7 simultaneous connections and you get 24/7 live chat support in 3 different languages. On a bad note, this Virtual Private Network won’t work in China, so using it in censored countries isn’t a good idea.

Nevertheless, it offers very cheap prices and a 45-day money-back guarantee for all long-term subscription plans. Interested? In that case, get the best discount on this provider by clicking on the button below – you’ll be able to get it at just above two bucks a month, which is phenomenal!

Check Out CyberGhost

To learn more, read our CyberGhost review.

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3. NordVPN

NordVPN is a very popular provider on the Google Play Store. Being one of the best VPNs for Android in 2024, expectations are pretty high. Thankfully, NordVPN’s app is extremely easy to use and offers a beautiful world map that makes it more modern and high-tech.

Connecting to the server takes one tap on the screen, so any of the 6,100+ servers in 60+ countries is easily accessible. And here, NordVPN gives Specialty servers, some of which include Double VPN, Obfuscated, P2P, and Onion Over VPN.

Logically, it’s P2P-friendly even on Android but I like these Double VPN servers the most. They route your traffic through two servers, doubling your encryption in the process. Speaking of which, NordVPN comes with bank-grade encryption and a kill switch that works without fail.

Moreover, I must praise its NordLynx VPN protocol based on WireGuard. It brings serious performance and security to the table, making it almost as fast as ExpressVPN. On Android, users also get Threat Protection which includes a malware scanner and Dark Web Monitor.

All of these features are backed up by a zero-logging policy. Given its Panamanian jurisdiction, NordVPN isn’t obligated to store any logs, having its privacy policy verified by PwC and Deloitte. This makes NordVPN one of the best Android VPNs for privacy-aware users.

If you worry about unblocking content, just be at ease. NordVPN indeed works with Netflix and is great for accessing geo-blocked websites and TV channels worldwide. As a result, it’s a decent choice for Android TV or Firestick TV, for example.

Now that I mentioned other devices, NordVPN’s device support is its hallmark. Plus, there are 6 simultaneous connections, which should be enough for most users. It’s also priced reasonably, although value-added taxes in the US and UK might increase the price a bit.

Other than that, NordVPN has everything you need to enjoy the internet safely on Android. You can test it out risk-free thanks to a 30-day money-back guarantee and get its cheapest deal below. We’re sure you’ll like it as much as our previous best Android VPNs in 2024.

Install NordVPN on Android

Read our NordVPN review to find more information about this service.

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4. Surfshark

Surfshark is priced similarly to CyberGhost, making for a perfect alternative. Nevertheless, it will be a great VPN for Android in 2024 for many reasons. One of them lies in the customizable app that looks nice, supporting both light and dark themes, in case you want to save your eyes.

Its app is also feature-packed, allowing access to all-important functionalities. For the start, its server park consists of 3,200 servers in 100 countries globally. If servers aren’t important to you, then you’ll be impressed with the 256-bit encryption that Surfshark offers.

That aside, its app comes with a built-in kill switch, IP leak protection, and support for WireGuard even on Android devices. One great feature is the NoBorders mode, which allows you to bypass censorship in China upon enabling it.

For those who pay a dollar more, Surfshark offers its One program that includes true incognito mode and antivirus. However, that’s not mandatory. What’s important to mention is a no-logs policy and its jurisdiction (the Netherlands), which promises the highest level of privacy.

Additionally, Surfshark offers MultiHop servers that work similarly to Double VPN servers in NordVPN. Admittedly, no dedicated streaming/P2P servers are here but that’s not an issue. Surfshark still works with Netflix Japan and US and allows you to enjoy torrenting on Android devices.

The best thing about it, however, is that it offers unlimited simultaneous connections. This means that, with only one subscription, you can protect as many devices as you want at the same time. Of course, this comes with no additional costs.

Our only gripe with Surfshark is that it isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, for example. Its connection times are sometimes painfully slow as well, but that issue rarely appears. Still, we think that this is one of the best VPNs for Android for the money.

And of course, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, making it easy to test it out without the risk of losing money. Should you decide to get its cheapest deal, use the button below and get a 2-year plan that’ll serve you well for weeks and months.

Get Surfshark for Your Android Device

If you are interested, you can find our review of Surfshark here.

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5. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a very interesting provider. It’s based in Switzerland, offering apps for all major platforms. Its Android app doesn’t look very appealing, albeit, it’s functional enough and has all the features you’ll need on your Android phone/tablet/TV.

In ProtonVPN, you get almost 3,700+ servers in 80+ countries. Compared to other VPNs on the list, that’s not impressive – it’s on par. However, bear in mind that Swiss privacy laws make ProtonVPN among the safest VPNs for Android.

Namely, apart from bank-grade encryption, it offers full OpenVPN/WireGuard support, a kill switch, and a dependable ad-blocker. Furthermore, we like ProtonVPN’s IP and DNS leak protection, and in our tests, we never experienced any leaks while using it.

ProtonVPN has proprietary Secure Core servers that you can get on any of the premium plans. They route your traffic through a few different servers, making your online activity virtually untraceable. You’ll notice that this is very similar to Double VPN or MultiHop we mentioned previously.

What about logging practices? Well, once again, ProtonVPN stores no logs on its servers, as stated in the no-logging policy. This policy is audited by SEC Consult as well, and thanks to the Swiss jurisdiction, you can be sure that your data is going nowhere.

ProtonVPN offers a free version, which offers the same no-logs experience too! But, I think that its paid version is more interesting given that it works with Netflix and offers P2P servers for torrenting. This lets you use uTorrent or Vuze on Android devices safely.

Other notable features include decent device support – not the best – and 10 simultaneous connections on one subscription. Sadly, it isn’t the fastest provider, doesn’t support routers, and has no 24/7 live chat support, which for me, is a bigger red flag.

Nonetheless, despite its expensive price, you can get its biggest discount through the button below and claim a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscription plans. Thus, if you’re interested in ProtonVPN and its offerings, don’t miss this chance!

Try ProtonVPN on Android

For more information, read our ProtonVPN review.

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Should I Use a VPN for Android?

Millions of people around the globe use Android devices without a Virtual Private Network and they’re unaware of the privacy risks, ISP throttling, and other day-to-day issues. Does this mean that you shouldn’t use it? No, it doesn’t.

A VPN is a very minor investment in your online privacy and security that has a huge impact overall. And, as you saw, these providers will cost you as low as $2 or so a month, so they’re extremely affordable. What exactly are its benefits for Android users?

Well, let’s take a close look at why you should absolutely use the best VPN for Android in 2024:

Preserving Your Online Privacy

Obviously, a VPN for Android will let you encrypt your connection and protect your online security. This is the main benefit of every Virtual Private Network service and is the most important one.

Without this service, you practically have no privacy on the internet. For example, your ISP can always see your IP address and through it, it can track your activities online and see exactly what you’re doing.

This feels very unpleasant once you realize that it’s happening as you’re reading this article. Even worse, your personal information is within your ISP’s hand reach, making it available to the authorities per request.

However, with a Virtual Private Network, that doesn’t have to be the case. Once you encrypt your connection, no one, not even your ISP, will see what you do online, leaving you to browse anonymously and with no limits.

Gaming on Android

High-end Android phones sport beefy chipsets that allow for smooth 3D gaming. Coincidentally, there are hundreds of online games for Android, such as Fortnite, PUBG, Call of Duty, and various MMORPG titles.

By using a VPN for Android, you can drastically enhance your gaming experience. For instance, you can connect to a distant VPN server and play on gaming servers on other continents without a noticeable lag increase.

Also, you can use a VPN to avoid ISP throttling, hide your IP address from other players, and avoid DDoS attacks. Not to mention that you can also unblock blocked games on Google Play! Simply put, you just change your Google Play country with a VPN and access games that you can’t play in your country, legally.

Perhaps the best thing about a VPN for gaming is bypassing IP bans. If you get banned on a specific gaming server, all you need to do is change your IP address, which will render you a different person, and play your favorite game without any problems.

Streaming Without Limits

Android offers an array of streaming apps like Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, and dozens more. As you know, these platforms are geo-restricted to certain countries, so they’re not available everywhere. A prime example of that is Netflix.

It offers a different set of movies and shows depending on your location. That’s why many people want to unblock Netflix US, Canada, or Japan, as they’re considered the best Netflix libraries.

Thankfully, a VPN can help you by changing your IP. Once you get a US IP, you can access the entire American catalog and enjoy shows and movies that aren’t available in your country. Of course, the same applies to BBC iPlayer, HBO, ABC, or any other platform or TV channel.

When you get an IP address from the respective country, you can unblock pretty much any geo-restricted TV channel. Thus, the best VPN for Android will help you enjoy the internet without any limits, no matter your location!

Protecting Your Anonymity on Public WiFi Hotspots

Public WiFi networks are one of the unsafest and least secure networks you can use. They offer no encryption or additional security measures, and in many cases, they’re not even password-protected! Hackers, snoopers, and other malicious entities can easily hack them, making things worse.

This means they can hijack your email or steal your personal information while connected to public WiFi. To prevent this from happening, you can use an Android VPN to conceal your IP, encrypt your traffic, and ensure you’re anonymous online.

You can then go on the web safely and securely even on public WiFi without the fear of getting hacked.

Torrenting Safely

Not many people know that you can download torrents on your Android phone. However, even on Android, downloading torrents without hiding your IP address is extremely dangerous. Fines for torrenting in certain countries reach more than a few thousand dollars.

In some countries, you can even get a jail sentence, making torrenting a quite controversial topic. As said, it all goes back to your Internet Service Provider. Because of its constant monitoring, it can see when you’re downloading torrents and report you to the authorities.

If this happens, it’s only a matter of them before you get a warning and you’re forced to pay a fine. By using some of our favorite Android VPNs, you can torrent safely by hiding your IP.

Visit ExpressVPN

Thanks to encryption, your ISP can’t see that you’re downloading torrents so it can’t report you, giving you a 100% anonymous torrenting experience.

Browsing the Dark Web on Android Anonymously

And finally, you can even explore the dark web on Android by using Tor. Tor alone isn’t safe enough, so you still need a VPN to hide the fact that you’re using it. Remember that your ISP can see the moment you connect to the Tor network, although it doesn’t see your activity inside of it.

Still, Tor is associated with the dark web, and given the dark web’s ominous nature, you don’t want to be a suspect. For that reason, it’s better to go for the “Onion Over VPN” variant that all providers on the list offer.

In simple terms, you’ll need to connect to the VPN first and then use Tor. That way, you fully encrypt your traffic, so much so that not even your ISP can see that you’re on the dark web.

Android VPN Providers You Should AVOID

Before concluding our best VPN for Android 2024 discussion, we must go over one important subject. As you’ve noticed, the Google Play store is a rest haven for various VPN providers that promise you the stars, yet, in reality, they fail to deliver.

Most notably, there are hundreds of totally free Android VPN services that are low-quality and unsafe to use. Well, these exact VPNs are something we suggest avoiding at all costs. They come from questionable companies and in 99% of the cases, they violate your privacy right off the bat.

This is done either by collecting your personal info, displaying annoying ads, or having no security features. Some of them include Touch VPN, Turbo VPN, QuickVPN, and other similar providers.

I especially want to warn you about three free VPNs for Android that I personally recommend avoiding – Hola VPN, Betternet VPN, and Urban VPN.

Hola VPN

Hola VPN is arguably more popular than ExpressVPN and NordVPN because it’s free. Like almost every free VPN, Hola VPN is known for poor performance, weak security, and malicious logging practices.

It doesn’t have real VPN servers, and instead, uses P2P technology to give you internet access. As a result, users in the Hola network share idle resources and use each other’s IP addresses to browse the web.

Even worse, Hola VPN stores every bit of information about its users. Apart from your IP, Hola knows your browsing history, geolocation, DNS requests, and so on. This information Hola later sells to third parties and earns money by distributing your personal info to third parties.

In short – AVOID IT!

Betternet VPN

This one’s pretty nasty in terms of logging practices. Betternet’s parent company is AURA, the same company that owns Hotspot Shield, which is now much worse as a result. Betternet VPN is extremely slow, offers just a few server locations, and has no security!

Its logging practices are similar to those of Hola VPN, with a few minor differences. Free users of Betternet VPN are subject to its privacy policy which indicates that the company indeed sells personal information to third parties.

Furthermore, they display annoying ads on mobile phones, making browsing tedious. Given its uselessness for streaming, torrenting, and enhancing online security, it’s easy to see why you should avoid Betternet VPN for Android.

Urban VPN

Urban VPN follows in the footsteps of the other two providers. However, unlike Betternet, which will limit your bandwidth in the free version, you get no limits here. This means you can enjoy unlimited bandwidth and speeds – but at what cost?

Well, let’s just say at the cost of your privacy. Urban VPN will collect ALL your information and sell it to third parties to earn money, which is explicitly stated by the VPN. Moreover, it has no security features aside from encryption and offers no streaming capabilities.

We also found that it doesn’t allow you to download torrents or bypass censorship. Coupled with poor device compatibility as well as its privacy-unfriendly jurisdiction, you’re just playing with your privacy while using this provider. Avoid it at all costs and don’t even bother using it – it’s THAT bad!

Find out more about Urban VPN in our review.

Conclusion

With everything said and done, choosing the best Android VPN in 2024 should be a simple task. Our list of the top 5 providers has everything you need to get the most out of your internet security.

In addition, we also talked about the three VPNs you should avoid at all costs. Generally speaking, we don’t recommend free providers for any device, as they’re pretty limited in every possible way.

And why bother with free Android VPNs when you can get some of the premium choices for just above two dollars a month?

Not to mention a 30-day money-back guarantee that all of them offer, which makes testing them risk-free as easy as snapping your fingers. Now go ahead, get one of them, and enjoy their superior performance and security.

Try ExpressVPN Now

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Frequently Asked Questions

In case you need more answers, let’s address a few important questions related to the topic.

❓ How to use the best VPN for Android?

To use a VPN on Android, you first need to get a subscription by referring to the list above. Once you subscribe with your credentials, just visit Google Play and download the respective VPN application.

Now open the app on your phone, use your login credentials to sign in, and you’re done. Of course, to use a VPN, you need to connect to the server location of your choice, which will encrypt your connection and lay the groundwork for secure internet access.

⚖️ Is an Android VPN legal?

It absolutely is. A Virtual Private Network service is completely legal and no one was ever arrested for using it. Even in so-called “grey areas” like China or Russia, you can safely use a VPN.

Using it to perform illegal activities is a completely different story, and we will never encourage something like this. However, if you use it to watch Netflix, download copyright-free files, or browse the dark web, you will have no issues.

Bear in mind, though, that some countries forbid VPNs altogether. These include Belarus, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Iraq, and a few others. In these countries, you should NOT use a VPN because it’s against the law and can get you in trouble if you’re detected.

💻 Can I use my VPN for Android on other devices?

Sure. Every provider on the list supports other platforms like Windows, iOS, macOS, Linux, and many more. Thanks to simultaneous connections, you can protect multiple devices at the same time all while not paying a dollar more.