There are so many VPN providers on the market that it will possibly usually be overwhelming. While a wide array is an efficient factor for competitors, options, and pricing, it means selecting a single VPN service will be an absolute nightmare. That goes double for searching the Google Play Store the place it may be troublesome to see which providers are legit and which of them are outright scams.
That’s why we’re right here to assist. Over the previous few years we’ve tested a ton of VPN services for efficiency, and checked out their privateness insurance policies and further options to current our tackle the most effective picks. We’ve achieved most of this work for the PC, however we’re additionally testing the Android apps to see which providers reign supreme on Google’s OS versus what you get on Windows PCs. While some providers are champs on any platform, others ship surprises on Android and we’re right here for it.
To decide the highest 5 VPN apps for Android we think about a number of standards. First, it needed to be a high performer on Android. While Wi-Fi can have inconsistent outcomes at occasions, we check these apps over three days, working a complete of 15 checks every day (thrice for every check nation location). In the top we will say that regardless that the speeds have been examined over a wi-fi connection they have been constant sufficient to find out the most effective choices. We additionally thought-about the Android app itself and whether or not it was straightforward to handle, in addition to different standards similar to pricing and the variety of simultaneous gadgets allowed per account. In our picks beneath we hyperlink to the stand-alone app within the Android retailer, however we additionally hyperlink to our opinions of the complete desktop program, in case you need a full AV answer for all of your gadgets, along with your Android cellphone.
Here are our suggestions for the 5 greatest VPNs on Android.
1. Speedify – Best Android VPN general
Pros
- Very quick
- Harnesses a number of connection varieties
Cons
- Interface just isn’t person pleasant
- Switching international locations is a ache
Speedify’s declare to fame is that it harnesses all of your energetic connections to make one super-zippy VPN connection, and the impact was simple throughout our checks. Speedify maintained a jaw-dropping 83.56 p.c of the bottom pace. These speeds solely occurred when the cellphone had Wi-Fi and mobile connections obtainable. One different good factor about Speedify is that the swap from Wi-Fi to cell community is close to seamless. So in the event you’re streaming a track and step exterior of your wi-fi community’s vary, the connection will swap to cell with out lacking a beat.
Speedify’s app design just isn’t the best or most easy design, but it surely’s straightforward sufficient. It additionally maintains some statistics similar to what number of seamless failovers you’ve had together with your gadget, how a lot information’s been transferred, and your high obtain and add speeds. It could be higher in the event you may decide your nation location earlier than connecting, versus the present setup: connecting, selecting a brand new nation location, after which reconnecting. Still, it’s a minor quibble for a superb cell VPN.
Read our full Speedify review
2. NordVPN – Best Android VPN for Netflix
Cons
- Price goes up after preliminary subscription interval
NordVPN is definitely one of the vital common providers round. The firm presents 59 nation places with 5,500 servers. It additionally guarantees that its service will work with Netflix. It doesn’t supply devoted servers for this. Instead, Netflix is simply purported to work irrespective of which server you’re on, and it does in our checks.
NordVPN’s Android app is just like the desktop app in that it has the identical type of map that you need to use to pick out a location. The remainder of the app could be very cell pleasant with a movable carousel of common places, and a full nation listing beneath. The Android app additionally helps Nord’s specialty servers for P2P file sharing, TOR over VPN, and double-hop VPNs. NordVPN additionally presents malware safety that’s activated by default.
NordVPN’s privateness coverage says it doesn’t log any of your exercise and costs $59.88 per 12 months, or you may get two years for $99.48—these are each new buyer costs. After the preliminary interval, the only 12 months worth goes as much as $99.48 and the two-year worth is $198.96. It’s a higher-priced VPN, but it surely’s additionally characteristic stuffed, and quick. In our checks, Nord maintained almost 67 p.c of the bottom pace.
Read our full NordVPN review
3. CyberGhost – Best Android VPN for rookies
Pros
- Very easy-to-understand interface
- Good speeds
Cons
- Not as many choices as different rivals
Another good selection for newcomers is CyberGhost from Kape Technologies. This VPN has a similar-ish design to ExpressVPN (beneath). It has a easy on/off button on the high of the app, and beneath that’s the tile the place you’ll be able to decide the nation location. Tapping on the nation location possibility takes you to a listing the place you’ll be able to select a connection based mostly on the nation, or you’ll be able to select a streaming location, or select from your individual favorites listing. In our checks, CyberGhost maintained near 61 p.c of the bottom pace.
That’s about all there may be to this app, which makes it a superb possibility for first timers. For the complete program CyberGhost costs $51.48 for a single 12 months, or you may get two years for $78, or three for $89.31.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
4. ExpressVPN – Best Android VPN for rookies runner-up
Pros
- Very easy-to-use app
- Excellent speeds
Cons
- Logs information switch quantities
- Higher-priced possibility
ExpressVPN has at all times been very straightforward to make use of and is one other Kape-owned VPN. Combine ease of use with its glorious speeds, and Express is a superb alternative for rookies. In our checks, ExpressVPN maintained 72.14 p.c of the bottom pace, which is superb and earned it a second place end behind Speedify. Switching places is as straightforward as tapping on the tile beneath the on/off button on the high. When the VPN just isn’t energetic the app background is pink, and when the VPN is related the background turns inexperienced.
ExpressVPN for Android additionally helps break up tunneling, auto-connect, and a kill swap to assist keep privateness ought to the VPN connection drop.
This VPN is extra sophisticated than CyberGhost, which is why it’s our second alternative for rookies, or these on the lookout for one thing a little bit extra superior however nonetheless decidedly in beginner territory. Express VPN prices about $100 for the primary 15 months for the multi-device subscription.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
5. Mullvad – Best Android VPN for privateness
Pros
- Excellent privateness measures
- Best possibility for pseudo-anonymity
Cons
- Not as many additional options as different choices
- Not assured to work with Netflix
It’s no shock to see Mullvad as our best choice for privateness. It’s merely unbeatable in terms of staying as nameless and personal on-line as doable whereas utilizing a VPN. Unlike most different providers, Mullvad doesn’t even ask on your electronic mail handle. Instead, it generates a random account quantity and you then use that to log in and pay for the service. The service can even settle for money, in addition to Bitcoin, PayPal, and bank card supplying you with an excellent wider variety of choices to remain as nameless as doable.
Mullvad guarantees it gained’t monitor your searching habits (as all of the providers on this roundup do), and it has good speeds. In our checks, Mullvad for Android maintained round 57 p.c of the bottom pace. That’s not so good as among the different providers, but it surely’s positively ok for many makes use of. Mullvad costs €5 monthly, which at this writing was a little bit over $5.
Read our full Mullvad review
6. ProtonVPN – Best VPN for privateness runner-up
Pros
- Good speeds, however not so good as on Windows
- Lots of options
If Mullvad isn’t your pace then one other strong alternative for privateness is ProtonVPN. This service is only one half of a bigger suite of providers that features ProtonMail, ProtonCalendar, and ProtonDrive. You don’t need to subscribe to the whole lot as ProtonVPN is out there as a standalone service, although you may get a cope with ProtonMail in the event you like. In our checks, ProtonVPN maintained round 56 p.c of the bottom pace. It has a large variety of nation decisions, its privateness coverage makes all the correct guarantees, and it helps Netflix streaming, TOR over VPN, and P2P on particular servers. It additionally has a safety characteristic known as Secure Core that you may examine on the company’s site. ProtonVPN costs $71.88 for the primary 12 months.
Read our full ProtonVPN review
How we examined
We use the identical strategy on Android as we do on Windows. We picked 5 nation places and examined every location thrice on three separate days. Then we took the common international efficiency of the VPN as a mean, after which in contrast that to the common base pace. Then we represented the distinction as a proportion. The motive we try this versus exhibiting precise megabytes-per-second scores is that these numbers can change based mostly on so many components similar to your ISP, tools, and time of day. What we actually must know is how a lot pace we lose when related to the VPN (it’s at all times a loss). That is an expertise that’s extra more likely to translate throughout numerous setups versus particular speeds.
What to search for in a VPN
To get probably the most out of a VPN it’s good to think about just a few components. First, you need one thing that respects your privateness and logs as a lot data as you’re comfy with. If which means no information in any respect then one thing like Mullvad or ProtonVPN is greatest for you. If you don’t thoughts a little bit logging and your main concern is pace or Netflix assist then there are a lot of VPNs that may go well with that objective. Speed can be a priority because you wish to be sure the service can assist no matter it’s you wish to do, be it streaming video, gaming, or simply searching the net. Going with a identified amount can be vital since VPNs are dealing with such essential, and private, information it’s good to know who’s behind the corporate and what their status is—studying opinions will assist with that. Finally, in spite of everything that, think about pricing and what most closely fits your finances. Keep these suggestions in thoughts and also you’re more likely to discover a superb VPN service that’s best for you.
That’s it for our roundup of the highest 5 Android VPNs. If you need to try extra VPN providers take a look at PCWorld’s complete VPN roundup. While the opinions are centered on PC, nearly all the providers we’ve coated supply an Android app as properly.