VPNs can be beneficial whether you are trying to hide your internet browsing from prying eyes or just want to access a different country’s Netflix library. They encrypt your outgoing and incoming internet traffic and pass it through their servers, so your data is private, and your location gets obfuscated behind the VPN service’s IPs. Most top VPN services offer apps that allow them to work on Android devices. So if you’re looking for a good VPN app to use on your Android phone, here are our top picks.
Navigate this guide:
- Best for most people: ExpressVPN
- Also Great: Private Internet Access
- Best for privacy: Mullvad
- Also Great: IVPN
- Best free VPN: WindScribe
- Also Great: ProtonVPN
- Best budget VPN: SurfShark
Best VPN App for Most People: ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN service for most people. It has all the modern features you’ll need, including a built-in kill switch, split tunneling, a no-logging policy, and 256-bit encryption. In addition, the service has over 3,000 servers in 160 locations across 94 markets. Given such expansive server availability, you’ll likely find a server in pretty much all major countries and regions.
On Android, you can use the ExpressVPN app on phones, tablets, and TVs. Apart from the Google Play store, the service also offers its Android app APK via its website. So if you don’t have access to the Google Play store, you can still download the app and use it. Using the ExpressVPN app is pretty easy; enable the VPN in the app, select the server location, and you are good to go.
ExpressVPN plans start at $12.95 per month, but the service offers discounts on long-term plans. If you subscribe to the service via its Android app, you’ll get a seven day trial. Otherwise, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN - #1 Trusted VPN - Secure Private Fast (Free+, Google Play) →
Also Great: Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access (PIA) is another good VPN. One of the service’s highlights is its massive network that includes almost 30,000 servers in 106 locations across 78 countries. That said, 65% of its servers are in North America. In addition, you can use PIA services on up to 10 devices simultaneously, which is more than the typical five devices.
Other features of PIA include support for split tunneling, no logs, unlimited bandwidth, and a kill switch. The service’s entire source code is also open-source. PIA plans start at $11.95 per month; however, you can get significant discounts on long-term plans. In addition, the service offers a seven day trial on its Android app and a 30 day money-back guarantee. If you don’t have access to the Google Play store, PIA, like ExpressVPN, offers an APK download via its website.
VPN by Private Internet Access (Free+, Google Play) →
Best VPN App for Privacy: Mullvad
While both ExpressVPN and PIA are known for privacy features, if you’re looking for the absolute best, Mullvad is the answer. The service doesn’t keep activity logs and goes through third-party audits for transparency and to identify security lapses. In addition, Mullvad has several payment options, including cash, so you don’t even have to share an email address with it.
In terms of features, Mullvad is pretty much on par with other major VPN services. You get a kill switch, split tunneling, open-source code, and more. The service has 780 servers in 63 locations across 38 countries. While the server count isn’t huge, it will be enough for most people.
Mullvad has a flat rate of 5 euros. But you may be able to get a deal by buying it from a supported reseller. It doesn’t have a trial period like some other recommendations, but a 30 day money-back guarantee applies to all payment modes, except cash. You can download the Mullvad Android app from Google Play and F-Droid or grab the APK from the company website.
Mullvad VPN: privacy is a universal right (Free, Google Play) →
Also Great: IVPN
IVPN is another excellent VPN service for privacy-conscious users. It doesn’t store activity logs and collects minimal information needed to provide the service. In addition, the service is subject to annual third-party audits. Finally, you get a kill switch, split tunneling, mock location, open-source apps, and more.
The service has 76 VPN servers in 45 locations across 32 countries. The relatively low number of servers is one of the drawbacks of IVPN, but if this works for you, IVPN is great. It offers two plans — Standard and Pro — the Standard plan starts at $6 per month and the Pro plan costs $10 per month. In addition, the Pro version offers extras like simultaneous use on up to seven devices (only two on Standard) and support for port forwarding and multi-hop. You can download the IVPN Android app from Google Play and F-Droid or grab the APK from the company website.
IVPN - Secure VPN for Privacy (Free+, Google Play) →
Best Free VPN App: WindScribe
A lot of VPN services offer free tiers, but none of them are as good as WindScribe. The service’s free tier comes with up to 10GB bandwidth per month, unlimited connections, and access to servers in ten countries, including the US, the UK, and Canada. As a result, WindScribe just works, and you won’t have to worry about constant disconnections or other issues.
In terms of the VPN features, you get split tunneling, a kill switch, no identifying logs, decent speeds, and more. WindScribe’s Android app is easy to use, and you can download it from Google Play. It also provides the APK on its website.
Windscribe VPN (Free+, Google Play) →
Also Great: ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN also offers a decent free plan you can try. It comes with unlimited bandwidth, but you lose on the VPN speed. The service prioritizes the premium users over the free users, so you’re likely to get less speed than what’s available on the premium plan. In addition, the server locations are limited to just three countries — Japan, Netherlands, and the US. You do get 23 servers, though. Also, you can only connect one device at a time with the free plan.
VPN features include support for split tunneling, no ads, no logging, open-source apps, and a kill switch. The ProtonVPN Android app is available via Google Play, F-Droid, and the company website.
Proton VPN - Free VPN, Secure & Unlimited (Free, Google Play) →
Best Budget VPN App: SurfShark
Picking a budget VPN is tricky because of the discounted long-term pricing offered by different services. Some services, like SurfShark, provide affordable rates for their two-year promotional plan, but they charge double the rate for subsequent annual subscriptions. While with other services, like WindScribe Pro, you get a flat yearly subscription price. So if you’re planning to use a VPN service for years, make sure you do the math. Almost all VPN services offered in this list have pretty decent rates.
Based on its two-year promotional pricing, SurfShark is the best budget VPN around. You end up paying just $59.76 (effectively $2.49 per month) for the first two years and the same amount for every subsequent year. Despite its affordable price tag, the service offers pretty much everything you’d want from a VPN. You get simultaneous use on unlimited devices, an ad blocker, no logs, split tunneling, a kill switch, and more.
The service gives you access to over 3,200 servers in 65 countries. You can download the SurfShark app via Google Play or the company website.
VPN Surfshark: Fastest VPN Proxy Servers (Free+, Google Play) →
These are the best VPN apps for Android that you can download right now. Which VPN service do you use? Do you think we missed a great VPN app? Let us know in the comments section.
The post These are the Best VPN apps for Android: ExpressVPN, Mullvad, WindScribe, and more! appeared first on xda-developers.
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