VPN For Android – Best Android VPN Apps In 2023 [Full Guide]

Looking for a good VPN for Android phone/tablet? Can’t come to the conclusion? Don’t worry! In this guide, you will get to all about Android VPN apps.

If you are unable to access any content or concern about your online privacy, then installing a VPN on your device is the best option. It provides so many useful features apart from privacy which makes your browsing experience better and safer.

But this is not the case with all VPN apps, there are so many VPNs available on the internet which doesn’t have a good intention, also not all apps are worth a try. Hence, looking for the best and trustworthy Android VPN apps is quite a task.

But you don’t need to waste the time or exhaust yourself after trying useless VPN apps. I have rounded up this post and gather all information regarding the best VPN apps for Android.

In this article, you are going to find the in-depth details of what is VPN, how it works, what are the advantages of using it, etc. So, give this guide a read and by the end, you will be able to select the correct VPN app for your Android device.

What is VPN for Android?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an application, or better to say technology, that provides a private connection in order to make your presence anonymous over the network. It is basically a cybersecurity tool that got famous in recent years. 

A VPN masks the IP address to makes the presence anonymous by creating a private network on a public network. It encrypts the data shared between the device & the web, which means it will become unreadable for the snoopers on the web browser. 

You can easily create a private connection by installing the VPN app on your Android devices. There are multiple advantages of using the VPN app on Android that we will discuss later in this blog. For now, I can tell you the usage of the VPN app. 

A VPN allows you to access the web content restricted due to the geo-location and prevents the internet service provider from being spied by advertisers or cybercriminals.

It is the best option to secure your online data while using the public or unprotected network. So, all in all, a VPN allows consuming all online content that you were not able to see before that is too over the secured connection.

Also Read: How To Secure My Android Phone & Tablet

How Does VPN Work?

Here are few methods that VPN apps use to make your data anonymous and secure the network:

• Different VPN apps use different encryption standards. So, VPN first uses the encryption method to encrypt the user’s data that can only be decrypted by the destination server.
• After encrypting the data, the second thing VPN does is encrypting the network tunnel. It uses tunneling protocols to encrypt the tunnel within the user’s Wi-Fi/cellular data. The encrypted tunnel provides protection by isolating & concealing the data from the other users present on the network.
• Now, coming to the destination server part, the remote server plays the role of destination for the encrypted data tunnel. All the encrypted data send to the VPN servers which helps to anonymize the user’s identity.
• While the data moves to the destination server, all the location data is shown from the remote server. So, basically, VPN servers protect your data right from requesting from the server to getting a response.

Throughout this procedure, this method of encrypting your data and network, your identity and private data kept private from being snatched and sifted. 

Top 10 VPNs for Android Phone/Tablet

1: ExpressVPN

When it comes to the best VPN for Android our first choice is Express VPN. It is not just us but the majority of users think the same way. Its fast server connection speed and ease of use make it one of the best Android VPN apps.

It provides all the major security features a user looks for in a good VPN. This VPN app provides internet browsing security, unlimited access to videos/music/other online content, it never logs browsing history, IP address, traffic destination, or any kind of data.

Well, it also offers so many other exciting features. To know all about this app, check out the below given features, pros, and cons.

Features:

• It offers 160 VPN servers locations in 94 countries all around the globe.
• The ExpressVPN app is available for Android, Mac, Windows, game consoles, iOS, Linux, smart TVs, and routers.
• You can connect to this VPN without worrying about bandwidth limitations.
• It supports more than 15 languages.
• ExpressVPN increases anonymity by keeping your IP address & location private with its encryption and leak-proofing techniques.
• Secure & protect your data by using advanced AES 256-bit encryption.
• ExpressVPN makes your connection safer & faster with its private encrypted DNS on servers.
• It lets users bypassing ISP throttling.

2: NordVPN

After Express VPN, the second most popular and successful VPN app for Android phones/tablets is NordVPN. Its user-friendly interface and excellent security service make it the user’s favorite VPN app.

Nord VPN uses advanced encryption technology to protect your data and encrypt the description. It doesn’t track your data or share it with any other website or 3rd part app.

This app protects your identity over the public network. Besides this, you can use it to stream videos/audios, access websites, social media sites, etc. This is not it, there are so many other exciting features this app has to provide you. So, look at all of its features given below.

Features:

• NordVPN has 5500 servers in 59+ countries.
• It provides the feature of double VPN which is a way of browsing the web anonymously by connecting to the different series of the server.
• This VPN app doesn’t log your online activity.
• You can easily connect to the VPN server with just a single tap.
• It secures you and keeps your privacy while using public Wi-Fi.
• This app also has a P2P feature.

3: CyberGhost

Looking for a good VPN app for Android under the budget? If yes, then you should give a try to CyberGhost VPN. This app has so many advanced and useful features that a good VPN should have to offer to its users.

It has a large number of server locations all around the globe, which means you can easily connect to any server without worrying about the connection speed. This app provides secure P2P torrenting.

Using this VPN app, you can access all streaming services. Adding to this, it also encrypts your online connection & boosts security along with digital privacy. In simple words, CyberGhost automatically protects you whenever you connect to the public internet connection.

Features:

• It has more than 7000 server locations in the 91+ countries
• Allow users to access the NoSpy server.
• This VPN app encrypts the data using the latest advanced encryption technique – 256-bit AES 
• Using this app you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously
• It provides unlimited bandwidth which means you can download or upload content without worrying about the data limit.
• CyberGhost VPN puts the user’s privacy first &  protects them against data miners & hackers.
• With this Android VPN app,  you can hide/mask your IP address with just a single tap.
• It always notifies you whenever you connect to the unsecured public network.

4: IPVanish

IPVanish is another one of the best VPN apps for Android devices. You can not only use it for your personal use but can also be used for commercial purposes as it is also a commercial VPN service provider.

It also has multiple servers all across the globe. This app provides the fastest VPN service for smartphones. This app provides great network speed without any data limit. Also, it doesn’t cap any logs and protects your online presence using strong encryption technology.

To know more about this tool give a quick look at the below-given features, pros, and cons.

Features:

• Provides 24/7 phone and live chat support
• It has 1900+ servers in 75+ locations 
• Allows to access the censored apps and websites safely
• Offers unlimited bandwidth 
• Follows the advanced encryption standard
• User-friendly apps for all platforms
• No VPN caps and secure all connected devices

5: Surfshark

If you are searching for a reliable and trustworthy VPN, then you may go with Surfshark. It has everything you are looking for. Surfshark provides fast & secure access to all kinds of web content.

It makes the user’s location private & keeps the sensitive data secure. Surfshark also offers secure and advanced tunneling protocols like IKEv2 and OpenVPN.

Apart from this it also provides so many useful services. If you are still not convinced with this app, then check out its other features shared below.

Features:

• Surfshark has more than 3200 VPN servers in 65 countries.
• It bypasses the locked apps and websites.
• Masks or hide the IP address to protect the user’s confidentiality.
• This app doesn’t log the WebRTC, IP, and also prevents DNS leaks.
• It uses the advanced encryption technology AES 256 to encrypt the connection.
• With this app, you can connect unlimited devices with the same VPN account.
• It does not store activity logs.

6: TunnelBear

TuneelBear is a Canada-based VPN service provider. Out of all listed VPN apps in this article, it is the most affordable VPN app for Android. Well, its low price doesn’t affect the service at all.

It provides the all required protection to secure your online presence and the network connection by hiding the IP address. This app allows user to access the web to consume online content without worrying about your security.

Features:

• This app has a feature to let your device automatically connect to the VPN server 24/7.
• It has a user-friendly interface.
• You can also check the encrypted data tunneling.
• Provides you a feature to select the country to connect to the server of your choice with just a single tap.
• It uses the strong encryption technique: AES 256-bit.
• The app doesn’t log the user’s activities.
• Keeps the IP address private from online threats and hackers.

7: ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is also a great Android VPN app. You can use this app to access the web anonymously.  It uses the high-speed Swiss VPN server that protects the user’s privacy and encrypts the internet connection.

With this app, you can unblock all the websites that were not accessible before. So, you should definitely try this app as it offers all the services a user looks for to secure the connection.

Features:

• More than 436 servers, available in 31+ countries.
• It has ciphers with Perfect Forward Secrecy for better encryption.
• Anonymous VPN service allows you to use the internet without surveillance.
• It can integrate with the tor anonymity network.
• Pass user traffic through a secure core network in countries like Iceland and Switzerland.

8: Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is an open-source VPN service provider. This app supports SOCKS5 (Socket Secure), WireGuard, and PPTP. It has thousands of servers located in different countries all across the globe.

This app helps in protecting the user’s data over an unsecured network connection by using the secure VPN tunnel. There are many more things to know about this VPN app and it offers other services as well. So, check out the features of this app discussed below.

Features:

• It provides a Wi-Fi encryption facility.
• Supports P2P protocol.
• Block malware and advertisement.
• Setup the app instantly.
• It does not log any web traffic.
• This app has more than 3292 servers in 46+ countries.

9: VyprVPN

VyprVPN is a VPN for Android devices which offers all the necessary security features a user need from a user-friendly VPN app.  It uses 256-bit encryption technology, no logs, an automatic kill switch, and DNS leak protection.

This app allows users to access blocked websites/videos/audios in restrictive countries like Russia and China without getting detected.

VyprVPN also bypasses geo-restrictions. With this app, you can easily stream Hulu, Netflix US, BBC iPlayer, HBO GO, and other streaming services.

Features:

• Provides network protection while using public Wi-Fi.
• It automatically blocks internet & network traffic.
• Provides facility of Customize VPN management.
• The download and installing process is quite easy.

10: Hotspot Shield VPN

Though Hotspot Shield VPN is our last pick in the list of best VPNs for Android but is as good as other listed VPN apps. This VPN app has been designed for Android smartphones and tablets.

It helps users to enjoy private & secure access to online content. Hotspot Shield VPN has 3,200+ VPN servers in more than 80 countries.

Due to its excellent services, it is one of the top free Android VPN apps which encrypts the Internet traffic to keeps the user’s privacy.

Features:

• It blocks malware & phishing sites.
• Gives 24/7 phone and live chat support.
• This app allows you to add 5 devices simultaneously.
• It uses advanced military-grade encryption.
• This tool doesn’t record your browsing activity and maintains privacy.

How to Use VPN for Smartphones?

Whether you’re looking for a VPN for Android or another phone brand, you’ll want to know how to use it. Fortunately, smartphone VPN services are straightforward to use and will generally involve the following:

• Installing a VPN app normally includes downloading an application from Google Play Store. To begin with the most trustworthy services, you will need a functioning paid membership.
• Setting up the app is equally easy, with the default settings it is totally fine for the users. Simply make sure to sign in to your VPN account, then, at that point, most applications will take you through the basic features.
• Enabling the VPN is quite an easy task, it’s just like a switch on mobile VPN apps. You’ll be able to find it easily as it must be located on the phone’s home screen.
• Server switching can be done manually if you’re looking to spoof your location. You can browse the menu and easily find the country you desire. Simply select the country, and you’re done.
• The advanced setup is something that is for more privacy-savvy users. As per your VPN app, you may get the option to select the other protocols for a better encryption method. 

How to Setup VPN on Android?

Setting up and using a VPN on Android is fairly simple, and can be done through a few straightforward steps that we’ll discuss in this guide. Once you have set up a VPN on Android and granted it access to your network, you can use it just like any other app without repeating the setup process each time you launch the app.

• Download & install the VPN app as per your choice from the list of the above given best VPN apps. You can download it from Google Play Store.
• Once you have installed the VPN app of the phone of your choice, it’s time to launch it & move towards the initial setup process. If the VPN app is asking you to first register or open an account then do it or if you already have an account, then log in.
• Now, tap on the Connect icon. Doing this will start the VPN connection procedure.
• Next, you will get a pop-up dialog box on the phone which will show you that the app is requesting to set up the VPN connection. Then, tap on the OK button.
• Now, the Android VPN app will initiate the VPN connection process. Once you get the Connected message, the phone will show a small icon will be shown in the notification panel looking like a key. The icon shows that the phone is connected to the VPN server.
• You can check if the connection is established or not by opening the  Settings on your phone > got to the Wi-Fi and Network > tap on the VPN > select the settings icon given next to the VPN app. Here, you can select the option to keep your VPN app always on.
• Now, the Android phone is connected to the VPN server, you can easily access the blocked websites and other online content.

Advantages of Using VPN on Android Devices

1: Security

The first and the most important goal of any VPN app is to provide security to the users. Users basically use it to enhance their security while surfing the internet over a public network. A VPN app encrypts all of your data which cannot be access by hackers. It keeps your identity completely private.

This clearly means that whether you are using it for your personal use or for business, all the data will be in your possession. All the good VPNs use advanced and strong encryption technology to keep the data secure.

So, if there is a good VPN on your device, you are totally secure from online threats and other third-party apps that try to steal sensitive data.

2: Makes Online Presence Anonymous

If you are worried about your privacy while browsing the internet, then a VPN app can help you in this. VPN apps mask the IP address and make your presence anonymous on the web. It allows users to access any websites and web apps without getting detected.

3: Remote Access to Your Network

After setting up the VPN, you can also connect to the VPN server remotely from anywhere in the world using the internet connection. And, that is also with full security. You can securely access the documents, information, and other things from everywhere on your network.

For business purposes, it will increases productivity. For Android users who use the VPN for privacy, it means you will not need to send an email or an attachment that can be intercepted. 

4: Changes IP Address & Server Location

The most important task of any VPN app is to mask the IP address and changes the actual server location to the VPN server locations. VPN app does this to make your presence anonymous on the internet. VPN service changes the server location and the IP address.

Let’s take an example if you are connecting from London but want to get connected from any other country instead, then VPN can help you in this case. People do this to access the web content that is locked in their region.

So, if you want to do the same, then VPN can do it easily by changing your IP address. During this process, VPN also takes care of your anonymity & security.

5: Improves Performance

Sometimes, the VPN servers available to the users are not actually optimal. You may also find that connecting to the network via a VPN server can also improve the internet speed & performance. Sometimes, it may even better the proxy network.

Most of the VPN apps take the network connection performance factor very seriously. There were some VPN apps in the past that were very slow, they used to lag and users were losing connections constantly.

But, new developments and technologies have removed those inconveniences and made the apps much better. And, you may find many cases, where using a VPN turns out to perform better than the home network.

How to Choose a Good VPN for Your Android Device?

1: VPN Speed

Before choosing the right VPN for Android, you must know whether the VPN gives a good connection speed or not. First, go through the official website of the VPN and see how much speed it claims. Also, go through the reviews as it will help you to know if that particular app is worth using.

As internet speed is the major factor while selecting the VPN, you have to make sure whether it stands out on this parameter. Apart from the reviews, you can also test the app on an online speed test tool. Check if the upload speed, download speed, and latency are good or not.

And, how it works after connecting it to multiple devices. If it full fills all these requirements of connection speed, then you can consider it as a good VPN app for Android devices. Well, this is not the only parameter to find out a good VPN app, look out for the below-given factors too.

2: Security/Privacy

The biggest reason for using a VPN is to protect security and keeps privacy. So, before making any decision make sure your VPN app provides all the security one expects from it.

It should mask your IP address, provide security over the public network, don’t share any ki9nd of data to third-party websites or apps,.and keeps your identity anonymous on the internet.

3: VPN Price

After the VPN speed and security, the third most important thing is the price of the VPN subscription. Every user has a different budget and expectations from the VPN.

So, check if the price of the VPN app subscription is apt according to the services it offers to the users. If it is, then it will be the right choice for your device.

4: Torrenting

Another primary factor for getting the VPN is using for the content that cannot be accessed due to any reason. So, pay attention if your VPN gives access to torrenting & Netflix. Also checks if it provides the split torrenting feature or not.

5: Customer Support

If the VPN app provides 24/7 customer support, then you can give that app a thought. Good customer support is something that a VPN app should provide to its users.

6: Money-back Guarantee

Sometimes, the app doesn’t fulfill its claims. Doesn’t matter how many reviews you read, what a VPN app claims, it may disappoint you when it comes to reality. In this case, if your app provides a money-back guarantee, then nothing could be better than this.

How to Setup VPN on Android TV?

Apart from the smartphone and tablets, users also wish to connect Android TV boxes to the VPN servers for the same reasons. It is because, there are some games, movies, and videos that are locked due to the region restrictions.

In this case, connecting your Android TV with the VPN server can help you to get access those content. If you are thinking about whether it is possible to connect Android TV with the VPN, then let me tell you it is absolutely possible.

Android TV works similarly to smartphones, it’s just that you can use all the features of a phone on the big screen of the TV. When you get the Android TV box, you will see that it already comes with various pre-installed videos and apps.

But the only problem with an Android TV box is that some of these apps are geo-locked which means they can only be accessed in some particular country or region.

For example, if you are living in the UK and want to watch the show or use an app that is only accessible in the US, then you won’t be able to access it.

Thanks to VPN it is no more a problem. You can easily resolve the issue by using a VPN app on your Android TV.  VPN will encrypt the network connection & route the traffic to the different locations through a server. And then, your traffic will appear to be coming from the server of a different region.

As it will encrypt your data, no one can decrypt it without having a decryption key. So, it will basically prevent your actual ISP from being seeing at the websites you want to visit or the content you wish to access.

Now, talking about the procedure of connecting a VPN to an Android TV box, is quite an easy task. You only need to follow these steps to do so:

• Choose a VPN provider according to your choice.
• Open Google Play Store on the device.
• Now, search for the VPN provider.
• Next, download the VPN app on your device.
• Open the VPN app > select the server or select the relevant country.
• Wait until the connection gets established.
• Now, you are good to go!

Is it Safe to Use a VPN for Android?

It is quite obvious for any user to think about if using a VPN is safe or not. Well, you would like to know that it’s totally legal and safe to use a VPN app on Android or any other device. But as long as you choose a trustworthy and reliable VPN app.

A VPN app allows you to change the server to connect to the internet in order to hide your IP address and physical location. By doing this you will be able to access the blocked content that was earlier locked due to certain region restrictions.

But you can enjoy these perks only if you are using a trustworthy VPN service provider. Not all VPNs are good there are some VPNs that comes with some disadvantages:

• Fake VPN scams
• Some VPNs log user data
• VPNs sells the user’s browsing details to third party apps and advertising partners
• Reduces the browsing speeds

Basically, our main concern is to secure our data and we expect any VPN app to maintain privacy. So, before choosing a certain app, you must make sure the app is genuine.

The worst part of getting the wrong VPN app is, there are so many hackers that use such VPN apps to scam users. This means you have to be aware of the free Android antivirus apps, pop-up alerts, and free VPN software.

There are some more downsides to using poor-quality Android VPN apps, such as it may impact your browsing speed, bombard you with ads, and much more. However, investing in good and reliable VPN apps assures your security and privacy on the internet.

If you will ask me about the best VPN app to rely on, I will suggest using ExpressVPN. It is a trusted VPN service provider which is easy to use and has extensive features to provide security over the network connection.

VPN for Android: FAQ

1: What are the best free Android VPN apps?

These are the top free VPN apps for Android device:

• Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection
• Avira Phantom VPN
• Windscribe
• hide.me
• Opera VPN
• Speedify
• Betternet
• Speedify

2: Which is the fastest VPN for Android?

According to the marketing research, ExpressVPN know to be the fastest Android VPN app. This app is designed with a streamlined approach aimed at providing the fastest connection without any fuss. It has fast VPN servers across 94 countries.

3: Is using VPN legal?

Yes, it’s totally legal to use the VPN as more than 95% of users use it all across the world. There are so many countries that legalized the use of VPN. Some of them are Iraq, Iran, Belarus, Turkey, and Oman. However, in some countries, it is legal to use the VPN, but most of the services are blocked and users are not able to connect it. But otherwise, you can use the VPN apps with your Android or any other devices freely without worrying about its legality.

4: Can I use VPN app with other devices?

Yes, almost all VPN apps allow to connect the more than one device simultaneously with just one VPN account. If you will check out the list of best VPNs for android given in this article, you will see that all the VPN apps are offering to connect other devices at the same time.

5: Is it safe to use the free VPN on public networks?

As we know public networks are not very secure and relatively risky to use than private secure network. But as far it’s about using free VPN, it is equally safe as the paid VPN apps. The only difference between the free and paid VPNs is free VPNs don’t provide that much of a high internet connection and also it won’t offer you the advanced services. But it will surely secure your phone on the public network.

6: Can I use free VPN with Netflix?

Yes, you can definitely use Netflix with the free Android VPN app. But as you know free VPN apps come with limited features, such as limited data limit, you need to keep the data usage in limit. If you are thinking of using Netflix or any other video streaming app every day with a free VPN app, then it is not the one for you. In this case, you need to switch to the paid VPN apps as it will provide you the unlimited bandwidth, which means you can watch as many videos as you want without worrying about the data limit.

7: Do Android VPN apps blocks ads?

Yes, there are some VPN apps that do offer adblocker feature. Pop-up ads are too annoying & dangerous as they can also be adware. Not just this, but it also slows down the browsing speed. And that’s why some VPN apps block the ads to improve the connection speed. These are some of the Android VPN apps that blocks the pop-up ads:

• PureVPN
• CyberGhost
• Private Internet Access
• Surfshark
• NordVPN
• TorGuard
• Encrypt.me
• Tunnel Bear

8: Is there any disadvantage of using VPN?

There are not too many downsides of using a VPN. A possible one? A VPN could result in a slightly slower internet connection. That’s because a VPN encrypts the data you send and receive, which could result in a lag while you browse the internet or download files.

Conclusion

So, I have covered all the top VPNs for Android. As you can see how a good VPN app can help you to secure your online presence and they also offer multiple advanced features.

There are so many Android VPN apps out there and if you are confused about which one would be right for you, then you can go through the quick comparing table given in this blog. Also, check out the features, pros, and cons of each VPN app to choose the right VPN for your android device.

Or, if you are unsure whether you should use the VPN or not, I would like you to go through this guide as I have mentioned all the details regarding using the VPN on your device. If you are a beginner, then the free VPN app would be a great option for you or you can also try the free trials of the paid ones.

In my opinion, we must have a VPN app on our devices as it secures our data from online hackers and also allows us to see the locked content due to geographical restrictions.

But at last, it’s up to you whether you want to have a VPN on an Android device or not. If you have any queries or suggestions, then feel free to share them with us on Facebook or Twitter.