The best Android VPN in 2024 (2024)

There are 3 billion active Android devices around the world, so it should come as no surprise that Android VPNs are in incredibly high demand. They protect you from prying eyes and ensure maximum security, and many offer additional tools like password managers and ad blockers. What's more, the best VPNs for Android can also unblock censored content all around the world, get around workplace and school network restrictions, as well as access geo-restricted streaming content on sites like Netflix.

However, given the sheer number of options available, finding the best Android VPN for you can be tricky, which is why my team of experts and I at Tom's Guide have reviewed and compared dozens of services to prepare this guide of the top 5 VPNs for Android.

In our reviews, we test VPNs across various domains, including ease of use, features available on their Android apps, speed, and value for money. Keep scrolling to learn everything there is to know about my 5 favorites. If you're in a hurry, though, here are my top 3 picks right now:

The best Android VPNs at a glance

Our list of the best Android VPNs today:

ExpressVPN – the best Android VPN overall

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Topping my list of the best Android VPNs is ExpressVPN, and it's here because no matter what you ask of it, you'll get results. With over 3,000 servers in 94 countries worldwide there's a huge spread of locations to choose from, and its simple, intuitive and powerful Android app will have you protected in no time.

Installation is a breeze and finished in a minute or so, and when the app's up and running you'll be met with a large, inviting on/off button. Tap it, and you'll be connected to your nearest server in seconds. If that's all you need, close the app and carry on with your day – set it and forget it.

Dig into ExpressVPN's Settings menu, though, and you'll find that despite Express's simple appearance there's a ton of power under the hood. With AES-256 encryption as standard alongside the open-source Lightway protocol, split tunneling, a kill switch and 100% RAM-only servers, you can be sure your data won't be compromised.

There's also a neat Protection Summary feature under the Privacy and Security Tools menu which tells you the strength of your connection and shows you the IP address that you're connected to. Also, ExpressVPN's Android app is available in 16 languages so it does well to cater to its wide user base.

That's all backed up by frequent app updates, and an independently audited logging policy that ensures no identifiable data is kept about you or your connections – so even if ExpressVPN is somehow compelled to hand over logs, there'll be nothing to see.

It's not all about privacy, though. Express is my highest-rated VPN when it comes to streaming, too, so wherever you are in the world you'll be able to watch content you pay for. And if you're worried about buffering, don't be – in my tests for my full ExpressVPN review, the provider delivered excellent speeds of around 560Mbps. That's not quite as fast as rivals NordVPN or Surfshark. but will be more than enough for just about every user.

Although the eight-device limit isn’t the most generous, it should be enough to cover all your mobile devices plus your desktop computer and smart TV to boot – but if you've got tons of devices, a provider that offers unlimited connections like Surfshark may appeal.

If you have any issues, the class-leading online support and live chat will help you out in minutes should you need it, and if you're not sure, it's worth making the most of Express's risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. You can use the service as much as you like for a month, and if it doesn't live up to your expectations, you can claim your money back. We reckon that's unlikely, though – and ExpressVPN's 4.6/5 Play Store rating is a testament to that.

Surfshark – the best cheap Android VPN

For those looking for a a quality cheap VPN, Surfshark offers a seriously powerful VPN for Android at a very compelling price. You'll have access to 3,200 servers in 100 countries, and connection speeds have been supercharged up to a blistering 950Mbps, which makes Surfshark one of the fastest VPNs I've tested.

While some providers dump every feature under the sun into their Windows VPN app yet neglect mobile offerings, I found Surfshark's Android app to be fully featured – and even offers a couple of features not seen on any other platforms.

You'll get a kill switch, split tunneling, AES-256 encryption, a range of static IPs and a Multi-Hop feature. However, something unique is its fake GPS location spoofer. As the only VPN I know to offer this, it's perfect if you want to trick games like Pokémon GO into thinking you're overseas. Auto-connect on untrusted networks is also a nice addition.

Surfshark's Android app is pretty intuitive in that it senses if your current network is facing any restrictions, and if that's the case, it will activate the NoBorders mode which will provide you with a list of the highest-performing servers that are unaffected by your current network restrictions.

Surfshark's streaming performance is also excellent, and while in the past I’ve seen some inconsistencies, my latest testing showed it's currently able to unblock just about every site there is.

Another standout feature is the unlimited connections policy. If you're a Marques Brownlee-type with a drawer full of phones, you'll be able to install Surfshark on any and all of them and still be able to cover any laptops, desktops and routers without hassle.

There are a couple of downsides. In my stress-testing, I found that Surfshark's kill switch could fail (although I stayed protected), and if you want to use OpenVPN – necessary for using Camouflage mode – speeds were a little slower than rivals.

However, when you consider how much cheaper Surfshark is than ExpressVPN – or just about any other VPN for that matter – it's an excellent Android VPN that's absolutely worth considering. Plus, a 7-day free trial for Android users (in addition to the standard 30-day money-back guarantee) means that you have ample time to test the service before committing.

NordVPN – the best Android VPN security suite

Rounding off the top 3 is NordVPN, and in terms of price it holds the middle ground between ExpressVPN and Surfshark. With over 5,500 servers in 60 countries, you'll have plenty of servers to choose from, and with an excellent 4.5/5 rating in the Play Store, users appear to like it almost as much as my #1 pick.

Nord's Android app has a lot to offer, and just like the two above, it doesn't hold back on features when compared to its desktop brethren. You'll have the standard AES-256 encryption alongside split tunneling, a kill switch (that, admittedly, I found to be a bit too hidden away in the settings), and Double VPN – plus Nord specialties like Onion over VPN.

NordVPN gives top security providers (let alone VPNs) a run for their money with a built-in antivirus alongside password management and secure online storage. You'll enjoy protection from all kinds of digital threats, including malware, viruses, trackers, ads and pop-ups, and everything else too.

A standout, though, is the all-new and free for all Meshnet feature that allows you to create your own network and connect up to 60 devices directly (eliminating the need to send files to the server cloud) and secure them via encrypted NordVPN connections. This is an excellent innovation and perfect for gaming or working in a group.

You'll also get Nord’s CyberSec malware and phishing protection too, and the fact it frequently undergoes independent audits will be a big tick if privacy is a top priority.

However, in my NordVPN review, I did find the layout of the app slightly less intuitive than some other providers thanks to the map interface. While on larger screens it can be pleasant to use, on smaller touchscreens (including its iPhone VPN sibling), I'd much rather just have a well-ordered list of servers to begin with.

Also, it offers only 6 simultaneous connections and in a world where rivals are pushing for more – ExpressVPN recently upgraded to 8 – it comes across as slightly limiting.

That's a minor gripe though, and streaming fanatics will be thrilled to hear that NordVPN is one of the best Netflix VPN services on the market, unblocking a wide range of libraries. The speeds the NordLynx protocol can deliver are excellent, too – topping out at a massive 950Mbps, it's equal to Surfshark as the very fastest service I've tested.

Nord also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, and with fair pricing across the board, it's a good middle-ground choice as an Android VPN.

Proton VPN – top-tier Swiss privacy

In my in-depth Proton VPN review, I found that in the last couple of years, the security-obsessed Swiss provider has well and truly earned its place among the big guns.

ProtonVPN offers 3,000+ servers across 69 countries, which in my experience is more than enough to ensure speedy connections in every location. All of these servers are owned by Proton too, which keeps all user traffic out of third-party hands. Proprietary VPN Accelerator technology amps up server speeds by over 400%, and although I didn't notice a massive jump in my own testing, it's reassuring to know that you're backed by servers pushing for the best performance.

I discovered that the Android VPN app is much like the desktop version – plenty of server info, a map interface that's a little better than Nord's, the ability to activate split tunneling, a kill switch, and more. It's even got a landscape mode, which could prove useful to tablet users.

Proton's Android version also gets its standout Secure Core technology which routes your internet traffic through a very secure Proton VPN server in either Sweden, Iceland, or Switzerland before connecting you to your destination of choice. Multi-Hop and ad-blocking are nifty add-ons.

Streaming is one of the most popular VPN uses, and it was great to see during my testing that Proton can access multiple Netflix libraries, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and more. Its good connection speeds mean you won't be waiting around for your streams to load, and its OpenVPN speeds are some of the very fastest from any provider.

While other providers offer a limited-time free trial or money-back guarantee allowing you to try the service risk-free, Proton VPN is one of the very few to boast a completely free VPN which gets you access to 100 servers in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. However, the most impressive part is that it doesn't restrict your data usage and ensures a clutter-free experience with zero ads.

However, Proton VPN isn't cheap – at regular price it's almost as pricey as ExpressVPN. While some may prefer Proton's techy interface, for most I think my #1 pick will offer better value for money. While its Android VPN app is very easy to navigate, and you wouldn’t be needing much help to begin with, the lack of 24/7 live chat support could pose a minor inconvenience, especially for first-time users.

Overall though, ProtonVPN is well worth considering for privacy-focused individuals and those on the lookout for a handy free plan.

CyberGhost – simple and reliable Android VPN

Rounding off my Android VPN recommendations is CyberGhost, and the Romanian provider is a great cheap provider that covers all the bases.

In my CyberGhost review, I found that while its apps across the board are impressive, the Android app is a real standout. Along with standard features like AES-256 encryption and the choice between OpenVPN and WireGuard, you'll also be able to auto-connect on insecure Wi-Fi, choose which apps route through the VPN with split tunneling, and even activate a random port feature which could help sidestep VPN blocking.

The built-in content blocker is a minor bonus – although I think dedicated apps are more effective – and domain fronting is another useful trick to avoid VPN blocking. With all of that, then, it's unusual that CyberGhost has chosen not to include a kill switch, and while you can get around this by using Android's own kill switch, it's a workaround I'd prefer not to have to do. On the plus side though, you get an anti-tracker built in that helps avoid targeted ads.

CyberGhost is well known as a streaming VPN, and in my testing it performed well – although be aware that I couldn't unblock UK Netflix or Disney+. Combined with a huge 9,000+ servers in 91 countries and excellent speeds on most of them, it shouldn't be hard to find a location that suits you.

The VPN provider maxed out at a very respectable 730 Mbps when I set it to use the WireGuard protocol, but what's more impressive is its OpenVPN connection speeds that churned out a maximum of 380 Mbps in my testing, which is significantly higher than the industry standard. Even providers like Surfshark that knock it out of the part on WireGuard fall behind on OpenVPN with connection speeds of around 150 Mbps.

Alongside dedicated servers for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, CyberGhost is also great for securely browsing the internet (including sensitive portals such as banking sites) on public Wi-Fi.

Considering the price and performance of CyberGhost, and the power of its VPN for Android, it's definitely worth considering – especially if you'll make use of its extra features. It also comes with a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee giving you a full fortnight more than other Android VPNs to test the service without putting any money on the line.

Update Notes

This time around, I've added more depth and information to the provider reviews, and boxes including "Subscribe If" and "Avoid If" pull out key bits of info. They'll tell you whether a particular Android VPN has what you're looking for right off the bat.

As always, I've fact-checked all pieces of information like server count, speed, price, and more so that my reviews are accurate representations of what a provider looks like today.

How to choose an Android VPN

When making your decision, you should consider what you'll be using your VPN for Android for.

Are you just looking for extra privacy when you're out and about? If so, strong encryption, great speeds, and a few extra features that allow you to tailor the experience may be all you need.

If you're looking to access TV and films from around the world, you should make sure that your chosen provider is able to do so – not all are.

Some of this all comes down to taste, too. Some Android VPN apps are super simple, almost sparse, which is great if you don't like a cluttered interface. Others show tons of data and info about your connections.

I consider all of the providers on this page as entirely safe to use, so read through my in-depth reviews and make your mind up from there.

Android VPN FAQ