With so many Android VPN apps available, it can be difficult to choose the right solution. Based on our extensive research and hands-on testing of VPNs over the years, these are the most important factors to consider when choosing a VPN for Android:
Privacy
The main consideration for any VPN should be privacy. If your Android VPN is unable to sufficiently protect your online privacy, then your VPN is useless. At a minimum, your VPN should use industry standard AES 256-bit encryption over the OpenVPN protocol, or ChaCha20 over WireGuard or IKEv2. You’ll also want basic privacy protections like a kill switch (which completely shuts down your Internet connection in the event of an unexpected VPN disconnection), DNS leak protection (to hide your public IP address), and a policy no logging (which proves your VPN provider isn’t logging the websites you visit or apps you use while connected to a VPN server). Power users may appreciate advanced features like split tunneling, which lets you use a VPN for some traffic but not others — for example, you can run your Chrome web browser through a streaming VPN of Netflix in a browser, while downloading a game from Steam without a VPN connection for faster speeds, all on the same computer.
For critical privacy needs — such as whether you’re an investigative journalist, asylum seeker, political activist, or concerned torrent user — you’ll also want a VPN provider that’s based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction, offers obfuscation, and has a RAM-only server architecture. Additional privacy features to look out for include Tor over VPN capabilities for additional encryption, ad and tracker blockers, and multihop connections, which encrypt your data more than a single VPN server. Also, look for a VPN that undergoes regular third-party security audits, as audits can help strengthen confidence in the VPN’s ability to protect its users’ privacy.
Speed
The speed of your VPN can have a big effect on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming, and general web browsing. To keep things running as smoothly as possible, you’ll want to look for a VPN that will have as minimal an impact on your regular internet speed as possible. The fastest VPNs we’ve tested only drop internet download speeds by an average of 25%, with the fastest VPNs delivering a lightning-fast loss of less than 15% on average internet download speed.
SERVICEABILITY
A good Android VPN should run smoothly and be easy to use regardless of your technical expertise. It should have all the features you need easily accessible at the touch of a finger. Many Android VPN apps also include an easy way to contact support directly from the device, which can be useful if you need help on the go. Your Android VPN should have a large network of servers around the world so you can connect easily and reliably from wherever you are, and should be able to help you access restricted content geographically from different regions.
The cost
VPN pricing varies greatly from provider to provider, so if you’re on a budget, you may want to consider the overall cost and value of your Android VPN. Typically, you can expect to spend around $5 to $13 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, where prices can range from approximately $30 to $100 per year. Be careful with free VPNs because you may end up compromising your privacy instead of protecting it. Proton VPN is currently the only free VPN that CNET recommends. Most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee that can be anywhere from a week to 45 days. You can also get a free seven-day trial with many VPNs when you sign up through the Play Store. So you’ll most likely have the chance to try out different Android VPNs risk-free before deciding whether to fully invest in one.
broadcast
Many people use a VPN for privacy, but virtual private networks are also great for geo-unblocking streaming service. Because you can make apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and the BBC’s iPlayer think you’re in another country — like the UK or Canada — you can watch libraries of foreign content. By unblocking international video libraries, you may even be able to save money by using a VPN for streaming. For streaming on Android phones, tablets or Android TV boxes, you’ll want one of the best VPNs for Netflix so you can catch Squid Game and Bridgerton or the best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video, which can help you get your Cross fix.
