The Best Android VPN apps of 2024

Isn’t it strange that so many phone users seek the best VPN for Android? Apparently, it’s not given that over 90% of users go online on their phone. While we can argue about Android’s popularity against iOS, we know that at least 3.9 billion people use the former.

That’s a lot of living souls in need of a reputable Android VPN app. This service offers a wealth of benefits for your privacy and security. It encrypts your traffic, anonymizes your online activities, and makes everything you do online private.

An even more popular advantage is bypassing website blocks. People use some of the best VPN apps for Android to watch Netflix or stream various sports events. The key aspect is to find a provider that fulfills all your needs because, sadly, many of them aren’t so great.

Our cybersecurity experts have done all the heavy lifting for you. We tested dozens of VPN services and narrowed our selection to just a few top choices for Android in 2024. Let’s see what they offer and the benefits they provide.

Best VPN Apps for Android Phones and Tablets

This guide will heavily lean into the premium VPN market. We have another guide where we present you with free VPNs for Android. Unfortunately, they’re not as great, so they couldn’t make it to our list.

Now that we mentioned it, here’s the list you wanted:

1. NordVPN – the #1 VPN app for Android devices
2. ExpressVPN – fast and stable VPN for Android
3. Private Internet Access – unlimited connections on a budget
4. Surfshark – Android VPN app packed with advanced features
5. CyberGhost – optimized for P2P and streaming

Let’s discuss each top pick separately to understand why it made our list.

1. NordVPN

Our favorite pick, NordVPN, knows what it means to provide an equally amazing experience on all platforms. Its Android VPN app is filled with features to make you jump in excitement. Let’s start with its servers – 6,400+ in 111 countries. Now, these numbers are jaw-dropping.

NordVPN also offers Double VPN servers. They double your encryption and prevent you from being tracked by government agencies and ISPs. This VPN app comes with special P2P servers, anonymizing torrenting on your Android phone in seconds.

We love this VPN for its performance. NordVPN has uncapped bandwidth and offers 10 Gbps servers. This is reinforced by its NordLynx protocol, which makes every connection smooth and suitable for heavy downloads and streaming on any platform.

Android VPN users can enjoy watching ITV outside the UK or unblocking Netflix US. In addition, NordVPN has handy security features. They include AES-256 encryption, a reliable kill switch, and Threat Protection. The latter blocks malware and ads.

Interestingly, NordVPN includes Meshnet on Android. It’s suitable for remote control and access to other devices. A feature unique to this great VPN for Android is Tapjacking Protection, warning you if a malicious app tries to trick you into an unintended action.

NordVPN uses its in-house DNS to handle your DNS requests. Better yet, it’s protected by an ironclad zero-log policy to keep your online activities concealed.

Finally, NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android users.

Visit NordVPN

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2. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN takes the second place as yet another excellent VPN for Android phones and tablets. It offers a simple app that won’t eat through your battery but still performs like a champ. After all, it’s based on the Lightway protocol designed to churn out performance.

ExpressVPN is simultaneously one of the fastest VPNs you can use on Android. Moreover, its 3,000 servers are more than impressive for torrenting, streaming, or playing various mobile games. Its Android app is similar to the Windows app, so you get a premium experience.

Its kill switch works reliably. Our team likes its Advanced Protection that blocks ads, malicious sites, trackers, and even adult sites. The app also includes split tunneling, which routes only specific apps through the VPN.

Being one of the most popular VPNs for Android, ExpressVPN includes something called Keys. It’s a password manager, which users with a heap of passwords will appreciate. ExpressVPN’s no-log policy underwent significant audits from third parties.

It’s the most audited VPN in the industry, with successful evaluations from PwC, KPMG, Cure53, and other companies. It’s almost at the top of our ranking of Android VPNs for inclusions like RAM servers, Private DNS, and Perfect Forward Secrecy for the highest privacy levels.

Sadly, ExpressVPN lacks Double VPN servers and has no abundance of very advanced features like NordVPN. Befitting to the title of a great Android VPN, ExpressVPN’s price isn’t the lowest. Don’t worry, you still get a 7-day free trial as an Android user.

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3. Private Internet Access

This US-based VPN has been with us for well over a decade. It perfected its formula, quickly becoming a go-to Android VPN for millions of users. Its enormous server fleet counts 30,000 servers and perhaps more. An even better thing to hear is this – unlimited connections.

Given its extremely low price, budget users will love that this VPN compatible with Android can protect all their devices! Private Internet Access comes crawling with features but also works with Netflix and allows you to play online games thanks to fast speeds.

It relies on WireGuard most of the time, including features like port forwarding, a kill switch, and PIA MACE to kick out all ads and trackers. Our favorite feature of this Android VPN app is Automation, as it lets you assign multiple auto-connection rules at a time.

This will ensure the VPN connects right away on certain actions to protect your privacy. Obfuscation is also available, so you can mask your VPN traffic and appear as a “normal” person online. This feature is useful if you travel to China and other censored regions.

Private Internet Access lets you get a dedicated IP address for conveniences like avoiding captcha puzzles or preventing IP bans. Windows users still get a few more features like SOCKS5 and Shadowsocks proxies but also an optional antivirus.

That’s not an issue, as you can equip all your devices with PIA with one subscription. Private Internet Access has a gigantic discount that drops its price to just around $2/mo. To test it out without paying, you can take advantage of its 7-day free trial on Android as well.

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4. Surfshark

One of the cheapest premium VPNs for Android on this list is simultaneously one of the best. Surfshark and its beautiful UI serve thousands of mobile users. This VPN skimps on nothing, so you still enjoy zero logging, superb 256-bit encryption, and MultiHop servers.

We just scratched the surface with these. Namely, Surfshark’s Android VPN application is streaming-friendly, letting you access around 30 Netflix libraries. It’s also a great iPhone VPN because it allows you to use WireGuard on all platforms to improve your connection speed.

Surfshark’s Android app offers CleanWeb, which effectively blocks ads and trackers. Moreover, it has two kill switches, one standard and the other Android-native, which disables internet traffic for split-tunneling-bypassed apps. Pretty useful.

We discovered that its app contains a GPS Override function, which allows for geo-spoofing. There’s also the IP Rotator, which periodically rotates your IP while keeping your online location the same, and in the process, allowing for a constant connection.

Surfshark’s base version is very cheap but we recommend paying slightly more for the One plan. This plan packs useful extras, such as an antivirus that works directly on your phone and discovers threats. Its Search browser is also useful for anonymous browsing.

Surfshark has upped its game significantly in 2024. It now offers dependable 10 Gbps servers in 100 countries, unlimited bandwidth, and 24/7 support for all your needs. Grab its discount below and enjoy this amazing premium VPN with a few free months on top.

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5. CyberGhost

Our recent CyberGhost review was very favorable, especially when discussing its mobile apps. It’s on the list of the best VPNs for Android for its speed, security, privacy, and streaming/P2P optimization. This VPN has it all and is still priced modestly.

How so? We don’t know. We can only discuss what we tested. CyberGhost’s Android VPN application offers 12,000+ servers in 100 countries. Our favorites were streaming servers that we used to access MAX, BBC iPlayer, and numerous Netflix libraries.

You can expect standard security features here. A kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and all that stuff. Being a Romanian service, the VPN also keeps no logs and has an audit from Deloitte to prove that. While its Windows app is confusing, its mobile apps are impeccable.

It’s easy to enable WireGuard and enjoy blazing-fast performance, for instance. Another thing we like is the kill switch, which safely disables your internet traffic if the VPN connection breaks. CyberGhost lacks obfuscation, which might be its biggest pitfall.

This means traveling to China won’t be so enjoyable, as you can’t get over censorship. CyberGhost’s unlimited bandwidth surely tips the scale, and so does its immense focus on service quality, especially with bonus features like Smart DNS and dedicated IPs.

Despite its 7 simultaneous connections, which is underwhelming, CyberGhost retains its position as one of the most affordable VPNs for Android in 2024. There’s a 3-day free trial on Android plus a 45-day money-back guarantee for its dirt-cheap 24-month plan.

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How to Install and Use a VPN on Android?

We always say how VPNs are so complex under the hood, yet so simple for the end user. You’ll agree that installing an app on your phone is a no-brainer in 2024. That is unless you’re a time traveler from centuries ago. We’ll assume you’re not.

If you’re still unsure how to use a VPN on Android or even install it, here’s an in-depth guide to help you out. The guide will cover all Android devices, including phones, tablets, and TVs.

1. Subscribe to a VPN

You’ll need to subscribe to one of the best VPNs for Android first. The overall best pick is NordVPN, so we’ll use it for this guide. Rest assured, all VPNs work the same, with minor differences that shouldn’t confuse you. Click the button below to go to its site.

From here, select the plan you want. Again, we recommend any of the 2-year plans because they’re discounted by more than 65%. Once you select the plan, enter your email address, pay for the subscription, and confirm your account via the mail NordVPN sent you.

Visit NordVPN website

2. Install a VPN on Android

Easy? This is even easier.

You need to install an Android VPN application now. You can download its APK from the VPN’s site. However, we recommend going to Google Play, searching for the VPN you subscribed to, and downloading it.

This is simpler, as Google Play will automatically download and install the app for you. Once it’s done, open the app and sign in with your email and password from Step 1. You’ll be greeted by a dashboard that lets you enjoy the VPN from this moment.

3. Connect to a Server

And how do you enjoy a VPN? You connect to any of its servers! We’ll leave this step to you. Pick any server you want and go online in complete privacy. For this guide, we used a random US VPN server but you can pick any for them in over 110 countries.

Android VPN Benefits: Why Use This Service on Your Phone or Tablet?

Connecting to a server seems quite simple to yield so many benefits. What’s the deal with the best VPNs for Android? Why are they so popular? Let’s explain everything in depth.

Public WiFi Security

If you’re young and full of energy, we’ll assume you’re going out in restaurants and cafes. Little did you know that their public WiFi hotspots are insecure and often lack solid encryption, making them easy prey to hackers and snoopers.

Think of a tiger vs penguin duel – that’s how hackers can devour these networks. When doing so, they’ll see all the IP addresses of connected users and be able to access their devices and steal data. Which data? Perhaps credit card information? Might be.

The trick is to somehow conceal your IP address and avoid such discrepancies. The best VPN for Android rears its head. Connect to one once you’re on public WiFi, encrypt everything you do online, and let hackers smash their heads into the impenetrable 256-bit encryption.

You’re fully secured this way and no one can steal any information or follow your online footsteps. That’s the gist of it.

Improved Privacy

Privacy is another focal point of our preferred VPN apps for Android. Through encryption and everything else, they prevent other “entities” from spying on you. This is also done through a no-log policy, which means the VPN stores no data of your activities.

Let’s say someone breaches the VPN and tries to steal its data. If nothing is stored, nothing can be stolen! All 5 providers we recommend have audited no-logging policies and RAM-only servers that store ZERO information about your online whereabouts.

Even if the CIA or NSA seizes their servers, they will come out empty-handed. If you don’t believe us, do your research and read their audits from PwC, KPMG, Cure53, Deloitte, and other auditing firms. These reports will tell you everything you need to know.

Streaming & P2P

P2P isn’t usually something you’ll do on your phone. But you can. With a VPN. It’s best to stay anonymous during torrenting to avoid ISPs, copyright trolls, and other snoopers. But what about streaming? You have plenty of things to discover on this end.

Geo-restrictions plague our beautiful world. Some websites won’t work in your country. Netflix works everywhere but its catalogs differ based on your location. This, again, calls for an Android VPN that could alter your online location and do some fancy trickery.

It’ll trick any website you visit into believing you’re in another country, allowing access promptly. This can be done on any website, not just Netflix. Some people use this to gamble online or unblock adult sites otherwise unavailable in their or foreign country.

Lag-Free Gaming

Our best-rated VPNs for Android offer impeccable performance for playing games. We know Android gamers are plentiful and lagging or even DDoS attacks scare the living hell out of them. A VPN can aid your cause by removing ISP throttling, thereby, fixing a high ping.

As for DDoS attacks, it’s clear how they work. Instead of attacking your IP address, an attacker will have to attack the VPN’s IP instead because your original IP is hidden. This changes nothing because the VPN server is powerful enough to handle the punch.

Cheaper Travels

Who doesn’t love some summertime or wintertime travels? The more, the merrier! When they’re cheaper because you’ve used our best VPN for Android – that’s a feast. Prices of flight tickets and hotel rentals often depend on your location.

They’ll be more expensive in Germany than Bulgaria because the former is a more developed country. You can use this to prosper by altering your IP to a less-developed country and checking for flight ticket prices. Our experience shows that you can save a lot.

Sometimes it’s hundreds of dollars annually, sometimes less. It all depends on how travel-happy you are.

Some Famous Android VPN Apps to Avoid

Google Play is more “chaotic” than the App Store, which is why many prefer a streamlined approach to apps and security on iOS. This brings with itself a nasty flow of unfiltered, specky apps that often happen to be VPNs.

These really free VPNs will happily provide you with unlimited bandwidth and lots of servers with one obscure condition – data collection. Such VPNs should be avoided at all costs. This isn’t the only negative case. Free VPNs usually implement other annoyances.

Some include in-app ads, limited bandwidth, and even intentionally slow speeds to force you to go the premium route. Our #1 advice is to AVOID all 100% free VPNs for Android that promise you everything on a silver platter. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t use it.

Apart from that, we’ll also mention providers like:

• Turbo VPN
• Hola VPN
• Betternet
• Urban VPN
• Ninja VPN

All of them are free, with fatal flaws like the ones we mentioned. These names surely sound familiar, especially Hola VPN which offers everything and stores even the tiniest private information, which sounds really scary. Let’s be direct and tell this.

You should mostly avoid unverified free VPNs for Android. Freemium VPNs are another story, and as mentioned at the start, we have a list of them that you can check. But even they aren’t as great as these five, which you’ll realize the moment you start using them.

Summary

So, what is the leading Android VPN in 2024? That must be NordVPN, closely followed by ExpressVPN.

These two are the best VPNs for Android with the leading reputation in security, privacy, performance, streaming, torrenting, and all other aspects.

We advise checking more budget solutions too. Private Internet Access and Surfshark are attractive for their unlimited connections, for example. CyberGhost, on the other side, relies on streaming servers to help you access more content on the fly.

With this ranking at its end, you have ample choices.

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