5 Best VPNs for Android: Fast & Reliable (2026)

NordVPN - Best Privacy and Security for Android Devices

Android Security & Privacy

NordVPN offers an encrypted connection for all Android devices, including tablets and Smart TVs. Thus, limiting your exposure to cyber threats even when using a public Wi-Fi network.

Additionally, if you’re on a mobile network, your internet service provider won’t be able to track or log your online activities, something most do all the time. Every website you open on Android won’t see your IP address either. You’ll be like a ghost.

Moreover, I ran the latest Android version of NordVPN (5.22) through the Exodus tool to check the tracker and permissions requests by the app. Impressively, I found only four trackers and 16 permission requests.

Three of the trackers were about Google Analytics, which is common with most apps.

However, I had concerns with some permissions requested by NordVPN.

After all, the request to modify or delete contents on shared storage was a little overboard. But the request for full network access and viewing network connections was okay since that’s how the app monitors possible threats.

But overall, 16 permission requests were too much.

Moving on, there’s a kill switch that automatically disconnects your internet when the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. This usually happens when you switch networks from Wi-Fi to mobile and vice versa.

So, until the VPN connection is reestablished, you won’t access the internet on your Android device to prevent IP leaks.

To activate the Android kill switch:

• Open Android system settings.
• Find NordVPN and open its settings.
• Enable both “Always-on VPN” and “Block connections without VPN”.

A quick test through ipleak.net showed no evidence of IP or WebRTC leaks. The screenshot above only shows the virtual IP address of the South African VPN server I’m connected to, not my actual IP address.

So NordVPN passes that test.

Another critical feature offered by this VPN service is split tunneling.

If you have banking apps or PayPal, you must exempt them from being routed through the VPN. Otherwise, you may trigger account blocks because suddenly accessing your bank app with a new IP address from another continent is a huge red flag.

Lastly, an ad and tracker blocker called Threat Protection constantly filters and blocks malicious domains and ads before they load on your device.

However, it didn’t seem to work on YouTube ads. The adblocker got a score of 32/100 on the adblocker test.

Connection Speeds + Data Consumption

I got average speeds of 28 Mbps on NordVPN, which is enough to stream 4K content without buffering and download heavy files without long waiting times.

This was handy for me since I exclusively watch Netflix on my Android tablet after my daughter took over my TV with her Cocomelon shows.

And here I thought I was the decision maker.

One of the reasons behind these speeds is the NordLynx protocol.

It performed exceptionally well with mobile data as it’s the fastest protocol with the most minor data consumption.

Besides NordLynx, NordVPN only provides two other protocols on the Android platform: OpenVPN TCP and OpenVPN UDP being the other two.

However, there’s an extra IKEv2 protocol on NordVPN’s Windows, iOS and macOS apps.

Unblocking Capabilities

This good Android VPN offers 7,000+ servers in 150 countries.

You can unblock any restricted content from anywhere worldwide without issues. Thus, NordVPN boasts the second largest server network after CyberGhost.

Furthermore, NordVPN has specialty servers that include the following:

• P2P Servers: No longer a separate category, since torrenting now works on all standard servers.
• Onion Over VPN: These are servers designed to offer Android users the best privacy and anonymity. They combine the best qualities of Tor and a VPN.
• Obfuscated Servers: These are designed to bypass VPN blocks in countries like China and Russia, where VPN use is heavily monitored.
• Double VPN Servers: These servers offer an extra layer of protection by encrypting and rerouting your traffic through two servers.
• Dedicated IP Servers: These are special unshared servers that allow users to keep using the same IP address every time they launch NordVPN on their Android devices.

Ease of Use

The overall user interface of the NordVPN app on Android devices is clean. Everything is accessible from the moment you launch the app.

This includes the servers, the notification tab, the account profile tab, and settings.

A simple tap is all it takes to activate or disable features like Auto-connect, Threat Protection, the kill switch, or split tunneling.

Thus, making it easy to operate even for someone who has never interacted with VPNs before.

Android Compatibility

NordVPN works on Android 6.0 and above. So, you can use it on Android smartphones, tablets, and even Android TVs through the Smart DNS feature or installing directly from Google Play Store for Android TVs that allow that.

You can install the app directly from the Play Store or download the APK file from the NordVPN website. Additionally, you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, which is perfect to multitask on your Android and non-Android devices without disconnecting the VPN on one device to protect another.

This Android VPN starts at about the same price as ExpressVPN on a 2-year plan, but it still costs more than Surfshark. The good news is you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee, and you can save a lot if you get your subscription with these discounted deals.

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Surfshark - Great Value With Unlimited Device Connections

Android Security & Privacy

Surfshark has two kill switches on Android, the only VPN on this list that offers that.

The first is called VPN Kill Switch, which disables the internet when the VPN connection drops or is turned off. The second one is called Android native Kill switch, which is an alternative to the first one, but it disables the internet even for the apps you may have bypassed using the split tunneling feature.

To prove Surfshark’s IP and DNS leak prevention claims, I ran an IP leaks test, and true to their word, there was no leak.

The VPN also offers state-of-the-art encryption for public network protection, among other things. Your ISP won’t snoop on your activities either, even when you switch to mobile data, because your traffic is scrambled beyond recognition.

Using the Exodus tool, I checked the number of permissions and trackers requested by the Android Surshark app (version 2.8.1.8).

There were three trackers and 23 permission requests.

The trackers involved the usual Google analytics requests.

The permissions that raised my eyebrows included the one seeking to modify or delete contents in the shared storage and the one requesting access to the precise location.

Considering that Surfshark allows you to spoof your GPS location on Android devices, the location-based permission is understandable.

Even at that, though, 23 requests are way too much.

If you’re worried about your banking apps springing up red alerts when you change your IP address, there’s a Surfshark split tunneling feature called Bypasser. It comes with two choices:

• Bypass VPN: You select the apps and sites that you want to exempt from connecting to the internet through the VPN.
• Route via VPN: You select the apps and websites you want to pass exclusively through the VPN connection.

Like NordVPN, Surfshark has an ad blocker called CleanWeb that blocks trackers, ads, and malware. I had more success blocking ads with CleanWeb compared to Threat Protection, scoring 67/100 on an adblocker test.

Connection Speeds + Data Consumption

Surfshark averaged 21 Mbps, falling short of NordVPN and ExpressVPN speeds. But for mobile devices, this was plenty as I could stream music on my Spotify app without issues. There wasn’t much change either when switching back and forth between Wi-Fi and mobile data.

The reason for this smooth transition lies with the data-friendly WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols. Surfshark has an edge over NordVPN here since the latter lacks IKEv2 on Android.

Overall, both protocols offer the best speeds without consuming too much data, perfect if you’re on the move and don’t trust public networks.

Surfshark also offers two more protocols on the Android app, namely OpenVPN TCP and OpenVPN UDP.

Unblocking Capabilities

Surfshark doesn’t have specialty servers, but you’ll get reliable 4,500+ servers to unblock anything you want from anywhere.

You’ll get three types of server locations on the Android app.

• Virtual Location: These are the regular servers that match the country you want to connect to, perfect for those in countries with unreliable internet infrastructure.
• Static IP Location: These are IP locations that give the user the same IP address that doesn’t change with every reconnection.
• MultiHop Location: This location connects you through two countries, adding an extra layer of privacy and security to your traffic.

At the same time, you get an obfuscation feature called Camouflage Mode that works automatically with the OpenVPN protocol.

This keeps your VPN use under the radar of deep packet inspections in heavily censored countries or networks.

But it slows down speeds, though not as much as NordVPN’s obfuscation.

Ease of Use

The Surfshark Android app looks good and is easy to navigate.

There are buttons for the server locations which provide a list of countries you can connect to, including Static and Multihop.

The settings button gives you a range of options like enabling or disabling Auto-connect, CleanWeb, the kill switches, and the Bypasser, as well as changing the protocols. Overall, the user interference is intuitive enough with little to no learning curve required for a newbie.

Android Compatibility

You can use Surshark VPN apps on any device running Android 5.0 and above. This ranges from Android phones and tablets to Android smart TVs through its native Android TV app.

Surfshark is also the only VPN I tested that allows an unlimited number of devices to be connected to the same account.

This helps if you have friends and family members who need to secure their Android devices without purchasing their own Surfshark subscription.

There’s also the good bit about Surfshark being one of the most affordable VPNs with a full 30-day money-back guarantee. If this Android VPN meets your needs, ensure you grab a subscription using these exclusive deals while they still last.

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CyberGhost - Best for Unblocking Streaming Content on Android

Android Security & Privacy

Third on the list is CyberGhost, with fantastic security and privacy features for your Android device. The VPN offers 256-bit encryption that keeps third parties like Facebook and even Google itself out of your business.

Thus, they can’t track your activities or flood you with targeted ads.

Additionally, the Android app has a Wi-Fi protection feature that keeps you safe whenever you connect to public networks. This could be at your local cafe or even your school network. After all, the last thing you want is some hacker or network admin seeing all the sites you’re visiting.

However, unlike other VPN services on this list, the kill switch option is enabled by default on Android. You won’t see the option to toggle it on or off in the settings.

Moreover, I conducted a quick IP leak test, and the results showed that the Android CyberGhost app delivers precisely what it promises.

Like every other Android app, there are some permissions and tracker requests you have to give the CyberGhost app. I checked using the Exodus tool, and the latest version of the CyberGhost Android app has three trackers and 13 permission requests, lower than NordVPN and Surfshark.

The three trackers were for Google Analytics, with the only permission request that caught my attention being the one asking for access to the exact device location.

Moving on from that, this VPN provider has an ad blocker called Content Blocker. It handles pop-up ads, online trackers, and malware, stopping them from loading on your device. During my tests, it registered a score of 56/100, so many ads slipped through.

Finally, you can use an App Split Tunnel feature to choose what you want to route through the VPN and what to exclude. This will significantly boost the overall performance and protect VPN-incompatible apps like PayPal from malfunctioning.

Connection Speeds + Data Consumption

CyberGhost was the second fastest Android VPN in the speed test, with average speeds of 28 Mbps. This was enough for 4K streaming without buffering and downloading heavy files within minutes.

What’s the secret to this?

The first one involves the mobile-friendly WireGuard protocol.

It’s not heavy on mobile data, so you don’t have to worry about data bundle caps before you finish what you’re doing online. However, like NordVPN, the only other protocol offered by CyberGhost for Android is OpenVPN.

Also, unlike NordVPN (which allows P2P on all its standard servers), CyberGhost has specialty servers dedicated to streaming and torrenting. These prioritize speeds, making CyberGhost perfect for people who stream on tablets and smartphones.

Unblocking Capabilities

CyberGhost offers 9,000+ servers, the largest network on this list, so unblocking restricted content from anywhere should be a walk in the park.

Of these servers, 1,600+ are in the US alone, making it ideal for people who want access to top streaming platforms like HBO Max, Hulu, or Apple TV+.

The icing is that you even get servers dedicated to specific streaming platforms. Like for the speed test, I used a United Kingdom server optimized for Sky Go UK. This saves you a lot of time that would have been wasted in searching for the right streaming server.

Ease of Use

The user interface is clean and easy to use. There’s even a quick-connect button that launches the last server you connected to.

The only inconvenience I experienced was the inability to switch servers when the VPN was active as you have to disconnect first.

Accessing the settings dashboard isn’t challenging either.

That’s where you find split tunneling, Wi-Fi protection, Content Blocker, and protocol options. Everything is configured in a straightforward design, perfect for new users.

Android Compatibility

CyberGhost only works with Android 5.0 and above.

This includes Android TV, though its SmartDNS feature no longer works with streaming services.

Instead, you can install the VPN app from the Play Store on most Android TVs. You can also connect up to 7 devices simultaneously, three fewer than NordVPN and ExpressVPN’s Basic plan.

CyberGhost’s price plans are affordable and even slightly cheaper than Surfshark’s.

This is also the only Android VPN that offers a 45-day money-back guarantee, the longest by far.

Save a few extra coins with these exciting deals while they last.

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ExpressVPN - Fastest Speeds for Streaming & Downloading on Android

Android Security & Privacy

ExpressVPN offers several security and privacy features for Android devices.

First, there’s a Network Protection kill switch that stops all internet traffic when your VPN connection drops. For those using Android 8 and above, an extra feature called the System Kill Switch also works the same way.

A quick IP leak test revealed how secure the VPN is.

I didn’t see my actual IP anywhere, which is a relief.

The best-in-class encryption from ExpressVPN will protect you against hackers on public networks and ISP surveillance if you use mobile data.

Speaking of public networks, ExpressVPN has an auto-connect option for untrusted Wi-Fi. This allows you to connect automatically and securely to new Wi-Fi networks you haven’t marked safe.

As for the app permissions, ExpressVPN (version 10.53.0) has two trackers and 14 permissions requests. There wasn’t any permission request that rang any bells like CyberGhost. The two trackers weren’t intrusive either, just the regular Google analytics designed to make operations smoother.

Thankfully, ExpressVPN has a split tunneling feature for routing select apps through the VPN, leaving other Android apps to go through the regular internet.

There are three options to choose from:

• All apps use the VPN.
• Do not allow selected apps to use the VPN.
• Only allow selected apps to use the VPN.

Unfortunately, ExpressVPN doesn’t have an ad-blocker.

Not even on other mobile and PC versions of the app.

Thus, losing to NordVPN, CyberGhost and Surfshark in that aspect.

Connection Speeds + Data Consumption

ExpressVPN was the fastest VPN in the tests. I averaged 29 Mbps, enough for every kind of heavy bandwidth activity like streaming movies and shows and torrenting.

I got these speeds by combining the nearest server I could find with the Lightway protocol, the fastest ExpressVPN protocol.

The Lightway – UDP protocol is the most efficient for mobile data because it consumes less while offering Android users shorter waiting times for downloads and buffer-free streaming.

The other protocols offered by the Android version of ExpressVPN include Lightway – TCP, OpenVPN – TCP, and OpenVPN – UDP.

Unblocking Capabilities

ExpressVPN has servers in 113 countries for unblocking streaming platforms, torrenting websites, and any other restricted content anywhere.

Only NordVPN reaches more countries on this list.

Fortunately, that didn’t mean much since I unblocked Amazon Prime Video and Hulu for the latest TV shows and Qobuz and Pandora Radio for the latest music albums.

But this provider still has an extra trick up its sleeves.

With its automatic obfuscation, ExpressVPN blows the rest of the VPNs out of the water. The automatic obfuscation works with all servers and protocols without any change in the speeds. So, heavy censorship and VPN blocks shouldn’t faze you.

Ease of Use

ExpressVPN has one of the most aesthetically-pleasing user interfaces with many functionalities. For ease, you can access its servers using the “Recommended” or “All Locations“ options. Alternatively, type in the country you want to connect to in the search bar.

But what stood out for me the most was the Help section.

A detailed list of helpful guides shows how to use the app or what to do when experiencing connection problems. That’s a good touch and ideal for new users who’ve never used ExpressVPN, or any VPN at all.

Android Compatibility

ExpressVPN works on Android 5.0 and above. This includes Android TVs, most of which allow the installation of the VPN directly from the Play Store. Its Mediastreamer feature (a Smart DNS) covers devices that can’t run the app, but it can’t change your location. However, you can connect up to 10 devices simultaneously on the Basic plan, which matches NordVPN but trails Surfshark’s unlimited allowance. But if all you need it for is a few devices, you won’t feel the pinch.

Sadly, ExpressVPN costs more than budget picks like Surfshark and CyberGhost.

The relief, however, is the 30-day money-back guarantee coupled with our incredible discounts for better savings.

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PrivateVPN - Budget Android App With a Kill Switch and 10 Connections

Android Security & Privacy

Rounding out the list is PrivateVPN, a small Swedish provider whose Android app is deliberately plain, and on a phone that turns out to be a virtue. It covers the essentials: AES 256-bit encryption for public Wi-Fi and mobile data, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch you toggle from the app’s settings. That switch is a full-system one, so the moment the tunnel drops, every app on the phone loses internet until the VPN is back, which is exactly what you want when the phone hops between Wi-Fi and mobile data.

The permissions story is the cleanest on this page. When I ran the Android app through Exodus for my full PrivateVPN review, it came back with two trackers and eight permission requests, and the permissions were the boring, necessary kind: internet access, running at start-up, and wake-lock. Set that against NordVPN’s 16 requests and Surfshark’s 23.

What you don’t get is anything beyond the basics. There’s no ad or malware blocker, so YouTube and in-app ads roll on as normal, and there’s no split tunneling, so a banking app that dislikes VPNs has to be closed rather than exempted. The four apps above all handle at least one of those.

Connection Speeds + Data Consumption

PrivateVPN isn’t the VPN you buy for speed. In my other tests, it has landed behind NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN, and on a phone the gap is easiest to feel over OpenVPN, which is also heavier on battery and data than NordLynx or WireGuard. For HD streaming and everyday browsing it’s fine; for 4K on a tablet, stick with the top two.

The app leans on OpenVPN and IKEv2, and IKEv2 is the one to use on mobile because it reconnects quickly after a signal drop. PrivateVPN supports WireGuard too; where the app doesn’t expose it, its config files load into the official WireGuard app, the same route my Android TV guide takes.

Unblocking Capabilities

With 200+ servers in 63 countries, PrivateVPN has the smallest network here, a fraction of CyberGhost’s 9,000+, so there are fewer spares to spread across in a busy country. The spread is decent for a network that size, though: a dozen US cities, plus Japan and South Korea, and its Netflix page names the US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Australia, and Sweden.

One quirk I like on a phone: every location hands you a shared static IP, so the device lands on the same address each time it reconnects, and shopping or banking apps are calmer about a familiar IP than about a new one every morning. There’s also a Stealth VPN mode for networks that block VPN traffic outright, something CyberGhost can’t offer; it’s a manual toggle and it costs speed, so keep it for the networks that need it.

Ease of Use

The app is a single screen: a large connect button, a server picker, and a hamburger menu where the kill switch and protocol settings live. There’s no map and no specialty categories, which keeps it light on a budget phone but also means there’s less to explore than in the four apps above.

Android Compatibility

PrivateVPN’s app comes from the Google Play Store, runs on Android phones and tablets, and covers Android TV through the same account. That account stretches to 10 devices simultaneously, three more than CyberGhost allows, so a phone, a tablet, and the family’s laptops fit under one subscription.

The 36-month plan works out to $2.00 a month (billed $72 a year once the first term ends), a little below what Surfshark and CyberGhost charge and comfortably below NordVPN and ExpressVPN, and a 30-day money-back guarantee covers you if the plain app isn’t enough. Grab these PrivateVPN discounts while they last.

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