Let’s be honest for a second, the hype against laptops and desktops is gradually dying day by day.
The worlds is moving towards mobile now, heck you yourself are the prime example of this change.
Look at you, glued to your smartphone hours on end. But I can’t blame you though, you and I are eerily alike.
Checking up on emails, banking and scrolling through social media is so much convenient on a smartphone.
Yet In spite of technological breakthroughs in computing technology, mobile devices, particularly Android apps still suffer from the same old vulnerabilities and breach of privacy attacks.
Since you do pretty much everything on your smartphone, it makes all the sense in the world to protect it right.
Now, Android phones are known for their sketchy online privacy, which is why I’ve come up with a list of 7 best Android VPN apps to keep you totally secure on the go.
Why Use an Android VPN App?
Similar to you using the internet on your laptop, your Android phone also intercepts and transmits data packets in the exact same manner.
However, unlike your laptop, you share much more intimate information on your phone. Talking to your significant other, sharing photos, all happen right on your smartphone.
Just imagine what someone can do with your data.
Even the much more secure iOS operating systems isn’t completely safe from online threats.
Considering how spotty the support is for Android apps, opting a VPN app should be your absolute priority. Unless you’re a total rebel and don’t mind getting your data hacked.
According to a research conducted by ESET back in November 2017, it was discovered that the Google Play Store contained eight multi stage malware apps by the name of AndroidTrojanDropper.Agent.BKY.
The apps although looked legitimate on surface but on the backend, they were used to replace genuine webpages with uncanny dummy pages.
Whatever the unsuspected victim enters into the fields, be it personal and payment information, got stored and sent back to anonymous hackers.
Unfortunately, that’s the sick and twisted world we live in.
Privacy begins from within. Unless you’re serious about your privacy, you yourself can very well face such issues.
Playing it safe and opting a reliable VPN for your Android device can help you:
- Hide your original IP address
- Keep your personal information safe and away from the hands of snoops
- Bypasses geo-restricted content and websites (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, BBC iPlayer etc.)
- Make you anonymous and virtually undetectable on the web.
7 Best Android VPN Apps for 2019
Here’s the tough part!
Even though the Google Play Store is filled with hundreds of VPNs both free and paid, I can’t suggest you guys to go and experiment with them.
Since there’s always a possibility that you’ll end up installing something nasty, I’ve taken the liberty to test out dozens of VPNs available on the Play Store.
Don’t want to read through the whole blog? Checkout out my super convenient ranking table below.
| VPN Providers | Price ($) | Special Deals | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best Affordable VPN
|
$10.95
$2.95
Per Month
|
73% Off
Exclusive Discount 1 year Plan |
|
|
Best Budget Service
|
$11.95
$1.99
Per Month
|
83% Off
2 Years Deal |
|
|
Best for Geo-Unblocking
|
$11.95
$2.99
Per Month
|
75% Off
3 Years Plan |
|
|
Best for Streaming
|
$12.95
$6.67
Per Month
|
49% OFF
No Exclusive Offer |
|
|
Best for Private Browsing
|
$12.99
$2.75
Per Month
|
79% Off
3 Years Deal |
Still here? Good!
Here’s the volunteer Guinea Pig for this experiment:
After gambling with multiple VPN applications, I’ve shortlisted 7 of the absolute best VPNs for Android.
Your welcome!
| VPN Provider | Play Store Rating | Total Downloads |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 4.4 | 5M+ |
| ExpressVPN | 4.1 | 10M+ |
| Surfshark | 4.1 | 50K+ |
| PureVPN | 4.1 | 1M+ |
| CyberGhost | 4.3 | 1M+ |
| IPVanish | 3.5 | 1M+ |
| Ivacy VPN | 4.0 | 100K+ |
1. NordVPN – 5000+ Anonymous Servers for only $2.99
First up on this list is NordVPN.
It’s not only my personal favorite but it also has the highest app rating and downloads among its competitors.
There’s a reason why NordVPN has such a high rating on the Google Play store and a lot of it has to do with its servers.
After all, having instant access to over 5000+ servers in 62 countries is definitely noteworthy to say the least.
Aside from servers, NordVPN also offer plenty of nifty features, built in ad-blocker is one them.
Instead of seeing hundreds of annoying ads throughout the day, NordVPN quietly sweeps them under the rug.
I also particularly like the quick connect feature of NordVPN. It automatically connects you to the most optimized server every time.
NordVPN is also surprisingly fast. Running a speed test on my phone and I managed to get 23+ download speeds on my 25 Mbps internet connection.
User interface wise the application is pretty clean. Subtle animations and clean white and blue theme really makes it super easy to use.
Overall, highly recommend NordVPN.
Want to know more about this Android VPN app, make sure you checkout our detailed NordVPN review.
- Strong Encryption
- Kill Switch
- Netflix works
- P2P Support
- True Logging Policy
- Double Hop
- Nothing to dislike
2. ExpressVPN – #1 Trusted Leader in VPN for only $8.32
ExpressVPN is something else.
Even though it has comparatively less VPN servers than NordVPN, it is way faster in pretty much every other way.
If you’re curious to know how many servers ExpressVPN offers, at the moment they offer about 3000+ servers in 94 countries.
Speeds are fast, apps are much more fluid and you also get few extra features that you can’t really find in other VPN services.
Speaking of features, one particular one that I really like is the built-in speed test feature. You can perform a speeds test straight from the app itself.
Other than that, ExpressVPN offers a recommend location option. This feature is particularly handy for finding optimized VPN servers.
Similar to NordVPN’s quick connect feature, the recommended location option allows you to quickly connect to the fastest server available.
The overall reliability and functionality of their Android app has managed to get them over 10M+ downloads on the Google Play Store.
That number alone speaks volumes for itself.
Want to know what else I like about ExpressVPN, check out our comprehensive review of ExpressVPN.
- Super-fast Speeds
- True No Logs Policy
- Torrenting Compatible
- Powerful Encryption and Protocols
- Netflix Compatible
- Very Expensive
3. Surfshark – Cheapest in the entire VPN Industry ($1.99 only)
If you’re running on a budget, there’s no better VPN to get than Surfshark. You aren’t going to find a VPN that offers industry benchmark features for only $1.99/mo.
Pretty much it’s a scale down version of NordVPN, the app almost looks identical to NordVPN.
Now, you aren’t going to find the same number of servers as NordVPN, however, its barely noticeable.
Let me tell you why…
Since Surfshark’s servers are comparatively newer, even 500+ servers manage to offer speeds similar to NordVPN.
Connected to the U.S server, Surfshark managed to peak at about 19 Mbps on my 30 Mbps internet connection.
That’s seriously impressive!
I also really like the simplicity of Surfshark’s Android app. It’s responsive, doesn’t glitches out on you and is generally a well built product.
Couldn’t recommend it enough. Make sure you check out all the amazing features this VPN has to offer in our Surfshark review.
- Super Affordable Plans
- Genuine No Logs Policy
- Works with Netflix
- Clean and Simple Android App
- Bad Email Support
4. PureVPN – 9.4/10 User Rating on Trustpilot ($2.95 only)
Very few VPNs manage to get a good reputation on Trustpilot, PureVPN is one of them.
In addition to having 9.5 user rating on Trustpilot, PureVPN Android also has a pretty noteworthy Play Store rating of 4.1 stars.
Aside from phenomenal ratings, PureVPN’s user interface is what makes it stand out among its competitors.
The user interface is very modern looking, cool animations here and there really livens up the overall ambiance of the app.
Other than all the cool features like powerful encryption and protocols, PureVPN also offers few absolutely unique features.
Just to name a few, PureVPN offers Malware protection, ad-blocker, and protection against malicious IDS and IPS.
But that’s not all, there are tons of other amazing features which I’ve covered in my in-depth PureVPN review.
Another noteworthy feature of PureVPN has to be its speeds, it not only offered significantly low pings but also managed to offer speeds of up to 10 Mbps on my 15 Mbps internet connection.
While we are on the topic of speeds, let’s check out how many servers PureVPN offers. At the moment PureVPN offers about 2000+ servers in 140+ countries.
That’s seriously impressive.
- Affordable Subscription Plans
- Very Attractive Android App
- Fast Speeds
- Supports Torrenting and Netflix
- Nothing to complain about
5. CyberGhost – Powered by 7 years of Data Protection Expertise ($2.75 only)
Another premium VPN in this list is CyberGhost.
Backed by 7-years of industry experience, they don’t mess around with privacy. Unlike many VPN’s in the industry, they have always had a spotless reputation.
Now, there’s a lot to love about CyberGhost. One-tap connect feature lets you connect to the most fastest and optimized server every time.
Speaking of fast servers, CyberGhost offers a rather amazing lineup of secure servers. As far as numbers are concerned, CyberGhost offers 3700+ servers in 60+ countries.
Other than that, CyberGhost offers powerful encryption, industry standard routing protocols and a wide selection of compatible apps.
As far as ratings are concerned, CyberGhost has an average 4.3 star rating on the Google Play Store and has been downloaded over 1M+ times.
Price wise CyberGhost is fairly cheap and will only cost you $2.75 a month. CyberGhost also offers a free 1-day trial for new users.
Cheap prices, great apps and its overall reliability makes CyberGhost one of the best VPN apps for Android to get.
Interested in CyberGhost? Why not check out our detailed review of CyberGhost VPN service.
- Affordable Plans
- Powerful Encryption and Protocols
- Modern Looking Android App
- No Data Logging Policy
- Supports P2P and Torrenting
- Nothing to complain about
6. IPVanish – Best VPN App for Android ($6.49 only)
Now let’s checkout IPVanish.
Although a relatively small VPN service, it’s got all the essentials to compete with the industry’s top dogs.
Let’s start with servers…
IPVanish offers about 1200+ servers across 60+ countries of the world.
IPVanish also has you covered with their SOCKS5 web proxy, IKEv2, OpenVPN, and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols and limitless access to their world class VPN servers.
Even though IPVanish is much smaller than its competitors, its Play Store rating of 3.5 stars is none the less impressive.
Aside from ratings, IPVanish offers one of the most fluid and responsive Android app in the industry.
Can’t recommend IPVanish enough, it’s just that great.
Check out our IPVanish review for complete details about this amazing VPN.
- Considerably Fast Speeds
- P2P Compatible
- True No Logging Policy
- Strong Encryption
- A bit Expensive
7. Ivacy – Award-Winning Fastest VPN App for Android in 2019 ($2.25 only)
Last but not the least, we have Ivacy.
Ivacy is a class apart. Not only does this VPN service has a 4.0 star rating on Google Play Store but it’s also been awarded “The Fastest VPN for Android in 2019”.
While we’re on the topic ratings, I think I should also mention their Trustpilot rating. Out of 330+ reviews, Ivacy has an average 9.6 rating.
Similar to much larger VPN providers I’ve mentioned above, Ivacy also offers a super-fast one-click instant connection.
Feature wise you get Kill switch, P2P Optimized Servers, Split Tunneling and a bunch of other stuff.
The reason why Ivacy is so popular among privacy enthusiasts has to do with its cheap prices.
I mean $2.25 is a very attractive price.
As far as their app is concerned, it is also fairly good.
If you want to know more about Ivacy, make sure you checkout our detailed Ivacy review.
- Super Affordable
- True No Data Logging Policy
- Easy to use Android App
- Nothing to complain about
How to setup a VPN on Android?
The process of installing a VPN on an Android device doesn’t need any rocket science. You can achieve your mission within few minutes.
For complete information, check out our detailed guide on how to setup an Android VPN app.
Why I don’t suggest Free Android VPN Apps?
Now you might be wondering, “Why would I pay for a VPN service when I can just get it for free”.
You’re right, you can find tons of free VPN apps on the Google Play Store. But you know what, I Don’t recommend using them…
Let me tell you why…
Let’s get one thing straight, free apps are not technically free. If developers aren’t charging you upfront, they’re making money some other way.
Unlike premium VPN providers that make money by charging you a small subscription fees, free providers make money through advertisements.
You might have heard of a saying, “If you’re not paying for it, you are the product”. That’s exactly the case with free VPN providers.
In order to generate revenue, free VPN providers sell your data to third party advertisers.
Since they are logging everything you do on your phone, it makes it dead simple for marketers to target their ads directly to you.
Another reason why you must avoid free VPN apps is because they offer few feature, servers and generally pathetic performance.
To sum it up, free VPN’s are nothing more than free proxies incapable of offering any privacy.
If you still want to check out some free VPN services, here are few reputable best free VPN for Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deeming one VPN best for Android isn’t fair. Every VPN offers slightly better features than the other. However, if you were to ask me for my personal favorite, I’ll recommend ExpressVPN mentioned in this blog.
Without a doubt yes! Since Android operating system have significantly more vulnerabilities than IOS, it is absolutely essential to pair your Android device with a VPN. Not only will an Android VPN app keep your device secure but also ensure complete anonymity on the web.
Your Android device is no different than your laptop computer. Similar to your laptop, Android devices share data packets over the web. A VPN helps encrypt the data you transfer.
All inbound and outbound network traffic transmitted through your Android device gets end to end encrypted, making it impossible for snoops to decrypt.
Long story short, yes!
Instead of mucking around with your privacy, opting a reliable Android VPN app can help you avoid a whole lot of headache.
As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Final Verdict
So there you go, these were my top 7 Best Android VPN apps of 2019.
In the world filled with uncertain data breaches and identity thefts, it’s just not smart to use your Android device without any protection.
Now that you know some of the absolute best VPN app for android, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t use one of them right now.
So, what VPN app you’re currently using on your Android device? Let me know in the comments below.
Your feedback is important to us. Let us know if this article was helpful?
What VPN can I use in China for my Android device?
Hey Tris,
Good question. If you don’t mind paying a bit extra, suggest you go for ExpressVPN. It’ll cost you $6.67 a month, however, you do get much better support and obviously much better speeds.
The ivacy app on the google play store doesnt work with Android no matter what they tell you. Whats tech suppport’s solution? Download the app from someplace off the google play store. If you’re trying to be safe and secure you really should not go around installing apps from unknown sources. Whole thing is a little suspicious, I’ll be trying to get a refund.
Hey Hans, try installing it from their website. This worked for me. If it doesn’t, then let us know. We’ll figure it out to run it for you.
I’ve used Express but now I use NordVPN. I would say both of them are industry leaders. Don’t know about other VPNs.
Yes, Loha. ExpressVPN and NordVPN are undoubtedly the industry leaders in the VPN industry and this is the reason why they are listed in our top 5 best Android VPN providers’ list. There are other VPN providers that are equally better in performance. These include PureVPN, PrivateVPN, and Ivacy.
Thanks for the good writeup. It actually used to be a leisure account it. Glance complicated to far introduced agreeable from you! By the way, how could we be in contact?
Hello Rocky, thanks for your feedback. We also mentioned this information in the 4th paragraph. But you’re right we did not mention it in the first paragraph.
Well I have experienced only couple of VPN services for my mobile including MPN and Norton service, unfortunately it wasn’t smooth experience I thought initially. However, still looking for VPN that work for a long time and more importantly with quick browsing. Looking forward to give Nord VPN a try, hoping for good experience this time!
Hey Curtis, yes you should really go with NordVPN as it is the fastest VPN in the industry. Hoping you have a good experience using NordVPN.
Received emails from att uverse warning illegal use. I have showbox and kodi on tablet galaxy Does a VPN allow me to continue use show box and kodi with no problem. New to VPN do not fully understand what it does. Am I safe with a VPN
Hello Geneo, a VPN completely encrypts your online activity, thus making your identity anonymous to others (i.e. the government and your Internet Service Provider). Not only that, a VPN will protect you against cybercriminals. If you use Kodi third-party add-ons or watch movies in Torrents, then you can get one of the 5 best VPN providers that are available in this guide. Remember, whenever you watch a copyright material for free, you got to have a VPN or else you risk your online privacy.