Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
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
No matter which VPN you use on Android or any other device, the minimum thing to consider is that it protects your privacy. Look for a VPN that uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption via OpenVPN protocolOr ChaCha20 via WireGuard or IKEv2. These protocols have undergone extensive scrutiny from the open source community and are widely trusted, so you can rely on them to keep your data private.
There are also some privacy features you’ll need to look out for. Any serious VPN provider will offer a kill switch, which kills your internet connection if your connection to your VPN suddenly drops, keeping your IP address and online activity private. You’ll also want to look for DNS leak protection and an audited no-logs policy. independent Audits It’s one of the best ways to evaluate whether a VPN provider is truly committed to keeping your data private. It’s also important to review your VPN’s privacy policy, which should be easy to understand and include clear language regarding data collection and sharing. If you’re a power user, you might appreciate advanced features like split tunneling, which lets you use a VPN for some traffic but not others.
For critical privacy needs — such as if you’re an investigative journalist, asylum seeker, political activist, or interested torrent user — you’ll also want a VPN provider that’s based in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction and offers obfuscation. Obfuscation hides the fact that you are using a VPN by disguising your VPN traffic as regular HTTPS browsing traffic. Additional privacy features to look for include Tor over VPN capabilities for an extra layer of privacy, ad and tracker blockers, and multi-hop connections, which encrypts your traffic twice through two separate VPN servers instead of just one.
speed
Your VPN’s speed performance can have a huge impact on activities like streaming, downloading, video conferencing, gaming, and general web browsing. To keep things running smoothly, you’ll want to look for a VPN that has as little impact as possible on your normal internet speeds. A fast VPN should only reduce your internet download speeds by 25% or less, with the fastest VPN we tested dropping our speeds by just 3%. Keep in mind that you may end up with slower speeds and worse response time if you are connected to a server far away from your current location. It’s a good idea to check a VPN provider’s server locations before committing to make sure there’s a server relatively close to you.
Ease of use
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 and be easily accessible with the tap of your 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 easily and reliably connect wherever you are, and it should be able to help you access geo-restricted content from different regions.
It costs
VPN prices can vary greatly from one provider to another, so if you’re on a tight budget, you may want to consider the cost and overall value of your Android VPN. Typically, you can expect to spend around $5 to $15 per month for a VPN subscription plan. If you want to save money, you can opt for an annual subscription, with introductory prices ranging from about $30 to $100 for the first year, and renewal prices ranging from about $50 to $150 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 one Free VPN Recommended by CNET.
There are plenty of other free VPNs out there, especially on mobile platforms. But it is very difficult to confirm whether most of them have reasonable no-logging policies. Especially in the case of completely free VPNs, they tend to monetize the use of your data by showing you ads or selling your browsing data to marketing companies. In the worst cases, they’re just spy apps masquerading as VPNs that hackers use to obtain your passwords and bank account details to launch identity theft attacks. You may be tempted to save a few bucks by using a free VPN, but it may end up costing you more than you bargained for.
There are several ways to try out a VPN before purchasing one, especially if you’re mostly interested in Android devices. It’s not unusual for a VPN provider to offer some sort of money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the service, which typically covers between the first week and 45 days of subscription. Be careful, you should research the terms beforehand to make sure you qualify for a refund. Some providers won’t offer you a refund unless there’s an obvious technical issue with the VPN, while others will refund your money no questions asked. There’s also the option to try a seven-day trial through the Play Store, which most VPN providers offer when you sign up. Again, you have to be smart here. You’ll be charged through the payment details linked to the Play Store at the end of your free trial, and depending on the provider, you may be locked into a one-year or longer plan upfront. If you are not satisfied with the service, be sure to cancel the subscription completely and delete the app before the trial period ends.
My neighbor
Although VPNs are primarily privacy tools, they’re also great for unblocking geo-restricted streaming content. Because you can have apps like Netflix, Disney Plus and BBC iPlayer register your connection as a source in another location, you can watch libraries of foreign content, and perhaps even Save money by using a VPN for streaming. To stream on Android phones, tablets, or Android TV boxes, you may want to consider one of the following options Best VPNs for Netflix or Best VPNs for Amazon Prime Video.