Best free VPNs for Android 2024 for all Android devices
We combine thorough research and in-house testing to select top VPN providers. We first hand-pick VPN providers that fulfill the needs of our readers based on technical specifications. Then, we perform hands-on testing to assess speeds, ease of use, geo unblocking capabilities, and other attributes.
Using in-depth analysis and first-hand experience, we help our readers make informed decisions.
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Šarūnas Karbauskas
Online privacy expert
Free VPNs for Android - Comparison
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Visit siteThe overall best free VPN for Android – Proton VPNExpert review -
Visit siteReliable and minimalist free Android VPN – Hide.meExpert review
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Visit siteFree VPN for Android with ads and extra features – Hotspot ShieldExpert review
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Learn moreFun free Android VPN with a monthly data cap – TunnelBear
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Learn moreCustomizable free VPN for Android with solid features – Windscribe
Installing a VPN service, whether it’s free or premium, is vital to keep your Android device well protected. After all, the popular mobile operating system doesn’t have a built-in VPN, meaning you need a third-party service to mask your online activities.
In this article, I’ll focus on the best free VPNs for Android that are worth considering. I’ll outline their main benefits, drawbacks, and what it was like using them on a daily basis.
To help you pick a reliable VPN, I have tested and selected the top free and free trial VPNs for Android that you can trust. These Android VPNs ensure dependable protection, outstanding performance, excellent mobile apps, and more.
Is there a really good free Android VPN?
Although you’ll find numerous free VPNs on the Google Play Store, most aren’t very good. The primary reason is that many include various feature limitations, performance issues, or even security concerns. As such, you must be careful when picking any free VPN service.
Luckily, I’ve evaluated and selected some of the best free VPNs for Android, so you’d have an easier time picking one for yourself. Unsurprisingly, they still include some limitations compared to premium VPNs, but that’s to be expected from any free service.
Best free-trial Android VPNs
I think free trial VPNs are a better choice than fully free Android VPNs. They are more reliable and perform better in the speed and security departments, making them a more sensible choice. The only drawback is that they’re temporary, but I believe you won’t want to return to free VPNs after trying them.
These are the top three free trial VPNs I recommend trying on Android:
- NordVPN – the overall best free trial VPN for Android. The NordVPN 7-day trial is available directly on the Google Play Store. You only need to provide payment details to claim this offer, but you won’t be charged until the trial is over. Plus, you can cancel beforehand.
- Surfshark – a worthwhile alternative to NordVPN boasting excellent speed, security and privacy. You can claim Surfshark’s 7-day free trial on either the Google Play or Apple App Store. Similar terms and conditions apply, meaning you only need to provide payment details to qualify.
- Norton Secure VPN – a security-focused VPN for desktop and mobile devices. Its 7-day free trial is provided directly by the service, meaning you don’t have to rely on third-party app stores. However, like with NordVPN and Surfshark, you must provide payment details to claim this offer.
How we tested free VPNs for Android
Me and the Cybernews research team tested various free Android VPNs to uncover which are truly the best in 2024. Our primary testing device is a Nokia 6.2 (model TA-1198) running Android version 11, 64GB internal storage, 4GB RAM, CPU Octa-Core (4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 260 Silver). I’ve also used my personal Pocophone F1 to evaluate some VPNs in my spare time.
The testing criteria I set out for the team are as follows. The percentage value shows how much the criterion influenced the overall rank.
- Privacy (20%). Arguably the most critical factor of any VPN is whether it adequately ensures customer privacy. I checked this by thoroughly reading each potential VPN’s privacy policy and evaluating other privacy-enhancing features like Stealth VPN.
- Security (20%). The research team tested each VPN’s technical security features, such as the kill switch, encryption, available tunneling protocols, ad-blocking capabilities, and more.
- Connection performance (20%). Testing each provider’s connection speeds was vital to ensure they wouldn’t impede your daily online activities. I had to measure my baseline connection speed without a VPN and then connect to the fastest available server to measure the difference. When testing, my baseline download speed was 325 Mbps, while upload speed was 214 Mbps.
- Servers (10%). I took into consideration whether the free VPNs offer acceptable server variety. This includes evaluating server numbers and country diversity.
- Use cases (10%). I tested the VPNs in various daily situations, such as gaming and streaming, to see how well they perform under certain conditions.
- User reviews (5%). We had to consider user reviews to see how free VPNs for Android are received by a wider audience. More precisely, I read many reviews available on each provider’s Google Play Store page to see how users felt about the Android app.
- Compatibility (5%). Although the primary goal of this article is to overview free VPNs for Android, I couldn’t overlook their compatibility with other devices and operating systems. After all, you’ll likely use the VPN on your other devices if it works well on your smartphone.
- Feature limitations (5%). Most free VPNs for Android also offer premium tiers, so I had to evaluate the feature difference between the free and paid version. Some limitations are expected, but I can’t recommend free VPNs that are completely stripped of features.
- Subjectivity (5%). Everyone’s preferences and experiences with VPNs vary, so I had to take into account my personal biases while testing free Android VPNs.
Top free VPNs for Android – detailed list
There are so many free VPNs for Android on the Google Play store that it’s tempting to install the first one that catches your eye. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing so, as you might install a subpar or unsafe application.
Instead, you’d better choose a service from my list below. Together with our research team, I tested tens of free mobile VPNs for you and picked only those that meet our rigorous criteria.
Besides, some premium VPN providers offer free versions to secure your Android tablet or smartphone. In my detailed list, you can find and select the best Android VPN, with both premium and free versions that have proven to provide maximal security on Android.
Proton VPN – the best free unlimited VPN for Android
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I wholeheartedly believe that Proton VPN is the undisputed best free VPN for Android. It offers a free tier without monthly data caps, speed limits, or ads, making it the top choice for costless online protection.
Although Proton VPN is an excellent free VPN for Android without data caps, it has some drawbacks, which is expected of free VPNs. Read on to learn more about what you can expect from Proton VPN’s free tier.
Security and privacy
Proton VPN offers one of the most powerful security and privacy packages among my reviewed free Android VPNs. For starters, it employs cutting-edge AES-256 encryption to secure your connections. The free version also includes a kill switch to prevent IP leakage in case of connection drops. Finally, protocol options include the modern WireGuard for speedy and secure connections.
Regarding privacy, Proton VPN is undeniably the best. Firstly, it’s one of the few popular VPNs with open-source software, making it an obvious choice for people like me who appreciate transparency. Crucially, it’s based in privacy-friendly Switzerland and boasts an audited no-logs policy, thus assuring me that Proton VPN takes customer privacy seriously.
Speed and data
As mentioned before, Proton VPN’s free tier includes the WireGuard tunneling protocol, which is currently the fastest open-source option any serious VPN can implement. However, I was disappointed that the free tier doesn’t include the unique VPN Accelerator technology, which would surely make Proton VPN the fastest free VPN for Android. Still, during my Proton VPN tests, the speeds were better than I’d expect from a free VPN. More precisely, it retained around 43% of my initial speed.
Most importantly, Proton VPN has no data caps, meaning you can use it as much as you like without worry. For me, this is one of the most essential features of free VPNs. And, of course, there are no ads in the app.
Servers
Proton VPN’s free version offers an undisclosed number of servers across five countries (Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the United States). I think this is pretty good as far as free VPNs are concerned, although it’s not as impressive as with TunnelBear or Windscribe.
However, you can’t actually choose your desired server location. Instead, the service will connect you to the nearest one for optimal speeds, which is disappointing if you want to try unblocking foreign content. I must also mention that the free version lacks any specialty server categories for which Proton VPN is famous for.
Use cases
As expected, the free version isn’t as versatile as the premium version. For starters, P2P traffic is completely restricted to discourage using the VPN to mask illegal torrent downloads. Secondly, you’re unlikely to unblock streaming services because you can’t pick server locations, and the free version doesn’t include streaming servers. And even though the free tier is pretty fast, I wouldn’t recommend using it for online mobile gaming.
User reviews
Proton VPN has a 4.5 rating on the Google Play Store, which is pretty impressive. Unsurprisingly, there are a few disappointed users, most of whom complained about some changes that came with a recent update. However, most reviews were positive, which is a good sign in my book. I also appreciated that a Proton VPN representative was leaving replies to some comments. This shows me that the service takes user feedback seriously.
Compatibility
Proton VPN’s free version works primarily with desktop, mobile, and tablet devices. More precisely, it’s compatible with Android, iPhone, iPad, Windows, macOS, Linux, and Chromebook. Meanwhile, free browser extensions are unavailable. As expected, the free version is limited to 1 device per account, but that’s hardly an issue when you can create multiple accounts.
Personal experience
My initial experience with Proton VPN’s free app was very positive because it was easy to find and install from the Google Play Store. Additionally, I could use the free version without creating an account, which is great if you want to protect your online activities ASAP.
The user interface is smooth, straightforward, and uncluttered. The app is split into three menus: Home, Countries, and Settings. Each does its job clearly, making it easy to find the desired features.
Unsurprisingly, Proton VPN’s free version shows all the premium features you’re missing out on. So, the Countries tab is practically useless, and the Settings tab is filled with unusable features like NetShield and VPN Accelerator. I understand this is done to entice you to subscribe, but I think it’s a bit too overt and might rub some people the wrong way.
hide.me VPN – unlimited free Android VPN with few features
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Security and privacy
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Hide.me VPN is a top free VPN for Android option if you need a service with few distractions. What I mean is that this VPN has no ads but also no features to play around with, meaning you’ll simply enable the VPN and call it a day.
Hide.me VPN is a solid choice if you need a barebones but reliable free Android with few features and don’t mind a monthly data cap. Continue reading to learn the details.
Security and privacy
Hide.me VPN’s security front is covered with the essentials. Toggleable features include enabling the VPN on app start, a kill switch, and auto-connect. Protocol options include IKEv2, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, meaning you’re limited to reliable and secure alternatives.
Regarding privacy, the service is based in Malaysia, an uncommon jurisdiction among VPN services. It’s not bad though since it’s not part of the Fourteen-Eyes alliance. Plus, the no-logs policy was independently-audited by a reputed security analyst, Leon Juranic from DefenseCode Ltd. In my opinion, this means Hide.me VPN lives up to its name and can indeed hide me or you effectively.
Speed and data
According to hide.me VPN’s website, the free tier provides unlimited data and restricted speed. I appreciate this transparency because most free VPNs for Android don’t explicitly state that connection speeds are slower, although it’s fair to assume that they are. In any case, Hide Me VPN employs WireGuard, meaning you shouldn’t experience any severe slowdowns. However, when I measured the speeds, the retention rate was an abysmal 1%. We tried to repeat the test on multiple devices and the results were generally the same.
The free version includes server 8 locations and picks one automatically when you enable the VPN. However, it was unclear what those locations were because the app showed all possible server locations, even those I couldn’t connect to.
Servers
The hide.me website claims the free version provides 8 server locations for users to connect to. While that’s likely true, I had a difficult time understanding what those locations were. In any case, it doesn’t matter because the service disallows choosing your desired location on the free version, giving you less control over what IP address you gain. I also couldn’t select any specialty servers, meaning I couldn’t pick servers to achieve specific goals.
Use cases
As expected, Hide.me VPN’s restricted speeds, inability to choose server locations, and limited feature set make it feel pretty inflexible. It’s best suited for masking your IP address and online activities while browsing, but that’s about it. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything more, even from the best free VPNs for Android.
User reviews
Hide.me VPN has a solid 4.3 rating on the Google Play Store, which is slightly lower than Proton VPN's (at the time of writing). I didn’t notice any repeating issues across the reviews I read, which could mean there are no significant issues that cause frustration. But there weren’t a lot of replies from Hide.me representatives, and even then, they weren’t particularly helpful, in my opinion.
Compatibility
You can install this VPN on any desktop or mobile device to protect your online data. Additionally, this VPN beats Proton VPN by offering a free Google Chrome extension for browser-specific protection. As expected, one account gets one connection, meaning you’ll need more accounts if you want to secure more devices. Alternatively, you’ll need to upgrade to premium for this benefit.
Personal experience
I had some trouble finding the Hide.me VPN app on the Google Play Store at first. Apparently, the app is incompatible with my age-old Pocophone. Therefore, I had to rely on feedback from the research team and my colleagues. Still, that was enough to get a clear picture of what this service is about.
In short, Hide.me VPN is a reliable but minimalistic VPN for online security. There are no annoying ads or data caps that could undermine your VPN usage experience. On the other hand, the absence of features and server selection makes the service inflexible. But it gets the job done.
Hotspot Shield – solid free VPN for Android if you don’t mind ads
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Hotspot Shield is a decent free VPN for Android, especially if you need a few US IP addresses. Technically, it has unlimited data, but you have to contend with ads each time you want to enable the VPN.
On the one hand, Hotspot Shield is fast, flexible, and without data caps, making it a great free Android VPN. However, it includes obligatory ads, which can undermine your overall experience. Read on to see what my experience was like using this VPN.
Security and privacy
My main concern with Hotspot Shield is that it’s based in the USA, a founding member of the Five-Eyes alliance. There are also no independent audits that would confirm its no-logging policy, making it less suitable for privacy than Proton VPN. And since the free version relies on ads, it likely shares an estimate of your current location to show relevant ads. For example, I saw ads with popular tech services in Lithuania like Revolut and Wolt. There were also in-app banner ads for Temu and other services I wasn’t particularly interested in.
On the other hand, Hotspot Shield’s technical security features are pretty solid, even on the free version. For starters, there’s a kill switch to ensure your IP address doesn’t leak. There’s also the option to enable always-on VPN and trusted Wi-Fi networks to ensure Hotspot Shield is always enabled whenever needed. I was also surprised that split tunneling is available on the free version because this feature wasn’t available with Proton VPN’s free tier.
Speed and data
Hotspot Shield calls itself the world’s fastest VPN, which I think is a bold claim that no VPN service should make. However, the service won the Ookla Fastest VPN award in 2019, so I’ll give credit where credit is due. Crucially, the free version includes Hydra and WireGuard VPN tunneling protocol options, meaning there’s speed potential even for unpaying users. I didn’t notice any significant speed loss while browsing when Hotspot Shield was enabled. As for numbers, Hotspot Shield retained around 50% of my speed, which is the best result of all the providers I tested.
Regarding data limits, technically there aren’t any on Hotspot Shield’s free version. However, you have to watch a 30-second ad each time you want to enable the VPN. Each ad gives you 15 minutes of connection time, which is alright but can become frustrating pretty quickly. I suppose this is a reasonable trade-off if you’re happy with what the service offers.
Servers
The free tier includes five location choices: Automatic, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. I was surprised that I could pick my preferred location, which I couldn’t do with either Proton VPN or Hide Me VPN. Unsurprisingly, the options were limited to basic servers without any specialty options.
Use cases
The lack of specialty server options makes Hotspot Shield ill-suited for most use cases, such as streaming and gaming. You can try, but I would adjust your expectations accordingly. Personally, I had no lagging issues while scrolling social media while Hotspot Shield was enabled. Photos and videos loaded as usual and messaging was also smooth as if without a VPN.
User reviews
Hotspot Shield boasts a solid 4.4 rating on the Google Play Store, meaning it works well for most users. However, I noticed that many users, even those who gave average ratings, were complaining about occasional bugs. I can understand where they are coming from because I also experienced occasional issues while using this service.
Many unsatisfied users were unhappy with the latest update, which made the app unstable for them. A positive note is that a Hotspot Shield representative was replying to a few comments, meaning the service isn’t ignoring user feedback.
Compatibility
As expected, this free VPN for Android mainly works with desktop and mobile devices. However, it differs from other VPNs on this list in that it also provides a free Chrome extension. Naturally, it has its fair share of limitations, such as the pitiful 250MB data limit. However, the extension has a solid 4.4 rating on the Chrome Web Store (separate from Google Play), meaning it serves users well for the most part.
Personal experience
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the fact that I had to watch ads to use this free Android VPN. On the bright side, they weren’t particularly frustrating, and I could just put the phone aside for the half-minute while the ad was displayed. Plus, the service had some other positive aspects that made it almost worth it. For example, I could choose my server location and I could use the VPN without creating an account.
However, I must reiterate that user reviews and my personal experience show that the app is prone to bugs. The most annoying one was when an ad was supposed to finish, but it never did, and there was no close button, forcing me to restart the app entirely.
TunnelBear – fun free VPN for Android with a monthly data cap
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Go with TunnelBear if you can’t bear life without an occasional pun and other fun quirks. Now, the bear-centric theme isn’t the only noteworthy feature of this free VPN for Android, but it’s the most prominent.
TunnelBear’s free tier differs very little from the paid version, making it a great choice if you need loads of features and great server variety. Naturally, all of that comes with a hefty monthly data cap. See the details below.
Security and privacy
TunnelBear is well-armed in the security department. As expected, it uses strong encryption to ensure your connections are impenetrable. There’s also a kill switch called VigilantBear to stay on brand. And if you want to make your VPN connection appear as regular internet traffic, simply enable GhostBear. There’s even split tunneling available (called SplitBear, of course), although I must remind you that technically, it’s not a security feature per se.
Disappointingly, TunnelBear isn’t as excellent for privacy as services like Proton VPN. This is mainly because the service is based in Canada, a core member of the Five-Eyes alliance. Thankfully, the service has conducted seven independent security audits (as of February 2024) to confirm that users have nothing to worry about.
Speed and data
Since actual bears are quite fast, I wasn’t surprised that TunnelBear is swift as well. This excellent connectivity can be attributed to its inclusion of WireGuard and a salmon-heavy diet. Additionally, OpenVPN is available if you want to slow down. During my measurements, the provider retained around 32% of my speed.
Unfortunately, I have to deduct a few points from TunnelBear in this category because the service is quite stringent with data. Specifically, the 2GB monthly data cap is relatively low when compared to Proton VPN and Hide.me VPN, both of which provide unlimited data. But, to give credit where credit is due, at least TunnelBear doesn’t restrict features.
Servers
TunnelBear’s free tier is pretty generous in the server availability department. You can connect to practically all 48 country locations to which TunnelBear has access. The only difference from the premium tier is that you can’t pick city locations. In total, TunnelBear has over 5000 servers.
Unsurprisingly, no specialty server options exist for streaming, torrenting, or gaming. But that’s hardly a drawback when TunnelBear offers significantly more server variety than other free VPNs for Android on this list.
Use cases
TunnelBear is much more versatile than other free VPNs for Android because it doesn’t severely limit its features. Additionally, the greater server variety means you can theoretically unblock more foreign content, whether for streaming or anything else.
Unfortunately, your TunnelBear enjoyment will likely be cut short by the 2GB monthly data cap. I think 2GB isn't enough for streaming video content, watching YouTube, or even browsing for extended periods. You can only enable TunnelBear occasionally to protect your online activities.
User reviews
TunnelBear has a 4.1 rating on the Google Play Store, which puts it on the lower end among my selected free VPNs for Android. I should also point out that 5-star reviews dominate in terms of quantity, 1-star ratings are in second place, and very few reviews have in-between ratings. This tells me that users have a love-hate relationship with TunnelBear. Thankfully, most reviews received a reply from TunnelBear’s customer support agents, meaning the service takes user feedback seriously.
Compatibility
As is traditionally the case with free VPNs, TunnelBear’s free tier is limited to 1 device per account. You can install the service on the most popular desktop and mobile operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android). Even better, the free tier is compatible with popular web browsers like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. As expected, all TunnelBear app versions come with the same data cap restrictions as other platforms, making it ill-suited for widespread protection.
Personal experience
Right off the bat, I was disappointed that I couldn’t use the free VPN service on Android without creating an account. While this isn’t a deal breaker, the other providers I tested set a precedent. The other hardly bearable issue is the 2GB monthly data cap. It isn’t terrible, but I doubt it would suit the average user who spends lots of time scrolling through social media or watching YouTube videos on their phone. At best, it’s good for occasional security on public Wi-Fi networks. On a positive note, at least TunnelBear doesn’t restrict features severely.
Despite all of this, I can confidently say that I had the most fun with TunnelBear out of all the free Android VPNs I tested. The bear-centric theme is present everywhere, and it definitely adds charm to the service. Of course, there’s a chance this might get old, but I think it’s great that a VPN service is willing to set itself apart in such a way.
Windscribe – customizable free VPN for Android with solid features
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Windscribe is a middle-of-the-road free Android VPN with decent features and a flexible monthly data cap. It’s also much more customizable than other free VPNs I reviewed, meaning it should appeal to tech-savvy VPN users.
Windscribe is robust and reliable free VPN for Android with good technical features for free and paying users alike. However, free customers have to contend with a monthly data cap. Read on to learn what else is in store.
Security and privacy
In my opinion, Windscribe is very good in terms of online security. Like other VPNs, it uses strong encryption and includes a kill switch to prevent IP leakage. However, what won me over is the R.O.B.E.R.T. feature. This tool can block ads, trackers, malware, and various website categories you’d like to limit, for example, porn and gambling. Plus, the VPN tunneling protocol variety is impressive and includes security-focused options.
Regarding privacy, this VPN again falls short compared to Proton VPN. Like TunnelBear, Windscribe is based in Canada, part of the Five-Eyes surveillance alliance. However, the service has undergone a few independent audits to quell any doubts users may have. Interestingly, its desktop app is open-source, which I think is commendable.
Speed and data
You can expect fast connection speeds with Windscribe because it includes the speedy WireGuard protocol. Alternatively, you can enable other protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2 for different situations. Crucially, Windscribe’s free tier allows selecting your desired location, giving you better control over your overall connectivity. During my time with this provider, I had a speed retention rate of around 23%.
Data caps are an interesting topic with Windscribe because there are a few options. By default, free users get 2GB per month, which is pretty standard. For reference, you get the same amount with TunnelBear. You can increase the number to 10GB per month by verifying your email address. Then there’s the option to get five more GB by posting on X (formerly Twitter). Finally, you can refer friends to Windscribe to gain 1GB per registered user.
Servers
Windscribe’s free tier offers server locations in 11 countries, putting it above other free VPNs for Android (except TunnelBear) regarding location variety. As mentioned before, You can select your desired location, a perk most free VPNs don’t grant. However, I found it frustrating that I couldn’t filter out premium server locations to make the selection process easier.
Unsurprisingly, specialty servers were unavailable to me, making it difficult to unblock region-exclusive streaming content.
Use cases
Again, I must reiterate that Windscribe allows selecting your desired location, making it more versatile than other free VPNs for Android. For example, you can try to unblock foreign content from the 11 countries the free tier unlocks. Naturally, there’s virtually no chance of unlocking foreign streaming content on services like Netflix. After all, streaming-optimized servers are unavailable to free users. However, you can expect good results while gaming or browsing the web, thanks to Windscribe’s solid connection speeds.
User reviews
I was surprised to see that Windscribe has a 3.8 rating on the Google Play Store, the lowest rating among the free Android VPNs I reviewed. I didn’t notice any recurring issues among the negative reviews, and the positive ones were quite detailed. However, I also didn’t see any replies from Windscribe, which makes me wonder if the provider actually cares about user feedback.
Compatibility
Like TunnelBear, Windscribe, except for the data cap, imposes almost no limitations on free users. This means you can use all of Windscribe’s available apps. This covers desktop, mobile, and browser extensions. Plus, you can have as many simultaneous connections as you need, making Windscribe arguably the best free VPN for multiple devices.
Personal experience
Like with TunnelBear, I had to create an account to use Windscribe on my Android phone. I suppose this is fair because the provider must keep track of how much data I’ve used across different devices.
I found the user interface to be a bit more complicated on Android than with other providers. On the one hand, this complexity is necessary to provide the technical customization options some users desire. Conversely, it makes the app more challenging for casual users. Plus, I must reiterate that there was no option to filter out premium server locations to make the selection process more convenient for free users.
Overall, my initial impression of Windscribe was good, but it took some time to get used to its overwhelming interface.
Why free Android VPNs might be dangerous
Free software, including VPN software, is notoriously unreliable because it’s unclear how it manages to stay afloat without revenue. One likely explanation is that it’s actually malware in disguise that compromises your device’s security. Alternatively, it’s adware that undermines your overall privacy by selling your personal information to data brokers.
Even if a free VPN isn’t malicious, it might be poorly secured with outdated encryption protocols or other technical weaknesses. This happens because free VPNs lack the resources to frequently update their cybersecurity measures against the latest threats.
Naturally, paid VPNs are unlikely to have such significant security issues because they have dedicated teams working on them. The same applies to freemium VPNs, which can also provide free tiers because paying customers are the backbone of the business. As such, I recommend using a paid VPN to keep your device safe against cyber threat exposure.
Free Android VPNs to avoid
Here’s a list of some of the worst free Android VPNs to illustrate how dangerous these products can be.
- Hola! VPN. This service should be avoided at all costs because it's actually a peer-to-peer network that previously sold its users’ bandwidth.
- Betternet VPN. Although Betternet is a popular free VPN for Android, you should avoid it. The service will compromise your security due to its lack of a kill switch, DNS leaks, and a poor logging policy.
- Hoxx VPN. Another well-known free VPN that is actually a poor choice regarding security. It uses outdated 4096-bit RSA encryption, logs some user data, and doesn’t even include a kill switch to prevent leaks.
It can be difficult to research every possible free VPN for Android since so many are available on the Google Play Store. Plus, even services that appear legitimate can actually raise concerns if they have a shady history hidden from the public.
That’s why I recommend sticking with the free VPNs we’ve researched extensively. They have solid reputations and offer decent performance with clear drawbacks that are expected from free VPNs.
Another option is claiming a free trial of a well-established premium VPN. For example, NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial on the Google Play Store, which is perfect for Android users.
Video review: free VPNs for Android
Reliable VPN options for your Android reviewed in 8 minutes; check it out:
Conclusion
Completely free VPNs for Android come with some limitations, such as smaller server fleets, fewer security features, or the inability to bypass geo-restrictions. As I’ve outlined above, various VPN providers offer different upside and downside combinations, meaning every user should find a free VPN for Android that suits his needs.
In my opinion, Proton VPN is the ultimate choice for practically everyone. It offers unlimited data, excellent security and privacy, and swift connection speeds. Yes, you can’t torrent or unblock Netflix, but I think that’s a small price to pay for a high-quality free Android VPN.
Best free VPNs for Android
| Brand | Rating | Description |
| Proton VPN | The overall best free VPN for Android | |
| Hide.me VPN | Reliable and minimalist free Android VPN | |
| Hotspot Shield | Free VPN for Android with ads and extra features | |
| TunnelBear | Fun free Android VPN with a monthly data cap and few restrictions | |
| Windscribe | Customizable free VPN for Android with solid features and a flexible data cap |
FAQ
Should I get a VPN for my phone?
Yes, a VPN on your phone will ensure your online activities are secure and private no matter where you go. It will also enable you to bypass geographical restrictions while traveling abroad, allowing you to access content exclusive to your home country.
What free Android VPN has the most servers?
TunnelBear if you need a free Android VPN with the most servers. Its free version server selection is almost the same as with the premium version. More precisely, you can choose from over 5000 servers across 46 countries.
Which is the fastest free VPN for Android?
Proton VPN’s free version delivered the best results in our free Android VPN speed tests. It ensures excellent speeds by using the swift WireGuard protocol. Note that the speed will vary based on your location since the free version has servers only in five countries.
Which is the safest free VPN for Android?
Proton VPN is the safest free VPN for Android. The service is based in privacy-friendly Switzerland, uses open-source software, and has conducted multiple independent audits confirming its reliability. Naturally, the free tier lacks some premium security features, but I think it's obvious that paid VPNs are more secure than free ones.
Is ExpressVPN free for Android?
No, ExpressVPN is not free on Android. At best, you can test it for free using its 30-day money-back guarantee. However, I don’t think that’s a suitable option for most users looking for a free VPN for Android. As such, I recommend trying out Proton VPN’s free tier.
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