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The 10 Best Android VPNs for 2023

Google tracks a lot of your personal data each day. Whether it’s your searches, online purchases, websites you visit, your location, and even email activity, Google can keep tabs on you. VPNs can help you hide that information from businesses and hackers so you can enjoy your privacy to the fullest. Clario’s anti-tracking tool includes VPN that protects your data wherever you are.

Table of contents

Here at Clario, we have researched the topic of privacy to the teeth. Thus, we understand how essential our data is. Check out this list of the best VPNs for Android to protect your online privacy prepared by cybersecurity enthusiasts.

1.NordVPN

NordVPN Screenshots

With a large server network across 60+ countries, NordVPN is a powerful VPN for Android devices. This solution comes highly reviewed by PCMag (Outstanding Editor’s Choice and 4.5 stars), Trustpilot (4.5 stars), and the Google Play store (4.5 stars).  

 

One unique feature that NordVPN offers is Meshnet. This feature allows users to create their own private network to access their devices remotely no matter where they are located. If you travel a lot for work, this could be an appealing feature in a VPN.

NordVPN ProsNordVPN Cons
Doesn’t log user activityPricier than other solutions
Unique Meshnet featureTorrenting isn’t supported on all servers
24/7 live customer supportOpenVPN configuration isn’t very user-friendly
Large server network 

NordVPN Pricing

NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for their annually-billed plan. Sign up, enter your credit card information, and begin your trial. They will send you a reminder before the trial ends so you can choose to cancel before you get billed for the first year.  

 

NordVPN offers the following subscription options:

 

1. Standard

  • Monthly: $11.99
  • Annually: $59.88 for the first year
  • Two years: $100.56 for the first 2 years.

Features of their Standard plan include:

  • Secure, high-speed VPN
  • Malware protection
  • Tracker and ad blocker.

2. Plus

  • Monthly: $12.99
  • Annually: $71.88 for the first year
  • Two years: $124.56 for the first 2 years.

Features of the Plus plan include:  

  • Everything from Standard
  • Cross-platform password manager
  • Data breach scanner.

3. Complete

  • Monthly: $14.49
  • Annually: $89.88 for the first year
  • Two years: $160.56 for the first 2 years.

Features of the Complete plan include:  

  • Everything from Plus
  • 1 TB of cloud storage
  • Next-generation file encrytption.

2. Express VPN

Express VPN App Screenshots

Express VPN is a powerful VPN solution best known for its speed and versatility in the many locations it can access. It also received CNET’s Editor’s Choice Award for best VPN in 2022.  

 

CNET found that Express VPN had the best speeds of any VPN they tested, with less than a 2% average of lost internet speeds.  

 

With 3,000+ servers and 30,000+ IP addresses, ExpressVPN is a solution you’ll want to try. It goes neck and neck with NordVPN when it comes to downloads, too; both have 50 million+ downloads on the Google Play store.

Express VPN ProsExpress VPN Cons
Great location unlocking capabilities with access to 160 locations in 94 countries and countingPricier than competitors
Easy-to-use interfaceUsers report slow OpenVPN performance.
No activity logs 
Lightway protocol offers high speeds 
5 simultaneous connections. 

Express VPN Pricing

When you download Express VPN’s app from the Google Play store, you can get a 7-day free trial for Android devices.  

 

After that, you can opt into any of their paid plans:  

  • $12.95/month when billed monthly
  • $9.99/month when billed every six months
  • $6.67/month when billed annually, plus three months free.

You can start any of these paid plans risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

 

When you refer friends from the app, you can get 30 days for free for each friend who signs up.  

3. Clario

Clario App Screenshots

Clario’s mission is to build a better, safer digital future. Its full-featured anti-spy software has a powerful VPN that allows users to encrypt their data and change their online location.  

 

Through Clario’s browsing protection, you can browse the internet and your apps securely without your internet service provider (ISP) tracking you. Its anti-tracking capabilities also prevent third-party apps from being able to spy on you across your device.  

 

Plus, Clario has received numerous awards and top ratings across the web, including Macworld’s Best Of award in 2022, the AV Comparitives, and the Golden Kitty in 2020 for the best Privacy-Focused VPN. It also has 4.8 stars from Trustpilot and 4.7 stars from the Apple App Store.  

 

Beyond a powerful VPN, Clario’s Android app also offers the following features:  

  • Antivirus scans
  • Data breach monitoring
  • ID theft protection
  • Jailbreak checker
  • Ad blocker
  • Anti-tracking
  • 24/7 live security experts.
Clario VPN ProsClario VPN Cons
Customer support from live experts 24/7Browser protection is currently only available for Chrome and Safari
Easy to install and navigate the appSome users reported that the VPN couldn’t access all location-locked websites and content.
No data logs 
Full-featured Android security app 

Clario VPN Pricing

When you download the Clario app from the Google Play store, you can choose your plan and start a one of the following subscriptions:  

  • $17.99/month when billed monthly
  • $8.50/month ($101.99/year) when billed annually.

Each of these plans allows three device connections.  

4. Surfshark

Surfshark VPN Screenshots

Surfshark earned CNET’s Editor’s Choice Award for Best Value VPN in 2022, and we can see why.  

 

Surfshark’s VPN boasts a large network with over 3,200 servers across 99 countries, and it has unique features you can’t get with some of the other top Android VPNs.  

 

While it does slow down internet speeds a little more than Express VPN and NordVPN – about a 19% loss in speeds, according to CNET – its unique features and lower cost more than make up for it.  

Surfshark VPN ProsSurfshark VPN Cons
Unlimited devices on one accountLong-term subscription pricing is a little complicated
Better prices than top competitors when you opt-in to an annual or 24-month subscriptionUsers report that customer service can be hit and miss
Two-factor authenticationTorrent speeds aren’t great
Ad and malware blocker 

Surfshark VPN Pricing

Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial for Android users. You must pick a paid plan and enter your payment information in order to start the free trial, but you can cancel any time before your subscription starts.  

 

You can get the best deals when you sign up for a plan through Surfshark’s website. Their current offerings include:  

  • 24-month subscription: $59.76 for the first 24 months (about $2.49/month)
  • 12-month subscription: $47.88 for the first year, $59.76/year after that
  • Monthly subscription: $16.95/month.

5. Proton VPN

Proton VPN Screenshots

PCMag gives Proton VPN an Editor’s Choice award with a 5.0 Exemplary rating.

 

One unique aspect of this Switzerland-based VPN is that it is completely free. While the free version is limited, you can still test out its location-changing capabilities and utilize most of its features. It doesn’t limit the bandwidth for free users, doesn’t have ads, and has over 100 servers across three countries.  

Proton VPN ProsProton VPN Cons
Completely free VPN for Android users with no ads or bandwidth restrictionsThe captcha to create an account in the app is sensitive (you can bypass this with email verification)
Open sourceCustomer support for the free version is email-only
Doesn’t log activitySplit tunneling can be difficult to configure
Split tunneling capabilities on Windows and AndroidFree plan can only be used on one device.
Protected by Swiss privacy laws 

Proton VPN Pricing

Proton VPN is a free Android VPN that offers paid solutions for upgraded server access and capabilities.  

With their Proton Free plan, you get the following features:  

  • 100+ servers across the US, Netherlands, and Japan
  • No ads
  • Unlimited bandwidth
  • Customer support
  • Free features from Proton Mail, Calendar, and Drive
  • One device.

Their VPN Plus plan starts at €4.99/month (when you purchase a 24-month plan) and includes the following features:  

  • Everything from free plan
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 1900+ servers across 65+ countries
  • Higher VPN speed
  • Protect up to 10 devices
  • Double hops (passes internet traffic through multiple servers)
  • Ad-blocker and malware protection
  • High-speed streaming
  • Fast P2P/torrent downloads
  • Tor over VPN
  • Priority support and live chat.

Their Proton Unlimited plan includes all of their VPN Plus features as well as all Premium Proton services, including Mail, Calendar, and Drive. This plan costs €7.99/month when you purchase a 24-month plan.  

6. TunnelBear

TunnelBear VPN Screenshots

Based in Toronto, Canada, this VPN is loved for its fun and simple aesthetic. TunnelBear is all about providing an easy way for their customers to use their solution. And when you change your location, you can see the little bear icon tunneling to the server location you choose before it pops up in that country or city.  

 

PCMag votes this VPN as the best for new users because of its top-notch privacy features and easy-to-navigate design. This VPN solution also touts a free version that allows users to test it out before purchasing a premium plan. With the free version, users have a data limit of 2GB and can access all of its locations.  

TunnelBear VPN ProsTunnelBear VPN Cons
One-click access to servers across 47 countriesNo double-hopping
No data loggingNo Tor-over-VPN
Friendly and cute designSplit tunneling is only available on Android and iOS (not currently for Windows and macOS, though they do say this is coming soon)
Unlimited simultaneous connections.Free version has limited bandwidth before you need to upgrade.

TunnelBear VPN Pricing

As mentioned, you can test out TunnelBear VPN for free on Android. Just hop on over to the Google Play store, download the app, and create an account to start using it.  

 

If you want to utilize this VPN with additional features and bandwidth, you may want to upgrade to one of their paid plans.  

 

1. Unlimited–starting at $3.33/month wit a 3-year plan

 

Additional features include:  

  • Unlimited secure browsing
  • Unlimited devices
  • Priority customer service.

2. Teams – $5.75/user per month  

 

Teams is a plan for businesses that need VPNs for 2 or more users. This plan’s features include:  

  • 7-day free trial
  • Unlimited secure browsing
  • Unlimited devices for each user
  • Dedicated account manager
  • Centralized team billing and management.

7. CyberGhost

CyberGhost VPN Screenshots

CyberGhost offers a widely-distributed server fleet across the globe. With over 8900 servers across 91 countries, you can access content worldwide and hide your online activity. CyberGhost even lists which servers are the best for fast torrenting speeds.  

 

Beyond their VPN, CyberGhost also offers a private browser to help prevent ads and allows users to actually browse the internet in a true incognito browser. 

CyberGhost ProsCyberGhost Cons
Unlimited bandwidthNo free version
Compatible with Android 5 and higherIneffective ad blocker (according to CNET)
Money-back guarantee on all plans  Higher speed loss than other VPNs
Up to 7 simultaneous connectionsShorter free trial than most other VPNs (3 days for Android).
No data logging 
Automatic kill switch 

CyberGhost Pricing

Outside of the free VPNs, this VPN currently offers one of the best values when you purchase a 2-year subscription. Each plan includes every feature; it’s just a matter of how much and how frequently you pay.  

  • Monthly: $12.99/month with a 14-day money-back guarantee
  • Every six months: $41.94 ($6.99/month) with a 45-day money-back guarantee
  • Two-year plan: $56.94 once for two years, plus three months free ($2.11/month), and you pay $56.94/year once the 26 months are up.

You can get a 3-day free trial for CyberGhost VPN on Android when you download the app from their website.  

8. IPVanish

IPVanish VPN Screenshots

IPVanish is a VPN solution with over 2,200 servers in more than 75 countries. It’s compatible with Android 5.1 and up and offers WireGuard VPN protocol, which is commonly desired for high speeds when streaming or gaming.  

 

IPVanish is a solid option for tech-savvy users who want to have more control over their experience. With split tunneling, VPN protocol and LAN connection allowance, and a kill switch, IPVanish users can set up this VPN to their exact specifications.  

 

One thing that users reported on this VPN is that its “Quick Connect” feature doesn’t always choose the quickest server. So for the best speeds, you may want to manually go to a server that has a lighter load.

IPVanish ProsIPVanish Cons
Unlimited simultaneous connectionsPricier than other Android VPNs with fewer features
Good variety in the locations and number of serversDoesn’t block ads
No data logsInconsistency in pricing across platforms.
Split tunneling 
VPN protocol and LAN connection allowance 
Kill switch 
Phone support and 24/7 live chat support. 

IPVanish Pricing

When you sign up through Google Play, IPVanish offers a 7-day free trial with their annual payment plan. The two payment options on Google Play include:  

  • Annually: $89.99/year
  • Monthly: $9.99/month.

However, they do offer other deals if you sign up through their website. Those options include the following:  

  • Monthly: $11.99/month (so if you’re choosing monthly on this VPN, we recommend going through Google Play)
  • Annually: $53.99 for the first year ($4.50/month) and $89.99/year after that
  • Every two years: $79.99 for the first two years ($3.33/month) and $89.99/year after that.

9. Private Internet Access VPN

Private Internet Access VPN Screenshots

PCMag calls Private Internet Access (PIA) the best VPN for mobile-only users. While it offers up to ten simultaneous connections (about double what some of the other top VPNs allow), other VPNs like TunnelBear are challenging this model by offering unlimited connections. Ten is still pretty good, though.

 

PIA also offers free email breach monitoring with each of its VPN subscriptions.

 

Additional security features that PIA offers include:  

  • Antivirus solutions for Windows
  • Exclusive IP address that only you can use.
Private Internet Access VPN ProsPrivate Internet Access VPN Cons
Advanced split tunneling capabilitiesUsers have reported that Netflix works but takes time buffering
Good scores on speed testsCustomer support can be hit or miss
10 simultaneous connections 
Uses WireGuard protocol 
No data logs 
VPN kill switch 
Security blocker for ads, malware, and trackers 

Private Internet Access VPN Pricing

When you download PIA VPN for Android, you can access a 7-day free trial with a yearly subscription. From the Android app, you can opt-in to two different payment options:  

  • Yearly: $49.99/year (includes a free 7-day trial)
  • Monthly: $11.99/month.

If you sign up for PIA VPN through their website, you can subscribe to one of these premium solutions:  

  • Monthly: $11.95/month
  • Yearly: $39.95/year ($3.33/month)
  • Three-year plan: $79 for three years, plus three months free (about $2.03/month).

While the website plans don’t offer a free trial, each of these premium subscriptions comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.  

10. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN Screenshots

PrivateVPN has a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot with over 2,200 reviews. Most of this feedback is glowing reviews of PrivateVPN’s top-notch customer support.  

 

With at least six simultaneous connections, unlimited bandwidth, and servers across 63 countries, you can enjoy gaming and streaming new content across the globe.  

PrivateVPN ProsPrivateVPN Cons
Currently offers the best price when you purchase a three-year planSmaller server network than most top-rated VPNs (around 200 servers)
Good for accessing Netflix, Prime Video, and other streaming servicesNo multi-hop features
No data logsSlower speeds than other VPNs

PrivateVPN Pricing

PrivateVPN doesn’t currently offer a free trial, but they do have a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of their paid plans.  

  • Monthly: $9.90
  • Every three months: $17.99 (about $6.00/month)
  • Yearly: $72/year, but they are currently offering 24 free months if you buy a yearly subscription now.

The Best Android VPNs for 2023

VPNAverage Speed LossPrice Starts AtFree TrialFree VersionGoogle Play RatingGoogle Play # of ReviewsGoogle Play Downloads
Clario30%$8.50/monthNoNo4.21.37K100K+
Express VPN2%$6.67/month7 daysNo4.3321K50M+
NordVPN13%$4.19/month7 daysNo4.5712K50M+
Surfshark19%$2.49/month7 daysNo4.269.9K10M+
Proton VPN17%FreeLimited Free PlanYes4.490.1K10M+
TunnelBear VPN63%FreeLimited Free PlanYes4.4303K10M+
CyberGhost VPN49%$2.11/month3 daysNo4.3144K10M+
IPVanish VPN58%$3.33/month7 daysNo4.444.5K5M+
Private Internet Access49%$2.03/month7 daysNo4.469.1K5M+
Private VPN52%$2.00/monthNoNo4.15.63K500K+

Disclaimer

Keep in mind that the speeds mentioned in this chart are averages. Connection speeds will vary depending on your location, ISP, and the servers that you are accessing.

How to choose the best Android VPN app for you

Everyone’s needs for an Android VPN will vary a little. Maybe you’re particularly techy and have a lot of knowledge of all things VPNs and a greater need for control across what your VPN can do. Maybe you are just looking for a more secure connection for your online activity. Maybe you just want to be able to access location-locked content. Whatever your needs are, we can help you choose the best Android VPN app for you.  

 

First, think about why you want a VPN.  

Is it for privacy? Better online security? Accessing new content? A large server network?

 

Next, do your research. Fortunately, we’ve done a lot of the research for you. In this guide, we’ve compiled some of the top VPNs for Androids.  

 

See which VPNs meet your needs and budget.  

 

You’ll find that not all VPNs are created equal. Some will have more advanced features that you may or may not need. Some are more expensive than others.  

 

Finally, make a decision.  

 

Many of these VPN solutions have free trials or money-back guarantees, so you can test them out without fear of losing money to a solution you aren’t happy with.

Android VPN FAQ

After reviewing some of the top-rated VPNs across the web, we’ve gathered our thoughts on the best VPNs for Android.  

What's the best Android VPN right now?

If you’re looking for the best value for top speeds and some of the best customer reviews, NordVPN is our #1 pick for the best Android VPN.

 

However, if you're interested in the best protection of your privacy, you should look into a Clario anti-tracking solution. Having a VPN is an important step toward online privacy. Also, there are weak points many VPNs forget to cover. Clario's antivirus, data breach monitor, and browsing protection solutions will create an unbreakable barrier between you and anyone who might want to breach your privacy.

What's the best free VPN?  

With all of its features and relatively good speeds, Proton VPN is the best free Android VPN that you can get right now. Even with its limited servers and location access, if you’re looking to try out a VPN for free, you can’t beat the offerings that Proton VPN has.  

What's the best paid VPN?

The VPN that currently offers the best price with relatively little speed loss (outside of free VPNs) is Surfshark. Starting at just $2.30/month when you purchase a 24-month subscription, this VPN has a large server network across 99 countries.  

What's the best VPN for tablets?

This all depends on the OS version your tablet is operating on. Currently, Surfshark, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost offer VPNs for the oldest Android OS (starting at Lollipop or Android 5 and up).  

What's the fastest VPN for Android?  

ExpressVPN takes the top position for the fastest VPN for Android devices. With an average speed loss of less than 2%, this is the VPN you’ll want to choose if you’re looking for the best possible speeds no matter where you’re operating from.

Want exceptional customer support with your VPN? Try Clario.  

We may not have been around as long as some of the big dogs in the VPN world, but Clario’s VPN is a force to be contended with. Our customer support is unmatched and we offer a full-featured platform for your Android device.  

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