My team and I tested 63 free VPNs to find the absolute best ones (that are safe to use) on your Android. There are plenty of bad free VPNs out there, but I managed to shortlist a few that have zero malware and less performance issues than the rest. But, even the best free VPNs come with a few drawbacks like slower speeds, smaller server networks, data limits, or poor streaming performance. I really wanted to recommend a completely free VPN. However, I chose ExpressVPN as my top pick because it comes with world-class security features, lightning-fast speeds, and unlimited data. It’s safe to use with Android and ideal for streaming. Even though it’s not 100% free, you can try ExpressVPN for Android risk-free. If it’s not for you, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this policy out and received my money back in 3 days with no hassle. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today
Best Free VPNs for Android — Full Analysis (Updated in 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best Android VPN for Safety and Streaming
ExpressVPN has robust security features to keep your Android device safe. It comes with AES 256-bit encryption, which is the strongest out there. This makes it practically impossible for anyone to intercept your data. Every server you use is also automatically obfuscated, which hides your VPN use offering greater security. To protect you from unwanted IP leaks, the Android app offers an automatic kill switch, perfect forward secrecy, as well as IP/DNS leak protection. I tested 13 of its servers on ipleak.net and found no leaks. The VPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it will never store your data, either. This has been proven and verified by third parties. What’s more, it uses RAM-only servers that wipe user data from previous sessions with every reboot. To top it off, ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which has no data retention laws. This ensures that your online activity on Android can never be traced back to you. You can choose between 2 VPN protocols with its Android app: OpenVPN and Lightway. OpenVPN is the most popular protocol for Android because it’s open-source, so it’s regularly updated to fix security flaws. However, I got faster speeds and connection times with ExpressVPN’s unique Lightway protocol. While testing on my Android phone, I could connect to each server in under 2 seconds. It’s open-source too, and it’s much easier on your battery; so, I recommend using Lightway on your Android. With its widespread server network, ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs for easily unblocking your favorite streaming sites. During my tests, I connected to its New York server on my Realme X7 Pro phone and was able to access Netflix US, Hulu, and Disney+ right away. The download speed never dropped below 55 Mbps, which is 11 times the requirement for HD streaming. I binge-watched Superstore in HD on Hulu and never experienced any buffering. I also downloaded a 2 GB torrent file in a couple of minutes. I also like its split tunneling feature that allows you to choose what traffic passes through the encrypted VPN tunnel. This let me watch geo-restricted content on my Android phone while still being able to access my banking apps and local news with my regular connection. Even though it’s not 100% free, you can try ExpressVPN for Android risk-free. It has a money-back guarantee, so if you’re not impressed, you can get all your money back. I recommend it because no free service matches its unlimited data, huge server network, excellent unblocking abilities, and fast speeds for buffer-free streaming. Plus, I made sure this money-back guarantee is legitimate by contacting customer support via ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat and asking for a refund. The support agent asked about my experience with the service and quickly approved my request. I had my money back in 3 days. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today
2. CyberGhost — Great for Unblocking Streaming Apps on Your Android
CyberGhost has streaming-optimized servers that are specialized to let you access your streaming apps from anywhere. During my tests, I could easily unblock Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, and several Netflix libraries on my Android phone. The connections were also reliable — I never got disconnected from the VPN while streaming Vikings: Valhalla on Netflix US. On top of that, they were 15% faster than the regular servers. The connection speeds are impressive, letting you browse, stream, and download on your Android device without interruptions. During my tests, I connected to its New York, Phoenix, and Seattle servers and had an average download speed of 45 Mbps. This is more than enough for HD and 4K streaming. I could watch YouTube videos in HD on my Realme X7 Pro without any delays while downloading Call of Duty: Mobile from the Play Store in the background. In addition, CyberGhost’s advanced security features hide your online activity from prying eyes. Your data is kept private with its AES 256-bit military-grade encryption and IP/DNS leak protection. The Content Blocker feature blocks domains used for malicious ads and popups, malware, and trackers. Even better, it has an automatic kill switch that cuts off your internet if you lose your VPN connection, so you’re always protected from anyone trying to snoop on your data. I tested this by switching to a different server, and it immediately disconnected my Android phone from the WiFi until a new VPN connection was established. CyberGhost’s Android app is super easy to use, even if you’re new to VPNs. The Best Location feature automatically connects you to the fastest and most reliable server. With its Wi-Fi Protection feature, you can choose how you want your VPN to react whenever you connect to a new network. For example, if you set the default action to “Protect”, you’ll be automatically connected to a VPN server when you connect to an unknown or unsecured public WiFi network. The only problem I found with CyberGhost is that its Disney+-optimized server was too slow and couldn’t load anything. However, I switched to its Hulu server, and it worked well even with Disney+. While it’s not technically free, you can take advantage of CyberGhost’s 45-day money-back guarantee. This will give you over a month to test all its features, and you can request a full refund if you’re not 100% satisfied. To see how reliable the guarantee is, I reached out to support via 24/7 live chat and asked for my money back. After a quick chat, the agent approved my request. I got all my money back in just 4 days. Try CyberGhost FREE Today
3. Proton VPN — Unlimited Data for Uninterrupted Browsing and Streaming on Android
Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN’s free app offers unlimited data so you can stream for hours on your Android device. During my tests, I connected my Android phone to its US-Free#7 server and watched 7 episodes of Dr. Stone on Funimation. The speeds remained consistent at about 26 Mbps, and I didn’t face any problems during the stream. While it’s not as fast as the paid version, you can still watch shows in HD with zero lag. To get past geoblocks on your Android device, the free version only offers servers in Japan, the US, and the Netherlands. Its US server worked well with Netflix Originals, Disney+, and Funimation. However, it failed to unblock other popular streaming services, like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, and more. In addition, the free servers don’t support torrenting, which was a bit of a letdown. It has solid security features to keep your Android device safe, including AES 256-bit encryption, IP/DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. You can choose between 3 VPN protocols with its free Android app: WireGuard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. I got the fastest speeds with WireGuard. However, I had more success unblocking streaming platforms with OpenVPN, so I recommend using it when you need to bypass geoblocks. Proton VPN has a simple and easy-to-use Android app (that also works with Android TV). Unlike many other free services, there are no ads within the app, which I appreciate. The World Map feature allows you to quickly connect to a server by selecting a location from the map. I also appreciate that it displays load on each server because it makes it easy for me to find less crowded locations, which are usually faster. I was a bit disappointed that you need an email address to sign up. It’s also too bad it doesn’t have a 24/7 live chat feature, but most free VPNs don’t. I had a few questions about the service and was able to contact support via email. It took 3 days to receive a response. However, the support agent was very helpful and answered all my queries. Try Proton VPN FREE Today
4. Avira Phantom VPN — Unlimited Connections To Cover All Your Android (and Other) Devices
Most free VPNs only let you connect 1 device at a time, but Avira offers unlimited simultaneous connections for all your Android devices with its free app. During my tests, I connected my Realme X7 Pro and Google Pixel C tablet to its San Francisco server. The connections remained stable while streaming HD videos on both devices. I didn’t experience any sudden drops or slowdowns in speeds, even though I was connected to the same server. It has decent security features to safeguard your digital identity. With AES 256-bit encryption, your Android device is well protected from cyber threats and tracking. I ran some tests on my Android tablet and found no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. However, I was a bit disappointed to find out that it doesn’t offer a kill switch, which can leave you unprotected in case your VPN connection drops. The Android app offers fast servers in 33 countries, which is impressive for a free VPN. During my tests on its Seattle and San Francisco servers, I got an average download speed of 25 Mbps. I was also impressed that Avira Phantom unblocked Netflix US, Disney+, and Hulu when I tested its US - Streaming server. However, I couldn’t get its UK servers to access BBC iPlayer. However, the free version only has 500 MB of data per month, which isn’t suitable for streaming (that’s enough to watch Netflix in HD for about 30 minutes). However, you can get an additional 500 MB of data when signing up with an email. That said, you don’t need to enter any information or sign up if you’re happy with the 500 MB data cap. Unfortunately, Avira Phantom VPN doesn’t work with Android TVs. In addition, you can’t use its customer support with the free service. There is a large knowledge base on its website, but I was disappointed there aren’t many tips for free users. Try Avira Phantom FREE Today
5. hide.me — Solid Security to Keep Your Android Device Safe
For a free VPN, hide.me has excellent security features to protect the data on your Android. It comes with 256-bit military-grade encryption, split tunneling, IP/DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. I liked its Auto-Protect feature that automatically secures your connection on untrusted WiFi networks. This way, I’m always safe when I use the public network at Starbucks (even if I forget to connect). It is headquartered in Malaysia, which is a privacy-friendly country based outside of the 5/9/14-Eyes jurisdiction. This means that you don’t have to worry about third parties interfering with your data. On top of that, it has a strict no-logs policy, so hide.me will never store any of your data. You’ll get decent speeds with hide.me’s free version, too. During the tests on my Android phone, I connected to its free East Coast and West Coast US servers and found an average speed of 18 Mbps. This let me watch Martin Doc on Crackle without any problems. The stream took 11 seconds to load, but there was zero buffering once it started. It only allows 1 device connection at a time, but you can set it up on your router and cover all your devices at once. I’m impressed because this is a rare feature for a free VPN. Plus, if you run into any problems, there is 24/7 live chat support to help you out. Try hide.me FREE Today
6. TunnelBear — Large Server Network With Solid Speeds on Long-Distance Locations
Far away locations still give you solid speeds, so you can stream with any server. While testing, I connected to its servers in Singapore and Canada, and the speeds never dropped below 20 Mbps. This is fast enough for HD streaming — I played a video on YouTube in HD and didn’t experience any buffering. You don’t have to worry about slowdowns while browsing or streaming on your Android device. Unfortunately, TunnelBear’s free Android app wasn’t great for unblocking popular streaming apps like Disney+, Hulu, APV, or region-locked Netflix titles. However, its GhostBear feature hides the fact you’re using a VPN, so I was able to access blocked social media sites like TikTok during my tests. Security-wise, it protects your Android device with 256-bit military-grade encryption, which means it’s virtually impossible to decipher your data. In addition, it has an automatic kill switch to protect your identity in the event your VPN connection drops. There are no ads in the free version, which is always a plus for me. And, I also liked its SplitBear feature that gives you the freedom to exclude certain Android apps from using the VPN connection. The VPN offers an easy-to-use Android app, so you can secure your connection easily. It took me 3 minutes to download and install the app on my Android device. Once you launch the app, you will be prompted to create an account. Just type in your email address and set a password. After that, you’ll have to verify your email, and then you’re all set. The problem with TunnelBear is that it only gives 500 MB of data per month. This is not enough, especially if you’re a power user who likes to stream and torrent. Luckily, you can get an additional 1GB if you tweet the company asking for more data. I tried this, and the data was credited to my account in under 5 minutes. There are also opportunities for 2 more GB if you refer a friend and install it on your desktop device. Try TunnelBear for FREE
7. Kaspersky VPN — Secure Your Android Device With No Sign-Up Required
Kaspersky’s free Android app is really user-friendly, so you can easily protect your Android device. With just 1 click, you can secure your connection and start browsing. I set it up on my Android phone within 2 minutes. From download to install, the entire process was quick and easy. The best part is that you don’t even need an email address to get started. It offers 200MB of data per day, which is enough for you to browse or check your emails. You can also download small files. However, it’s not suitable for streaming or torrenting. I ran out of data after 20 minutes of SD streaming on my Android phone. The free server should give you good connection speeds for smooth browsing. The app automatically selects the fastest one based on your location, so it’s usually one that’s nearby. During my tests, the average speed hovered at around 23 Mbps. While its speeds don’t come close to the speeds I got with ExpressVPN, it’s good enough to browse without interruptions. I didn’t experience any slowdowns while visiting my favorite sites, including Reddit and Buzzfeed. It has decent security features to secure your connection and keep your IP address hidden. Military-grade encryption protects your data from anyone looking to track your online activities while IP/DNS leak protection safeguards you against leaks. I didn’t detect any leaks on my Android phone while testing. However, the free version doesn’t have a kill switch. I was a bit disappointed to find out that the free version only has 1 server, and you can’t choose where it’s located. This means that you can’t access international content using it. However, it’s still a good option if you want to prevent your online activity from being tracked. Try Kaspersky VPN for FREE
8. Speedify — Fast, Reliable Connections on Android
Speedify uses Channel Bonding technology to improve your connection speeds for fast browsing on Android. It does so by allowing you to use multiple internet connections simultaneously. While testing, I set the bonding mode to “Speed” and got an average download speed of 27 Mbps, which was 10% faster than the VPN connection I normally get with Speedify. This let me watch a travel vlog in HD on Facebook Watch without any lag or delay. The VPN has decent security features to protect your Android device as well. It hides your online activity with AES 128-GCM encryption. While it’s not as strong as 256-bit encryption, it’s still secure enough for everyday use. You can choose between 5 network protocols: UDP, TCP Multiple, TCP, HTTPS, and Auto. I got the fastest speeds with UDP. However, TCP is more reliable and secure. I found its Connect at Startup feature convenient. With this feature enabled, Speedify will automatically secure your entire device when it restarts. I tested this by powering off my Android phone. The next time I powered it on — my device was already connected to the VPN. The biggest problem with Speedify is that it only gives 2GB of data per month with its free Android app. This is only enough for 3 hours of SD streaming, so it’s best for browsing, checking emails, watching short videos, or downloading small files. Try Speedify For FREE
9. OperaVPN — Built-In Ad Blocker to Prevent Annoying Ads on Android
Opera is a VPN browser that offers a built-in ad-blocker. To test this, I visited an ad-heavy news website (Huffpost), and it blocked all the ads on the page, including those annoying video ads. In addition, it has a tracker-blocker that prevents your online activity from being captured within the browser. This means that you can have ad-free, private browsing sessions on your Android. You can use this VPN to stream local content in HD since it has decent speeds. During my tests, I recorded an average download rate of 15 Mbps. While it is much slower than other free VPNs like hide.me or Speedify, it’s still enough for HD streaming. I watched a documentary on YouTube in HD and didn’t experience any issues the entire time it played. Although it’s missing a few important security features like an automatic kill switch, your browser traffic is protected with AES 256-bit military-grade encryption. This prevents hackers, governments, and ISPs from reading your data. Moreover, it has a strict no-logs policy, so your private information will never be stored. The biggest problem is that Opera only secures browser traffic. This means that anything you do outside Opera will not be protected. For example, if you use an external client for torrenting, your activity will be visible to your ISP. Your banking apps will not be secure either. Try OperaVPN For FREE
Quick Comparison Table: Best Free VPNs for Android
The table below compares the essential features of all my recommended VPNs. I’ve compared essential things like average speeds, data limits, how many servers are offered, and whether you need to sign up. I’ve also included special features like whether a kill switch is offered, since it blocks your internet if the VPN gets disconnected for added security (and not all free VPNs offer this). You can also see whether each VPN is headquartered within the 5/9/14-Eyes’ jurisdiction. This is an agreement between several countries to share data on their citizens. Being outside of the alliance means you’ll have more peace of mind knowing government entities aren’t collecting your data. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free
Warning: The Risks of Free VPNs
Many free VPNs for Android are unsafe and can do more harm than good. You should never download a free VPN app without doing your research first. That being said, I thoroughly tested each VPN on this list to ensure their safety, so you don’t have to. Even though free VPNs all have some limitations, the ones in my list won’t put your privacy at risk. Listed below are some of the risks associated with free Android VPNs:
Free VPNs can sell your data — It is expensive to run a VPN service. If your VPN provider is not charging you anything, they will have to find alternative ways to cover their costs. Most free VPNs resort to selling user data to third parties to make a profit. So, it’s important to make sure that your VPN has a trustworthy no-logs policy. Free VPNs can leak your data — Some free VPNs lack essential security features, like an automatic kill switch and IP/DNS leak protection. Without these features, your data and privacy are always at risk. Free VPNs can infect your device with malware — Android is especially at risk since Google Play isn’t super selective about which apps they allow in the Play Store. There have been quite a few cases of free Android VPNs coming with malware embedded in their apps. Some will bombard you with malicious ads, which can compromise your security further.
Free Android VPNs to Avoid
During my tests, I found some free Android VPNs that are unsafe to use and should be avoided at all costs. They can sell your data to third parties and expose you to viruses and malware.
Hola Free VPN — Hola Free VPN is a P2P network that utilizes its users’ devices as endpoints instead of having its own dedicated servers. This means other Hola users can use your IP address. If they do something illegal, you could get into trouble for it. Betternet VPN — It keeps logs of your data such as your IP address, connection timestamps, and device information. Moreover, its Android app was riddled with malware back in 2016. CrossVPN — It downloads malware and spyware to your device. Psiphon — It logs a huge amount of data, including your browsing history and connection timestamps. On top of that, it doesn’t have DNS leak protection or a kill switch.
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Tips on How to Choose the Best Free VPNs for Android
I used the following criteria to shortlist the best free VPNs for Android. Focus on these features if you’re unsure what to look for in a good free Android VPN.
Really free — A free VPN shouldn’t require you to commit to a subscription. I made sure that all the Android VPNs on the list are either completely free or backed by a legitimate money-back guarantee. Strong security and privacy features — I made sure that all the free Android VPNs have essential security features, like military-grade encryption and IP/DNS leak protection. Furthermore, I thoroughly read each VPN’s logging policy to be sure they’re trustworthy with your data. Fast speeds and enough data — Your free Android VPN should have fast connection speeds, so you can browse, stream, or game without slowdowns. All the free VPNs on this list have speeds of 15 Mbps or above, which should be enough for these activities. Plus, they all offer enough data for you to browse for a reasonable amount of time. Easy-to-use Android app — A good free Android VPN should be easy to install and use. All free Android VPNs on the list satisfy this requirement. Streaming support — Most free Android VPNs do not unblock streaming sites at all. However, I made sure to choose VPNs that could unblock at least a couple of services, like Funimation and Crackle. In addition, most of them also work with Android TV, so you can watch on your big screen. Supports torrenting — If you torrent on your Android device, you should choose a VPN that allows P2P sharing. I made it a priority to shortlist at least some free VPNs that support torrenting. Reliable customer support — I made sure that it’s easy to get answers to all your questions, whether via email, live chat, or a knowledge base on the VPN’s website. Live chat is preferred, but most free VPNs don’t offer it.
Can I use a free VPN on my Android TV?
Absolutely. The top free VPNs on this list have apps for Android TV and can be easily installed through the Play Store. However, just remember most free VPNs severely limit your data allowance and streaming requires a lot of data (you need about 1.5GB of data to stream in 1080p for 1 hour). In addition, most can only unblock a small number of streaming services, and generally don’t work with the most popular ones like Netflix, Disney+, or Hulu. If you plan on doing a lot of streaming, I recommend trying a low-cost premium VPN with a money-back guarantee because then you get unlimited data, better unblocking abilities, and faster speeds.
Does a free Android VPN work with other devices?
Absolutely — most free VPNs work with a variety of platforms. Bear in mind, however, you’ll still encounter the same limitations and caps when using a free VPN with other devices. A premium VPN with a money-back policy avoids these restrictions, and you can try it risk-free. You won’t have to deal with slower speeds or download limits. If you’re going to use a free VPN, it’s better to use a tried-and-tested service to avoid any possible security risks. These reliable free VPNs have dedicated apps for Windows, iOS, and other devices.
Are free VPNs for Android safe?
You can find a few that are safe, but you have to watch out for the ones that aren’t. The free Android VPNs on this list are all safe to use. I made sure only to include free VPNs that offer the high-level encryption and zero-logs policies. However, a lot of free Android VPNs are not safe. During my research, I found many free Android VPNs that have weak security. For example, many don’t have a kill switch that blocks your internet when the VPN’s server gets disconnected, leaving you vulnerable to people looking to steal your data. Some free VPNs even sell your data to third parties for a profit, which completely defeats the purpose of using a VPN for online privacy in the first place.
Will a free Android VPN work with Netflix?
The 100% free Android VPNs on this list, like Proton VPN, hide.me, and Speedify could only access Netflix Originals (which are available everywhere) and did not work with region-locked titles during my tests.
Which free Android VPN allows torrenting?
There are a few good free VPNs that allow torrenting — the problem is they usually don’t offer enough data to torrent more than 1GB per month. After running my tests, I’d recommend hide.me as a decent free option for torrenting — its Android app has P2P-friendly servers and it gives you a data allowance of 10GB per month, which is pretty generous when compared to other free options. If you torrent large files frequently, then you’re best option is to opt for a low-cost premium VPN like ExpressVPN or CyberGhost. You can use their money-back guarantees to test them out and you won’t be faced with data limits that impact how much you can download.
What is the best free Android VPN for India?
If you want a free Android VPN to access Indian sites, you can either choose TunnelBear or Speedify — both of which offer servers in India. All the free VPNs on this list are safe and will protect your online activity in India. However, most of the free options don’t offer servers in the country. Speedify and TunnelBear let me access my Indian banking apps without any problems. I could also access Disney+ Hotstar with Speedify. The only problem is that these VPNs restrict data with their free plans, so you’ll only be able to stream and browse for a limited time.
Is there a free Android VPN that doesn’t require registration?
Avira Phantom VPN, Kaspersky VPN, Speedify, and Opera are the only free Android VPNs on this list that don’t require registration. This means you don’t have to give them an email address or create an account of any kind to secure your connection. Just keep in mind, they all come with the same limitations as any free VPN, like small server networks, slower speeds, and limited data allowances.
How do you install a VPN on your Android if you don’t have Google Play?
If your device doesn’t have Google Play, you can download the.apk file for the app from the VPN provider’s website and manually install it. Setting up a VPN is easy — just follow the instructions on the screen, and you should be fine. Another tip is to make sure that you have third-party installations enabled on your Android device. You can use this same method to install the VPN app if it’s on the Play Store, but just not available in your region. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today
Protect Your Android with a Free VPN Today
Many free Android VPNs are not safe to use. Some sell your data for a profit while others do not protect your privacy at all. Even though the 100% free Android VPNs on this list are safe and trustworthy, they do have limitations, like slow speeds, smaller server networks, and limited data. That’s why I recommend a low-cost premium VPN, like ExpressVPN instead. It has world-class security to keep your Android device safe, superfast speeds, unlimited data, and tons of servers. It’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test ExpressVPN with Android risk-free. If you’re not impressed, it’s easy to get a full refund.
The best Android VPNs with money-back guarantees in 2023 are …
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