Best VPN for Android

Why do I need a VPN for my Android phone?

A VPN is ideally used to protect data in your laptops and computers. However, a lot of people are also using their mobile phones to access and store sensitive data, so there is a need to protect these devices as well.

VPN becomes a necessity when you’re on the go and you have a crappy data signal. To get connected, you got no choice but resort to public Wi-Fi hotspots in coffee shops, hotels, and airports. However, these free Wi-Fi hotspots are not secured so anyone can get into their systems, making you (and everyone connected to Wi-Fi) vulnerable to hackers and trackers.

Also, a VPN for your Android phone is useful even when you’re using your home network or any network you deem to be secure. If you’re protecting your laptop and computers at home, then you should also protect your phone as it contains sensitive data too.

Aside from security, a VPN has other uses which are discussed in the next question.

Should I buy a VPN for my Android?

Yes, you should buy a VPN for your Android phone for the reasons listed below:

• Enhanced security: We’ve touched this topic a bit in the previous question. But this time, let’s find out how. Normally, when you connect to the Internet, all your data requests go directly to the destination web server. Whether you’re shopping online, banking, or checking social media on your Android phone, know that anyone can see everything you do. With the right tools, the government, your ISP, hackers, and the people behind public Wi-Fi can pry into your online activities.
• Encryption: With a VPN, all your data is encrypted before sending it to the destination web server. Even when somebody is looking at your activities, they won’t see past the encryption. Therefore, your data is secured since the right tool that can break the latest encryption standard doesn’t exist yet.
• Privacy and anonymity: When you use a VPN on Android, your identity and personal information will remain private and even anonymized. Aside from encryption, masking of your IP address also happens whenever your data requests go through a VPN server. Your IP address can reveal your details since it can be traced back to your ISP. In turn, the ISP can then trace the IP address back to you. But if your IP address is masked, then nobody will know who you are.
• Access geo-restricted content: watch Netflix outside the United States? You can when you use a VPN. When you’re connected to a VPN server, your IP address is replaced by the VPN’s IP address. This way, you can have an IP address of any country as long as your VPN provider has servers in your selected country. With a virtual IP address, you can now use your Android phone to access contents that are otherwise blocked in your region.
• Access to cheaper rates: Prices of airline tickets, subscription rates of some entertainment sites (such as Netflix and UFC.tv), hotel accommodation, and car rentals vary depending on location. This is also true with online shopping and the purchase of software products and games. With a VPN, you can make it appear like you’re staying in a specific region and you can make a purchase using that region’s price tag.

These are some of the most valuable advantages you can have online, and you get them all from one simple tool!

Will a VPN protect my mobile connection through my carrier or only my connection to Wi-Fi?

A VPN will protect all Internet connections on your Android, whether it’s through your mobile carrier or Wi-Fi. However, some carriers may block the VPN connection, or not support it. Your VPN will always work over Wi-Fi, but 3G and 4G connections can sometimes be insecure.

How do I enable VPN settings on Android?

Enable the VPN settings on your Android phone by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your phone.
2. Look for the Networks or Connections setting, browse to the bottom and select More.
3. Select VPN.
4. Tap the + symbol or Add VPN on the upper right hand of the screen.
5. Your VPN provider will give you the details you need to fill out the fields.

Once set up, you can configure your VPN to be always turned on. Otherwise, you need to go back to the VPN settings, select the VPN, and enter your login details every time you want to use your VPN. The latter is advised if you constantly switch from mobile data to a wireless network (or vice versa). This way, you will be sure that the VPN is turned on before you connect to the Internet.

What can a VPN do for my Android device?

A lot of things. As discussed in the previous question, a VPN on your Android device enhances your security, protects your privacy, lets you access geo-blocked contents, and allows you to purchase certain products and services at a discount.

Are free Android VPNs safe to use?

VPNs are only as safe as their providers. Free VPNs for Android, in particular, have been controversial as our testing of random providers found that 25% of those tested had DNS leaks. As always, you get what you pay for. That’s why we highly recommend opting for a paid Android VPN app over a free one as a free one will always have limits.

Don’t worry though because there are still reliable providers of free VPN services, and we’ve tested some of them here. We looked at the features, data caps, the number of servers and their locations, and customer support. We even tested the VPNs for IP leaks. Read our reviews, and choose which free VPN provider is best for your needs.

Will a VPN affect my Android’s Internet speed?

Speed has always been an issue when talking about VPNs, so the answer is yes. Several factors can affect Internet speed while using a VPN, and these are:

• Encryption: Encryption naturally takes extra time. The heavier the encryption, the more affected Internet speed will be. If you’re concerned with security and privacy, then the extra seconds needed to encrypt your data shouldn’t matter.
• Distance from VPN server: The location of the server you choose also matters. Data needs to travel from your physical location to the selected server then to the destination web server. Therefore, it’s wise to connect to a server that’s near your physical location.
• Speed from your ISP: If your Internet speed is already slow, then your connection with a VPN will be slow as well. But if the slow speed is due to ISP’s throttling your connection to a particular site, then VPN can actually speed up the connection.

Many ISPs throttle Internet speed when they detect that you’re watching movies from specific sites or playing a certain online game. With a VPN, ISPs or mobile carriers won’t know what you’re doing so they can’t throttle the speed. This results in a faster connection as compared to connecting to these sites without a VPN.

Can a VPN get around capped data plans?

The encryption process will use bandwidth, so a VPN won’t help you bypass data caps. Your ISP won’t see your online activities, but they will still see the amount of data you use and impose your Internet plan limits.

Will a VPN drain my Android phone’s battery quickly?

A VPN is like any other app on your Android phone. Therefore, it consumes battery, especially when it’s left running in the background. Some users set up the VPN app so that it will stop when the phone is not being used. However, you will need to turn it on every time you use the Internet. While a VPN consumes battery like any app, the consumption is not that much since a VPN is not power-intensive.