How to set up a VPN on Android: step-by-step setup instructions for Android phones

How to choose the best VPN for Android?
Best VPNs for Android Surfshark VPN – Full-featured VPN at a great price
NordVPN – fast and secure VPN for Android
ExpressVPN – reliable and “clean” VPN for Android
VPNArea – secure and inexpensive VPN service
VPN.ac – VPN service made by cryptography professionals

VPN Basics

Briefly about VPN

Setting up and installing a VPN on Android

Tips for using a VPN on Android

Always-on VPN mode

Automatic server selection

Split tunneling

When should you use a VPN?

The dangers of free VPNs for Android

Results

How to choose the best VPN for Android?

The Android operating system continues to dominate the mobile device market, with the average user spending about three hours a day on their phone. To ensure maximum confidentiality and data security, as well as to get full access to all sites without the possibility of being tracked, hacked, etc., you need to use a reliable VPN for Android.

There are many malicious free VPNs for Android. Some popular VPN services, such as Betternet and Hotspot Shield VPN, have been criticized for violating privacy.

How to choose the best VPN for your smartphone that will keep your data safe and secure?

To answer this question, we tested the most popular VPNs for Android and ranked the best. Here's what we'll look at:

5 Best VPNs for Android That Meet Modern Security Criteria
Installing and configuring VPN on Android
Tips for using a VPN on Android
Why free VPN services are not recommended

Browser Add-ons

To connect to a VPN network from a computer or laptop, the easiest way is to use special browser add-ons. Let's look at those that are suitable for any browser.

Hide My IP

Convenient, versatile and effective addition. It will not only allow you to connect to a VPN easily and at good speed, but also choose how often your IP address changes within your zone. This way it will be possible to regularly “find yourself” either in Belgium or in Australia. Its only drawback is that it collects user data for advertising and analytical purposes.

ZenMate

Another universal plugin for any browser. German developers guarantee you confidentiality and security when working with any data. Its advantage is that it does not leave any records of user activity. But the free version is inferior to the paid version in the number of provided “spacer servers” and connection speed.

Browsec

Free extension with one-click installation. It is one of the most popular due to its cross-platform nature: it works in browsers and as applications on PCs and smartphones. The speed is reduced quite noticeably, so, for example, it may not be suitable for watching videos with “problematic” home Internet.

Best VPNs for Android

Surfshark proved to be the most effective VPN service . It performed flawlessly in our tests, offering excellent speed and additional nice features. Surfshark also supports the WireGuard protocol, which ensures maximum Internet performance and speed.

NordVPN took second place . It offers secure and full-featured VPN apps for Android with a variety of protocols and VPN servers to choose from, as well as one of the best prices for the service on the market.

A good VPN for Android should meet the following criteria:

Passed all tests with no data leaks (IP addresses or DNS).
The drop in Internet speed when connecting to a VPN server should be as small as possible.
High-quality, ergonomic and intuitive applications with all functions working as they should.
Support for secure encryption and data transfer protocols.
Money back guarantee for a specified period of initial use.
Good reputation of the development company.
Work in an “offshore jurisdiction”.

Let's take a look at the best VPN services for Android:

Surfshark VPN – Full featured VPN at a great price

Founded : British Virgin Islands
Logs : not maintained
Price : from $2.21 per month
Technical support : 24/7 on the website (chat)
Refund : 30 days
Website : surfshark.netsurfshark.net https://surfshark.com/ru/

Surfshark VPN service launched in 2022 in the British Virgin Islands (BVI). Despite the fact that this VPN is relatively new on the market, it is ahead of other leading providers in terms of security, speed and availability of additional features. options. Surfshark supports the WireGuard protocol in all of its applications. Our latest tests show that Surfshark is definitely one of the best VPNs for Android devices.

We did not find any problems with the Surfshark application on Android. The server network is quite large. We've tested many Surfshark servers in the US and the internet speeds drop slightly. Below is the result of the Internet speed test when connecting to the Surfshark VPN server in New York:

Preliminary conclusions about Surfshark VPN on Android:

Complete security: the service provides reliable protection against leaks of your data, including the “KillSwitch” option - an emergency shutdown of the Internet when the VPN connection is lost to avoid leakage of the real IP address.
CleanWeb feature: Blocks ads, trackers, malware and phishing links.
WhiteLister feature: split tunneling option - allows you to run certain applications or sites always over a VPN connection.
Streaming Media Services: Surfshark officially supports 16 different Netflix regions (including the US, UK and Canada). It also supports many other streaming media services and is a great VPN for BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney Plus and more.
Large server network: more than 3200 servers worldwide in +65 countries.
Surfshark offers 24/7 live chat support.
Jurisdiction: Surfshark is based in the British Virgin Islands. This state has one of the best jurisdictions for conducting this type of business.

Priced at $2.21 per month for a 2-year subscription, Surfshark is one of the best cheap VPNs for Android.

4.9 5 0 1

Surfshark is an excellent VPN service with an intuitive design that hides advanced Internet security solutions.

4.9 rating

4.9/5

VPN service evaluation

Great

Simple and clear installation
Works on an unlimited number of devices simultaneously
High loading speed of content and web pages
Technical support 24/7 via e-mail and chat
Best price/quality ratio ( 30 days money back guarantee )
It is not on the list of VPNs to be blocked by Roskomnadzor
Finalist of the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2022 in the category “Best Cybersecurity Company of the Year”
More than 1,000,000 downloads on Google Play

Surfshark VPN Review and Testing

NordVPN – fast and secure VPN for Android

Founded : Panama
Logs : not maintained
Price : from $3.29 per month
Technical support : 24/7 on the website (chat)
Refund : 30 days
Website : nordvpn.comhttps://nordvpn.com/ru/

It's easy to see why NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services in the world. It's at or near the top of almost all VPN rankings, providing excellent privacy and security for all popular device types. The service includes powerful features such as dual VPN connections, Tor-Over-VPN servers, and a CyberSec feature that blocks ads, trackers, and malicious links.

NordVPN has an advantage over most VPNs on the market because it supports the WireGuard VPN protocol. The WireGuard VPN protocol offers significant performance improvements over legacy VPN protocols such as OpenVPN and IPSec.

Here's why you need a VPN that supports WireGuard on your device:

The WireGuard protocol provides faster Internet speeds than traditional encryption and data transfer protocols (up to 445 Mbps in our tests).
Establishing a connection to the VPN server is faster (two seconds or less).
Smooth transition between network interfaces. This means you can switch between Wi-Fi and wireless (4G) networks without losing your VPN connection. No other VPN protocol does this.
Better battery life for your devices (OpenVPN drains your battery faster).

NordVPN is currently the fastest VPN we've tested. Their implementation of the WireGuard VPN protocol is called NordLynx. Here's a NordVPN speed test where we were able to get an internet speed of 445 Mbps (base speed is 500 Mbps):

High speed and excellent reliability make NordVPN the best choice for torrenting and watching Netflix, Hulu, etc. WireGuard is compatible with both Android mobile devices and Android TVs.

The NordVPN Android app passed all tests with no data leaks, no errors, no connection issues - all functions worked perfectly.

Appearance of the NordVPN application for Android:

Here are a few more things that convinced us that NordVPN has the best VPN app for Android:

The company does not use virtual servers. In addition, all VPN servers operate in RAM disk mode. In regular computers, RAM disks are dedicated pieces of RAM that function like regular hard drives, but their advantage is that they are even faster than SSD drives. No data is stored on NordVPN servers and cannot be intercepted by a third party, giving NordVPN users confidence in their security and data privacy.
Servers with data obfuscation. If you want to hide your VPN traffic or use a VPN where it may be blocked (for example in China), you need to connect to a server with data obfuscation. The NordVPN Android app works with a full line of these types of servers to keep you safe.
The service does not keep activity logs. NordVPN is a no-log VPN provider with a third-party audit of its logging policies by WC AG (Switzerland).
Responsive support: 24/7 live chat support available directly on the site, as well as many tutorials and videos.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: If you don't like NordVPN, simply cancel your subscription within the first 30 days and get a 100% refund.

4.3 5 0 1

NordVPN is a truly proven service that offers a high level of security and fast surfing speed.

4.3 rating

4.3/5

VPN service evaluation

Very good

Technical support 24/7 via email and chat on the website
High level of security
Very high data download speed, unlimited bandwidth
Connect up to 6 devices simultaneously
Money back guarantee within the first 30 days of use if you don't like it
5400+ servers in 59 countries
The most popular VPN in the world

There are problems connecting from Russia

NordVPN review and testing

ExpressVPN – reliable and “clean” VPN for Android

Founded : British Virgin Islands
Logs : not maintained
Price : from $8.35 per month
Technical support : 24/7 on the website (chat)
Refund : 30 days
Website : www.expressvpn.comexpressvpn.com

ExpressVPN is also a strong competitor to Surfshark and NordVPN. Based in the British Virgin Islands, ExpressVPN, like Surfshark, offers a very secure, reliable and convenient VPN service.

The ExpressVPN app for Android performed well in our testing. We didn't find any leaks, bugs or connection issues. Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN is also a third-party verified VPN service with no user activity logs.

ExpressVPN in a nutshell:

Strong encryption: ExpressVPN uses the strongest encryption standards (AES-256).
Supported Protocols: ExpressVPN offers a choice of OpenVPN UDP or TCP, IPSec/IKEv2, and Lightway protocols. Lightway is ExpressVPN's proprietary protocol, much like WireGuard.
ExpressVPN has undergone a third-party security audit conducted by Cure53, as well as a privacy audit confirming its no-logs policy.
Split tunneling: ExpressVPN lets you choose which apps use the VPN tunnel and which go directly to the regular Internet.
ExpressVPN servers run in RAM disk mode, like NordVPN and Surfshark. This allows you to protect your data from physical seizure of servers.
Network protection: ExpressVPN Android apps can temporarily block internet access if you are unable to reconnect to the VPN when your connection is lost. This blocking prevents your real location and IP address from being leaked.

What the ExpressVPN Android App Looks Like:

Apart from privacy and security, ExpressVPN is also good at streaming. It unblocks Netflix easily.

You can use ExpressVPN with all major Android devices, including smart TVs, tablets, and any Android TV box.

4 5 0 1

Intuitive VPN service, but high in price. However, for this price you get blazing-fast surfing speeds and top-notch internet security.

4.0 rating

4/5

VPN service evaluation

Fine

More than 3000 servers in 94 countries
Good speeds
Works with streaming services like Netflix and others.
Servers operate in RAM disk mode

Expensive
Partial blocking of some websites and email providers
There are problems connecting from Russia

ExpressVPN Review and Testing

VPNArea – secure and inexpensive VPN service

Founded : Bulgaria
Logs : not maintained
Price : from $3.21 per month
Technical support : 24/7 on the website (chat)
Refund : 30 days
Website : vpnarea.com

VPNArea is a VPN service focused on maximum user privacy, located in Bulgaria. It has been operating since 2012 and does not keep logs of user activity, has an extensive server network (54 countries). Almost every server in the VPNArea network provides channels with a bandwidth of 1000 Mbps, which provides excellent Internet speed.

There are applications for Windows, Mac OS, Linux, iOS and Android. All applications are equipped with built-in leak protection (KillSwitch), while all DNS requests are translated by their own servers. Like NordVPN, VPNArea offers a dual VPN feature and Tor-over-VPN servers for greater anonymity.

Appearance of VPNArea for Android:

VPNArea supports OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols. While they are not as fast as WireGuard, VPNArea's implementation of the OpenVPN protocol is high quality. VPNArea offers traffic obfuscation to mask your traffic and bypass possible country-level blocks. This option makes VPNArea a great option if you need a VPN in China.

Another unique feature of VPNArea is that they offer dedicated IP addresses. This allows you to select a region with an IP address that only you will use, rather than sharing the IP address with other VPN users. This is a significant plus, since when working with some sites and services, conflicting IP addresses can negatively affect your user experience with the VPN you choose.

VPNArea provides users with on-site live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Prices are quite affordable if you subscribe for 2 years.

3.8 5 0 1

VPNArea – good prices and easy to use VPN apps. Complete protection of your data on the Internet.

3.8 rating

3.8/5

VPN service evaluation

Fine

Good speeds
Works with streaming services like Netflix and others.
Possibility of payment with cryptocurrency
Blocks ads
There are dedicated IP addresses

Design
Not all servers can unblock streaming platforms

VPN.ac – VPN service made by cryptography professionals

Founded : Romania
Logs : not maintained
Price : from $3.75 per month
Technical support : ticket system (via email or personal account)
Refund : 7 days
Website : VPN.ac

VPN.ac is a low-cost, security-focused network of VPN servers. Based in Romania, it uses the latest encryption algorithms to ensure the best speed and security. Their network consists entirely of servers with gigabit bandwidth, which ensures excellent Internet speed.

The VPN.ac Android app itself looks beautiful and is literally packed with useful features and information. The choice of protocol and port is available in the application settings. The Android app also has split tunneling and other useful settings and security features.

By choosing one of the obfuscation servers (designed for China and similar censorship countries), you can easily bypass country-level blocking and restrictions. There is access to real-time data usage graphs.

The VPN.ac client for Android works without leaks or any problems. Additional points about VPN.ac for Android:

Security is high. The VPN.ac client on Android has a good server infrastructure and works with a number of industry standard encryption protocols. The server network additionally includes 22 servers with dual VPN.
Safe Jurisdiction: VPN.ac is based in Romania.
Competitive pricing: $3.75 per month with a 2-year subscription. You can also get a discounted one-week trial (see FAQ).

Like leading VPNs, VPN.ac also supports the WireGuard VPN protocol. However, unlike NordVPN and Surfshark, VPN.ac has not integrated WireGuard support into its VPN clients. You should use third party clients instead.

3.7 5 0 1

VPN.ac is a service created by cybersecurity professionals. Quite reasonable prices and well-equipped applications.

3.7 rating

3.7/5

VPN service evaluation

Fine

Strong encryption, elliptic curve support
Without logs and speed limits (speed optimization at the expense of the developer)
Works with streaming services like Netflix and others.
SecureProxy browser add-on

Few servers available (21 countries)
Expensive
No tech support chat

Why you should NOT use a VPN

There are also plenty of reasons not to use a VPN. At the same time, there are also reasons that do not directly prohibit their use, but call for paying more attention to precautionary measures.

Data can be stolen

You need to understand that nothing is free , especially in the communications sector. Maintaining a VPN server, or even an entire network, costs a lot of money, and no one will spend it just like that.

It's easier to do this than to do a completely free VPN

Considering that you are pumping your data through an extra server, no one can guarantee that the protection you are promised actually works. Even if the data that apps exchange in encrypted format is not stolen, the owner of such a VPN may collect other valuable information about you. Then it can be accumulated and sold.

If you choose a VPN application, pay attention to its reputation. Sometimes it’s much better to pay 100-150 rubles a month, but be safe. For such VPNs, it is much more interesting to receive your subscription payment consistently than to steal your data. They value their reputation and will not waste money on espionage.

Which brands of smartphones do AndroidInsider.ru readers choose?

Slow connection speed

Whatever one may say, an extra link in the data transmission chain cannot pass without leaving a trace. In any case, it will impose its own restrictions on connection speed and response time. If the VPN is good, then the effect will be small, but if it is so-so, then you will have to put up with slowdowns.

Here it will no longer matter how fast your cellular network or Wi-Fi network operates. The VPN server will simply impose its own restrictions. It's like transferring data from a HDD to the most modern and high-speed SSD . The speed will still be limited by the minimum reading speed from the HDD, or even the connector if it is USB 2.0.

Your connection speed may be huge, but a VPN will easily bring it down to earth

Location determination

There is one more point that rather falls into the “must keep in mind” category. What I'm saying is that often it is the correct determination of the user's location (approximate, of course) that is very useful in terms of providing the desired content.

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If you hide your position, the systems will not focus on you correctly. As a result, you will still receive advertising, but it will be something completely unrelated. You will still see news from other regions. And you will still see the weather report, but for some Japanese suburb. So you need to understand whether you really need a VPN , especially on an ongoing basis, or whether it is better to do without it and use it only to, for example, get a discount on an airline ticket, which is only available for users from France. Everything must be done wisely!

VPN Basics

If you're new to using VPNs on mobile devices or aren't familiar with VPNs at all, you're probably wondering how to use a VPN on Android mobile devices. Let's take a quick look at the basics of a VPN and then talk specifically about using a VPN on an Android device. We'll focus on installing and using a VPN.

Briefly about VPN

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a network that connects two devices by creating an encrypted connection (called a tunnel) that provides security by preventing others from snooping on your Internet traffic. VPN thereby hides your real IP address and location.

Setting up and installing a VPN on Android

Step-by-step instructions for installing and running VPN on your Android smartphone:

Choose a good VPN service - the VPN service provides an application that you download from the office. developer's website or through the Play Market. It is necessary to connect your device to the physical servers that make up the VPN network.
Subscribe. To use a VPN, you need to subscribe for 1 month, 1 year, or 2 years (depending on what plans the VPN you choose offers). The subscription is issued on the official website of the developer. During the purchase process, provide all the information, and you will be given access (login/password) to the email you provided during purchase.
Download and install your chosen VPN on your phone. Just go to Google Play and download the desired application.
Launch the application, enter your username and password and use it. Select the server you like and connect to it. An encrypted “tunnel” will be automatically created, through which all data will be transferred from your device to the target applications/sites. Your IP address and location will be changed.

Tips for using a VPN on Android

Here are some tips that may be useful when using a VPN on Android devices.

Always-on VPN mode

Starting with Android 8 (Oreo), two new settings are available. “Always-on VPN” mode is an option that allows you to always use a VPN connection. This is a great way to remember to turn on the VPN after your phone reboots or after the VPN or Internet goes down for some reason.

Automatic server selection

You can improve your Internet speed when using a VPN by allowing your app to automatically connect to the server closest to your location. This will reduce the latency and thus the Internet connection speed will be higher.

Split tunneling

Use the Split Tunneling option to reduce the load on your VPN. If your device isn't fast or you have a slow Internet connection, you can select certain apps on your phone that you allow to run over a regular, unencrypted channel (the regular Internet).

Enable VPN in Opera

In Opera it’s exactly the same as in Yandex Browser. To be more precise, you can enable VPN in two ways:

Let's now look at each method separately.

Method one - built-in VPN

The second way is to install the extension.

I can’t even imagine why the built-in VPN didn’t suit you, but I think, just in case, it’s worth writing an alternative option:

To install the extension, you can open the directory through the “menu” button and write VPN in the search. Or just paste/open this link in the address bar - https://addons.opera.com/ru/search/?query=vpn

I recommend installing "VPN.S HTTP Proxy" or "ZenMate VPN". In my opinion, these are two leaders who do an excellent job.

After installing the extension, restart your browser and you can open any blocked site.

When should you use a VPN?

Whenever you make “too personal” transactions on the Internet - use Internet banking, for example. Using a VPN will greatly improve your online security.
Whenever you use public Wi-Fi. Most free public networks are vulnerable to hacking, and attackers can do any kind of damage, including stealing your personal information.
Whenever you don't want someone to track your location, your device's IP address can be used to roughly determine where you are. The VPN will replace your real IP address with its own.
If you don't want to show your ISP what you're doing online. Your Internet provider (MTS, Megafon, Beeline, etc.) can see your history of visiting web resources, and, in principle, everything you do on the Internet. They can use this information themselves and transfer it to third parties (many earn extra income this way) who will use it for their own purposes. If you use a VPN, your ISP will not be able to track you.

To ensure your own maximum security and privacy, you should always use a secure and reliable VPN on your Android.

Disabling VPN

The VPN program is turned off in the reverse order, the same way it was turned on. You just need to enter the program again and press the same button that you turned on, only when the mode is on, on the contrary, it will mean deactivation. After which you return to the previous settings and surf the Internet as usual. It should be noted right away that when connecting a VPN extension, the Internet speed decreases. And if the Internet disappears completely, the program automatically turns off. When the connection resumes, you will need to restart it and turn it on.

Source

The dangers of free VPNs for Android

Recently, one large study looked at over 200 different free VPN apps for Android and found some problems. The most common problems with free VPNs for Android:

38% of free VPNs contained malware.
Many popular free VPNs contain tracking libraries.
84% of tested applications leaked user data (IP addresses or DNS queries).
Many free VPN services provide access to your data to third parties (Betternet).

No completely free VPN operates at a loss, giving you direct access to its servers. Most often they make money from their users. This is most likely done by collecting data and selling it to third parties.

We don't recommend using free VPNs, but there are several trusted services that offer a free trial.

What is VPN on an Android device

If your ISP blocks certain sites, it becomes impossible to visit them from both your computer and Android device. However, there is a simple way to bypass such blocking.

The essence of VPN Android

The user connects to any virtual private network and becomes a member of it. After this, he goes to a blocked site, but the provider recognizes this user as a member of the network (and under its IP address). That is, it already receives a request from a specific VPN network (necessarily not from the user’s country of residence) and cannot block access to visiting the resource.

Note! To connect to such networks, you will need a special program. She will search for free VPNs and connect to them. Such programs are also available for the Android platform in the form of separate applications or browser extensions.