So you've heard about the security and privacy benefits of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) app, and you want to take advantage of them on your Android phone or tablet. Now it's time to pick out the right VPN service for you. You've got a number of options to pick from, but here are my picks for the best free VPNs for Android. You might also want to check out our guides to the best free VPNs and the best paid VPNs for any device.
As you can see from the list below, there are some impressive free VPNs that are worth checking out if you're on a tight budget or you just want to see what using a VPN is like—they'll typically come with a variety of limitations, but they're usable. In most cases, you can upgrade to a more fully featured version inside the same app.
Free VPNs vs. paid VPNs
The familiar trade-offs you'll see for other types of free software apply to VPNs as well: If you're not paying, you're typically more limited in terms of the features you get access to, and the levels of service and usage you can expect.
When it comes to free VPNs, those trade-offs often include connection speeds, the number of servers and countries you can connect to, the quality of the customer support you're offered, and the number of devices you can install the VPN on. For some, it's worth paying; for others, a free VPN is good enough.
With something as important as a VPN, it's generally a good idea to pay—it typically means you get a more reliable, more trustworthy experience, as the developers behind the VPN won't be trying to make money out of you in other ways. Remember that your VPN can see everything you do online, so you have to pick one you trust.
However, it's also true that there are reliable, honest free VPNs from reputable companies. If you only need this level of protection occasionally, and don't have the budget to jump to a paid plan, then there are free VPNs that will serve you well.
Are free VPNs safe?
Free VPNs aren't really any different to VPNs you pay a subscription for when it comes to whether they're safe or not: It depends on the VPN. There are certainly bad actors out there trying to compromise your security, but they can operate through paid VPNs just as easily.
It's fair to say that cyber criminals are more likely to try and dupe you through a free VPN, because free software attracts more users. But it's not true that all free VPNs are untrustworthy, or that all paid VPNs are guaranteed to be without any problems when it comes to privacy and security.
Caution is often advised when considering free VPNs, because developing software and maintaining servers costs money—so if users aren't paying, then the VPN company must be making money in other ways, which are perhaps somewhat shady and disreputable. Some free VPNs have been shown to be spying on users and lacking in proper security protections in the past.
But that doesn't mean all free VPNs are unsafe. Be sure to consider the brand behind the product, and how they're covering their costs—if that's not clear, look elsewhere.
What you should look for in a free Android VPN
The same rules apply here as they do for paid VPNs. Remember your VPN service of choice can theoretically see the places you're heading to on the web: Though most will promise not to log this information, including all the VPNs listed below, you should check specifically for this.
Still, what a VPN service says and what it actually does might not match up. Look for companies that publish security audits from third parties, which add extra credence to the claims they make about how safe and private your data is. This information, plus general privacy policies, should be prominently displayed on the VPN's website.
Where a VPN company is based can make a difference, too: The company will be subject to the laws and regulations of that particular country, and we know that governments like the U.S. have fairly comprehensive powers when it comes to data monitoring. Many VPN operations will be based outside of the U.S. for this reason.
Aside from the intricacies of privacy policies and international law, you're looking for speed and plenty of worldwide connection options when it comes to free VPNs. You can check up on the claims each service makes in these areas, but as they don't cost you anything, you can also try them out to see if these claims stand up.
It doesn't take long at all to get started with PrivadoVPN: You just supply an email address, tap on a link sent to that email address, and away you go. Press the big Tap to Connect button on the front screen to connect to a recommended server, and once that's done, your VPN protection is active—perfect if you need something that's quick and easy to use.
Switching between server locations is simple, as well, although the available options are limited for free users. If you're not paying for PrivadoVPN, there are data restrictions, too: You get a 10GB data allowance every 30 days, which should be plenty for occasional use, if you're saving it for those times when you specifically need the extra privacy protection.
TunnelBear VPN is something of a veteran when it comes to the VPN world, and that longevity is evidence that this is a VPN that you can rely on. You won't have any problems getting started or getting connected, and it's also an app that's clear about its privacy policy and how it manages the data and app permissions on your Android device.
The VPN comes with some cool extra features, too, including options to pause your internet connection if TunnelBear VPN is disabled, and to pick specific apps on your phone and tablet that are permitted to work outside of the VPN. As a free user, you're limited in terms of the servers you can connect to, and you only get 500MB of data to go through in a month.
Proton products, from email clients to cloud storage, are built with security and privacy in mind, which means Proton VPN is one of the most trustworthy free VPNs for Android out there. We've written before about how much we like it: It's straightforward to use and comprehensive in what it offers, though many features require a paid subscription.
If you stick to the free plan, you can only use Proton VPN on one device; you're limited in terms of the servers you can connect to around the world; and you have to settle for "medium" speeds rather than the highest available. That's not bad, however, for a free VPN service that's committed to keeping its users safe while online.
Bitdefender is a well-respected security software company, so Bitdefender VPN is one of the more trustworthy free VPNs for Android you're going to come across. It's quick and simple to use, the connections are usually speedy, and you get extras such as ad blocking and tracker blocking included (even if you're using the free plan).
When it comes to the free VPN component, you tap to connect, and that's it—but you can't choose the server you connect to and you only get 200MB of data per day, so you need to be selective about when you turn it on. Even with these restrictions, the Bitdefender brand and the bundled extras mean it's still one of the best free Android VPNs.
Windscribe VPN operates on a straightforward freemium model, and offers plenty of information to users about how it works, how it covers its costs, and what its attitudes towards security and privacy are. It's popular and well-reviewed, and scores highly for engaging with its community of users as well, across platforms such as Discord and Reddit.
The big differences between paid and free tiers are the number of servers you can connect to and the speeds and bandwidth you can expect when connected—otherwise the tiers are mostly similar. Everything inside the app is easy to navigate and get around, and you don't even have to supply your email address (though you get extra bandwidth if you do).
Some of the limitations on these free VPNs can be quite restrictive if you spend much of your Android screen time with a VPN enabled—but if that's the case, it's probably going to be worth investing in a paid VPN. If you just need occasional VPN protection—like when you're out at a coffee shop or staying at a hotel—these are more than up to the job.
At the very least these free VPNs will give you an idea of the interface and features of an app, so you can choose to upgrade to a subscription tier if you like the software and the company behind it. And because these VPNs all work with a freemium model, you know how they're funding the service you're using.
David Nield is a technology journalist from Manchester in the U.K. who has been writing about gadgets and apps for more than 20 years.