Best free VPN Android

Most free VPNs have limited bandwidth and data caps, while others don’t even offer essential security features such as encryption and a kill switch. However, a few of them are decent.

After lots of research, I have put together a list of the best free VPN options for Android so you don’t have to waste time seeking them out.

I have reviewed the best Android VPNs for free below in detail. However, if you don’t have much time, here’s a quick summary.

The best free VPNs for Android:

  1. Proton VPN: This is the best free VPN option for Android. Has no data or speed limits and servers in five countries. You get access to encrypted servers and DNS leak protection. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Hide.me: A close second in this competitive list. Offers eight free server locations, unlimited data, and a comprehensive no-logs policy.
  3. Hotspot Shield: Offers unlimited bandwidth and data but unfortunately includes ads. It doesn’t store identifying logs and offers encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection.
  4. PrivadoVPN: This is a free VPN option that offers 10GB of data per month, 13+ global servers, and strong encryption. Bandwidth is unlimited.
  5. Windscribe: Windscribe offers unlimited bandwidth in 11+ countries. 10GB of data is available along with unlimited connections.
  6. Tunnelbear: This VPN option offers 2GB of free data, strong encryption, and access to thousands of servers. Provides a good selection of security measures.

To end up with the list above, I carefully researched the best free VPN services for Android based on the following criteria:

  • Offers a good quality free plan
  • Provides strong security features
  • Fast connection speeds
  • Doesn’t store identifiable logs
  • Functional Android app

You can find out more information about the criteria I used in the testing methodology section of this article.

Best free VPNs for Android

With that being said, here is my list of the best free VPNs for Android:

1. Proton VPN

ProtonVPN homepage

Proton VPN offers a free VPN option that doesn’t compromise user experience or security. The provider is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws. This service’s connection speeds are fast and there are five free server locations available. In addition, there are no data or bandwidth limits imposed.

Security features are strong. Proton VPN offers 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and no logs are stored. DNS leak protection is also in place, ensuring your identity isn’t leaked while you’re online.

This VPN can be installed on a number of devices. Operating system/device support includes Android, iOS, routers, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Customer support is available 24/7  and 10 simultaneous connections are allowed.

Pros:

  • Available for Android and many other platforms
  • Strong encryption
  • Strong unblocking capabilities
  • No data/bandwidth limits

Cons:

  • No live chat support

BEST FREE VPN OPTION FOR ANDROID:Proton VPN offers 10 simultaneous connections and has servers in a decent number of locations. It offers unlimited data and bandwidth, allowing users to fulfil their online activities stress-free. Unblocks lots of services and works on a number of different streaming platforms. Risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Hide.me

Hide.me vpn for android

Hide.me gives users an unlimited amount of data on its free plan and has access to eight different server locations. Overall, connection speeds are decent and this service has a comprehensive no-logs policy.

Security measures include 256-bit AES encryption and DNS leak protection. In addition, you can connect 10 devices simultaneously while logged in to your account.

This VPN is available on a number of different platforms as well. Other than Android, users can download this service for iOS, Windows, macOS, routers, and Linux.

Pros:

  • No data limit
  • No logs policy
  • Strong security features

Cons:

  • Doesn’t work with some streaming platforms.

UNLIMITED DATA AND NO LOGS:Hide.me offers a strong no-logs policy and doesn’t impose a data limit. This makes it a good free VPN option for watching streaming content.

3. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot shield free android vpn

Hotspot Shield is relatively fast and offers unlimited bandwidth and data. However, users will have to put up with annoying ads. There is also only one location available.

With that being said, Hotspot Shield offers strong encryption and stores no logs. It also protects against DNS and IP leaks and supports Tor over VPN.

Hotspot Shield is supported across a wide range of devices. These include Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. Only one device connection at once is supported.

Pros:

  • Unlimited  data and bandwidth
  • Strong encryption
  • Stores no logs

Cons:

  • Ads can be annoying

FAST, FREE OPTION:If you can put up with some ads, Hotspot Shield offers you fast speeds along with unlimited bandwidth and data.

4. PrivadoVPN

Privado VPN free Android VPN

PrivadoVPN is a good option if you are looking for a free Android VPN. It offers strong security and has a zero-log policy. However, while it does offer unlimited data, only 10GB of that data is uncapped.

This VPN also supports an unlimited number of devices and offers 13+ global servers. In addition, customer support is available 24/7. Features such as a kill switch and split tunnelling come built-in.

PrivadoVPN is available on a number of different platforms such as Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows.

Pros:

  • Fast connection speeds
  • 13+ global servers
  • Strong security servers

Cons:

  • Only 10GB of uncapped data

FAST AND VERSATILE OPTION:PrivadoVPN is fast and available in a number of locations and on several platforms, including mobile devices such as Android and iOS.

5. Windscribe

Windscribe free android vpn

Windscribe VPN is a decent option when it comes to streaming on mobile devices such as Android. However, it only offers 10GB of free data, so you might have to limit the amount of content you view. It provides servers in 11+ countries.

Windscribe offers strong security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection. There is also a no-logs policy in place. In addition, an unlimited number of devices are supported.

This VPN is supported on many different devices, such as Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.

Pros:

  • Decent number of servers
  • Unlimited number of connections
  • Strong security features available

Cons:

  • Can’t unblock many streaming sites

UNLIMITED CONNECTIONS AND STRONG SECURITY:If you want to protect all of your devices, Windscribe is a great option that offers unlimited connections. It also has strong security measures in place such as 256-bit AES encryption.

6. Tunnelbear

Tunnelbear free android vpn

TunnelBear is a good option for those who don’t use their Android device for data-heavy applications. This VPN service offers just 2GB of data but it protects an unlimited number of devices.

Strong security measures are in place, including 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch. This provider has over 5,000 servers as well, which is quite a large number for a free VPN service.

You can download Tunnelbear for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. You can protect all of your devices and not just your Android device, which is quite convenient.

Pros:

  • Unlimited connections
  • Strong security
  • Supports many operating systems

Cons:

  • Data capped at 2GB

LARGE SERVER NETWORK:In addition to offering a large number of servers, Tunnelbear also offers strong security and allows users to connect an unlimited number of devices.

Testing methodology: How I selected the best free VPNs for Android

Many different free VPN options are available. However, not all of them are created equal. For this reason, I researched the best free providers for Android so you don’t have to.

Here are some of the factors I considered when making my choice of the best free VPNs for Android:

  • Platform availability: In addition to being available for Android, I looked for VPNs that supported other operating systems. This is important if you want to protect more than one device.
  • Servers: The greater the number of servers the better. This gives users more options for bypassing geographically restricted content.
  • Security: While free, the VPNs I chose have strong, military-grade encryption and other features – such as kill switches – in order to keep users safe online.
  • Speed: While free VPNs don’t generally have record-breaking speed, I looked for options that can handle regular internet activity without lag.

You can find out more information about my strict VPN testing process here.

How to install a free VPN on Android

Installing a VPN might sound like an overly technical task if you’ve never done it before. However, this is far from the case. With most VPNs (all of the providers reviewed here), you simply need to install the VPN app to get up and running.

Here’s how to install a VPN on Android:

  1. Open up the Play Store app and search for the VPN you want to set up. For example, you can search for Proton VPN – our top provider on this list. Be sure to select the genuine version as there may be fakes. If you aren’t certain, use the Google Play store link from the VPN’s main website.
  2. Download and install the app.
  3. Open up the app and set up an account if necessary.
  4. Select a server.
  5. Connect!

That should be it. You will now be protected on your Android device. The VPN will remain connected in the background until you turn it off.

Best free VPNs for Android FAQs

Should I use a free VPN?

I usually wouldn’t recommend a free VPN. However, the providers reviewed here are decent. In general, paid VPNs offer better service and have enhanced infrastructure. Most free VPN providers don’t offer the same level of security that the providers reviewed here do. Some free options don’t even offer encryption. In addition, some unscrupulous free VPN providers have also been known to sell user data for a profit.

For these reasons, I usually recommend only paid VPNs. However, if you are looking for a free option, the ones reviewed above are safe to use. You may also want to consider options such as the Tor network.

Are VPNs safe to use?

Yes, VPNs are safe to use. In fact, it is safer to use the internet with a VPN than without one.

Why do I need a VPN on my Android device?

Using a VPN can help you to bypass geographical restrictions. It can further protect your device when using the internet via an unprotected WiFi network.