Best Free VPN for Android in 2022 – Are they Really Worth it?

Android devices enjoy a surge in popularity worldwide, but at the same time, the in-built vulnerabilities in their operating system can expose users to devastating security threats. As such, Android users are a common target of malicious threats. Using a VPN is the only reliable way to protect Android devices from these threats, but unfortunately, it’s not easy to find a free VPN that doesn’t put you at greater risk.

Though the Google Play store is loaded with thousands of free VPNs for Android, most of them are unreliable or even too slow to use. So my team tested 20 free VPNs to find which free VPN is safest for Android? And we ultimately chose ExpressVPN – the safest free VPN for Android. While it’s not 100% free, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you try ExpressVPN for Android risk-free and get your money back hassle-free within three days.

Coming back to the point, the demand for mobile VPN services has boomed drastically as more and more people are turning to VPNs for online security and internet freedom. According to a research report, over 480 million mobile VPN apps were downloaded worldwide in the last 12 months. That’s about a 54% increase from the previous year.

And you know what? About 75% of those downloads were from Android phones or other devices. And if you want a free VPN service for your android device, you’ve landed on the right page.

This guide has everything from an in-depth analysis of Free vs. Paid VPN services to listing the best free VPNs for Android. So scroll down and have a look at yourself.

The Best Free VPN for Android – A Quick Rundown

After thoroughly testing over 20 VPN services on my Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to find which free VPN is best. I have rounded a list of the top 5 best Free VPNs for Android based on security, speed and performance:

What are The Best Free VPNs for Android – In-depth Analysis

Let’s dig deep into the VPN service providers which are being nominated for the category of the Best Free VPN for Android.

1) ExpressVPN – Recommended Free VPN for Android

When it comes to the best Android VPN, ExpressVPN should be on your list. ExpressVPN offers lightning-fast speed and impeccable VPN services to its subscribers. With peak download and upload speeds of 89.38 Mbps and 84.64 Mbps, it’s no surprise that ExpressVPN was crowned the fastest free VPN for Android.

It has a vast server network with around 3000+ servers across 94 countries, allowing Android users to access geo-restricted content from around the globe easily. In addition, ExpressVPN has a strict zero-log policy.

Regarding security and encryption, offering military-grade AES-256-Bit encryption with multiple extra security features like Network lock, Trusted Server Network, and Private DNS makes your VPN undetectable.

The Android application of ExpressVPN is compatible with almost all famous Android phones, such as Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, Sony Xperia, Nokia, Motorola, LG, Blackberry, Google Pixel, and HTC.

You can also connect other devices, such as iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux, as it boosts support for five concurrent connections. For your Android TV and other non-VPN compatible devices, its MediaStreamer function makes it easier to unblock your favourite streaming sites on a large screen. Thatswhy, it is the best VPN for SyFy and Peacock TV in Canada.

But its services are not entirely free, though. It is available for only CA$ 9.08/mo (US$ 6.67/mo) - Save 49% and get 3 extra months FREE with 12-month plan with a risk-free 30-day money-back policy. You can experience it for 30-days and cancel your subscription anytime if you are unsatisfied with its services.

But I bet you won’t feel like canceling it anytime soon. Because it offers the best mobile VPN app for Android that supports Android OS 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5, ExpressVPN is regarded as the best choice among cybersecurity experts.

Wait, why is ExpressVPN on the free VPN list again?

Well, that’s because we are professionals, and we won’t recommend that our readers settle for something less when you have a better option. Besides, who are we kidding? We all know free VPNs don’t offer the same perks as a premium service. It’s a known fact that these free VPN services come with a lot of baggage: poor speed, fewer servers, weak security, and much more.

And believe me, you wouldn’t want to compromise your privacy for a “freebie” that won’t even last long (because eventually, these services will push you to buy their premium packages). So, it’s best to subscribe to ExpressVPN and save yourself from a big hassle. If nothing else, you will revisit us just to thank us for recommending this service to you.

2) Surfshark VPN

Surfshark Headquartered is based in the British Virgin Islands. It is one of the most affordable and suitable VPNs for Android devices. It offers a 30-day risk-free trial to test its services for free! You can enjoy premium Surfshark services for free even if you cancel the subscription after 30 days of purchase.

With a network of 3200+ servers across 65 countries, Surfshark unblocks numerous streaming platforms worldwide. These servers are fast and offer reliable streaming speeds. During the speed test, we recorded upload and download speeds of 54.22 Mbps and 88.78 Mbps, respectively, on a 100 Mbps connection.

Surfshark is the best VPN for WhatsApp owing to its incredible security protocols. Among a wide range of security features, AES-256 encryption, kill switch, Multi-Hop (Double VPN), and WhiteLister (split-tunneling) are a few that ensures users’ online privacy and security on Android devices.

The Android app of Surfshark elegantly hides multiple privacy tools and connection options. In addition, the four-tab design highlights the one-click connection button on the app’s home screen. iOS, Windows, Mac, and Linux apps also work similarly.

The best part of Surfshark is that it allows you to connect unlimited gadget connections on a single account. Hence, you can easily minimize the possibility of cyberattacks using a VPN on all devices at home.

Besides offering a 30-day free trial, its subscription is very reasonable for budget-friendly subscribers. It charges only CA$ 3.13/mo (US$ 2.30/mo) - 82% off VPN deal on 2 year plan with 2 months free with a 30-day risk-free trial. It’s the most economical VPN in the market, offering different occasional additional discounts. So what else is needed? Isn’t Surfshark the best free VPN for Android that you’re searching for?

3) NordVPN – Largest Server Network VPN for Android

NordVPN is based in Panama and offers a comprehensive, globally spread servers network of 5500+ servers in 60 countries. With 1970+ servers in the US and 480+ in Canada and 440 in the UK, it is one of the best free VPNs for Android devices.

Unlike absolutely free VPNs, NordVPN has a strict no-logging policy, allowing users to browse freely with the utmost freedom. In addition, innovative features such as Double VPN, Lightweight Chrome extension, NordLynx Protocol, CyberSec, Obfuscated Servers, Ad-blocker, AES 256-Bit Encryption, Onion Over VPN, and Smart Play technology make it one of the most reliable VPNs for Synology.

To make things more affordable for you, NordVPN offers a 2-year plan worth CA$ 4.48/mo (US$ 3.29/mo) - 2 years with 60% off + Threat Protection for free with 30 days money-back guarantee. In addition, it provides a 30-day free trial period for users to try their hands on NordVPN services without paying a single penny. They can cancel the subscription within 30 days, and NordVPN does not charge them a dime. What more is needed to enjoy top-notch security features for free?

It is compatible with almost every OS and device, namely macOS, Linux, Windows, Smart TVs, iOS, Amazon Firestick, Samsung TV, Android, and Apple TV. It also allows its subscribers to connect up to 6 simultaneous connections on a single account and does not limit the bandwidth.

4. ProtonVPN – Totally Free VPN for Android

If you’re seeking a free VPN service with an average performance, ProtonVPN is the service you should go for. Though it’s no way near ExpressVPN in terms of performance, it won’t cause you a headache – that’s for sure!

ProtonVPN has only three servers in three different countries: the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. However, its premium offer includes a server network of 1,900+ servers in 75+ locations that only comes with a monthly subscription of USD 4.99/mo (Save $120 with the 2-year plan).

The best thing about this provider is that it offers unlimited bandwidth. On a network connection of 100 Mbps, we recorded a download speed of 88.14 Mbps and an upload speed of 83.72 Mbps.

In addition, it is also effective to unblock geo-restricted content on various websites. However, since it has only three servers in three different locations, you won’t be able to unblock content from any other region besides the USA, Netherlands, and Japan. Moreover, unblocking American Netflix or any other streaming service is not ProtonVPN’s forte. You have to switch to a premium service to get this luxury.

As far as compatibility is concerned, ProtonVPN has an application suitable for all Android devices. Moreover, it is packed with intuitive and useful features like a VPN kill switch, NetShield (ad-blocker), and an Alternative Routing feature to keep you safe and private while browsing the web.

5. Private Internet Access (PIA) – Balanced VPN for Android

Private Internet Access has one of the world’s largest VPN networks at an affordable price. Users can get a server network of over 35,500 servers in 78 countries, all optimized for P2P. Of these, 7787+ servers are available in the US, whereas 2993 are in Canada, and 824 are in the UK. Speaking of the extensive server park, PIA is the best VPN for Kayo Sports.

The speed of this VPN is not up to the mark, but not very low either. Our PIA speed test provided download speeds of 72.12 Mbps and upload speeds of 36.48 Mbps on a 100 Mbps connection.

On the security front, it offers military-grade encryption, split tunneling, IPv6 block, custom DNS enabling, a kill switch, and a MACE feature. In addition, the feature includes excellent options like malware, tracker, and ad blocker.

The subscription charges for Private Internet Access VPN are also inexpensive. It is available for only USD 2.03/mo (Get 83% Off and Enjoy 3 Years + 3 Months Free). Regarding its Android compatibility, PIA VPN works on Android 5.1 or later devices. ‘

In terms of usability, Private Internet connection Access is super user-friendly and offers ten multi-logins to users.

How to Choose the Best VPN for Android Phones?

All the shortlisted free VPNs for Android have been extensively tested according to the following selection criteria:

• Fast speeds: Special attention was given to downloading and uploading speed of all the VPNs.
• Free trial or money-back guarantee: VPN must offer users a free trial or money-back guarantee period.
• Security: It should have 256-bit encryption and a no-log policy.
• Bandwidth Limit: should have unlimited bandwidth.
• Servers: Must have servers in a wide range of countries.
• Compatibility: It should be compatible with all major devices, including Android, Windows, iOS, macOS, and more.
• Customer Support: The best free VPN for Android must provide its customers with 24/7 technical and customer support.

Quick Comparison of Best Free VPNs For Android Features

To help you make a quick and best decision for yourself, we have created a table showing a comparison among the providers based on the Android application features.

How to Install a Free VPN on Android?

Here’s how you can install and use a VPN on your Android device:

Is it Safe to Use a Free VPN on Android?

Yes, but… Look, you can’t trust any VPN service, especially when something is advertised as “free.” The truth is these free VPN services are not entirely safe as they claim to be. According to one research, it has been found that about 18% of VPNs available on Google Store don’t encrypt user traffic. Moreover, 84% of these services are found to be selling users’ online information, and 80% of them request access to users’ sensitive information.

Now, you must be wondering, Can I use a Free VPN on my Android device?

You can use a free VPN on your Android device for anonymous browsing and geo-restricted streaming. However, there are certain limitations. It may hide your IP address and encrypt your web traffic, but it won’t help you access geo-restricted streaming sites due to overcrowded servers and DNS leakage. In addition, fully Free VPNs cannot handle Malware or other cyberattacks online to protect your data.

So, if you want to have a true VPN experience, we always recommend subscribing to ExpressVPN. It is fast, advanced, powerful, and has almost everything to fulfil your VPN needs. Moreover, you can use it for the whole month without any charges.

Disadvantages of Completely Free VPN for Android

You must make a few sacrifices when getting a free VPN service for your Android devices. Of course, you can’t expect them to be flawless, right? Here are some common disadvantages of free VPN services:

1. Insufficient Security

Free VPN services often use weak encryption and tunneling protocols, exposing free users’ data for others to grab or exploit. Online security is the real job of VPNs. If any VPN service fails to provide adequate security to its users, it is not worth purchasing. Remember, no compromise will be tolerated in this department, especially.

But the truth is many free VPNs earn money by selling their users’ data to third-party advertisers. This is not only a breach of privacy but also nullifies the core purpose of a VPN tool.

2. Bandwidth Limit

Unlike premium VPNs, free VPN services implement a bandwidth cap, restricting users to a limited amount of data usage weekly or monthly. But, of course, they are selling their services for free, so you have to bear the bandwidth limits.

3. Speed Limit

Not only bandwidth, but you also have to compromise on internet speed with free VPNs because they can’t afford to provide adequate speeds to users. They usually have a limited number of servers, which become overcrowded, resulting in poor speed and video streaming quality.

4. Device Compatibility

Free VPN services usually don’t support many devices… not even simultaneous connections. So, if you want a VPN for a smart TV, you must purchase a VPN subscription.

Paid VPNs Vs. Free VPNs for Android

Have you ever seen people comparing diamonds with coals? No, right? The same is true with free VPNs vs. Paid VPNs for Android. Not that there’s any doubt, we all know that paid VPNs are far better than free VPN services in almost every aspect.

They have better speed, performance, compatibility, unblocking capabilities, and whatnot. On the other hand, free VPN services are usually plagued with numerous security and privacy issues. Let’s look at the features you get with paid VPNs that are otherwise not available with free VPNs:

So, if you don’t like to invest hundreds on VPN services, go for the affordable option like Surfshark. This VPN provider offers impeccable service with high speed and security for just $2.21/month. You can also get a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out its services risk-free and cancel it to claim your refund.

FAQs: Best Free VPN for Android

Conclusion

Android is a handy operating system; installing a reliable VPN on Android becomes even more accessible. Unfortunately, getting the best free VPN for Android is not as good as expected. With many VPNs turning out to be risky and capable of leaking sensitive information about Android users, you should pay particular attention when getting one for yourself.

After extensive research and testing, we concluded that ExpressVPN is the best and safest VPN on Android devices. It offers high-speed and powerful features, ensuring the utmost security of its users online.

And if you’re looking for a free VPN for Android, go for the ProtonVPN, as it has slightly better functionalities than others. If you have any queries related to this, please drop them in the comment section below.