Updated on: October 29, 2024
Short on time? Here’s the best free VPN for Android in 2024:
- 🥇 ExpressVPN : While it doesn’t have a free plan, it’s without a doubt the best VPN for Android in 2024. And, its 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try it out risk-free. ExpressVPN has ultrafast speeds, includes industry-leading security features, and comes with an easy-to-use app for Android devices.
Free VPNs generally aren’t great. They often lack comprehensive security features, can throttle your connection speeds, and most of them limit how much data you can use.
This is why I always recommend getting a premium VPN over a free VPN. Most top providers offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test them out for yourself and get a full refund if they don’t suit your needs (ExpressVPN is my top choice in 2024).
But if you’re only looking for a free VPN, you can try one of the VPNs on this list. All of them have some limitations but provide good security, decent speeds, and an intuitive Android app. Plus, many of them even come with extra features like split-tunneling. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Quick Summary of the Best Free VPNs for Android in 2024
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for Android in 2024
ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan for Android, but it’s the best VPN on the market and backs every purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can try the Android app risk-free and get a full refund if it doesn’t suit your needs, no questions asked. ExpressVPN tops all of our lists for streaming, torrenting, and gaming.
ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN I’ve tested. Whether I was connected to a local or a distant server, web pages and videos loaded instantly, I never experienced any buffering when speed testing videos in HD and 4K quality, and there was no lag in my online games. I was also able to download a 20 GB torrent in just 14 minutes, which is very fast.
I love ExpressVPN for streaming and torrenting. It works with 10+ Netflix libraries and 100+ other streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Disney+, Max, and BBC iPlayer, as well as less popular sites like VRV and Pluto TV. I also like that it supports P2P file sharing on all of its servers (many VPNs only allow torrenting on dedicated servers).
The ExpressVPN Android app comes with advanced security features:
- RAM-only servers. Your data isn’t stored on a hard drive, which means it’s erased whenever the server is turned on/off.
- Perfect forward secrecy. Changes the encryption key for every VPN connection, so if somebody obtained your key, they would only gain access to your data on that key, and your past and future data would remain secure.
- Full leak protection. Protects you against IPv6, DNS, and WebRTC leaks.
- Independently audited no-logs policy. ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy and its core server technology have both been verified by independent experts.
- ExpressVPN Keys. A free password manager that secures all of your passwords in a digital vault, auto-fills your login details when you sign into your online accounts, and helps generate strong passwords.
The Android app also has split-tunneling. This lets you exclude certain apps from using the VPN connection, which can be handy for browsing the internet privately without impacting your streaming speeds.
I found ExpressVPN’s Android app to be very user-friendly. The Smart Location tool provides a short list of recommended locations that will give you the fastest speeds. The Recent Location feature reconnects to a recently used server with a single tap. And the Shortcuts feature saves you time by letting you launch frequently used apps or websites from ExpressVPN’s home screen.
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month. This may seem a little expensive, but it’s well worth its price — you won’t find a better VPN than this. You can try ExpressVPN risk-free thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
ExpressVPN is my #1 VPN for Android devices. It has blazing-fast speeds for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming, provides top-notch security, and works with 100+ streaming services. It also comes with extra features like split-tunneling and a good password manager. ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. hide.me — Fast and Secure Free VPN for Android
hide.me is a great free VPN for Android. It comes with 8 server locations, including the US, Canada, France, and Germany, which is more than most of the VPNs on this list, and includes unlimited bandwidth.
hide.me has fast speeds. Web pages and videos on YouTube loaded instantly for me on local servers and took just a couple of seconds on distant servers. Additionally, I was able to watch YouTube videos in HD without buffering.
When it comes to security, hide.me is very strong. It uses RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and has full leak protection — I ran 10+ leak tests and experienced no DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC data leaks. Its no-logs policy has been independently audited as well.
I like that hide.me’s Android app has split-tunneling and Stealth Guard, which acts like an advanced kill switch — you can configure it to block specific apps or your entire internet connection if you aren’t connected to the VPN to prevent accidental data leaks.
hide.me’s Android app is easy to navigate. I like how it lets you sort server locations by ping and clearly displays your latency on each server. However, I wish it included brief explanations for some of its settings to help new users.
The paid version provides access to more perks, including servers in 58 countries, 10 connections, and streaming and P2P support. If you need a larger server network, check out ExpressVPN, which has servers in 105 countries.
hide.me has prices that start at $2.39 / month. All of its plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
hide.me is the best free VPN for Android devices — it offers 8 free server locations, unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds, and great security features. But hide.me’s free plan doesn’t support streaming and only allows 1 connection. Its paid plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
🥉3. Proton VPN — User-Friendly Free VPN With Unlimited Data
Proton VPN is a beginner-friendly VPN for Android with unlimited data. It grants access to 5 server locations (in the Netherlands, Japan, the US, Romania, and Poland) and allows you to connect 1 device.
Proton VPN has high-end privacy and security features. It uses perfect forward secrecy, has full leak protection, is completely open-source (this means anyone can check its code for security issues), and both its no-logs policy and its apps have been independently audited.
The Android app also offers a unique Discreet Icon feature that allows you to conceal the VPN app on your screen as a standard notes, weather, or calculator app. This can be useful in case authorities in restrictive countries seize the device.
The free plan is fast. During my tests, web pages loaded quickly, and I was able to watch YouTube videos in HD without buffering.
I really like the split-tunneling feature on its Android app. You can choose which apps use the VPN tunnel, and it lets you include or exclude apps as well as browsers and IP addresses, which is very convenient.
But the free plan doesn’t support torrenting and streaming, and you don’t get other additional security features, like NetShield, which is a really good ad blocker.
Proton VPN’s Android app is super easy to use. Some of my favorite things about it include the color-coded load percentage next to each server, which makes it easy to avoid overcrowded servers and locations. I also like how every feature in the settings menu comes with a short explanation.
The paid version adds more perks, including 9,119 servers in 112 countries, 10 connections NetShield, and streaming and P2P support.
Proton VPN’s premium plan starts at $2.99 / month. All of Proton VPN’s paid plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, but this guarantee is prorated.
Bottom Line:
Proton VPN offers an intuitive Android app and unlimited data on its free plan. It also provides pretty fast speeds, excellent security, a unique feature that hides the VPN app, and an advanced split-tunneling feature. However, the free plan limits you to 5 server locations, doesn’t support streaming or torrenting, and only allows 1 connection. The paid plans are all backed by a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Proton VPN review
4. Hotspot Shield — Great Free Android VPN for Web Surfing (With Unlimited Data)
Hotspot Shield has a good free Android VPN app for surfing the web. It comes with unlimited data, so you can browse as many sites as you want. Plus, it also provides good speeds (despite limiting your connections to 2 Mbps) — in my speed tests, all sites loaded in around 2 seconds, while HD videos took approximately 3 seconds to fully load.
I think the provider’s Android app is very user-friendly — it’s easy to find servers and connect to them, and there are also helpful explanations for most settings and features (so you never feel lost using the app).
That said, the free plan has some limitations. The main one is that it only lets you use servers in 3 countries (the US, the UK, and Singapore). If you need additional server locations, I’d instead purchase a low-cost plan from ExpressVPN, as it has servers in 105 countries. Other drawbacks include the lack of streaming support and that you can only connect 1 device.
Hotspot Shield’s paid version starts at $2.99 / month. It adds access to all servers in 85 countries, streaming support, and 10 connections. Also, all purchases are backed by a 45-day money back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Hotspot Shield’s free Android app allows unlimited data. Also, it provides pretty fast speeds and comes with a really easy-to-use Android app. But there’s no streaming support, it limits you to 1 device, and you only get servers in 3 countries. The paid version adds more perks, and it’s backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review
5. Windscribe — Good Free Android VPN for Streaming
Windscribe is the best free Android VPN for streaming. It offers servers in 10+ countries, provides up to 12 GB of data per month (2 GB by default and 10 GB if you verify your email address), and works with major streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. Windscribe also allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
In my speed tests, Windscribe maintained fast speeds on local and distant servers. On local servers, websites and videos load instantly, and when connected to a distant server, it only took 2–3 seconds longer.
I’m a big fan of Windscribe’s Android app. Its design is clean, its menus are well organized, and its settings have short explanations attached to them. My only issue is that its location load display is unintuitive.
Windscribe is the only VPN that comes with an ad blocker called R.O.B.E.R.T., which blocks ads and malicious websites.
The provider’s paid version comes with more features — unlimited data, servers in 68 countries, and more ad blocker functionality (including the ability to block social media networks, adult websites, and more).
Windscribe has paid plans that start at $3.00 / month. Its plans only come with a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe is the only free VPN on this list that supports streaming. It maintains fast speeds on local and distant servers and works reliably with major streaming sites. It also provides access to 10+ server locations, allows unlimited simultaneous connections, and comes with a solid ad blocker. Its paid plans are only backed by a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Windscribe review
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Choose the Best Free VPN for Android in 2024
- Pick a VPN with a high data usage limit. A low data usage limit is not ideal for data-intensive activities like streaming, torrenting, or gaming.
- Find a VPN with an easy-to-use Android app. All of the VPNs on this list take less than 5 minutes to download and install, let you connect to a server with just a single tap, and have very user-friendly interfaces.
- Look for strong security features. All VPNs on my list include industry-standard VPN security features like 256-bit AES encryption, a no-logs policy (the VPN doesn’t store your personal information or log your online activity), and a kill switch that blocks your device’s connection to the internet if your VPN connection drops.
- Ensure that it has fast speeds. All VPNs reduce your connection speeds due to the encryption process, but some VPNs also place connection speed limits on free users. ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market and has no speed limits.
- Get a VPN that provides good value. The best free VPNs come with extra features like split-tunneling or have streaming or P2P support. They also have affordable plans and some even back all purchases with a money-back guarantee.
Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN
- Slow speeds. Many VPNs restrict the number of servers free users can access, which leads to overcrowded servers and slow connection speeds. On top of that, some VPNs additionally throttle speeds for free users. ExpressVPN has servers in 105 countries and has no connection speed limits.
- Weak security. Free VPNs are generally less secure compared to paid VPNs. Using free VPNs can increase the risk of data leaks and compromise your online anonymity. However, the VPNs on this list prioritize user protection by offering industry-standard and advanced security features.
- Data caps. Most free VPNs place a limit on how much data you can use per month or per day. Proton VPN is one of the only free VPNs to provide unlimited data.
- Very little privacy. Some free VPNs log your online activity, such as the websites you visit, and then sell to third parties like advertisers, who use this information to target you with annoying ads. Good VPNs (including all VPNs on my list) have strict no-logs policies that have been independently audited and confirmed.
- Poor streaming support. Many free VPNs don’t work with major streaming platforms. Even those that do will typically have restrictive data caps that limit the amount of time you can stream content to a few hours at most. A better option would be a premium VPN such as ExpressVPN, which supports streaming on over 100 platforms.
Free vs. Paid VPNs for Android
The free VPNs I detailed here have industry-standard VPN security features to maintain your privacy and anonymity. These features include 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Some of these free VPNs also have advanced security features, such as IP leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and RAM-only servers.
That said, premium VPNs typically offer more than free VPNs. The most common differences are the limited speeds and data caps that many free VPNs have. What’s more, many free VPNs only allow you to access a limited number of server locations. Hotspot Shield’s Android app has good functionality, but it places a hard limit on free users’ speeds, while Proton VPN’s free plan doesn’t limit speeds but lacks streaming and torrenting support.
That’s why I recommend upgrading to a premium VPN for Android. Top paid VPNs are typically faster and let you connect to many more locations. They’re also overall much better for security and privacy, and many even have a long money-back guarantee, so you can try them out and find the best one without risking your money.
Free VPNs for Android to Avoid
- Phone Guardian. Phone Guardian isn’t a VPN in the traditional sense. It encrypts some of your data, but it doesn’t change your IP address or offer any security features that VPNs typically have.
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN assigns you the IP addresses of other users, and vice versa, assigning your IP address to someone else. Bad actors could land you in a lot of trouble by doing illegal activities while using your IP address.
- TouchVPN. TouchVPN logs your IP address and all your online activities, which is not good for your privacy. What’s more, there are several apps in the Google Play Store calling themselves TouchVPN, so it’s better to steer clear entirely just in case.
- FinchVPN. FinchVPN has a small amount of downloads, no comments or ratings, and its site lacks any information about the VPN or its features.
- SuperVPN. SuperVPN also logs your IP address and a lot of other sensitive information. It also had a massive data breach that compromised 133 GB worth of user data.
Top Brands That Didn’t Make the Cut
- TunnelBear. TunnelBear has a really intuitive Android app that’s actually also very fun to use. Plus, its free plan lets you use all of its servers, which are located in 47 countries. That said, it only allows 2 GB per month, which is pretty restrictive.
- PrivadoVPN. PrivadoVPN offers a generous 10 GB of data per month on its free plan for Android, but it doesn’t support streaming, takes a long time to connect to a server, and doesn’t come with any extra features like split-tunneling or an ad blocker.
- Hola VPN. Hola VPN is a free VPN, but I don’t recommend using it since it’s not safe. It’s a P2P VPN, which means someone else can use your IP address to conduct shady or illegal business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best free VPN for Android?
hide.me is my favorite, 100% free Android VPN in 2024. It has fast speeds, provides unlimited data ad-free, and includes great security features. Its free plan comes with 1 connection and allows you to access servers in 8 countries, including the US, the UK, and Singapore.
That said, ExpressVPN still provides the best overall value on the market. It doesn’t have a free plan, but it’s affordable, and it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee — plus, it provides excellent security and privacy features, works with 100+ streaming apps, and has the fastest speeds on the market.
Are free VPNs safe?
Generally speaking, no. This is why I don’t really recommend using them. Free VPNs often lack critical security features like 256-bit AES encryption, full leak protection, or a kill switch. Some of them even record your online activities and sell that data to advertisers, defeating the purpose of using a VPN in the first place!
Fortunately, there are a handful of decent free VPNs out there that all come with industry-standard and advanced security features that help keep you safe and anonymous on the internet.
Do free VPNs work with Netflix or other streaming services?
Most free VPNs are pretty bad for streaming. A lot of them don’t support streaming at all, and many don’t work with major streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+. Additionally, free VPNs are often too slow to provide a smooth streaming experience or heavily restrict how much you can stream due to low data allowances.
While Windscribe is one of the best free VPNs for streaming, I prefer ExpressVPN— it works with 100+ streaming sites, has super-fast speeds, and an easy-to-use Android app.
Is there a completely free VPN for Android?
Yes, and here are some of the best ones. hide.me is a really good example since it provides access to a decent number of server locations, good speeds, strong security features, and allows unlimited data.
