VPNs, or virtual private networks, are virtually everywhere these days. There are various uses of a virtual private network. Some use them because of privacy and security concerns, others use them to get around security measures such as firewalls. Being ‘private’ networks, VPNs allow you to browse the web from anywhere without giving away your geographical location. This, in turn, has its own uses. Some people are just paranoid about being ‘spied on’, while others do it to spoof their geographical locations and access content that they otherwise couldn’t. Either way, we’re not here to judge your reason for using a virtual private network. What we are here to judge, on the other hand, is the quality of the VPN you use, and to make sure you know what is the best free VPN for Android.
Now, being such useful services, it’s only natural that most top-quality VPNs (both on desktop and mobile) are based on paid-subscription models. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all the free options are completely useless, though. You can still use many decent VPNs without paying a dime, albeit with some limitations. ‘You get what you pay for’ is something that holds particularly true when it comes to VPNs and if you want unlimited bandwidth and speeds, you’re going to have to cough up. Regardless, we’re here to discuss the best free VPN for Android. Keep scrolling to see our picks.
Best free VPN for Android – our top pick
Hotspot Shield VPN
Hotspot Shield is one of the oldest and most trusted names when it comes to virtual private networks. Available on both desktop and mobile and with both premium and free models, it offers the complete package when it comes to VPNs. As warned earlier, though, the free version comes with its quirks. It supports ads and has a daily bandwidth cap. Nevertheless, Hotspot Shield offers you the best speeds you could possibly ask from a VPN and the daily cap of 500mb is more than reasonable. Granted, you won’t be able to stream whole movies or shows, but it has you covered when it comes to daily browsing. Not only that, but it has a really simple and easy-to-use interface and if you do decide to get the paid version, it seamlessly integrates between mobile and desktop.
The quick speeds, excellent security and decent data allowance gets Hotspot Shield the top spot in our picks for the best free VPN for Android.
Best free VPN for Android – honourable mentions
Maybe Hotspot Shield isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. Maybe you need a different data model, maybe you don’t feel comfortable with the interface, or maybe you just don’t like the name ‘Hotspot Shield’. Not to worry, you have many other options, the best of which are:
Windscribe VPN
Windscribe is a great option when it comes to the best free VPN for Android. It offers up to 10GB per month of free usage and features a built-in ad blocker meaning you’re safe from all those unwanted and annoying ads. Additionally, Windscribecan also access Netflix. Be advised, though. Streaming speeds tend to suffer when you’re using a VPN and Windscribe adheres to the same. All things said, this is definitely a great option to consider if you’re looking for a free VPN on Android.
Proton VPN
Proton VPN is yet another great option for free virtual private networks on Android.Security and speed are at the top of the priority list for this VPN. However, the free version of Proton VPN comes with its very own set of quirks. The speed on the free version is deliberately slowed down a bit to encourage users to buy the premium version. Now, this doesn’t mean that you can’t even use it, the speeds are still very decent, and all basic services work just fine. Not only that, but there’s no data cap as well. Very handy.
TunnelBear VPN
Lastly, we have TunnelBear VPN. It has very distinctive design and interface with which customers have a constant love-hate relationship. While the cute design may be off-putting for some, TunnelBear is easy to use and offers impressive speeds. The monthly data usage is restricted to a very limited 500mb, so if you’re looking to do more than just browsing, you’re going to have to look elsewhere. Security is also top-notch, making TunnelBear the first-choice of many VPN users.
So that was our take on the best free VPN for Android. Remember, VPNs are premium services, and free versions can and will never be perfect. If having a trust-able virtual private network is absolutely crucial for your day-to-day working, you should seriously consider subscribing to one. Nevertheless, we hope this article helped you somewhat. Stay tuned for more.