The best Virtual Private Networks aren’t just reserved for your home desktop or for protecting your laptop when you’re plugged into a public Wi-Fi. Any and all devices that connect to the world wide web can be subject to data breaches and be victim to some nasty cybercrimes. Our mobile devices are at the heart of our everyday lives. They could be smartphones, or they could be tablets, we entrust these devices with a lot of our personal information so it goes without saying that they should be protected. The best mobile VPN apps will make your online privacy experience that much easier, and more fulfilling.
The VPN app is your control centre. It’s where you can switch it on and off, it’s the place you’ll be able to access different servers as well as the security features that specific provider offers. The app plays a big role in making great Android VPNs, just as it does for iOS devices. Like any digital service, the app plays a big role in how well the VPN functions. Of course, there’s a visual element to a VPN app, if the interface is overwhelmingly crowded and unpolished, you might not have the best time using it.
The best mobile VPN apps at a glance:
• The best mobile VPN apps: ExpressVPN - View on ExpressVPN
• The best mobile VPN apps for value: Surfshark - View on Surfshark
• The best free mobile VPN apps: ProtonVPN - View on ProtonVPN
The best mobile VPN apps are going to be somewhat subjective depending on the internet user and their preferences. If you’re a beginner to Virtual Private Networks, you’ll likely be set on simplicity over anything. Whereas a more experienced VPN user may be after an app that’s lined with intuitive security features, leaving them spoilt for choice.
We’ve pieced together our ranking of the best mobile VPN apps in respect to what the providers set out to accomplish, and how well they fair in this endeavour. We’ve highlighted the foundations of what makes a great mobile VPN app, so expect to hear a lot about functionality and reliability, as well as speeds and security.
About our expertise
At What’s The Best, we live and breathe technology. Among our team of tech experts, we have pretty much every base covered - from televisions and speakers to cameras and smartphones.
To say we spend a lot of time on the internet is a bit of an understatement, and most of the time, we’re using a VPN. Whether for work or recreation, we’re regularly connecting to VPN servers near and far.
It’s by collecting this shared knowledge, experience, and passion, that we are able to select the best VPNs for you. We trust each of our picks implicitly - in fact, many of them we use ourselves. That's because at What’s The Best, if we wouldn’t buy it ourselves, we don’t recommend it. Simple.
Please note: All prices are correct at time of writing. VPN deals and savings are subject to change at short notice.
The best mobile VPN apps
go.expressvpn.com
Usability and simplicity come hand in hand on an ExpressVPN subscription. Though it may not look it, the minimalistic polished mobile apps are the front for one of the most powerful VPNs on the market.
ExpressVPN has brilliant mobile apps across the board, that goes for iOS, Android, and everything in between. At just a few taps of the screen you’ll be able to server hop with ease, with over 3000 global servers at your disposal. This feature is actually on the home screen of the VPN, so you’ll also be in the loop of what server you’re connected to.
A couple taps of the screen in the other direction, and you’ll be greeted with some sublime security features. You get three leak and breach detectors, these run in the background of your device, but you can manually fire them up at your time of choosing.
Users have found connection speeds on mobile apps to be nothing but fast, it’s just a shame you can only connect five simultaneous devices to the one subscription.
Read our full ExpressVPN review.
Pros
- Simple but intuitive app
- Fast
- Reliable
Cons
- Only five simultaneous connections
| Servers | 3000+ |
| Simultaneous conections | 5 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| 24/7 live support | Yes |
- "I've been using ExpressVPN for a few months, and I'm really impressed with it. It's more than lived up to the hype, and it's a powerhouse that doesn't scream and shout about what it does for your online security. It just sits in the background of my devices and does what needs to be done.
I love its unique, next-gen privacy encryption and vast server list. I can easily hop between servers in different countries, which is great for streaming content or browsing the web anonymously. The interface is also really easy to use.
Overall, I'm really happy with ExpressVPN. It's the best VPN I've used, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to protect their online privacy." Tried and tested by Jack Barrell, VPN writer for What's The Best.
The best mobile VPN apps for value
surfshark.com
Like anything we use in our daily lives, we want something reliable that has a sustainable prices tag. Surfshark is a VPN that offers an affordable, premium online privacy package. This is a provider with tremendous value for money that’s no joke when it comes to online privacy, it’s made our list because it has a solid reputation on mobile too.
When you open Surfshark on any mobile device you’re met with a very sleek and aesthetically pleasing interface that trumps some the toughest competition. Like all good VPN mobile apps, you’re not bombarded with pop ups and features. Users get that minimalist control centre, and should you want to dive into some of the features, Surfshark doesn’t make it difficult.
You’ll be able to experience Surfshark’s mobile apps on unlimited simultaneous devices, though we’d advice caution on going too crazy as there have been kill switch issues recorded when under intense use.
Pros
- Tremendous value for money
- Unlimited simultaneous devices
- Stylish interface
Cons
- Shaky kill switch under intense use
| Servers | 3200 |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| 24/7 live support | Yes |
- Customer review: "Love this app. It locks down my system so that I can't be tracked. I can pause the app quite easily, auto reconnects to your favorite alternative sites unless you tell it to not reconnect."
The best mobile VPN apps for security
nordvpn.com
Nord s another household name in the eyes of online security, it’s high-powered and it ruthlessly deters any and all threats to your online devices. What’s even better is that NordVPN can do this on mobile, and its apps are the most security driven in the game.
Go secure or go home. NordVPN’s mobile apps are feature-packed with leak and breach tests, ad trackers and so much more. It's heralded as of the most secure VPNs today. Server hopping is simple enough, and Nord’s interface is rather nice to look at too, sporting the iconic global map design.
It’s NordVPN’s security features on the mobile apps that have ranked it so highly for us because in truth, the mobile apps themselves can’t be somewhat awkward to use at times. This a stark contrast to its desktop version.
Pros
- Unrivalled security
- Feature-packed
- Visually appealing interface
Cons
- Mobile apps can be awkward to use
| Severs | 5709 |
| Simultaneous connections | 6 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| 24/7 live support | Yes |
- Customer review: "This is by far the best VPN application I've ever used. It never fails and it's full of features."
The best free mobile VPN apps
protonvpn.com
You’ve taken an interest in your online security, perhaps you’ve had a privacy scare, but you’re not quite ready to commit to a paid VPN plan? ProtonVPN is a powerhouse provider with a free plan that holds nothing back, and its apps make it a great choice for mobile.
On ProtonVPN’s free plan, you’ll find all the power you get for paid. Features are plentiful on the mobile apps, and they’re effortless to use. A VPN accelerator is a favourite for its ability to kick the VPN into gear should connection speeds drop. What you have here is a very good VPN for beginners, and the mobile apps reflect this.
There’s no 24/7 live support just yet, but the service is free, so beginners don’t have to worry about a free trial ending.
Pros
- Generous free version
- Easy and powerful mobile apps
Cons
- No 24/7 live support
| Servers | 1720 |
| Simultaneous conections | 10 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| 24/7 live support | No |
- Customer review: "Best mobile VPN app that I've used. The free version lasts forever. If you want a free VPN, ProtonVPN is perfect for you."
The best mobile VPN apps for features
www.cyberghostvpn.com
This small yellow ghost packs a serious punch on all devices including mobile. Users have always sworn by CyberGhost apps, and for mobile the story is more of the same. It’s all about the customisation and the features.
All VPNs will have server hopping, and CyberGhost makes it seamless jumping to any of their 9000+ servers. The mobile apps offer feature upon feature, key security tools are in abundance, making your pursuit for online privacy a walk in the park.
What’s better, is almost every feature on the CyberGhost mobile apps is tuneable. You can configure which protocols to use, which features run in the background, you can really make a truly personal mobile VPN experience.
Pros
- Highly configurable
- Wide coverage
Cons
- Unsuitable for beginners
| Servers | 9500+ |
| Simultaneous connections | 7 |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| 24/7 live support | Yes |
- Customer review: "Cyberghost is splendid. Right from the first time to now, the performance has been consistent. It connects pretty quick and doesn't get disconnected in between even if connected for several hours."
Key VPN terms
VPN – Virtual Private Network
Kill switch - If internet connection is lost it kills any internet connection until a secure VPN link re-established
Simultaneous devices - Number of devices that can connect to the VPN at once
How to use a VPN on mobile
Getting your hands on and using a mobile VPN is a doddle. Once you’ve downloaded it from your device’s app store, logged in or signed up, you should be able to use your VPN at will. The best mobile VPN apps will have an obvious activate button, you should then be able to configure preferences and play around with security settings at just a few taps of the screen.
When should I use a VPN on my phone?
To be frank, as long as you’re connected to the internet, you should be using a VPN. This goes for any device. Most Virtual Private Networks will automatically activate when you fire up your device unless you change this in your settings. Even if your device is idle, if it has a connection to the internet the gate is open for cyberthreats of all shapes and sizes.
Free VPN on mobile
You’ll be able to find plenty of free VPNs for mobile, but whether they’ll suit your needs will be a different story. Most free plans offer limited features, bandwidth, and data usage. These are no good if you’re on your mobile device all day long (which most of us are). One of the few providers that offer a free plan that mostly void of restrictions is ProtonVPN.
Jack Barrell is the Commercial Content Writer for VPNs. He's hands-on when it comes to producing best-of articles, how-to guides, and product reviews for Virtual Private Networks. On his off-days, Jack can be found in the gym, at the movies, or flicking through a car mag.