The Best Free VPNs for Android 2024

A virtual private network (VPN) is a crucial part of your basic cybersecurity toolkit for Android. VPNs can disguise your internet traffic and safely encrypt your private digital data. As a bonus, a VPN offers a way for you to access geo-restricted content and blocked websites.

Although many free VPNs frequently have reliability and data privacy issues, there are a few that may be worth your time. PrivadoVPN is a credible, free VPN provider that doesn't compromise your security on Android. We also evaluated premium VPNs and found Surfshark to be the most affordable and valuable option. 

Let's dig a little deeper into the details about the best free VPN services.

The best free VPNs for Android

• PrivadoVPN: Best overall
• Surfshark: Best value

Top 2 VPN services for Android compared

VPN
Starting price	Starts at Free	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)
Number of devices	Free plan: 1 Paid plans: Unlimited	Unlimited
Server count	Free plan: 13 servers  Paid plans: Unlisted in 49 countries	3,200+ servers in 100 countries
Free version
Free plan data limit	10 GB data limit per 30 days	N/A
Free plan speed limit	No speed limits	N/A
Free trial		Yes — 7 days for Android
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30-day money-back guarantee	Yes — 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming support
Learn more	Get PrivadoVPN Read PrivadoVPN Review	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review

PrivadoVPN: Best overall

Who it’s best for

PrivadoVPN is best for users looking to stream geo-restricted content without affecting internet speeds.

What we liked

PrivadoVPN has 13 free servers and allows you to access regional streaming services in multiple countries. Our testing reveals that PrivadoVPN was able to unblock geo-restricted content without affecting internet speeds or causing errors.

Even with the 10 GB data limit per 30 days, our testing shows that it equals roughly 6.5 hours of streaming content.

What we didn’t like

PrivadoVPN lets you connect to only one device on its free plan. So if you connect it to one Android phone or device, you won't be able to connect any other devices simultaneously. There is also the 10 GB data limit per 30 days, which, if you are a light internet user, may be enough for you. If you want to do heavy streaming, then it may not be enough.

PrivadoVPN specs

Price range	Free–$10.99/mo
Free version	Yes
Free plan data limit	10 GB data limit per 30 days
Free plan speed limit	No speed limits
Free trial	No
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30-day money-back guarantee
Number of servers	Free plan: 13 servers  Paid plans: Unlisted in 49 countries
Number of connected devices	Free plan: 1 Paid plans: Unlimited
VPN protocol	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN, SOCKS5
No-logs policy	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?	Yes
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get PrivadoVPN Read Our PrivadoVPN Review

Surfshark: Best value

Who it’s best for

Surfshark is best for Android users willing to invest in an affordable VPN to gain access to thousands of servers using an unlimited number of devices.

What we liked

Okay, you caught us. Surfshark isn't a free VPN, but it provides incredible value, so hear us out. For the same price as a PrivadoVPN paid plan, you gain access to 3,200+ servers in 100 countries. Not sold? You can take advantage of the unlimited device connections. You and your entire household can be covered under one affordable plan.

Surfshark also provides a seven-day free trial for Android users. It's just enough time to check how it works with your day-to-day Android usage. If you need a little extra time, don't fret. Surfshark has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund if you decide it's not right for you.

What we didn’t like

Surfshark doesn't have a free plan. Although the paid plan does provide value, it may not be feasible for some users. In our testing, we struggled to unblock some geo-restricted regional content. You may need to do some troubleshooting if you face similar problems.

Surfshark specs

Price range	$1.99–$17.95/mo
Free version	No
Free plan data limit	N/A
Free plan speed limit	N/A
Free trial	Yes — 7 days for Android
Money-back guarantee	Yes — 30-day money-back guarantee
Number of servers	3,200+ servers in 100 countries
Number of connected devices	Unlimited
VPN protocol	WireGuard, IKEv2, OpenVPN
No-logs policy	No logs
Unblocks Netflix?	Yes
Torrenting support	Yes
Learn more	Get Surfshark Read Our Surfshark Review

Honorable mentions

While PrivadoVPN and Surfshark were our top choices, there are other free VPN options you may want to consider. Our honorable mentions all have free plans and can be good alternatives. Here's a quick look:

• Proton VPN: With 26 free servers in three locations, ProtonVPN is a good choice for those who aren't looking for a variety of server options. There are no ads, and this service offers unlimited bandwidth.

  Read Our Proton VPN Review

• Windscribe: Windscribe offers VPN protection up to 10 GB per month. It has unlimited connections and VPN servers in over 10 countries.

  Read Our Windscribe Review

• Hotspot Shield VPN: Hotspot Shield VPN offers military-grade encryption. However, the free plan does run ads and has a limited bandwidth. It may be a good option for users looking just for the basics.

  Read Our Hotspot Shield Review

Are free VPNs for Android worth it?

A free VPN for Android can provide a lot of value. Just like a premium VPN, a free VPN service encrypts your network and helps keep your browsing private.

But not all free VPNs are good. Some of them actually track your browsing history and sell your personal data for marketing purposes. Other free VPNs may have weaker digital security, putting your privacy at risk.

Most free VPNs offer limited functionality compared to their paid versions. While this may be enough for some people, you might want to access free servers in different countries or have advanced security features.

Free VPNs are tempting for your wallet, but you might find more value in premium VPNs. Premium services can offer access to thousands of servers across the world and additional advanced security tools to protect your online life.

Many premium VPNs offer money-back guarantees so that you can try out the service risk-free. It’s more common to see premium VPN providers offer a solid money-back guarantee rather than a no-money-down free trial or completely free plan. However, premium VPNs can be affordable if you opt for a long-term plan. A VPN can cost as little as a couple of dollars per month if you get a two-year plan.

Overall, most free VPNs for Android often don't have strong credibility or offer only limited features. You may find it worth it to opt for a premium VPN with advanced security features to ensure you're protected from online criminals.

How to choose the best VPN for Android

There are several VPNs available in the Google Play Store, and it's easy to get overwhelmed with all of your choices. When choosing a free VPN service, you should take extra precautions to ensure its credibility before downloading a VPN. Premium VPNs are easier to vet, but you should also carefully evaluate your options.

Here are a few questions to ask before you set up a VPN:

• How much does it cost?
• Is there a free trial or money-back guarantee?
• Does it keep logs of your data? Is the no-logs policy audited by an independent party?
• How many servers does it offer? What countries are available?
• How secure is it? Does it use AES-256 encryption?
• Will it slow down your internet speed?

How we test VPNs 

We began by testing all of the features in the VPNs above to determine the best VPN apps. Our tests evaluated security, app features, speed, and streaming content. From there, we checked which apps had the best free Android VPNs. Here is what we took into consideration:

• App rating: No one knows Android VPNs better than the users. We took a look at reviews on the Google Play Store to see what was well-rated and popular with Android users.
• Server availability: Free VPNs often only offer a few servers, so we found the VPNs with the widest availability.
• Streaming: No one wants to watch videos that lag or buffer, so we considered speed limits. We also checked to see if VPNs could unblock regional streaming content and major streaming platforms like Netflix.
• Credibility: It's not always easy to verify a VPN's reputation. We chose VPNs with credible owners where we were able to get a clear understanding of how the company makes money.

FAQs

Bottom line: The best free VPNs for Android

PrivadoVPN takes the top spot in our list of the best free VPNs for Android. It has 13 servers located around the world, which makes it easier to unblock regional streaming content.

Surfshark provides a seven-day free trial for Android users and a 30-day money-back guarantee. With low-priced plans, it provides great value without breaking the bank. Take advantage of the free trial and money-back guarantee to make sure that Surfshark is the right choice for you.

2 best free VPNs for Android

	Starting price	Best for	Learn more
	Starts at Free	Best overall	Get PrivadoVPN Read PrivadoVPN Review
	Starts at $1.99/mo (billed every two years)	Best value	Get Surfshark Read Surfshark Review