You carry your phone everywhere — the train, grocery store, cafes, etc. You’ll probably need to use public WiFi at some point, and while free internet is great, it can expose your device to multiple threats. A virtual private network (VPN) can help, and if you don’t have the budget for a paid VPN, we can hook you up with a free VPN for Android.

Key Takeaways: Free Android VPNs

• A good free VPN can help secure your connection, keep your data private and access geoblocked content on your Android device.
• Many freemium VPNs have some restrictions on the free plan, either with available VPN servers, the amount of data you can use and the VPN connection speeds. 
• Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Android. However, we also recommend Windscribe, TunnelBear, hide.me and PrivadoVPN.

A VPN encrypts your connection so any data that your Android phone transmits to the internet is always protected. The best free Android VPNs also work on other Android devices, including Android TVs.

The problem is, good free VPNs are hard to come by. Choosing the wrong free VPN service could leave your data vulnerable and even infect your device. We did some research to find the best free VPN providers for Android apps. Keep reading to learn more about the top five free Android VPNs.

Top Free VPNs for Android

What Makes the Best Free VPN for Android?

Most free VPN services are unreliable, slow and ineffective — especially if they’re on our worst free VPNs list. Searching for a free VPN online gives you a ton of options, but randomly selecting one isn’t the best choice due to numerous security and privacy concerns.

Here are a few services you can trust when you need a free Android VPN:

1. Proton VPN — Unlimited data on three server locations with the free plan
2. Windscribe — Excellent security on 11 server locations and 10GB data
3. TunnelBear — Free servers in over 40 countries but limited to 2GB monthly
4. hide.me — Unlimited data, but only 10GB on eight free country servers
5. PrivadoVPN — Offers 10GB data free on 10 server locations

We tested the best free VPN providers based on various factors. Aside from having a good Android app, the most important factor is security and privacy, especially since this is an area where free VPNs perform terribly. A good VPN should offer VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, and ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20, to secure your VPN connection.

In addition to security, you also need a VPN that offers fast connection speeds. Free VPNs generally offer a limited number of servers on the free version. This means that each VPN server has a higher load, which translates to slower speed. The best free VPNs for Android, however, ensure the negative impact on speed is minimal.

Your free Android VPN should be able to bypass geoblocks on popular streaming services like Netflix, so you can stream content from another country’s library. Unlike paid VPNs, free VPNs don’t have streaming-optimized servers, which means they often fail to bypass geoblocks. However, a few free VPNs manage to bypass geoblocks without a hitch.

An intuitive interface is very important to have. Phone screens don’t offer a lot of real estate, so app interfaces can quickly become crammed if they try to fit in way too many options or buttons. The best VPN apps are creatively designed to make it easier for you to use them.

Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs vs Proxies

VPNs and proxies are used to access geoblocked websites. The problem, though, is that proxies don’t include encryption and are far less effective in bypassing geoblocks, especially on streaming sites, like Netflix, that ban VPN users. Proxies are also painfully slow, don’t let you select a specific server and don’t encrypt your internet connection.

A VPN, on the other hand, offers extra encryption on your internet connection, effectively bypasses geoblocks and keeps you safe online. Encryption ensures your connection is private and not visible to anyone else — not even your ISP. The best VPNs are also fast and let you pick a server.

If you’re on a budget, you can use a free VPN. Most free VPNs aren’t reliable, and many don’t have an Android app. We found five of the best free VPN services you can use for your Android devices.

If you’re looking for the best experience and don’t mind spending a small amount, consider ExpressVPN or NordVPN (read our ExpressVPN review or NordVPN review).

The 5 Best Free VPNs for Android

The VPNs we recommend below are better than most free VPNs out there because these services offer a free plan as a preview to their paid service. This also means you don’t get access to all features as a free user; the free plans are limited in some way for free users.

1. Proton VPN

More details about Proton VPN:

• Pricing: Free, $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
• Provider website: protonvpn.com

Proton VPN is the best free Android VPN because it checks all the right boxes — it has an Android app, a strict no-logs policy, and is fast and secure.

With Proton VPN, you get four security protocols including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2 and Stealth, along with AES-256 and ChaCha20 ciphers. The app includes a kill switch and split tunneling (a feature that’s only available on Android and Windows). It’s no surprise that Proton VPN is also the best free VPN for Windows.

Proton VPN unblocks all the popular streaming websites, so you can access Netflix U.S. and BBC iPlayer even when you’re not in the U.S. or U.K. 

The app has a great, sleek interface with a dark theme that remains intuitive and packs in a ton of detail, even on a phone screen. You can easily access many options from the home screen without being overwhelmed by them.

The only drawback of using Proton VPN’s free version is that you only get access to three server locations — the U.S., Japan and the Netherlands.

Unlimited Data

Unlimited data is Proton VPN’s most attractive feature. Most VPNs restrict data usage on the free version, which means you can’t stream unlimited content. However, with Proton VPN, you can stream all you want without worrying about running out of data.

Sometimes, you might experience slow speeds given the lack of server location options. When many users are using a particular server, the overload will cause speeds to drop. However, you should still be able to stream buffer-free in standard definition with Proton VPN.

Proton VPN’s paid version costs $9.99 when paid monthly, while the annual plan costs $5.99. The best deal (the two-year plan) cuts the cost to $4.99 per month.

This is still more than premium services like NordVPN. However, if you like Proton VPN’s interface and performance, it might be worth the small investment. If you don’t like the service, you can always claim a full refund using the 30-day money-back guarantee.

30-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Unlimited GB
• 1
• Yes

FREE

Plus

• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$9.99/month

1-year plan

$5.99/month

$71.88 billed every year

Save 40%

2-year plan

$4.99/month

$119.75 billed every 2 years

Save 50%

2. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free, $5.75 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: windscribe.com

Windscribe is one of the best VPNs around. It offers an excellent combination of speed and security, even on its free version. While it doesn’t offer unlimited data, it still offers one of the most generous data allowances.

Additionally, Windscribe offers top-notch speeds. Our speed tests even reveal Windscribe to be faster than some premium VPN services. This means Windscribe can help you stream 4K content on your Android device without any buffering, at least until you use up the free data.

The VPN offers four protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2, Websocket Stealth and Stealth. The Android app has a kill switch (called Firewall) and split tunneling.

Windscribe unfortunately doesn’t have the best interface for Android. It tries to cram in a lot of information in a tiny space, but it’s still usable.

Generous Free Plan

Windscribe offers a generous free plan with up to 15GB of free data per month, once you verify your email and tweet about Windscribe. You also get access to free servers in 11 countries and limited access to R.O.B.E.R.T., the ad blocker.

Windscribe’s build-a-plan option gives you the flexibility to choose what you want to add to your plan without paying for one of its pre-made plans. The option has a minimum $3 checkout value. You can add three server locations for $1 each or add two server locations and unlimited data plus full access to R.O.B.E.R.T. for $1 per month.

Alternatively, you can get a full-access plan that costs $9 per month, while the best deal costs $5.75 per month. That’s fairly expensive, given that services like NordVPN and Surfshark’s best deals are available at roughly half the cost. However, if you like Windscribe’s loaded feature set, it’s a great VPN to invest in.

3-days money-back guarantee

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

FREE

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

1-month plan

1-month plan

$9/month

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

Save 36%

3. TunnelBear

More details about TunnelBear:

• Pricing: Free, $3.33 per month (three-year plan)
• Provider website: tunnelbear.com

TunnelBear has a minimalist interface that’s easy to understand and use. The home screen has a one-tap connect button. You can directly connect to a VPN server or pull out the list of servers to connect to a server in a specific country.

The free version doesn’t limit access to any feature, so it’s truly one of the best free VPNs. However, it still has a paid plan. To encourage users to upgrade, TunnelBear offers a relatively small 2GB of free data per month.

The VPN commits to zero-logging and offers OpenVPN, so you won’t need to worry about security or privacy. You also get security features like a kill switch (called VigilantBear) and split tunneling (called SplitBear). The great thing, though, is that TunnelBear offers split tunneling on its Android app.

TunnelBear also has an obfuscation tool, called GhostBear. It’s a great tool for concealing VPN usage if you’re in, or traveling to, a country like China with heavy internet censorship.

You can use TunnelBear to secure your connection when using public WiFi or to access geoblocked banking websites when you’re travelling. However, it’s not the best VPN for streaming or torrenting, given the low data allowance and inability to bypass geoblocks on most streaming platforms. Learn more about the service in our TunnelBear review.

Access to Over 40 Servers

TunnelBear offers access to a long list of server locations, even on the free plan. Not only does this help reduce each server’s load, but it also enables you to acquire a free IP address of some underrepresented locations like Kenya. Be sure to read our guide on how to get a Kenyan IP address.

TunnelBear’s best deal (the one-year plan) costs $3.33 per month. It’s not too expensive if you appreciate TunnelBear’s simplicity, but you can get other premium services like Surfshark at a lower cost. If you want a short-term plan, TunnelBear also offers a monthly plan costing $9.99 per month.

Free

• 2GB
• 2GB
• 5

FREE

Individual

• Unlimited GB, five devices, priority customer service
• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$9.99/month

1-year plan

$4.99/month

$59.88 billed every year

Save 50%

3-year plan

$3.33/month

$120 billed every 3 years

Save 66%

Teams

• Unlimited GB, five devices per user, centralized billing, account manager, price per user per month
• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

1-year plan

$5.75/month

$69 billed every year

4. hide.me

More details about hide.me:

• Pricing: Free, $4.57 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: hide.me

hide.me combines the benefits of Proton VPN and TunnelBear by offering unlimited data and access to almost all features. However, there’s a catch: hide.me takes away the option to select a specific VPN server once you’ve used 10GB of data. Beyond 10GB, hide.me selects a server at random from one of its free servers.

The hide.me free plan includes access to servers in eight countries, including Germany, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S. This list includes all the popular locations you might need to stream geoblocked content on your Android device.

hide.me’s Android UI is minimalistic. The app offers a built-in speed test feature and a few settings, but other than that you can select a server location and connect to it. Learn more about hide.me’s feature set in our full hide.me review.

Multihop Servers

hide.me offers some interesting features on the Android app, including multihop servers. Multihop servers allow you to transmit your internet traffic through two intermediary servers for additional security.

If you want the paid version, hide.me’s monthly plan costs $9.95 per month, while the best deal sets you back $4.57 per month on the two-year plan. If you’re not completely satisfied, hide.me has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can claim a full refund.

30-days money-back guarantee

Free

• 5 servers
• 10GB
• 1

FREE

Premium

• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$9.95/month

1-year plan

$4.57/month

$54.84 billed every year

Save 54%

$2.69/month

Save 72%

5. PrivadoVPN

More details about PrivadoVPN:

• Pricing: Free, $2.50 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: privadovpn.com

PrivadoVPN offers an above-average data allowance of 10GB per month on the free plan. That’s good enough for streaming an occasional movie, but if you’re a binge-watcher, you’ll probably want to go with Proton VPN for the unlimited data.

The PrivadoVPN Android app is similar to the desktop app in terms of design. However, the home screen is much less detailed. The cleaner interface makes sense given the smaller screen. You can access most features using the hamburger menu at the top-left and select a server by pulling up the list from the bottom.

While PrivadoVPN isn’t as fast as other services like Windscribe, you’ll still be able to stream content in standard definition without buffering. The free plan offers access to servers in 10 countries and unblocks most streaming websites.

You can choose between OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard to secure your connection, combined with AES-256 and ChaCha20. PrivadoVPN’s security is airtight, but we did find some concerning points in its privacy policy. Check out our PrivadoVPN review to learn more.

Great for Streaming

PrivadoVPN impressively unblocks all popular streaming websites. Even some premium services fail to bypass geoblocks on a couple of these websites, and given PrivadoVPN was launched as recently as 2019, its unblocking performance is excellent.

You can access your favorite content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus. You don’t get unlimited data and blazing fast speeds, but it’s a great option for streaming content occasionally from a diverse range of streaming platforms.

PrivadoVPN’s monthly plan is less expensive compared to others on this list, costing $10.99 per month. The best value plan costs $2.50 per month on the annual plan. You can also give it a try risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

30-days money-back guarantee

Free

• 10GB
• 1

FREE

Premium

• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

1-month plan, 1-year plan

1-month plan

$10.99/month

1-year plan

$2.50/month

$30 billed every year

Save 77%

2-year plan

$1/month

$23.88 billed every 2 years

Save 90%

Why Should I Use an Android VPN?

You take your Android phone almost everywhere you go. When you’re not at home, you might use public or workplace WiFi networks. When you connect your phone to these, you risk your data’s integrity and privacy.

Additionally, using WiFi at your work might mean you can’t access many websites that your network administrator has prohibited. Using a VPN can help you get past these blocks anonymously.

Moreover, a VPN also keeps your connection encrypted, so not even your ISP will be able to read your data. When you’re using a VPN on your Android device, you’ll be able to download or stream content via torrents and streaming platforms without any hassle.

What Are the Risks of Using a Free VPN for Android?

Free VPNs are mostly unreliable and slow. In worse cases, they infect your device and steal your data. They don’t encrypt your connection adequately, which means your ISP and the government can access and read all your data. This defeats the purpose of using a VPN altogether.

However, you can still use the free version offered by premium VPN services. The catch is that these services only offer limited access to their feature set or have a data cap. The good thing, though, is that your connection is always secure and your computer and data are always safe.

Final Thoughts: Free VPN Service for Android

Finding a free VPN for Android isn’t easy, as only a few are fit for use. We tested some of the best VPNs around to find the best free VPNs for Android. Our research suggests that Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Android. However, you may also choose one of the other options based on your preference.

Have you used a free VPN on your Android phone before? Which one, and what was your experience like? Were you able to unblock geoblocked sites on your phone? Let us know in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading.

FAQ

• Which VPN Is Totally Free for Android?

  Proton VPN and hide.me are totally free VPNs that offer unlimited data, though they may restrict access to a few features. If you want access to all features, but don’t mind a stingy data cap, you might consider TunnelBear.

• Are There Any 100% Free VPNs?

  Yes, you might see 100% free VPNs on the internet. However, most are unreliable, slow and dangerous. Instead of using a random service, consider using one of the services we’ve recommended in this guide. We recommend Proton VPN as the best free VPN for Android.