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VPNs allow for a safe, encrypted connection to the internet to protect your information from outside attack. Some businesses even use VPNs for secure access to company data, whether personnel are on-site or working from home. The best mobile VPN should be affordable, easy to use, and most importantly, secure.
Best VPNs for Mobile Phones
- ExpressVPN – Best Overall
- NordVPN – Best for Security
- Surfshark – Best Budget-friendly App
- ProtonVPN – Best Tiered VPN Service
- CyberGhost – Best for Servers
- TunnelBear – Best for Businesses
- Private Internet Access – Best for Bandwidth
Mobile VPN
Price
Number of Servers
Simultaneous Connections
Platforms
Protocols
Money back Guarantee
$8.32 to $12.95 per month
3,000+ servers in 94 countries
Five devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Router, browser extensions
Lightway, IKEv2, OpenVPN, PPTP
30 days
$3.29 to $11.99 per month
5,422+ servers in 60 countries
Six devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, browsers, and more
IKEv2/IPsec, OpenVPN
30 days
$2.49 to $12.95 per month
3,200+ servers in 65 countries
Unlimited devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, browsers
WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2
30 days
Free to $30 per month
1,700+ servers in 63 countries
Up to 10 VPN connections
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux
IKEv2
None
$2.29 to $12.99 per month
8,030+ servers in 91 countries
Seven devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, browsers
OpenVPN, L2TP/ IPSec, IKEv2/ IPSec, PPTP
45 days
Free to $5.75 per user per month
Unknown number of servers in 49 countries
Five devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, browsers
- iOS: IKEv2
- Android: OpenVPN
None
$2.19 to $11.99 per month
Unknown number of servers in 84 countries
Ten devices
Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, browsers
WireGuard, OpenVPN
30 days
ExpressVPN: Best Overall
4.8
ExpressVPN’s encrypted network protects you from outside sources and doesn’t keep any activity or connection logs of your time on the web. There’s a network kill switch to shut down streams or downloads if the VPN stops working, but you can only use these features on five devices at a time. It is a blessing that ExpressVPN has apps for mobile and PC as well.
Rates are on the higher side with ExpressVPN, but you get what you pay for. The 30-day money-back guarantee means you can try everything out risk-free to see if the VPN lives up to expectations. There are no static IPs, but ExpressVPN cycles its dynamic IPs regularly to keep you safe.
Why we chose it: ExpressVPN speaks of ultra-fast servers in 94 countries, allowing you the security to watch your favorite streams from around the globe. Since you can use ExpressVPN on other devices as well, it is also the best VPN for PC users. Read our ExpressVPN review to learn more about its features and pricing.
- No activity or connection logs
- Network lock kill switch
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- No static IPs
- Limited to five devices
- A bit on the pricey side
Pricing: ExpressVPN has three subscription options depending on how many months you want to sign up for. If you take the month-to-month approach, you’re looking at spending $12.95 per pay cycle. You’ll start to see significant savings should you sign up for a longer contract.
A six-month membership will set you back $9.99 per month, and enrolling for an entire year breaks down to an $8.32 monthly rate. It’s still not cheap by VPN standards, but the price point is easier to swallow.
NordVPN: Best Mobile VPN for Security
4.7
NordVPN prioritizes security every time you log in. The app keeps no connection logs while you’re online and carefully encrypts your private channel. Its threat protection defends against online threats such as viruses, trackers, and infected websites. There’s also a kill switch to shut down activity when the VPN isn’t live.
There are times when a static IP is beneficial, but NordVPN doesn’t do a good job of cycling through its dynamic IPs. You’re limited to just six simultaneous logins, even though you can use NordVPN across all your devices, and customer service isn’t easy to get a hold of. The 30-day trial lets you test out NordVPN before buying to see if these negatives are a deal-breaker.
Why we chose it: NordVPN’s security shield is the best at keeping you safe from infection and unsavory characters while you browse from a public or private setting. Read our in-depth NordVPN review to learn more about its features.
- Zero connection logs
- Powerful malware and threat protection
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Only six simultaneous connections
- Doesn’t cycle through dynamic IPs well
- Customer support can be difficult to reach
Pricing: NordVPN’s pricing scales depending on how many months of service you choose at the beginning of your contract. Purchasing a 2-year plan is the best way to save money, averaging just $3.29 per month of use. One year of service averages $4.99, whereas buying month to month will set you back $11.99 each time.
Surfshark: Best Budget-friendly VPN for Mobile
4.6
Surfshark stands tall on the list of VPNs with very affordable subscription options. This keeps it close to the top VPNs on our list, but the app can’t quite keep up with the speeds others offer. Fortunately, the service doesn’t limit the number of devices you can connect to and doesn’t keep any of your search logs while logged in.
Among its tools are several safety features such as a kill switch, strong encryption, and dynamic IPs to offer security. If you do run into an issue, you’ll have to contact customer service via chat or email. Apple users tend to have more problems with Surfshark than Android owners.
Why we chose it: With a two-year subscription averaging just $2.49 per month, Surfshark offers powerful protection for a very budget-friendly price. To learn more, read our in-depth Surfshark review.
- Very budget-friendly subscription options
- Can connect to an unlimited number of devices
- Strict no-logs policy
- Doesn’t work as well on Apple devices
- Not the fastest speeds
- No phone support
Pricing: Surfshark shines the most with its pricing model outside of the standard monthly rate. The app does offer a monthly membership for $12.95, but this is very expensive among mobile VPNs. Prices look a lot better with a year’s membership, coming out to just $3.99 per month. Things get even better if you sign up for two years, with prices dropping to $2.49 monthly.
ProtonVPN: Best Tiered VPN for Mobile
4.4
ProtonVPN packs in four tiers of service, each with varying degrees of functionality and speed. Among these is a free plan you can use to keep a lone device safe while traveling or at home. Like other top VPNs, ProtonVPN doesn’t keep track of logs so your information stays safe.
Outside of the free tier, pricing options are a bit on the high side for what each package offers. Lower-priced tiers can lack the speed to download or steam efficiently, resulting in endless buffering and frustration. If issues appear, you’ll have to wait for an email response from customer support before being able to implement a solution.
Why we chose it: ProtonVPN offers four unique plans so users can pay only for the speed and connections they need.
- Multiple tiers to select the specific plan you want
- Based in Switzerland with a no-logs policy
- Has a free plan
- Pricing is relatively high
- Slow speeds at lower tiers
- Support details limited to email
Pricing: ProtonVPN has four tiers of service with varying levels of speed and security. You can save 20% by signing up for a year of service at a time or 33% by paying for two years of service.
ProtonVPN is one of the few 100% free VPNs available but comes with a very limited featureset. Users can only access 152 servers in three countries, significantly limiting content from other parts of the world. You can also only use a single device at any given time. Although free, the plan only runs at medium speed which may cause lag on streams or slow downloads.
At a monthly rate of $5, the Basic plan amps up the features considerably. Users now have access to over 500 servers in 40 countries while being able to connect from two devices at once. ProtonVPN boosts connection speed and provides additional ad-blocking and torrent support.
ProtonVPN’s Plus plan unlocks all 1,700+ services across 63 countries for maximum connectivity. You can encrypt up to ten devices at a time with Plus and obtain speeds as high as 10Gbps. It’s here that you can log into your favorite streaming services no matter where in the world you are.
If you want to combine ProtonVPN with its ProtonMail package, you can do so with the Visionary plan. At $30 per month, you’ll have unlimited access to the features and protection both services offer.
CyberGhost: Best Mobile VPN for Number of Servers
4.3
CyberGhost’s long list of servers put other VPNs to shame while providing more content options. With a no-logs policy, you won’t have to worry about what you watch or stream while in your encrypted channel. The VPN does suffer from more speed loss than most when connected, and a lackluster ad blocker doesn’t do a great job of catching pop-ups. You can only reach customer support through a website chat feature, but the 45-day money-back guarantee lets you try out everything risk-free.
Why we chose it: CyberGhost allows for the most connection flexibility, with over 8,000 servers located in 93 different countries. Such diversity also maximizes your ability to watch unique content from all over the globe. Read our in-depth CyberGhost review to learn more about its features.
- Insane number of servers
- No-logs policy
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Significant speed loss
- Support limited to online chat
- Weak ad-blocker
Pricing: CyberGhost’s pricing goes down depending on how many months of service you purchase at a time. Buying month to month is the least cost-effective, charging $12.99 each pay period. Picking up a one-year contract equates to $4.29 per month, whereas two-year pricing drops even further to $3.25. If you really want to save big, a three-year membership of CyberGhost costs just $2.29 per month.
TunnelBear: Best Mobile VPN for Businesses
4.1
TunnelBear is an easy-to-use VPN that meshes well with businesses looking to add additional security to dealings on the web. Each employee can connect five devices at a time to keep viruses and attackers at bay. The app provides decent VPN speeds but doesn’t make clear its overall number of servers or specific locations. The VPN also contains a free plan, but users can’t use more than 500MB in a given month.
Why we chose it: TunnelBear has features and pricing well-suited for businesses looking to protect employees both in the office and on the road.
- Centralized team billing and management
- Easy to use
- Has a free plan
- Can only connect five simultaneous devices
- Unclear number of available servers
- Free plan has few features
Pricing: TunnelBear has a free plan in place of a trial or money-back guarantee. You’ll have access to all of TunnelBear’s features, but unfortunately only 500MB to work with each month. While this may be sufficient for some testing, you may not even make it through a single show. Also, TunnelBear runs on slower OpenVPN protocol with Android phones that may contribute to latency issues.
The VPN also offers an Unlimited plan for single users and households with unlimited secure browsing for up to five devices. Pricing varies from $9.99 for a single month contract to $4.99 month for an entire year. Those expecting to use Tunnelbear for a long time can choose a three-year membership for $3.33 per month.
In addition, TunnelBear showcases a Teams plan that speaks to businesses looking for some extra protection. Each team member you add to the VPN gets unlimited secure browsing for up to five devices and costs $5.75 per month. Your business will also receive a dedicated account manager with streamlined billing and account management.
Private Internet Service: Best Mobile VPN for Bandwidth
4.0
Private Internet Service has respectable VPN speeds that never slow down due to the amount of bandwidth you use each month. With up to ten devices supported in a single subscription, you can stream, download, or surf to your heart’s content. A no-logs policy ensures the app doesn’t keep unnecessary information. The company is headquartered in the United States, a country known for diligent internet monitoring.
It’s unclear how many servers Private Internet Service has around the world, but speeds seem to indicate the numbers are sufficient. The ad blocker struggles the most, allowing too many annoying ads through while you’re trying to browse.
Why we chose it: Unlike many other providers, Private Internet Service doesn’t slow down bandwidth speeds no matter how much data you consume in a single month.
- Unlimited bandwidth without speed throttle
- No-logs policy
- Up to ten simultaneous connections
- Unknown number of servers
- Several ads get through ad-blocker
- Headquartered in the U.S.
Pricing: Private Internet Service starts out at $11.99 for a month of VPN use, but you can get a better deal if you choose to pay for multiple months at a time. Buying a six-month contract lowers the price to $7.50 per month, or you can purchase two years and two months for an average of $2.19 each month.
Methodology for the Best VPNs for Mobile Phones
VPNs can go a long way toward protecting what’s important to you, but they are not all created the same. We made these considerations when asking what is a VPN that’s most suitable for mobile devices.
- Safety: A VPN is nothing without security features to keep you safe while online. Stay away from anything that maintains records of your online experience or provide protection from viruses or hackers looking to cause trouble. Your data should be well-encrypted while in a VPN tunnel with an automatic kill switch to shut down your internet if the VPN stops working. It’s also worth noting the type of IP address a VPN provides. Dynamic IPs frequently change to provide additional security, while static IPs offer internet stability that some homes and businesses need. Learn more about what a VPN can protect you from here.
- Simultaneous Connections: It makes sense to buy one VPN for a business or household, but most services limit the number of devices you can connect at any given time. Be sure to count up the number of mobile and PC connections you’ll potentially have so you don’t short-change yourself.
- Number of Servers: Servers can become bogged down with a lot of traffic. VPNs with several servers within a country or city can help alleviate this strain and keep internet speeds at their maximum. Furthermore, servers across multiple countries allow for more access to content from different parts of the world.
- Ease of Use: Some VPNs can become convoluted with so many server options, different types of IP addresses, and various security features. The best mobile apps simplify the connection process by automating selections while finding you the fastest server to use. Built-in ad blockers or always-on functionality ensure you always have the protection you need. Learn more on how to use a VPN here.
- Connection Speed: Since VPNs bounce internet signals off additional locations, your internet speed will take a hit any time you use one. However, the top mobile apps have enough servers and fast lines to hold speeds as high as possible.
- Money-back Guarantee: Mobile VPNs work altogether differently from device to device. Positive reviews online are a plus, but having a money-back guarantee to try out an app for yourself is even better. Find a VPN with at least a 30-day money-back guarantee with all features unlocked so you can see if it really works for you.
- Price: Nearly all VPNs provide discounts on multi-month contracts that can save a lot of money down the road. In many cases, it’s possible to save upwards of 75% or 80% by signing up for a year or two. A few companies offer tiered services with increasing features sets at differing price points. If you go this route, make sure you get the features you want and that there’s room to upgrade as needed down the line.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Best Mobile VPNs
It can be unclear how to use a VPN or its purpose, especially on mobile devices. Below are answers to some of the most popular questions on the topic.
Bottom Line on the Best Mobile VPNs
VPNs are incredible tools for protecting the information we store on mobile devices. Features like encryption, automatic kill switches, and web blockers keep viruses and hackers safely away. With some of the top apps priced at a few dollars per month, you really can’t afford not to get one.
Noah is an American copywriter on a mission to help clarify the nuances of the business world through unique insights stemming from backgrounds in both engineering and the medical field. When not working, you’ll likely find him running or traveling.
