Top Mobile VPNs for 2024 – Best Free VPN for Mobile Phones!

Yes, on your mobile device, you ought to be using a VPN. The top VPNs for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets will help you safeguard your privacy while you’re on the road.

Which Mobile VPN is Currently The Greatest?

Because it is dependable, quick to respond, and simple to use, ExpressVPN is presently CNET’s #1 choice for the greatest mobile VPN. ExpressVPN impressed us during our testing with its superb streaming service unblocking, fast internet speeds, and user-friendly interface.

A Mobile VPN: What Is It?

When using a smartphone or tablet, a virtual private network, or VPN, improves your online privacy. By hiding your physical address from your ISP, cell carrier, and any websites or apps you visit, VPNs encrypt your internet traffic and disguise your personal information. Traveling, streaming content that is geo-blocked (such as foreign Netflix libraries), and getting around throttling limits are all made possible by using a mobile VPN. For iOS and Android smartphones, the top VPN services all have top-notch mobile applications.

To determine which VPN services are the greatest choices out there right now, our VPN specialists at CNET have carefully evaluated a wide range of virtual private networks, with an emphasis on privacy features and connection speeds.

Considerations For A Mobile VPN

Selecting the best VPN for your iOS or Android phone or tablet might be challenging because there are hundreds of options available, many of which provide mobile apps. The following are the things to consider when selecting a VPN for your mobile device, based on our in-depth analysis and practical testing of VPNs over the years:

• Individual Privacy

Privacy should be the main priority while using a VPN. Whether you’re using its desktop or mobile app, a VPN is essentially worthless if it can’t provide a secure enough level of secrecy. In addition to common privacy features like a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and a no-logs policy, your VPN should provide industry-grade AES 256-bit encryption or ChaCha20 with WireGuard. You should choose a VPN service provider with a RAM-only server architecture, obfuscation, and a base in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction if your privacy requirements are very high. Ad and tracker blockers, multi-hop connections, and Tor over VPN capability are further privacy aspects to be aware of. These features aren’t necessarily necessary, but they can provide more privacy.

• Quickness

The speed at which your mobile VPN connects to the internet can significantly impact the quality of your downloading, streaming, gaming, and ordinary online browsing. Whether you’re using mobile data or Wi-Fi, you’ll want a VPN that will have the least negative effect on your regular internet speeds to keep everything operating as smoothly as possible.

This Is How The VPNs We Tested Performed In Terms of Speed:

Utilization

Regardless of your level of technological expertise, a decent mobile VPN should be simple to use and operate without hiccups. With just a tap of your finger, you should be able to access every feature you require. If you need assistance while on the go, a lot of mobile VPN apps have a help section with simple options to contact support or view troubleshooting manuals straight from the device. If you want to use a VPN to access geo-restricted content from different areas, it should be able to let you do so. It should also offer a vast global network of servers so you can connect quickly and reliably from anywhere you may be going.

Price

Before making a purchase, you might want to think about the price and total worth of your mobile VPN, depending on your spending limit. Although VPN prices might differ significantly between providers, a monthly VPN membership package should normally cost you between $5 and $13. You should exercise caution when utilizing free VPNs, nevertheless, since you can wind up jeopardizing your privacy rather than safeguarding it. Right now, CNET exclusively suggests Proton VPN as a free VPN. However, the majority of high-end VPNs provide a money-back guarantee, which can run from one week to forty-five days.

How We Examined VPNs for Mobile Devices?

I evaluated the speed, usability, features, DNS leaks, streaming, and features of each of the mobile apps for iOS and Android to identify the top mobile VPN. Though all of the VPNs listed here are deserving of the title of greatest mobile VPNs, some may suit you more than others based on your specific needs or financial situation.

Additional VPNs That We Examined

• VPN Proton

The extremely safe open-source VPN solution from Swiss privacy startup Proton is called Proton VPN. Proton VPN is the only free VPN that CNET suggests, making it the ideal choice for mobile users seeking excellent service without having to shell out any money. However, unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN doesn’t impose any use limits or slow speeds on its free servers. Except for the most basic internet activity, most free VPNs are essentially worthless, yet I had no trouble utilizing Proton VPN’s free servers to stream Netflix on my iOS and Android devices. Proton is comparatively cheap when compared to competitors, costing $10 per month, $60 per year, or $108 for two years (the one- and two-year plans increase to $80 annually upon renewal) if you want to pay for access to all of its servers and capabilities.

A Warning Regarding VPNs on iOS

Over the past few years, unencrypted data leaks from iOS devices outside of VPN tunnels have been the subject of considerable discussion from both VPN providers and independent researchers. A potentially universal fix for other iOS VPN apps was described by Proton VPN. The secret is to establish a VPN server connection, then switch between Airplane mode and off. By doing this, you should be able to terminate any running internet-connected processes on the device and enable them to reconnect via the VPN tunnel.

It should be noted that while this is an Apple-related problem that impacts all VPNs on iOS devices, it is still important for iOS users to be aware of and did not affect my ranking of the best mobile VPNs. It was noted that the flaw existed from at least iOS 13. Multiple efforts for information from Apple regarding the problem have gone unanswered. This includes inquiries about whether the company intends to deliver a remedy before the anticipated release of iOS 17, its most recent mobile operating system.

FAQs Regarding Mobile VPNs

What’s A VPN For Mobile Use?

When you’re on the road, you can safeguard your online privacy with the help of the user-friendly VPN apps offered by the top mobile VPNs. When traveling and wishing to circumvent censorship or access geo-blocked content from anywhere in the world, a mobile VPN is also a great tool to have.

Which Free Mobile VPN Is The Best?

Right now, CNET exclusively suggests Proton VPN’s free tier as a free mobile VPN. Since many other free VPNs generate money by selling user data and sometimes even contain malware, the majority of them are either worthless or dangerous to use. Furthermore, the servers and functions that are available to users of free VPNs are usually severely limited, and there are usually restrictions on usage and speed.

When I’m Connected to My Mobile VPN, What Does My ISP/Cell Carrier See?

The internet service provider will only be aware that you are connected to a VPN, regardless of whether you are using Wi-Fi or your mobile VPN on a cellular network. Your IP address, the quantity of data you are transmitting, and the timestamps associated with your VPN connection are all visible to your ISP or mobile carrier; however, they will not be able to view your online activities or the websites you visit. In case you require more anonymity, you can connect to a “stealth” or obfuscated server provided by your VPN provider and conceal the fact that you are using a VPN from them.