Free Android VPNs safe functional options in 2022 Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Free Android VPNs safe functional options in 2022 By Mo Harber-Lamond published 19 July 2022 Not every free Android VPN is safe – here are some that are (Image credit: Chikena/Shutterstock) Jump to: FREE ANDROID VPNS You won't be surprised to hear that no free VPN can match up to the very best VPN services on the market, but that's not to say that some free Android VPNs aren't a useful bit of kit. However, sifting through the trash in the Play Store in search of a quality product can be a pain – and you might still end up using a poor product if you don't test everything on offer. That's why we run a rigorous testing program of both Android VPN services and free services in general. We then rate the safest and more user-friendly, and recommend them to you. Here, we'll run down exactly what you should be looking for in a free Android VPN, and we'll explore whether a free or cheap paid VPN will server you best. If you want to skip all that and just go to our recommended free Android VPNs, simply click the 'Jump To' tab above. Otherwise, just keep on scrolling to find out what to look for in a free VPN for Android, and how to pick the best. (opens in new tab)Try #1-rated ExpressVPN risk-free for 30 days (opens in new tab) ExpressVPN (opens in new tab) makes no compromises and is simply the top VPN on the market if you're an Android user (and just about any other device, too). It's secure, can unblock tons of streaming sites, and offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to trial it risk-free – plus, Tom's Guide readers get three months FREE.View Deal (opens in new tab) What is a free Android VPN good for At its most basic, all a VPN does is reroutes your internet traffic through its own encrypted servers to make sure no one can see what you're doing online. They can also change your virtual location by connecting you to a server in a country of your choice. One of our favorite VPN uses is to give extra protection when connected to public Wi-Fi hotspots – and this is something you'll want to keep in mind when using your Android device. You can also keep you data safe from snoops, and avoid work or school network content blocks. With a trusted free Android VPN, simple security features like those should be available, but for other uses, you'll find yourself limited – in more way than one. The downsides of a free Android VPN If you want to get a VPN for Android free, you're going to have to live with the fact that there are sacrifices to be made. Almost all providers impose a strict data limit, and if you're looking for constant, all-day protection, that's going to run out in a matter of hours – if not minutes - if you're watching videos. Speeds are also often limited, and you'll also be restricted to just a handful of locations – which may not be where you'd prefer. Access to streaming content is one of the biggest drawbacks, however. Many people enjoy using a Netflix VPN to access more content, and while we've found limited success with some free services, none have the content-unblocking performance of the best paid VPN. Most important to note, though, is whether or not your free Android VPN is safe. There have been numerous (opens in new tab) reports (opens in new tab) on the dangers (opens in new tab) of using free services (opens in new tab), with many seemingly well-known providers actually putting users at risk. We're confident that our recommendations are safe, but true peace of mind lays with a provider that's supported directly by your payments, rather than in some other way. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Is a free Android VPN worth it This depends on your usage. If you plan on quickly connecting once in a while to stay safe on public Wi-Fi, check your emails securely, or to change your location to access a different version of a website, a free Android VPN may well be a good choice. But, if you plan on streaming, leaving it on all day, or truly securing your privacy, a paid VPN is by far the best choice. To test the waters, it may be worth checking out which what VPN free trials are available on a VPN service are currently available, and every paid-for service we recommend offers some form of money-back guarantee, so you'll have plenty of time to claim a refund if you don't think your money is well-spent. FREE ANDROID VPNS