Nowadays, most people spend a large proportion of their time using smartphones and tablets. These devices are just so convenient, enabling users to browse the web, flick through social media feeds, play games, stream movies and much more whenever and wherever they are.
Although mobile devices already offer a great user experience, virtual private networks allow you to get so much more out of them. Whether it's boosting your privacy, unblocking online restricted content, finding the best online deals, putting a stop to bandwidth throttling, getting rid of annoying adverts or speeding up gaming, there are a number of benefits when it comes to using a VPN on your smartphone or tablet.
But with hundreds of VPN apps available on Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store (many of which are malicious and shouldn't be trusted), you may find it difficult selecting the perfect provider. Luckily, every top VPN service provides apps for mobile users, and we've rounded up the best of them in this article.
1. ExpressVPN
The best mobile VPN app
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 3,000+ | Server Locations: 160 in 94 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
Pros
The British Virgin Islands-based is the most powerful VPN that you can get on the market, and as well as being our favourite overall VPN, we also rank it as the best mobile VPN app.
Like any great VPN provider, it offers easy-to-use and feature-packed apps for the world's most popular mobile operating systems: Android and iOS. You can easily connect to the best server through a built-in speed test feature, and if you want to circumvent geo restrictions in a particular region, there are over 3,000 servers available.
If you use your mobile device for streaming, you can access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube and many other online platforms via ExpressVPN. And because ExpressVPN sports unlimited bandwidth, you don't have to worry about data caps.
From a privacy and security perspective, ExpressVPN is pretty impressive. It offers a no-logs policy, a built-in network kill switch, AES-256 encryption, a private DNS for each server, and much more. The firm also provides lots of support for its customers, such as comprehensive how-to guides, a 24/7 live chat, an up-to-date blog and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Sadly, you're only limited to 5 devices that you can connect, but that's the only real downside we'd mention.
ExpressVPN
This is our top pick for anyone looking to get started with a VPN. It offers a great mix of speed, reliability, outstanding customer service, and affordability. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so give it a shot today.
2. Surfshark
An affordable mobile VPN
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 1,700+ | Server Locations: 100+ in 63 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
Pros
If you're on the lookout for an excellent mobile VPN that won't break the bank, look no further than Surfshark. With prices starting at around $2 per month, there really isn't a best-in-class provider that can beat Surfshark on price. And we love that it offers great mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
Surfshark's mobile apps are really easy to use, enabling you to find and connect to the fastest server with just a single tap. If you have a specific regional server in mind, you're spoilt for choice because Surfshark operates a network of 1700 servers across 63 different countries.
When it comes to streaming, Surfshark is an excellent choice and will allow you to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and lots of other platforms. And unlike ExpressVPN, there is no limit on the number of devices that you can use with your subscription.
For every mobile user, there's an increased risk of cyber crime, but what's great is that Surfshark will mitigate malware, phishing, adverts and web trackers. There's also a no-logs policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leak protection, robust encryption and a choice of protocols. Should you experience a problem, Surfshark provides 24/7 support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark VPN
You can connect as many devices as your heart desires at the same time and never worry about any of them being logged. Surfshark also offers a 30-day guarantee that you'll like the product, or it will give you your money back.
3. NordVPN
A mobile friendly VPN
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 5,300+ | Server Locations: 80+ in 59 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
Pros
NordVPN consistently ranks well as one of the best VPNs on the market, and it also provides users an impressive mobile experience. The Panama-based provider offers feature-packed apps for both Android and iOS.
One of our favourite things about NordVPN is that it provides an impressive 5459 servers in 59 countries. And with the ability to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC and Disney Plus, NordVPN is a great choice for streaming media on your smartphone or tablet.
NordVPN also offers some great privacy and security features, including a no-logs policy, a malware and ad blocker, DNS leak testing, Double VPN (which makes use of two servers for managing internet traffic) and Onion Over VPN (which improves online anonymity).
If you do end up choosing NordVPN, it's worth noting that you'll only be able to use it with six devices on one subscription. While that should be ample for most individual users, gadget hoarders may be put off. As is pretty standard, you get round-the-clock support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most common and biggest names in the VPN space, and it also happens to be one of the best. It offers amongst the largest number of server options and some high-quality app experiences.
4. CyberGhost
The VPN with a gigantic server network
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 6,400+ | Server Locations: 110+ in 90 countries | Trial Period: 45 days
Pros
When servers are concerned, CyberGhost is well ahead of the competition by offering a huge network of more than 6200 servers in 90 countries. That means you'll have no trouble getting around geo restrictions to improve your online experience.
But apart from a tonne load of servers, what else do you get? Well, as is the case with any leading VPN provider, there are decent mobile apps for Android and iOS. And you can access streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and more. For a great streaming experience, CyberChost promises "no geo-blocking, no network limitations, no buffering, only unlimited streaming possibilities."
In terms of other impressive features, CyberGhost comes with one-tap connect, 256-bit encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, a zero logging policy, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited traffic and the ability to connect 7 devices. What's more, you're getting 24/7 customer support and an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost makes using a VPN easy by helping you choose the best server to use for certain tasks, and it generally offers some of the best pricing around as well.
5. IPVanish
A robust VPN that has great mobile apps
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, YouTube, Hulu | Servers: 1,400 | Server Locations: 75+ in 50 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
Pros
IPVanish is another highly popular and feature-packed VPN, offering mobile apps for Android and iOS users. With the American company claiming to offer "a robust suite of privacy tools with cohesive design and simplicity in mind", you can expect a great overall experience.
With IPVanish, you get a selection of more than 1500 servers and more than 40,000 shared IPs. They're perfect for accessing streaming services such as Netflix, Youtube, Spotify and More, though users have reported difficulty when trying to unblock BBC iPlayer.
As for other features, IPVanish has 256-bit encryption; a no logs policy; a choice of the aKEv2, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols; a SOCKS5 web proxy; 250GB of SugarSync encrypted storage and backup; unmetered connections so that you can connect an unlimited number of devices; 24/7 customer support; and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
IPVanish VPN
IPVanish may not have the biggest numbers for stats, but the service that the company offers is reliable and fast. Getting set up takes just minutes, so start today!
Although mobile devices already offer a great user experience, virtual private networks allow you to get so much more out of them. Whether it's boosting your privacy, unblocking online restricted content, finding the best online deals, putting a stop to bandwidth throttling, getting rid of annoying adverts or speeding up gaming, there are a number of benefits when it comes to using a VPN on your smartphone or tablet.
But with hundreds of VPN apps available on Google's Play Store and Apple's App Store (many of which are malicious and shouldn't be trusted), you may find it difficult selecting the perfect provider. Luckily, every top VPN service provides apps for mobile users, and we've rounded up the best of them in this article.
1. ExpressVPN
The best mobile VPN app
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 3,000+ | Server Locations: 160 in 94 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.95 | 0% | |
| 6 Months | $9.99 | 23% | |
| 15 Months | $6.67 | 49% |
- Easy-to-use apps for iOS and Android
- Great security features
- Large server network
- Can only connect 5 devices
The British Virgin Islands-based is the most powerful VPN that you can get on the market, and as well as being our favourite overall VPN, we also rank it as the best mobile VPN app.
Like any great VPN provider, it offers easy-to-use and feature-packed apps for the world's most popular mobile operating systems: Android and iOS. You can easily connect to the best server through a built-in speed test feature, and if you want to circumvent geo restrictions in a particular region, there are over 3,000 servers available.
If you use your mobile device for streaming, you can access Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, YouTube and many other online platforms via ExpressVPN. And because ExpressVPN sports unlimited bandwidth, you don't have to worry about data caps.
From a privacy and security perspective, ExpressVPN is pretty impressive. It offers a no-logs policy, a built-in network kill switch, AES-256 encryption, a private DNS for each server, and much more. The firm also provides lots of support for its customers, such as comprehensive how-to guides, a 24/7 live chat, an up-to-date blog and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Sadly, you're only limited to 5 devices that you can connect, but that's the only real downside we'd mention.
ExpressVPN
This is our top pick for anyone looking to get started with a VPN. It offers a great mix of speed, reliability, outstanding customer service, and affordability. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee, so give it a shot today.
2. Surfshark
An affordable mobile VPN
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 1,700+ | Server Locations: 100+ in 63 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.95 | 0% | |
| 6 Months | $6.49 | 50% | |
| 24 Months | $2.49 | 81% |
- Great mobile apps
- Super cheap pricing
- Large server network
- Maybe too basic for some users
If you're on the lookout for an excellent mobile VPN that won't break the bank, look no further than Surfshark. With prices starting at around $2 per month, there really isn't a best-in-class provider that can beat Surfshark on price. And we love that it offers great mobile apps for Android and iOS devices.
Surfshark's mobile apps are really easy to use, enabling you to find and connect to the fastest server with just a single tap. If you have a specific regional server in mind, you're spoilt for choice because Surfshark operates a network of 1700 servers across 63 different countries.
When it comes to streaming, Surfshark is an excellent choice and will allow you to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and lots of other platforms. And unlike ExpressVPN, there is no limit on the number of devices that you can use with your subscription.
For every mobile user, there's an increased risk of cyber crime, but what's great is that Surfshark will mitigate malware, phishing, adverts and web trackers. There's also a no-logs policy, a kill switch, private DNS and leak protection, robust encryption and a choice of protocols. Should you experience a problem, Surfshark provides 24/7 support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Surfshark VPN
You can connect as many devices as your heart desires at the same time and never worry about any of them being logged. Surfshark also offers a 30-day guarantee that you'll like the product, or it will give you your money back.
3. NordVPN
A mobile friendly VPN
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, iPlayer, Amazon | Servers: 5,300+ | Server Locations: 80+ in 59 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.95 | 0% | |
| 12 Months | $6.99 | 41% | |
| 24 Months | $3.49 | 70% | |
| 36 Months | $3.49 | 70% |
- Large server network
- Great security and privacy features
- Mobile friendly
- Can only connect six devices
NordVPN consistently ranks well as one of the best VPNs on the market, and it also provides users an impressive mobile experience. The Panama-based provider offers feature-packed apps for both Android and iOS.
One of our favourite things about NordVPN is that it provides an impressive 5459 servers in 59 countries. And with the ability to unblock Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, BBC and Disney Plus, NordVPN is a great choice for streaming media on your smartphone or tablet.
NordVPN also offers some great privacy and security features, including a no-logs policy, a malware and ad blocker, DNS leak testing, Double VPN (which makes use of two servers for managing internet traffic) and Onion Over VPN (which improves online anonymity).
If you do end up choosing NordVPN, it's worth noting that you'll only be able to use it with six devices on one subscription. While that should be ample for most individual users, gadget hoarders may be put off. As is pretty standard, you get round-the-clock support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most common and biggest names in the VPN space, and it also happens to be one of the best. It offers amongst the largest number of server options and some high-quality app experiences.
4. CyberGhost
The VPN with a gigantic server network
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon, YouTube | Servers: 6,400+ | Server Locations: 110+ in 90 countries | Trial Period: 45 days
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $12.99 | 0% | |
| 12 Months | $5.99 | 54% | |
| 24 Months | $3.69 | 72%% | |
| 38 Months | $2.75 | 79% |
- Impressive server network
- Pretty affordable
- Great for streaming
- We found inconsistent performance in our review
When servers are concerned, CyberGhost is well ahead of the competition by offering a huge network of more than 6200 servers in 90 countries. That means you'll have no trouble getting around geo restrictions to improve your online experience.
But apart from a tonne load of servers, what else do you get? Well, as is the case with any leading VPN provider, there are decent mobile apps for Android and iOS. And you can access streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu and more. For a great streaming experience, CyberChost promises "no geo-blocking, no network limitations, no buffering, only unlimited streaming possibilities."
In terms of other impressive features, CyberGhost comes with one-tap connect, 256-bit encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, a zero logging policy, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited traffic and the ability to connect 7 devices. What's more, you're getting 24/7 customer support and an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee.
CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost makes using a VPN easy by helping you choose the best server to use for certain tasks, and it generally offers some of the best pricing around as well.
5. IPVanish
A robust VPN that has great mobile apps
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux | Streaming services unblocked: Netflix, YouTube, Hulu | Servers: 1,400 | Server Locations: 75+ in 50 countries | Trial Period: 30 days
| Plan Length | Monthly Cost | Discount | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Month | $11.99 | 0% | |
| 3 Months | $3.99 | 67% | |
| Annual | $6.49 | 46% |
- Apps for Android and iOS
- Decent server network
- Unmetered connections
- Limited free trial
IPVanish is another highly popular and feature-packed VPN, offering mobile apps for Android and iOS users. With the American company claiming to offer "a robust suite of privacy tools with cohesive design and simplicity in mind", you can expect a great overall experience.
With IPVanish, you get a selection of more than 1500 servers and more than 40,000 shared IPs. They're perfect for accessing streaming services such as Netflix, Youtube, Spotify and More, though users have reported difficulty when trying to unblock BBC iPlayer.
As for other features, IPVanish has 256-bit encryption; a no logs policy; a choice of the aKEv2, OpenVPN and L2TP/IPsec VPN protocols; a SOCKS5 web proxy; 250GB of SugarSync encrypted storage and backup; unmetered connections so that you can connect an unlimited number of devices; 24/7 customer support; and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
IPVanish VPN
IPVanish may not have the biggest numbers for stats, but the service that the company offers is reliable and fast. Getting set up takes just minutes, so start today!