The best mobile VPNs of 2025: Expert tested and reviewed

1,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,00010,000

Sqft of Lab Space

ZDNET’s recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET’s editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

ZDNET’s reviewers spend weeks to months testing each product or service on this list, using them for both everyday tasks to more performance-intensive work. We aim to give you a view into how each option could fit into your life and workflow, and the pros and cons of their various features.

Best web services deals of the week

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Virtual private networks (VPNs) protect your privacy online, whether browsing the internet at home or using public Wi-Fi hotspots on the road. These services can help you protect any device, including smartphones and tablets, by providing a layer of encryption and masking your internet protocol (IP) address. While no VPN can guarantee absolute anonymity and security, you should always choose a reputable service with dedicated Android and iOS apps.

Considering how important our mobile devices are in managing our lives, choosing the right VPN can be difficult. To help you decide, I’ve compiled a list of the best mobile VPNs for 2025.

What is the best mobile VPN right now?

Overall, my pick for the best mobile VPN is NordVPN The service starts at $3.39 per month and offers a user-friendly mobile app, expansive server network, consistently great speed, and stable performance. I like NordVPN’s mobile user interface, too, as some top VPN providers fall short in the design of their mobile apps.

Another of my favorite mobile VPNs is ExpressVPN, a service that performs extremely well across Android and iOS. This alternative, available for $5 per month, offers some of the best speeds in the market.

Also: The best VPNs for iPhone

ZDNET authors, including myself, have decades of combined experience in the VPN space and have conducted extensive testing with the best VPNs. Keep reading to learn about ZDNET’s other top picks for the best mobile VPNs and how they compare.

Sort by

All Countries and servers Usability Speed and performance Security Price

NordVPN is a fast and reliable VPN with an extensive server network, regardless of what device you use, making it one of my favorite mobile VPNs.

Why we like it: Once you’ve figured out NordVPN, there’s no additional learning curve for using it on other devices. When you first open it, you’ll see a landing screen map. From here, you can pick a country or head to the fastest local server automatically.

If your screen’s too small for that to be convenient, you’re only a swipe away from a VPN server list.

Also: How does NordVPN work? Plus, how to set it up and use it

NordVPN grants you up to 10 simultaneous devices under one account, allowing you to connect your smartphones, tablets, PCs, TVs, and more to the service at the same time. NordVPN is compatible with all major platforms, and its server network includes 111 countries.

To protect your privacy, a kill switch automatically disconnects your phone or tablet from the internet if your internet connection is interrupted or suddenly drops.

I’ve used NordVPN for years and have always been impressed with its stable connectivity and rapid speeds, and it’s a great streaming option. Given the price point, however, it should support unlimited simultaneous connections.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a one-and-done, reliable VPN that won’t destroy your smartphone battery or drastically reduce your internet speed.

Customers generally report excellent speeds and minimal buffering with easy setup, although some caution that you should turn off auto-renewal to avoid any renewal price surprises.

A seven-day Android trial is available. Two-year subscriptions begin at $3.39 per month, rising to $4 per month for one-year plans and $13 if you want to use the service for one month. One and two-year plans come with an Amazon gift card worth up to $50, depending on what you sign up for.

If you need additional security benefits, opt for the Prime plan, which includes coverage for identity theft and cyber extortion.

Who should look elsewhere: If you want a cheaper mobile VPN for when you’re on the move, consider Surfshark.

Show Expert Take Show less

Surfshark is a solid mobile VPN with robust security features and a consistently affordable price point.

Why we like it: I enjoy using Surfshark as a “one size fits all” VPN solution. Sometimes, the speeds and the time it takes to connect aren’t the best, but they are acceptable, considering how affordable this VPN is. I also like the “pause” function, which allows you to resume your regular connection for five minutes, 30 minutes, or a few hours.

SurfShark includes a feature that lets you spoof your GPS location to ensure no one can track you. If someone tries to track down your location, it will report that you’re at your VPN server’s coordinates. In addition, last October, Surfshark launched Bypasser on iOS, allowing you to use your regular connection and skip the VPN to access select websites or services.

Review: Surfshark VPN

Device connections are unlimited and there is a strict no-logs policy.

Who it’s for: The server list is impressive for the price, but the app’s interface could use some optimization. It’s still a great choice, especially if you’re looking for something affordable.

Customers say that streaming works most of the time, and many enjoy it as a beginner-friendly VPN. A seven-day trial is available on Android and iOS.

Surfshark’s cheapest plan is a two-year subscription for $2 per month, with three months of free access added to the term. Alternatively, you can choose a one-year subscription for $3.19 per month plus three months free, or one month of access for $15.45. There is a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Furthermore, Surfshark is ZDNET’s pick for the best budget Amazon Fire TV Stick VPN.

Who should look elsewhere: If speed is your top priority, consider ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

Show Expert Take Show less

IPVanish is another of my favorite mobile VPNs, and one that sets itself apart with its approach to configuration.

Why we like it: I like the user interface of the Android and iOS apps, which are quick to install and extremely easy to use. The apps’ interfaces are stylish and modern, and although the software doesn’t look as good on PCs, the company has earned high ratings in Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Speeds are reasonable, and the app almost always quickly connects to a server. IPVanish offers unlimited simultaneous connections, a helpful feature if you have multiple mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones. The server network has recently been upgraded to 130 locations in 103 countries, surpassing Surfshark and placing this VPN on par with ExpressVPN and NordVPN.

Overall, IPVanish provides a highly customizable VPN experience. Its real strength is the range of settings you can change, and it’s also a good option for streaming.

Review: IPVanish: A VPN with a wealth of options

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a customizable VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections.

Customers report they are happy with IPVanish’s customer service and the overall speed and reliability of the VPN. If you like going hands-on with upcoming releases, IPVanish also operates a beta program.

IPVanish offers a seven-day trial for mobile users. Alternatively, you can sign up for a two-year plan at $2.19 per month, an annual plan for $3.33 per month, or you can opt for a monthly subscription for $13 per month.

Who should look elsewhere: Based on my testing, it’s not the fastest, so if speed matters to you, choose ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, ZDNET’s parent company. For more information, see our Editorial Guidelines.

IPVanish features: Simultaneous connections: Unlimited | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Fire TV, tvOS, Kodi, and routers | Logging: None, except billing data | Locations: 130 (103 countries) | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android and iOS | Trustpilot rating: 4.2 | Google Play rating: 4.4 | App Store rating: 4.6

Show Expert Take Show less

Private Internet Access (PIA) offers reasonable speeds and decent mobile apps, but what sets it apart is that its code is open-source.

Why we like it: PIA has adopted open source practices for almost all of its components, which gives it a standout level of transparency and makes it open to examination by third parties. This helps with software vulnerabilities, too, as they may be more likely to be detected early and patched. For you, this means extra assurance that your privacy and security are being taken seriously.

Review: Private Internet Access

The VPN provider is based in the U.S., which may turn some potential users away if they are concerned about privacy and data laws. Still, PIA offers benefits including unlimited simultaneous connections, ad and malware blocking, and a strict no-logs policy.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants an open-source, affordable VPN for their mobile device.

PIA is a solid and affordable VPN, but the user interface could be modernized. Customers say they are fans of the service’s performance and encryption, which also makes it an excellent torrenting and streaming option. Some have noted disconnection issues, but I’ve never encountered this problem).

PIA’s two-year plans cost $2.19 per month, plus two months of free access. Alternatively, PIA is one of the few VPN vendors that offers a six-month plan, but it is more expensive at $7.50 per month. A mobile trial is available on Android and iOS, although there is no annual plan available.

Who should look elsewhere: For speed, check out ExpressVPN. For improved reliability and a larger server network, NordVPN.

Show Expert Take Show less

ExpressVPN is the best mobile VPN around if speed is your top priority.

Why we like it: VPN speeds vary widely depending on where you are, the server you’re trying to connect to, and the distance to the country. During my frequent tests, however, ExpressVPN has consistently shown itself to be one of the fastest VPNs available and one of the best options for streaming.

Open the mobile app, hit a button, and connect to the fastest and closest ExpressVPN server — and that’s it. You can also be selective with your servers, but this VPN is hard to beat if you want to connect without any trouble or fuss.

A seven-day trial is available for Android and iOS.

Review: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN offers paid plans with up to eight simultaneous devices and a server network that spans 105 countries, including all 50 U.S. states. ExpressVPN operates a no-logs policy, confirmed by a recent audit performed by KPMG.

Who it’s for: During extensive testing over the years, I’ve found ExpressVPN to offer a speedy, reliable service with a great server network. On rare occasions, I’ve needed to switch servers due to website blocks, but aside from that, ExpressVPN is well worth the money and is best suited for those who put speed first, other features second. It doesn’t hurt that the VPN is easy to use, either.

Who should look elsewhere: Connections are stable and reliable, but given that this VPN is more expensive than most, I would prefer to see support for unlimited simultaneous connections. If you need more than eight connections, check out another of my favorite mobile VPNs.

Customer reviews are generally positive regarding speed and streaming, but price hikes on renewal aren’t popular.

You can purchase ExpressVPN for $12.95 on a month-to-month plan, $6.67 per month for one year of access with three months free, or, during a current promotion, $5 per month on a two-year plan, with four months free.

Show Expert Take Show less

Best mobile VPNs	Price	Simultaneous connections	Google Play rating	App Store rating
NordVPN	Starts at $3.39 per month	10	4.6	4.7
Surfshark	Starts at $2.19 per month	Unlimited	4.7	4.7
IPVanish	Starts at $2.19 per month	Unlimited	4.4	4.6
Private Internet Access	Starts at $2.19 per month	Unlimited	4.5	4.7
ExpressVPN	Starts at $5 per month	8	4.5	4.7

*Lowest price at the time of writing. Please note that prices may vary based on retailer and available promotions, sales, or discounts.

A mobile VPN service is one that is compatible with mobile operating systems used on devices such as your smartphone or tablet. Typically, this means Google’s Android OS or Apple’s iOS.

Our mobile devices are used to access our email, financial accounts, social media, browse the web, and stream. As a result, you should consider using a VPN to encrypt your activities and prevent tracking in the same way you would for your PC.

Choose this best mobile VPN…	If you want…
NordVPN	The best overall VPN for mobile devices. This is a great mobile option that consistently performs well in terms of speed and stability and has an expansive server network.
Surfshark	An affordable mobile VPN. Surfshark is a cheap VPN that offers connections for as many devices as you like, whether PC or mobile. It also has interesting security features, including GPS spoofing.
IPVanish	A mix of value and speed combined with a highly customizable VPN. The VPN also supports numerous streaming services with decent speeds and is reasonably priced.
Private Internet Access	The best open-source mobile VPN. As an open-source product, the VPN is open to public appraisal, so this is one of the most transparent solutions on the market. Furthermore, PIA offers unlimited connections.
ExpressVPN	The fastest mobile VPN. ExpressVPN is an excellent option if speed is your top priority, but it can be expensive. The mobile app is also extremely easy to use.

When you are selecting your new mobile VPN, consider the following factors:

Price: The overall price of your new VPN should factor into your decision. Try to take advantage of promotions but ignore countdown timers — they are typically just marketing tools. While top-notch VPNs can cost upwards of $10 per month, many are available for only a few dollars.
Speed and stability: Opt for a VPN that won’t drastically reduce your speed, known as “speed loss,” and is known for stable connections.
Simultaneous connections: If you’re paying for a mobile VPN, you might want to use it across multiple devices, such as a desktop PC, laptop, or smart TV. We recommend you sign up for a plan supporting at least six devices, and thankfully, most paid plans now offer at least this number.
Contract length: You must also decide how long you’ll need to use a VPN. A two-year term tends to secure the best prices, but monthly, six-month, and one-year options are often also available. After you’ve made a selection, there’s typically a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Contract terms: VPN providers constantly offer discounts, typically on longer-term plans, so you need to consider the fine print before you sign up. Remember to cancel before the automatic renewal if you’re no longer happy with the service or want to switch to a cheaper deal elsewhere.
Apps: When selecting a mobile VPN, try it out first to ensure you like its accompanying iOS or Android app. Some VPNs, for example, have great desktop software but have a mobile app that isn’t as easy to use.
Trial periods: Many VPN providers offer a free seven-day Android or iOS trial, so you can try before you buy. Head to the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store to check.

All VPN providers recommended in this list have been subject to in-depth testing and reviews by the ZDNET team. We’ve been writing about these VPNs for years, spoken with their management and users, and developed a generally favorable impression. Here are the top factors we consider during our testing process:

Performance: Our top VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. After all, there’s no point in using a VPN while streaming if your connection continually drops or lags, which is especially important when you’re on mobile.
Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit how many devices you can connect to a service simultaneously. If you have a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, and possibly even a smart TV you want to connect to a VPN, you need a service that allows at least six simultaneous connections.
Security: There’s no point using a VPN unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements and patching reported bugs.
Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection. This is an important feature for a VPN, as it protects you by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.
Geo-blocks and streaming: We know VPNs can be key to accessing local content and services while you’re away from home. Given these factors, we ensured that our top recommendations performed well and were unlikely to slow down your connection while streaming.
Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our mobile VPN recommendations have to offer easy-to-use and intuitive mobile apps.
Countries and servers: In how many different countries does the VPN provider have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether there are enough — at least 50 or so — to provide variety.
Trial length and price: Each VPN we recommend has a solid money-back guarantee, and many offer mobile users a seven-day trial.
Support: As with any subscription software, you may encounter problems with installing apps, using the service, renewing, or canceling. We list VPNs with an available support team.

ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can’t cover all locations. Every home, community, local ISP, and nation has a different infrastructure. Once you choose, it’s essential that you test for all your likely usage profiles and only then decide whether to keep the service or request a money-back guaranteed refund.

Check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page for a more extensive breakdown.

Latest news in the VPN space

ExpressVPN has undergone a fresh audit, conducted by KPMG, which has confirmed the VPN provider’s no-logs policy.
Custom DNS services are on Proton VPN’s product roadmap for iOS, macOS, and iPad OS.
Reports suggest that Russia is considering imposing fines for advertising VPNs.
BulletproofVPN says its business is no longer viable, causing problems for lifetime subscribers. Windscribe has since offered some users complementary Pro subscriber access for six months.

Suppose you’re at your desk and want to access a website like this one. To do this, your computer initiates a request by sending some packets. If you’re in an office, those packets often travel through switches and routers on your local area network (LAN) before a router transfers them to the public internet.

Also: What is a VPN, and why do you need one?

Once on the public internet, those packets travel through many computers. Your browser makes a separate request to a series of name servers to translate the domain name service (DNS) name ZDNET.com to an IP address. That information is sent back to your browser, which sends the request again through many computers on the public internet. Eventually, it reaches the ZDNET infrastructure, routes those packets, grabs a webpage — a bunch of separate elements, and sends all that back to you.

Each internet request usually involves a series of communication events between multiple points. A VPN encrypts those packets at the originating point, often hiding the data and the information about your originating IP address. The VPN software on your end then sends those packets to the VPN server at some destination point, decrypting that information.

Yes, you should use a VPN whenever you can. It doesn’t matter what device you are using.

If the device contains any personal data or you plan to use it to access the internet, consider investing in a VPN to enhance your online privacy. The same threats to your security appear across PCs, laptops, and mobile devices, and so a VPN can be a valuable tool to stay safe.

When using a VPN, a decrease in online speed is expected, although the best VPNs shouldn’t cause a speed loss of more than 30%. The best VPNs on the market can cause a reduction of no more than around 15%. Your phone’s performance shouldn’t be impacted, unless you have many apps running at the same time, as all apps require computing resources.

There is rarely an exception to a simple answer: none. The free ones that sound good will take you, your data, and your security for a ride. Avoid them.

A good VPN service requires hundreds of servers worldwide and many networking resources. If you’re not paying to support that infrastructure, advertisers or data miners probably are. If you use a free service, your data or information will likely be sold, and that’s never good. After all, you’re using a VPN to keep your data secure. You wouldn’t want your data to go to some company to sift through — it completely defeats the purpose of a VPN.

All that said, we do recommend a handful of free VPN services, offered by Proton and Windscribe. The trade-off is that the free options are quite limited.

If you’re traveling or using the internet in a public place like a coffee shop, data encryption is critical. Most public Wi-Fi hotspots are open and unencrypted, which means anyone on the network can see what you send, eavesdrop on your activities, and steal passwords. If you can, stick to cellular networks.

Also: Best password managers & best password generators

The war between VPNs and streaming services has heated up. This is a gray area of the law. Despite this, many VPNs market themselves as great options for streaming and accessing geo-locked libraries and content.

Using a VPN might go against a streaming service provider’s terms of service. So, while you can stream with a VPN enabled, access can change when streaming services block IP addresses, and you could potentially lose your account.

Also: Best VPN for Netflix in 2025 & Best VPN for Apple TV

Simultaneous connections refer to the maximum number of VPN connections you can have at any time. For example, if you only have five simultaneous connections, and you’re using your smartphone, laptop, and tablet over a VPN at the same time as your partner is using their smartphone, PC, and tablet over the VPN back home, there might be a problem.

One of your connections won’t be private any longer. Having access to more simultaneous connections is a good thing.

A fully functional VPN should protect your privacy and mask your location and IP address. If you’re unsure if your VPN is working correctly, some tools make checking your VPN’s performance easy.

You can find out your IP address and location using whatismyipaddress.com. Compare the IP address and location when you’re connected with and without a VPN. If they are different, then your VPN is doing its job.

It’s also possible that your VPN is leaking your data and potentially exposing your online activity. You can run tests on a site like DNS Leak Test to ensure your VPN has no DNS leaks or IP leaks. Plenty of tools allow you to test for leaks, but VPN providers own many of them, and it may not always be clear who developed the tool, which could be a conflict of interest. You may want to run tests with several different sites and compare the results.

Yes. There are some circumstances when it doesn’t, but those tend to be rare. Generally speaking, you’ll get from 50% to 90% of your real-world speed through a VPN connection, depending on your original location and the country server you select. Remember, the further away your preferred server, the more likely that you will experience speed loss.

There are many free VPNs available for mobile devices, but nothing in life is truly free. You will likely be handing over your data in return for the service. They may also not be trustworthy, have ads, and track your online activities.

Also: Best free VPN trials of 2025

Free VPNs from trustworthy companies are few and far between. Proton’s free VPN is an option we support, although it is limited. Others you might want to explore are listed in our guide.

Alternative mobile VPNs to consider

In ZDNET’s July update, we performed substantial editorial and layout changes, updated the latest news on our top choices, and ensured all pricing and deals are up-to-date.

ZDNET Recommends

Editorial standards