What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
No single VPN is the best choice for every Android phone or tablet. The right app depends on what you need: privacy-first use, per-app routing, a usable free plan, or access to streaming libraries. In RTINGS’ 2026 Android testing, Mullvad is named its best tested Android VPN. Tom’s Guide’s 2026 Android comparison features NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. These are two different judgments from two different review methods, so read them as reviewer opinions rather than a settled ranking.
How the main Android VPN apps compare
The table below covers the features that matter most for choosing an app. Where a cell says “not stated,” the reviewed provider pages and review articles did not establish that detail, so check the provider’s current Android page before subscribing.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
| Provider | Per-app split tunneling | Kill switch or Always-on | Free Android plan | Android distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Documented in its Android app | Always-on VPN and kill switch, managed through Android system settings | Yes, free plan available on Android | Google Play, F-Droid, or GitHub APK |
| ExpressVPN | Three modes: route all apps, exclude selected apps, or allow only selected apps | Android’s system-level Block connections without VPN setting is available, with the interaction described below | Not stated | Not stated |
| NordVPN | Split tunneling reported in Tom’s Guide’s 2026 Android review | Kill switch reported in Tom’s Guide’s 2026 Android review | Not stated | Provider website or Google Play |
| Surfshark | Split tunneling reported in Tom’s Guide’s 2026 Android review | Kill switch reported in Tom’s Guide’s 2026 Android review | Not stated | Not stated |
| Mullvad | Not stated | Android kill switch described in RTINGS’ 2026 review | Not stated | Not stated |
Use this table to narrow the field, not to pick a winner. Feature lists in review articles can lag behind app updates, and a feature appearing in one column does not tell you how well it works.
Two different controls that people call “VPN settings”
Most confusion about Android VPNs comes from mixing up two layers of control. One is inside the VPN app. The other belongs to Android itself. They can interact in ways that surprise users.
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Per-app split tunneling (set inside the VPN app)
Split tunneling decides which apps send their traffic through the VPN. The exact options depend on the provider. ExpressVPN documents three Android modes: send all apps through the VPN, exclude selected apps so they bypass it, or allow only selected apps through it. Proton VPN documents split tunneling in its Android app as well. Use this when you want a banking app or a local-only service to use your normal connection while everything else is protected, or when you want only a browser or messaging app to be routed through the VPN.
Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN (set in Android)
Android’s own VPN settings control what happens when the VPN is not connected. Proton’s support page says its Android Always-on VPN and kill-switch functions are managed by Android system settings, and that Always-on support begins at Android 7.0 under that guidance.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
- Always-on VPN tells Android to reconnect the selected VPN app automatically, including after a restart.
- Block connections without VPN stops apps from using the internet when the VPN is not connected. It is the setting that prevents traffic from leaving outside the tunnel if the VPN drops.
The conflict is specific. According to ExpressVPN’s Android support documentation, Block connections without VPN overrides per-app split-tunneling rules. If it is on, apps you excluded from the VPN cannot connect directly, because the system is blocking all traffic that is outside the tunnel. ExpressVPN presents this as a deliberate trade-off: stronger protection when the connection drops, in exchange for excluded apps losing direct access.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Choosing by what you need
Privacy-first use
RTINGS’ 2026 Android review names Mullvad its best tested Android VPN. It describes the service as privacy-focused and says it includes an Android kill switch. This is the strongest review-backed pick for readers whose main goal is privacy rather than streaming. Proton VPN is also positioned on privacy, and its Android app is open source, according to Proton. Open-source code can be inspected, but an app being open source does not by itself prove its privacy claims. Treat both providers’ privacy statements as the company’s own claims unless an independent audit or test backs them up.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Per-app routing
If you want fine control over which apps use the VPN, ExpressVPN documents the most explicit three-mode split-tunneling setup among the providers described in the reviewed material. Proton VPN also documents split tunneling in its Android app. Before you rely on exclusions, read the Block connections section above. If you use both split tunneling and Block connections without VPN, you need to understand that excluded apps may not work while the VPN is off.
A free plan
Proton VPN is the free option described in the reviewed material. Proton says its Android app is free and works on Android 6.0 or later. That free plan is useful for basic protection, but it has a clear limit: Proton states that its free plan does not guarantee streaming access to geoblocked content, and that only paid plans carry that guarantee. The free plan is Proton’s own statement of what it offers. It is not an independent test of performance. None of the other providers in this article were confirmed to have a free Android plan in the reviewed sources.
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Streaming access
Streaming access is the least predictable part of choosing a VPN. Services can accept or block a VPN address whenever they recognize it, and no provider can promise otherwise. RTINGS warns that streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video may challenge or block Mullvad’s VPN IP addresses. Proton’s guarantee applies only to paid plans. A privacy-oriented provider is not guaranteed to get past a streaming platform’s VPN detection. If unblocking a specific service is your main goal, choose a provider on the strength of its own stated guarantees and test it during a refund window before you rely on it.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOther candidates from the comparison
Tom’s Guide’s 2026 comparison covers NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. Its review of Surfshark’s Android app reports a kill switch, split tunneling, and Multi-Hop. Its NordVPN review reports split tunneling and a kill switch. These are the reviewer’s findings, so check the provider’s current Android documentation for the exact feature names and where each one is located in the app.
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Installing on your Android version
Before installing, check your Android version. You can usually find it under Settings, then About phone, then Android version. Menu names vary by manufacturer. The minimum requirements you need are:
- Proton VPN’s Android app: Android 6.0 or later, per Proton’s free Android page.
- Always-on VPN controls: Android 7.0 or later, per Proton’s Always-on guidance.
- Other providers: the minimum version is not stated in the reviewed sources, so check the app’s listing before installing.
Most users should install from Google Play, because updates and security fixes arrive through the normal app update path. Proton also offers its Android app through F-Droid and as a GitHub APK. Choose a non-Play route only if you understand the trade-off: you must download the file from the provider’s official repository, confirm that you have the current release, and update manually. An APK from an unofficial site is not a safe substitute.
Once installed, open the VPN app, then open Android’s VPN settings to decide whether to turn on Always-on VPN and Block connections without VPN. Enable them only after you have set your split-tunneling rules, so you can see how the combination behaves.
Recommended Free Tools
Troubleshooting common problems
- An excluded app will not connect. Check whether Block connections without VPN is turned on in Android’s VPN settings. If it is, excluded apps are blocked from direct access by design. Either turn that setting off or stop excluding the app.
- The internet stops entirely when the VPN drops. This is Block connections or Always-on working as intended. Reconnect the VPN app. If you need a direct connection while the VPN is off, turn off Block connections without VPN, but understand that traffic can then leave outside the tunnel.
- A streaming service says you are using a VPN or proxy. Try a different server location. Keep in mind that this is not guaranteed to work, as covered above.
- Menu options described in a review are missing. Check your Android version. Always-on controls depend on Android 7.0 or later under Proton’s guidance, and the app may have changed since the review was published.
How the reviews were done
RTINGS says it tested more than 20 popular VPNs for its 2026 Android recommendations and names Mullvad its best tested Android VPN. Tom’s Guide’s 2026 comparison covers four services: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. Its scope is narrower, and the reviewed material does not describe its test method. This article did not perform its own tests. Its comparisons rely on provider documentation and the two review publications named above, and each judgment should be attributed to the outlet that made it.
Prices, server counts, speed claims, and app-store ratings change often and are not covered here. Check them directly with each provider before you buy.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
