Top five VPN apps for Android


Internet these days has become the omnipresent means of getting things done. And when you browse over the WiFi or other services, you always run the risk of compromising your privacy and security. That is where a VPN- Virtual Private Network - comes into play. You can use the internet via a VPN service so that your privacy and security are bolstered. In the following article, we will pick the top VPN services which help you achieve this goal.

VPN is much useful way of making your browsing safer. The internet has become so ubiquitous and made us so reliant on it that your own security is at risk. When you use a public network, you always are exposed to the hackers who are after your sensitive information. The best way to stay away from them is to not use public networks at all! Use a VPN instead.

What is a VPN and how it works?

A VPN or the Virtual Private Network connects two computers. It is a group of computers that have been networked together on a public network. When you use VPN, you do not connect to the site directly. You launch the VPN client and then enter your credentials on it. The client sends the information to the remote server and once the authenticity is verified, the communication is established after encrypting and securing it.

VPN apps for smartphones and precautions

The VPN apps for your phone save you from the prying eyes that sneak into your private information. But you should note that all those VPN services available in the app store are equivalent. There are a multitude of services available and choosing the best one is always a tough deal.
Make sure you read their privacy policies. Settling down with a service that you are comfortable with would be a better option. Indulge into some sort of research before you make a choice. More so with the free models which need a keen eye. Check if they are selling your information or exposing you to serious threats. Some of these business models have been known to have ambiguous privacy policies. To aid you in choosing the right VPN service for your Android, here is my pick of the top VPN clients based on their features and trustworthiness.

VYPR VPN

VYPR VPN makes it to the top in almost every listing of the best VPN service. It is one of the robust services available currently. The backbone of the service is the firm from which it comes - Golden Frog. They are known for their excellent policies when it comes to privacy and security. It is never dependent on third party servers. They have their own network of servers.

It does not share your information with anyone. The service logs the IP addresses and connection times, and nothing more than that. It uses its own Chameleon technology which hides your usage of a VPN. It tends to be more helpful when you are streaming content from some other country.

The Android app is quite easy to use. You can easily connect to local server, or connect to the fastest server. You may also choose a server from the list as per your preference for the country. It lets you check your connection info, the speed graph and your connection log.
The service is free for using up to 500 MB per month. You can opt for a Pro account at $15 per month or $100 annually. A Premium account will cost you $20 per month or $120 annually. Opting for a paid account will unlock additional features. You can have two simultaneous connections with a Pro account, while a Premium account lets you have three connections.
The service has around 50 server locations across the world and offers you 256 bit encryption.

TunnerBear VPN

TunnerBear is one of the cutest and stylish VPNs available in the market. It is the most adorable service of the lot. It has visual graphics to show what's going on with your connection. The interface is quite user friendly. It does not log your IP address, nor does it track your online activity.

With a bear themed easy interface, TunnelBear VPN does not share your data with any third party. It has servers set up in 15 top countries. you get a fairly faster speed of connection. It is one of the best for beginners or not so advanced users.

The Android app is equally easy to use. You can see your server location on the map. Additionally, you can make your bear tunnel on it! You also get a functional homescreen widget which makes it quite handy to launch the app.
The service does offer a 256 bit encryption and is light on your data. The USP of the service is its simple user friendly nature.
You get 500 MB of data per month as a free user. You can get an additional 1 GB per month if you plug in your twitter handle with the service. The Pro account will cost you $7 per month or $57 per year. The paid account lets you use it for unlimited data on upto five devices.

F-secure Freedome VPN

F-Secure Fredome VPN boasts of a quicker and easier user interface. Quite helpful for users with not much experience with VPNs, it also has a built in virus scanner. Plus point is this virus scanner is totally free! It does have quite good service in Europe, Asia and North America. Coming from the house of F-Secure - a Finnish firm known for for its anti-theft software, they have servers in 16 countries. It does not log your data. In fact, it lets you create your account without even registering.

The Android app is quite handy. It is simple at its best. Launch the app, and you will get a big button to switch the service ON or OFF. You get unlimited bandwidth with the service. The in built virus scanner helps you get rid of virus, malware or nasty websites.

Unlike other VPN services mentioned above, F-Secure Freedome does not have a free subscription. You get a 14 day trial offer after which you need to subscribe to the premium category. You will need to pay $36 for usage on a single device, $40 for three devices and $48 for five.

ExpressVPN

This is one of the straight forward services you can lay your hands on. Its servers have presence in around 100 locations across the world in over 75+ countries. It has been considered as one of the best in terms of VPN services. It does not log your IP addresses, or connection data.

The ExpressVPN comes with excellent 24/7 customer support. It offers 256 bit encryption. The Android app is quite straight forward without any gizmo. The app shows you a list of feasible server locations based on your current position and you are good to go. You get fairly good connection speeds. the app also comes with a handy homescreen widget.

It again does not offer any free account. Once set up you can try it free for 24 hours. After that, you can choose a plan that suits you. You have plans like $13 for for a month, $60 for six months and $100 per year. All the plans come with a 30 day money back guarantee.

PureVPN

A self managed app just like VYPR VPN, it has no third party involvement. It does boast of over 500 server locations spread across more than 100 countries. The firm says it has a zero logging. It offers you 256 bit encryption as well. It also has a round the clock excellent support system in place. You can set it up to run five simultaneous connections across devices.

The Android app for the service is easy to use. You can choose a server of your choice, or can opt for the fastest server available at the moment. PureVPN has stated that it has dedicated servers for specific purpose. As such, it lets you set the purpose of your activity. You can set it on a number of parameters such as sharing files, streaming movies or on the look out for security.

You have no free account in PureVPN as well. On signing up with the service, you get a 2 GB data for trying out the features of the service. Once you are convinced, you may opt for the subscription plans.

Wrap Up

VPN service is one of the best security measure an internet user can adopt. They can also be used to overcome regional restrictions imposed by certain services. It makes using the internet on a insecure public WiFi convenient. This, however, is not an exhaustive list as the Play Store is filled with practically innumerable number of choices. In my opinion, VYPR VPN is the best among the above listed services. However, you can also try other options from above to arrive at your favourite VPN client. If you feel I have missed any important VPN service in the list, please feel free to comment in the responses below.


Article by Timmappa Kamat
Timmappa Kamat is a technology enthusiast. He has an active interest in newer technological developments. He is fond of new gizmos & gadgets. He loves to share his knowledge through tech-savvy websites as a freelancer. A Mechanical Engineer by profession, he is equally interested in blogging, with his own blog. He wants to carve a name for himself in blogging arena one day! If you need any clarifications about his articles,please respond here below or get in touch with him through his profile.

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Comments

Guest Author: A. S. Bhasker Raj24 Nov 2015

Thimmappa,

Your listing of VPN for Android is elaborate and clear, many people will find the guide useful.

Author: Timmappa Kamat24 Nov 2015 Member Level: Gold   Points : 2

Thanks Bhasker for the feedback. My favourite continues to be VrPr VPN. It has always been renowned for the stringent quality and clear policies on privacy. You can be sure of safeguarding your privacy and security. Besides, you also get a free subscription plan with the service.

Author: DR KRISHAJIT BARUAH21 Dec 2015 Member Level: Silver   Points : 1

These are the great opinions of the Author for saving Android and smartphones. How can you get VPN services ON or OFF? You have shown your settings phone has an option for pin id and password secure your services of internet connections. Invisible data are saved from your phone viruses,malware or nasty websites and you can get 14 days trial services after your subscription. Its gives servers presenting around 100 locations across 75+ countries in the world. You can get settings such as sharing files, movies and security; also you get 2GB data for trying the services.



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