Let's be honest, most of us couldn't live without our mobile devices. Whether we're at work, home, or anywhere else, your phone is almost certainly within arm’s reach at all times. And given how important a phone is to modern life, it’s a sensible idea to protect it with one of the best mobile VPN apps on the market.
By signing up for one of the best mobile VPNs, you can enjoy total anonymity on the go and protect your data when browsing the internet and using your favorite apps. Plus, you’ll even be able to access region-blocked streaming content.
But it’s not as easy as you might think to find a VPN you can rely on. There’s no end of substandard providers out there that can do more harm than good to your cybersecurity. But don’t worry because this guide to the very best VPNs for your mobile devices will help you choose a tried-and-tested solution.
We regularly review dozens of VPNs, and compare the apps, unblocking power, security tools, and price of today's top picks. We’ve used our results to curate this list of the best mobile VPN apps on the market.
The 3 best VPNs at a glance
The best mobile VPN apps in 2025
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
ExpressVPN: the best mobile VPN
ExpressVPN tops our list as the best mobile VPN app on the market. As soon as you launch the app, it's obvious it's a professional bit of kit. But it’s a lot more than just a pretty interface.
When you first launch the app, you’ll see a big on/off switch, and a single tap will get you connected to the pre-selected best server. As this suggested server is almost always the 'right' choice for day-to-day security, this is pretty much all you'll need to get started.
But if you want to use the VPN to access geo-blocked websites or streaming services, you can choose from ExpressVPN's list of over 3,000 servers instead. You'll get fast and reliable speeds on more or less all of them, and you'll be able to unblock BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and more. It also allows you to gain access to some Netflix libraries, such as Canada, Australia, and sometimes the US. Although we have found Nord and Surfshark to be the absolute best Netflix VPN choices in our most recent testing. So if you want to unblock lots of different versions of Netflix, Express might not be your best option.
If you want configuration options, ExpressVPN has plenty to offer here, too. You’ll find a selection of protocols to choose from. And you can check for DNS leaks on your network, activate your kill switch, and enable split tunneling (although the latter is only available on Android).
If you have any issues with ExpressVPN – and, let's face it, no VPN is trouble-free 100% of the time – the 24/7 live chat support responds in seconds and has, in our experience, always been able to resolve any issues we've faced.
ExpressVPN's mobile VPN allows eight simultaneous connections per plan, which should be enough for most individuals. But if you've got a lot of devices or you want a VPN for all the family, you won't be able to cover them all at the same time.
If you want the easiest, most powerful, and most reliable mobile VPN available today, ExpressVPN is the choice for you – it really is that simple. But, if you're not happy with the service, it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get to grips with the service before you commit.
NordVPN: the best all-rounder
As one of the main players in the online security game and our top choice for the best VPN overall, it's no surprise NordVPN is one of the very best options for any user. As well as being the best all-round solution we’ve tested, Nord has developed an excellent mobile VPN to sit alongside its powerful desktop clients. Covered by the same great secure software as their PC counterparts, the apps are incredibly secure and offer users total privacy – check out our NordVPN review for more info.
Nord's apps are a sound choice for anyone looking to stay secure when you’re out and about, especially when connecting to public Wi-Fi. Nord also boasts some cool features not often seen in mobile VPNs, such as Onion over VPN, and a Double VPN feature similar to Surfshark's offering.
One slight downside to NordVPN's apps, however, is the design. The mobile VPN shares the same map-based interface as the desktop clients. And while that works well on a large screen, this can feel cramped and a little tricky to navigate on a smaller screen.
That said, all you need to do is swipe up and you will see a VPN server list. And in practice, you'll only be spending a minute or two using the app, while the rest of your time will be spent enjoying internet anonymity. So it’s hardly a deal breaker.
Aside from that tiny design flaw, Nord's apps are extremely functional and simple to use, and will certainly appeal to those who want maximum security in their VPN.
Surfshark: the best cheap VPN
Surfshark has become a firm favorite here at Tom's Guide thanks to its charming simplicity and its impressive range of features stuffed into extremely budget-friendly plans. If you're someone who likes to adjust a ton of settings, it’s perhaps not the best choice. But if you're looking for a cheap, reliable mobile VPN that’ll work well straight out of the box, it's a great option.
In our testing, we found the app itself to be straightforward and intuitive. It even offers a one-touch connection to the best server. While it perhaps doesn’t have quite as many features as some of its competitors, it's got all the essential tools, like a kill switch, a selection of protocols, and auto-connect. For most users, that's going to be more than enough to deliver all the benefits of a VPN without being too complicated.
Elsewhere, Surfshark is one of the best streaming VPNs around. We found it unblocks a host of Netflix libraries and other services while still maintaining great connection speeds on all but the farthest-flung servers. If you want to stay secure, you'll also be able to use Double Hop, which connects you to two servers in tandem for extra privacy.
The biggest selling point, though, is Surfshark's price. With prices starting at just $2.19 a month, it's one of the best-value VPNs out there, especially considering it has a brilliant unlimited connections policy. So you can cover all your devices with one low-cost subscription.
While it can't compete with ExpressVPN in terms of power and ease of use, Surfshark offers a seriously tempting package of a useful mobile VPN, bargain pricing, and unlimited device support.
Other quality VPNs I've tested
If you're looking for a mobile VPN with strong privacy credentials and features to protect your mobile, Proton VPN won’t let you down. One of the most secure VPNs on the market, Proton VPN offers hugely powerful apps on all mobile operating systems. And you'll even be able to test it out by using the free version, although it’s worth noting that this is a lot more limited than the paid-for option. Still, as free VPNs go, it’s pretty good. In fact, in our full Proton VPN review, we found it one of the very best free VPNs on the market.
Elsewhere, Proton VPN boasts great streaming capabilities. Not only does it unblock Netflix across a number of regional libraries, it also offers great support for other streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more.
If you've not used a VPN before, there's a chance that you might find the apps a little complex. But in truth, they still feel thoroughly modern when you’re using them. Definitely worth considering if it’s within your budget.
If you're looking for one of the best torrenting VPNs or one of the best streaming VPNs, CyberGhost won’t let you down.
While its mobile VPN is pretty simple, CyberGhost is priced keenly and can do pretty much everything most users will need – you can find out more in our CyberGhost VPN review.
Split tunneling is available on mobile, and CyberGhost switches ports regularly to maintain your security. However, if your connection fails, you haven't got a kill switch to keep you protected. And you won't be able to change protocol either, as the apps only use OpenVPN.
If you go for the longest plan, it's a very affordable option – but our #3 choice Surfshark is even cheaper while offering a more well-rounded service. However, CyberGhost has a huge fleet of servers, and millions of people swear by CyberGhost, so it must be doing something right.
If all you need from a mobile VPN is cybersecurity on the go and the ability to stream geo-blocked content, our testing backs up that CyberGhost is a great choice. However, for most people, there are probably better options further up the page.
How to choose the best mobile VPN for you
Any of the VPNs listed above will offer you a pretty comprehensive service, but how do you narrow the field down from five names to one?
When choosing the perfect VPN for you, then you will have to ask yourself some questions. The most obvious is price, how much are you willing to spend on a VPN? If budget is your main concern then Surfshark and CyberGhost are the obvious choices to opt for, but if it's not too much of an issue then NordVPN and ExpressVPN make a compelling case.
If having a VPN connected to multiple devices at once is important then again Surfshark will appeal thanks to its unlimited simultaneous connections. Realistically though if you think 10 devices is more than enough then NordVPN's credentials as one of the most secure VPNs might be more important.
Speaking of privacy, if you're using a VPN to avoid censorship then you'll want to ensure that your VPN has a reliable killswitch, which would rule out CyberGhost. If all of those factors have left you unsure then perhaps you should try a VPN with a proven free version like ProtonVPN and then upgrade if you like it.
How we test the best VPN services
We don’t make VPN recommendations based on marketing materials. We draw our own conclusions here at Tom's Guide on the back of our extensive testing. If you want all the details, check our full breakdown of how we test VPNs. But if you don’t want to read the full article, I'll give you the TLDR (too long don't read) here.
Our dedicated in-house VPN testing team gets hands-on with all the providers mentioned above, along with many more to ensure we’re always recommending the best of the best. And every six months, we re-sign up to a VPN plan and install it on several devices to test each one from scratch.
For our guide to the best mobile VPN, we performed extensive testing of both the Android and iOS versions. We check every setting in each app to be certain it all works as promised.
If we find anything unusual or surprising, we'll investigate to get to the bottom of it. We’re not afraid to dig deep or even delve into the source code of an app to find out more. We'll also give you our verdict on an app's interface and user experience.
After that, we need to judge a VPN's streaming capabilities. We test each VPN with the mobile apps for the biggest streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer. Streaming services are becoming better at identifying and blocking VPN traffic, so we retest this performance every month.
Best mobile VPN FAQs
What is the best mobile VPN?
All options considered, we rate ExpressVPN as the best mobile VPN on the market.
As soon as you open the app, it's clear it's a professional bit of kit. It's simply laid out, but in just a couple of taps you can access in-depth features and settings like a kill switch, different protocols, split tunneling, and auto-connect.
With 3,000+ servers in 94 countries, there's a huge range of locations to choose from, and almost every one delivers great speeds – plus, these should only increase with the introduction of the upcoming Lightway protocol.
Plus, even if none of that interests you, ExpressVPN is the best mobile VPN for accessing Netflix and other streaming services, so whatever you want it for, we reckon it's the best choice.
What makes a great mobile VPN app?
The top VPN for phone users should come from a respected provider with a history of excellence. Our #1 pick ExpressVPN is one such provider, and has been leading the way for some time now with simple, powerful mobile VPN apps, excellent privacy, and great streaming support – not to mention a killer 5-star rating in our full ExpressVPN review.
For those who need them, extra features like a kill switch and split tunneling are super useful, and neat solutions like auto-connect can make using the service much easier.
It goes without saying that you should prioritize quality mobile apps. On desktop you can get away with aged apps, but mobile VPNs need to be optimized for touchscreens and perform as seamlessly as all your other apps. All of our top picks are quick, modern, and right up to date. So, with all that in mind, here are the best five mobile VPN services for you to choose from.
What can I use a mobile VPN for?
A mobile VPN is a great way to maintain your privacy when outside the house, and it's especially important to be careful when connecting to unsecured public Wi-Fi. While incredibly convenient, it's a perfect place for hackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks and compromise your data.
A VPN makes sure this won't happen by encrypting everything you send over that network, rendering it useless even if it is intercepted.
Another neat use of VPNs is the ability to stream content from other countries. If you're on holiday and want to access Netflix, you might notice your favorite shows aren't available. By using a VPN to virtually relocate yourself, you'll be able to watch the content you know and love – check out the best streaming VPN for more info.
What features should a mobile VPN have?
It's good to ensure your provider has a no-logs policy, which means it will never record any identifying data about you or your VPN uses. Even if it's forced to give evidence, it won't have anything about you to disclose.
Having reliable, fast connections is always useful. If you're out and about you might be in a rush, so it's important that you're not waiting around just because of your VPN.
Finally, it should be easy to use. Small screens are more fiddly than a huge monitor and mouse, so having a simple, clean interface is usually considered a benefit.
Can you use a free mobile VPN?
While it's possible to get a free VPN, they never come close to the usability of a paid-for service. They often come with data caps ranging from 500MB a day to 500MB a month, and you'd be surprised at how much data a quick scroll on Facebook, a few YouTube videos, and emailing some attachments uses.
On top of that, they're not as fast as a premium services – and it's worth being aware of how free VPNs make money from you, even if it isn't directly. For example, they might inject extra ads into your browser, or even sell your data to advertisers for a profit.
We think a paid-for VPN – even if it's Surfshark at less than $2.50 a month – is absolutely worth the investment.
Disclaimer
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
