Compare Top VPN Apps For Smartphones - December 2024

Why you should install a VPN on your smartphone

Most smartphones, regardless of the operating system they use, have VPN support built in. Working with the built-in option is usually not easy and often requires a certain amount of technical expertise, or long hours of talking to a helpdesk to get it to work properly. Alternatively, you can install and run a separate VPN app, which is very easy.

Going online using your smartphone without the extra security of a VPN is not very smart. A VPN will protect your smartphone against all kinds of security risks. For example, with a VPN, your online activity will be secured and hidden from your provider, accessing public WiFi networks is no longer a risk to the safety of your personal data, and your IP address and location are encrypted and hidden from hackers.

Aside from protecting your data and securing your connection, a VPN can provide you access to so-called geo-blocked content, often streaming video content, that is normally restricted to users in specific geographic regions. Connecting to a VPN server in the country the streaming service is active in, virtually places you in the restricted area and enables you to watch the channel’s content.

What is VPN protection?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a security tool that provides a wide range of benefits. Surf the web without having to worry about the security of your personal information. Safe and private access to content from anywhere in the world: TV shows, social networks, sports and news channels, video/ audio streaming, dating sites, gaming sites, et cetera. A VPN encrypts your connection to the internet to prevent hackers from accessing your data.

You need to use a VPN connection to…

• … secure your Wi-Fi connection, especially on public networks.
• … browse the web anonymously, without compromising your privacy.
• … unblock all internet content. No more limitations or barriers.
• … hide your IP address from prying eyes.
• … change your virtual location to access any content from anywhere in the world.
• … browse freely without worrying about any censorship issues.

How to compare VPN services?

While researching VPN services, we identified five key criteria you should take into consideration when choosing a VPN service.

Security: to meet current security standards, a VPN service should offer a basic set of security features, including 256-bit encryption, DNS server anonymity, and a complete absence of connection logs.
Speed: a major concern regarding the use of VPN software is the negative impact it has on your device’s performance and speed. Generally speaking, using a VPN service will increase a device’s latency, while it decreases upload and download speed. Checking which VPN will have the least impact on your browsing experience is recommended.
Connection stability: using a VPN provider is great until it suddenly disconnects, which is not an uncommon thing to happen. It is important to choose a VPN service that offers a stable connection with as little as possible connection problems or downtime.
Price: buying a VPN system subscription is not expensive. For a nominal fee, you’ll receive a range of protection features to ensure your online safety. It’s essential to check which VPN service offers the best value for money.
Platform/ device accessibility: make sure the VPN service you choose is scalable and, once installed, can be used on all or at least most of your devices and is compatible with major operating systems.