All major VPN providers make mobile apps. Whether you’re on Android or iOS, you’ll have the option to download and install a VPN app. These same providers also let you connect multiple devices simultaneously, which means that, aside from using your VPN to secure your desktop connection, you can use it to protect everything from your phone to your Smart TV.
Whether you really need a VPN on your phone depends on how you use it. For many people, a VPN on their phone is useful rather than essential. We’ll explore the situations where a VPN on your phone can come in handy – such as when using public Wi-Fi – and when you might prefer not to be connected, like when you need to save your phone’s battery.
What does a VPN on a phone do?
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) routes your internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a secure server. As such, your online activity is hidden from the wifi network you’re using, as well as from your ISP.
The VPN’s protection applies to the entire device, whether you’re browsing the web or using mobile apps. Your phone’s real IP address is hidden and you’re assigned a new, temporary IP address matching the VPN server location selected.
When a VPN is worth using on your phone
Here’s a list of some of the scenarios in which a VPN is worth having on your phone.
Public or untrusted wifi
Connecting to public hotspots in coffee shops, airports, and hotels exposes your traffic to anyone on the same network. However, a VPN encrypts all of the data between your phone and the VPN server, preventing snoopers and hackers from intercepting your communications.
Bypassing censorship or geo-restrictions
If you travel to a country that blocks certain websites, social media platforms, or messaging services, a VPN routes your traffic through servers in regions where those services are unrestricted.
Protecting privacy from ISPs
Your ISP can see the domains you visit and, depending on your country, may log or monetize that information, or otherwise share it with authorities upon request. A VPN hides your browsing activity from your ISP, reducing the data they can collect and share with third parties.
Securing sensitive transactions
When accessing financial services on your phone, such as online banking, payment, or investment apps, a VPN adds an extra layer of protection. This is especially needed on shared or unfamiliar networks. A VPN’s encryption reduces the risk of data being intercepted.
Remote work and handling sensitive data
Whether you’re a remote or hybrid worker or self-employed, your phone often handles sensitive data, such as emails and customer information. A VPN helps secure these connections on public and third-party networks, protecting confidential data and preventing exposure when you’re working on the move.
Avoiding targeted advertising
Websites and ad networks often infer your location from your IP address and serve location-specific ads. If that’s not something you want, you can use a VPN to hide your real IP address and location. This makes it harder for trackers to build up a precise profile.
Improving security on rooted or jailbroken devices
If you’ve modified your phone’s operating system, the device may be more vulnerable to malware, network attacks, and data interception. Using a VPN on these devices adds an extra layer of protection for all traffic, reducing risk.
Maintaining consistent encryption across all apps
Although many messaging apps use end-to-end encryption, not every app does. For example, many browsers send data in plain text or rely solely on HTTPS. By using a VPN, you’re ensuring that any traffic lacking built-in encryption is still able to travel securely over the internet.
When you probably don’t need a VPN on your phone
A VPN can be a great way to protect your privacy as well as to bypass censorship and keep data safe on public wifi, but there are a few situations where the disadvantages of using a VPN outweigh the benefits.
You want to preserve battery life
VPNs continuously run in the background to encrypt and route your internet traffic. Despite modern VPN apps being more efficient, running a VPN all day can significantly reduce battery life, particularly if you have an older device. When you need the phone to last all day without charging, the power cost may outweigh any privacy gain.
Need for maximum speed
Streaming content in high resolution or playing fast-paced mobile games requires a low-latency connection and a high level of bandwidth. Routing traffic through a remote VPN server introduces extra distance and encryption overhead, which can notably degrade performance.
Low-quality or logging VPN providers
Some free or cheap VPN services keep extensive logs of your activity, some of which may be sold to advertisers. Using this type of VPN can expose more information than it protects, making the VPN counterproductive for privacy.
Services that block VPNs
Streaming platforms, banking apps, and other geo-restricted services often detect and block VPN IP addresses. You may find yourself having to try multiple servers to find one that works. In some cases, you’ll have to disable the VPN entirely.
Limited data plans
VPN encryption adds slight data overhead. This can be problematic for users on limited data plans who may be pushed close to their data cap, particularly when streaming or downloading large files. If every megabyte matters, the extra data usage from a VPN may not be worth it.
Legal restrictions
In a small number of countries, using a VPN is illegal or otherwise regulated. Certain workplaces and schools prevent VPN usage on their networks. Even if you manage to get a VPN working, the legal risk of using one may well outweigh any privacy benefits.
Already encrypted apps
If most of your communication takes place through encrypted apps like Signal, WhatsApp, or Proton Mail, then you may not need the additional protection of a VPN. This is particularly the case if you’re using these apps on a trusted network and want the best possible performance.
How to set up a VPN on your phone
Below is a straightforward, step-by-step guide that you can use to set up a VPN on your phone, regardless of whether you’re on iOS or Android. The process is essentially the same for any reputable VPN service.
Here’s how to set up a VPN on your Android or iOS phone:
- Start by choosing a reliable VPN provider. You’ll want to pick a service that has a clear no-logs policy and strong encryption. We recommend NordVPN.
- Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, search for your chosen VPN provider, and tap Install.
- Follow the in-app prompts to create an account – you’ll likely need to provide an email address and create a password – and select a subscription plan.
- Both iOS and Android will ask for permission to create a VPN configuration on your device. Tap Allow on iOS or OK on Android. These permissions are necessary for the app to route traffic through the encrypted tunnel.
- Choose a server in the country whose content you want to access. For example, a server in the US for accessing Netflix US or Hulu. Or simply select a nearby server for the fastest possible speeds.
- Tap the Connect button to secure your phone’s connection. You can always tap again to disconnect if there are any moments you don’t need the VPN.
Tips for the right VPN setup for your phone
Before you dive into configuring a VPN on your phone, it helps to understand how the right setup can provide protection without sacrificing performance. Below are some practical tips to help you strike a balance.
1. Pick a provider with a strict no-logs policy
Choose a VPN that operates a no-logs policy. It shouldn’t retain any data that can identify you as a user, be it your IP address or browsing activity. A transparent privacy policy gives you confidence that even if authorities were to request data, there’d be nothing of significance to share. An increasing number of providers are having their no-logs claims independently verified in third-party audits.
2. Use modern, efficient VPN protocols
WireGuard is a lightweight, fast VPN protocol with strong ChaCha20 encryption. Many reputable VPN providers now use WireGuard by default. Indeed, Mullvad even announced its decision to cease supporting OpenVPN, fully focusing on WireGuard going forward. Choosing this modern and efficient protocol gives you the best blend of speed and security on your phone.
3. Enable the kill switch feature
A kill switch instantly blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. Without this very useful feature, your phone could revert to an unencrypted connection for a short time, exposing your data. This is especially risky if you’re browsing on an unsecure public wifi network. Turning on the kill switch in the VPN app’s settings allows for continuous protection.
4. Activate auto-connect on untrusted networks
You can configure the VPN to automatically turn itself on whenever you join a wifi network that isn’t marked as “trusted”. This means you don’t have to remember to turn the VPN on manually so you’re always protected when connected to public hotspots.
5. Consider split tunneling for performance-heavy apps
If you need the fastest possible speeds for gaming or streaming, some VPNs offer split tunneling which lets these specific apps bypass the VPN connection. You’ll then have the lowest possible latency for these activities without having to sacrifice the security of your other internet traffic. If available, split tunneling can usually be activated via your VPN app’s settings.
6. Choose servers close to your physical location
The distance between your phone and the VPN server has a direct impact on performance. The greater the distance, the longer it takes for data packets to travel back and forth. All of this becomes more noticeable when streaming, playing online games, and making video calls. For everyday browsing, you’re best off connecting to a local server. You may want to reserve more distant servers for when you need to access geo-restricted content from those locations.
7. Check for DNS leaks
Even if your traffic is encrypted, DNS queries can give away your true location. All quality VPNs provide DNS leak protection, ensuring DNS queries are also routed via the VPN’s encrypted tunnel. You can check you’re protected from DNS leaks when connected to a VPN by running a DNS leak test. When you do this, you want to see DNS servers belonging to the VPN provider – not anything tied to your ISP or real location.
8. Make sure the app stays up-to-date
Making sure you’re on the latest version of the VPN client is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of ensuring continued protection for your phone. Regular updates bring security patches, performance improvements, and new server locations and features. You can enable automatic updates in your device’s app store settings to stay up-to-date.
9. Keep an eye on your battery
If you notice significant battery drain, there are a few things you can do to potentially protect your phone’s battery life. Try switching to a lower-overhead protocol such as WireGuard. Avoid always-on usage by turning off the VPN when at home on trusted wifi. You can also enable split tunneling so only selected apps use the VPN.
10. Test the VPN connection after making changes
When you switch server locations, VPN protocols, or split tunneling rules, you can always run a quick test by opening your browser and visiting an IP address check site. You want to confirm the displayed IP matches the chosen server, confirming your privacy is intact and that there’s no accidental exposure.
VPN on your phone: FAQs
Will a VPN slow down my phone’s internet?
A VPN can affect your phone’s internet speed, but whether you notice a dip in speed – and to what extent – depends on a few factors. The main factors are the encryption level used, the distance to the VPN server, the server’s load and bandwidth, and the VPN protocol used. The fastest VPNs use a high level of encryption but also use the lightweight WireGuard protocol, offer unlimited bandwidth, and provide plenty of local servers, all of which helps minimize slowdown.
Can I use a free VPN on my phone?
Yes, there are plenty of free VPNs with apps for Android and iOS. Whether you should use one is another question. Free VPNs tend to offer fewer servers and server locations. They are likely to impose bandwidth and data limits, preventing you from streaming or playing games. You won’t be able to use them to bypass geo-blocking of popular streaming services like Prime Video, and there’s the risk that the free VPN will log and sell your personal data to third parties.
Does a VPN drain battery life?
Yes, using a VPN does consume additional battery power, but the impact is modest on most modern smartphones. The VPN app must continuously encrypt and decrypt data, maintain a persistent secure tunnel for that data, and exchange data packets. If you are noticing heavy battery drain on your phone, you might want to consider switching to a lightweight protocol such as WireGuard. Connecting to a server closer to your location may also help.
Is using a VPN on a phone legal?
Using a VPN on a phone is legal in the vast majority of countries, where it is treated as a tool for improving online privacy and security. However, a small handful of jurisdictions such as China, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates restrict the use of unauthorized VPN services. As such, it’s important to check the specific laws of the country you’re in before proceeding to use a VPN.
Site: Best mobile VPNs
