There are a myriad of reasons as to why you might want to setup a VPN on your Android-powered smartphone or tablet. Some of those reasons are for security purposes and others are to simply get your local network or ISP to stop being a nuisance. After all, who wouldn’t want ISP’s to stop throttling them on certain websites, such as BitTorrent, even if the file you are downloading is completely legal.
We’re going to be reviewing what a VPN is, why you want to use one, how to set one up, and the best VPN apps to use on your device. Be sure to read on to find out more and finally have a truly private Internet connection.
What is a VPN?
A VPN may sound more technical than your used to, but it really isn’t. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) simply allows you to secure your connection while on a private network. More technically, upon connecting to a VPN, you’re being routed through servers across the world, masking your IP to keep it away from prying eyes, such as your ISP.
For instance, your ISP collects all of your browsing history data, and some ISPs even throttle a lot of services, such as BitTorrent and Netflix. You might be familiar with Comcast doing this extensively. We’re not advocating piracy, as the file you could be downloading off of BitTorrent could be entirely legal. In connecting to a VPN while downloading from BitTorrent and streaming through Netflix, you might find the speeds to be faster, as it stops the ISP from throttling the connection and collecting that data. As I mentioned earlier, it secures all of your data.
Another great example is websites that are geo-blocked. Some websites, such as Netflix UK, are only free to access if your IP is in a certain country. For instance, if your IP is based out of the U.S., you cannot access the U.K.’s version of Netflix. Running a VPN and masking your VPN in another country makes this possible.
Why you should use a VPN
In our digital age, it can be a real concern of hooking up to public networks at the Airport or at your local coffee shop, especially with incidents like these becoming more common. In cities that are highly populated, like New York, using your banking information on a public network is essentially the same thing as standing in the middle of a crowd, and announcing your username, log-in, and social security number to everyone.
Setting up your VPN right after you hit a public network will keep your most personal information secure, where it would normally be open for anyone with knowledge to see.
Best VPN apps to use
There are a lot of VPN apps out there. Some are free and others are subscription based. However, I feel like there are three specific top-of-the-line ones that are worth looking at here.
Tunnelbear
My all time favorite VPN app to use is Tunnelbear, as it’s quick and easy to setup. It’s ease of use is remarkably impressive. However, for the most part, it is a service that you have to pay for, but it is certainly worth the $4.99 per month. There’s also an option to pay for it on a yearly basis for a flat rate of $49.99. There is always the option of taking it for a test run, as the company does give you 500MB of data on a monthly basis for free.
Like most VPN apps you can choose where your Virtual Private Network is located so that you can access those websites that are geographically blocked, such as Netflix UK, and etc.
You can download it here.
Hideman VPN
Hideman VPN is another favorite, although it’s not as straight forward as Tunnelbear is. That’s not to say it’s hard to set up either, the design and layout is just different, and thus there are more menus to wade through. It does the same thing as most VPN apps, such as encrypt your data, hide your IP, etc. You really do not want a free solution, and I’ll explain why soon.
Much like Tunnelbear, Hideman isn’t free either. There services do cost money, but not nearly as much as Tunnelbear. A year subscription will only run you about $25.
You can download it here
Hola VPN
Finally, we have Hola VPN. This particular VPN app is unique in that it is entirely free and has it’s own built-in browser. However, it doesn’t matter what connection you’re on, it runs extremely slow.
As I mentioned earlier, you need to watch out for free VPNs, but this is one of the few that will do you well, as it handles the data management and security much differently than other free solutions out there. It takes advantage of idle resources, such as data when you’re not using your phone, and shares it with its users. In layman’s terms, everyone’s extra broadband data is thrown into a pool to be shared with users so that Hola doesn’t have to charge you for a data subscription.
It’s an interesting way to handle to handle data management that not many other free VPNs do.
You can download it here.
Setting up a VPN
Setting up a Virtual Private Network on your mobile device is ridiculously easy. In this case, I’m using my personal preference, Tunnelbear. It’s really just the option of selecting your choice of country, and then tapping connect, although you may have to enter payment information if you’re using a subscription-based service.
However, some smartphones have their own integrated Virtual Private Networks where you don’t need to hunt down a decent VPN app. Just head on over to Settings > Wireless and Networks > Other. If your smartphone has it, select the VPN option under Other, type in your desired username and password, and then simply tap connect! Your VPN should be ready to use now.
The idea of setting up a VPN can sound intimidating, if it has never been in your technical realm. However, if you’re able to navigate applications like Facebook and Twitter, setting up a VPN is just as easy.
Final words
One thing you need to keep in mind before going forth with your new Virtual Private Network is that VPNs can slow your connection down. You won’t be likely to notice it on a broadband connection, but you’ll definitely be able to see the change if you’re using a VPN over a cellular network.
Another thing to keep in mind–not all free solutions are good solutions. Some free VPNs have a little bit of security, but not nearly enough. They’re alright for doing your usual browsing on the web, but I certainly wouldn’t trust them with bank account information and other personal accounts. Just be sure to carefully research what you use and connect to.
If you have any questions or need further help setting up a VPN, post a comment below or we’d be more than happy to help you over on our forums.
Come comment on this article: How to set up a VPN on Android
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