VPN for Android: Setup, Settings and the Best Options in Australia
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Setting up a VPN on Android takes about two minutes: install an app, sign in, tap connect. The harder part is picking a trustworthy one from the wall of look-alike apps in the Play Store.
What a VPN does on Android
A connected VPN sends everything your phone does online through an encrypted tunnel to the provider’s server. It covers the whole phone, not just the browser.
The network you are on, café Wi-Fi or your mobile carrier, can see you are using a VPN but not which sites and apps. Websites and apps see the VPN server’s location instead of yours. A small key icon in the status bar shows it is on.
How to set up a VPN on Android
- Choose a provider. The table below shows current prices, or see the free options.
- Install its app from the Google Play Store. Check the developer name matches the provider.
- Open the app and sign in.
- Tap connect. The first time, Android asks permission to set up a VPN connection. Tap OK.
To choose a country, pick it from the app’s server list. For everyday privacy, choose the Australian city nearest you.
How to turn off a VPN on Android
Open the VPN app and tap disconnect, or pull down the notification shade and tap the VPN notification.
You can also go to Settings, then Network & internet, then VPN. On Samsung phones it is Connections, then More connection settings, then VPN. Menu names differ a little between brands and Android versions.
If it keeps reconnecting: Always-on VPN
Always-on VPN reconnects the VPN whenever it drops. Next to it, Block connections without VPN stops all internet traffic unless the VPN is up. Together they act as a system-wide kill switch.
They are useful if you want the VPN on all the time, and baffling if you switched them on by accident and your internet stops. To change them, open the VPN page in settings and tap the cog next to the VPN’s name.
Which VPNs have an Android app?
These VPNs list an Android app on their own websites: Surfshark, NordVPN, Proton VPN, PureVPN, CyberGhost, IPVanish, PrivateVPN, ExpressVPN, Windscribe, hide.me, Mozilla VPN, Mullvad VPN and Astrill VPN. For a TV or streaming box you want an Android TV app too, and Surfshark, NordVPN, Proton VPN, PureVPN, CyberGhost, ExpressVPN and hide.me list one.
| VPN | Android app | Android TV app | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
 Surfshark | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 NordVPN | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 19 Oct 2026 |
 Proton VPN | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 PrivadoVPN | Not checked | Not checked | – |
 PureVPN | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 Intego VPN | Not checked | Not checked | – |
 CyberGhost | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 IPVanish | ✓ Listed | Not checked | 2 Nov 2026 |
 PrivateVPN | ✓ Listed | Not listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 ExpressVPN | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 Windscribe | ✓ Listed | Not listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 hide.me | ✓ Listed | ✓ Listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 IVPN | Not checked | Not checked | – |
 Mozilla VPN | ✓ Listed | Not checked | 2 Nov 2026 |
 Mullvad VPN | ✓ Listed | Not listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 Astrill VPN | ✓ Listed | Not listed | 2 Nov 2026 |
 AdGuard VPN | Not checked | Not checked | – |
 Mysterium VPN | Not checked | Not checked | – |
 Private Internet Access | Not checked | Not checked | – |
Apps as each provider lists them on its own website. "Not checked" means we have not read that provider's app list yet.
“Not listed” means the app was not on the provider’s own app list when we read it, so check its site if one you want is missing. Current prices are below; check the devices column if the family’s phones and tablets need covering.
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | Visit Surfshark |
| 2NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | Black Friday deal ends soonVisit NordVPN |
| 3Proton VPN | US$3.49 (about A$4.97) 2 years, US$83.76 upfront | US$83.88 per year | 30 days | 149 | 10 | Partner offerVisit Proton VPN |
| 4PrivadoVPN | US$1.11 (about A$1.58) 2 years | – | 30 days | 49 | 10 | Visit PrivadoVPN |
| 5PureVPN | US$2.15 (about A$3.06) 27 months | – | 31 days | 65+ | 10 | Visit PureVPN |
| 6Intego VPN | US$3.75 (about A$5.34) 2 years, US$89.99 upfront | US$149.99 per 2 years | 30 days | – | 2 | Partner offerVisit Intego VPN |
| 7CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | CyberGhost review |
| 8IPVanish | US$2.19 (about A$3.12) 2 years, US$52.56 upfront | – | 30 days | – | Unlimited | Visit IPVanish |
| 9PrivateVPN | US$2.00 (about A$2.85) 3 years, US$72.00 upfront | US$72.00 per year | 30 days | 63 | 10 | PrivateVPN review |
| 10ExpressVPN | US$4.99 (about A$7.10) 15 months, US$74.85 upfront | US$99.95 per year | 30 days | 113 | 10–14 | Visit ExpressVPN |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
– means we do not have that detail yet. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 30 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.424).
Are free VPN apps for Android safe?
Some are; many are not. The Play Store has hundreds of free VPN apps from companies you cannot find out anything about, and a VPN sees all your traffic. Before installing a free one, check:
- Who makes it. A company name, a website and a privacy policy.
- How it makes money. If not from paid plans or a data cap that nudges you to upgrade, then from advertising or your data.
- What permissions it asks for. A VPN does not need your contacts or photos.
Free plans from providers that also sell a paid service are the safer bet: Proton VPN, PrivadoVPN, Windscribe and hide.me have one. Best free VPN in Australia lists what we could confirm about each.
Install only from the Play Store or the provider’s own website, never an APK file from a download site.
FAQ
Does Android have a built-in VPN?
Android can connect to a VPN, but has no VPN service of its own. You need a provider, or details from your employer. Some Google Pixel phones include Google’s own VPN.
Does a VPN drain the battery on Android?
A little, because the phone encrypts everything it sends. If the app offers WireGuard, use it: it is a lean protocol and usually the lightest on battery.
Why does my internet stop when the VPN is off?
Block connections without VPN is switched on. Turn it off on the VPN page in settings, via the cog next to the VPN’s name.
Is it legal to use a VPN on Android in Australia?
Yes. See are VPNs legal in Australia?