VPN for Android: Setup, Settings and the Best Options in Australia
Setting up a VPN on an Android phone takes about two minutes: install an app, sign in, tap connect. The harder part is choosing one from the wall of look-alike apps in the Play Store. This guide covers both, along with the settings worth knowing about.
What a VPN does on Android
With a VPN connected, everything your phone sends over the internet travels through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN provider’s server. The network you are on, whether that is cafe Wi-Fi or your mobile carrier, can see that you are using a VPN but not which sites and apps you are using. Websites and apps see the VPN server’s location in place of yours. A small key icon in the status bar shows it is on.
It covers the whole phone, not just the browser.
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. Android asks permission to set up a VPN connection the first time. Tap OK.
That is it. 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 do it from the phone’s settings: Settings, then Network & internet, then VPN. On Samsung phones it is under Connections, then More connection settings, then VPN. Menu names vary a little between brands and Android versions.
If it keeps reconnecting: Always-on VPN
Android has a setting called Always-on VPN, which reconnects the VPN whenever it drops. Next to it is Block connections without VPN, which 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 working. To change them, go to the VPN page in settings and tap the cog next to the VPN’s name.
Which VPNs have an Android app?
Every provider below lists an Android app on its own website. Several also list Android TV, which matters if you want it on a television or streaming box.
| VPN | Lowest monthly price | Renewal price | Money-back | Countries | Devices | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 Surfshark | A$3.49 27 months, A$94.23 upfront | – | 30 days | 100 | Unlimited | Visit Surfshark |
2 CyberGhost | A$3.27 26 months, A$85.02 upfront | A$85.02 per 1 year | 45 days | 100 | 7 | Visit CyberGhost |
3 NordVPN | A$4.79 27 months, A$129.33 upfront | A$187.08 per 1 year | 30 days | 150 | 10 | Visit NordVPN |
4 Proton VPN | US$3.49 (about A$5.00) 2 years, US$83.76 upfront | US$83.88 per 1 year | 30 days | 149 | 10 | Visit Proton VPN |
5 IPVanish | US$2.39 (about A$3.43) 2 years, US$57.36 upfront | – | 30 days | – | Unlimited | Visit IPVanish |
6 ExpressVPN | US$2.99 (about A$4.29) 28 months, US$83.72 upfront | US$99.95 per 1 year | 30 days | 113 | – | Visit ExpressVPN |
| 7PureVPN | US$2.15 (about A$3.08) 27 months | – | 31 days | – | – | Visit PureVPN |
| 8hide.me | US$2.69 (about A$3.86) 26 months, US$69.99 upfront | US$69.99 per 26 months | 30 days | – | – | Visit hide.me |
| 9IVPN | US$5.00 (about A$7.17) 1 year, US$60.00 upfront | US$60.00 per 1 year | – | – | 5 | Visit IVPN |
| 10Mozilla VPN | A$7.50 1 year, A$89.99 upfront | A$89.99 per 1 year | – | 30+ | 5 | Visit Mozilla VPN |
– means the provider does not publish that detail on its pricing page. Prices shown in US$ are published in that currency; the Australian-dollar figure is approximate, converted at the European Central Bank euro reference rates for 12 Oct 2026 (US$1 = A$1.43).
Device limits are worth a look. If you want the VPN on your phone, tablet and a few family phones as well, check the devices column.
Free VPN apps for Android: be careful
The Play Store has hundreds of free VPN apps, and a lot of them are from companies you cannot find anything out about. A VPN can see all your traffic, so who runs it matters more than with most apps. Before installing a free one, check:
- Who makes it. Is there a company name, a website and a privacy policy?
- How it makes money. If it is not a paid plan or a data cap that pushes you to upgrade, it is probably advertising or your data.
- What permissions it asks for. A VPN does not need your contacts or your photos.
Free plans from providers that also sell a paid service are the safer bet. Best free VPN in Australia lists what we could confirm about each.
One more: only install from the Play Store or the provider’s own website. Avoid APK files from download sites.
FAQ
Does Android have a built-in VPN?
Android has built-in support for connecting to a VPN, but 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 as a protocol, it is generally the lightest on battery.
Is it legal to use a VPN on Android in Australia?
Yes. See are VPNs legal in Australia?