VPN for Android
Protect your Android phone or tablet on any network. Set up vpn.now with the official tunnel app from Google Play in a few minutes.
The native Android app is coming soon. You can connect today with the official tunnel app, below.
The vpn.now app for Android is on the way
Until it lands, the steps below connect you with the official tunnel app. Want to be told when the native app ships? Head to the download page.
Set up vpn.now on Android
The whole process takes about five minutes. You will need a free vpn.now account before you start.
Step 1: Sign in and add a device
Open your vpn.now account, go to the Devices page, and register a new device. Choose Android and name it, like Pixel Phone.
Step 2: Install the tunnel app from Google Play
Open Google Play, search for the official tunnel app, and install it. It is free and open source.
Step 3: Import your config
Download the config file from the Devices page, or scan the QR code with the tunnel app. The private key is generated at download time and is never kept on our servers.
Step 4: Connect
Tap the toggle next to your tunnel in the tunnel app. Android will ask permission to set up a VPN connection the first time. A key icon in the status bar shows the VPN is active.
Prefer to configure things by hand? See the manual setup guide.
Always-on VPN, and how to lock it down
Android has a system setting that keeps your VPN running at all times. Go to Settings, then Network and internet, then VPN, tap the gear next to the tunnel app, and turn on Always-on VPN. After that, Android brings the tunnel up by itself after every reboot and network change.
Right under it sits a second toggle: Block connections without VPN. That is Android's built-in kill switch. With it on, if the tunnel ever drops, the phone sends no traffic at all until the VPN is back. It is the strictest setting, and the safest one on networks you do not trust. Our kill switch guide explains when the strict mode is worth it.
Keep some apps outside the tunnel
Sometimes you want most traffic protected but a few apps left alone. A banking app might reject VPN connections, or a streaming app might work better on your normal connection. The tunnel app handles this with per-app exclusions: edit your tunnel, tap Applications, and choose which apps skip the VPN.
This is a form of split tunneling, and it is one of Android's best VPN features, because the choice is made per app rather than per site. Excluded apps use your regular connection and get none of the VPN's protection, so exclude as little as possible. Our split tunneling guide walks through smart defaults.
One small app from Google Play, nothing extra
The only software you need is the official tunnel app from Google Play. It is open source and weighs just a few megabytes. There is no vpn.now app wrapping it, no extra permissions, and no bundled extras. The same app is on F-Droid for phones without Google services.
You can try all of this without paying. The vpn.now free plan covers one device with a monthly data cap, which is enough to test speed and reliability on your own phone before you commit to anything.
What you need
- Android 8.0 or newer
- An active vpn.now subscription
- Google Play, or the ability to install the tunnel app APK from F-Droid
Having trouble? Our setup help section covers the most common issues, or you can contact support.
Android VPN questions
Does vpn.now work without Google Play?
Yes. The official tunnel app is also available on F-Droid, so de-Googled phones such as GrapheneOS or LineageOS devices work fine.
Can I make the VPN connect automatically?
Yes. Android lets you set an always-on VPN. Go to Settings, Network and internet, VPN, pick the tunnel app, and turn on Always-on VPN.
Does the VPN work on mobile data and Wi-Fi?
Yes. The tunnel protects your traffic on both mobile data and Wi-Fi, and our VPN protocol handles switching between networks smoothly.
Protect your Android device today
Set up takes minutes. vpn.now is free, with unlimited data and no card needed.
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