Top 5 Smartphone VPNs in 2026

Choose a smartphone VPN by the protection features its plan lists and how many devices you can cover. This 2026 ranking compares five VPNs with iOS and Android apps, including their ad and tracker blockers, malware protection and kill switches.

How we ranked smartphone VPNs

All five providers list both iOS and Android, so app availability alone does not separate them. We ranked them by the smartphone-relevant features in their plans: ad and tracker blocking, malware protection and a kill switch, then the number of simultaneous device connections. That last figure matters if you want one subscription for a phone, tablet and other devices. Surfshark leads with unlimited connections; the other four list ten.

We also considered details that help you choose between otherwise similar plans, such as protocol options, server locations, split tunneling and support. These are listed features, not a promise that one phone will be faster or safer in every situation. We rank on specs and features rather than lab tests.

1. Surfshark Starter

Surfshark is our top pick for a household or anyone who uses several devices, because it combines the phone-focused protection features in this ranking with unlimited simultaneous connections. Its apps are listed for Android and iOS, and the plan includes an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and a kill switch. It also lists WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec and Surfshark’s own protocol.

The provider lists 4,500 servers across 100 countries, RAM-only servers, a no-logs policy and an independent no-logs audit. Multi-hop, split tunneling and obfuscated servers give you additional connection options. Those broader features make Surfshark a flexible choice if your phone is only one of the devices you plan to protect.

• Strengths: Unlimited simultaneous devices; ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and kill switch; Android and iOS apps; 100 countries; RAM-only servers and an independent no-logs audit.
• Limits: A free version is not listed. The listed support options are live chat, email and a knowledge base; 24/7 support is not specified.

Choose Surfshark if you do not want to count phones and other devices against a connection limit. It is especially practical when several people in your home will use the same plan.

2. Proton VPN Plus

Proton VPN Plus is a strong alternative if you want ten simultaneous connections and a broad choice of locations. The plan includes the three features central to this ranking: an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and a kill switch. Proton lists Android and iOS apps, along with WireGuard, OpenVPN and its own protocol.

Proton lists 20,000 servers in 149 countries, plus a no-logs policy and independent no-logs audit. Multi-hop, split tunneling, obfuscated servers, Tor via VPN and port forwarding are also listed. The provider offers a free version, but the smartphone protection features and ten-device limit described here are for Plus.

• Strengths: Ten simultaneous devices; ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and kill switch; 149 countries; free version available; independent no-logs audit.
• Limits: The ten-device cap is lower than Surfshark’s unlimited connections. A router app is not listed among the platforms.

Pick Proton if ten connections are enough and country choice matters to you. Its listed free version can also be useful if you want to try Proton before deciding whether the Plus plan fits.

3. hide.me Premium

hide.me Premium covers the key phone protections and gives you ten simultaneous connections. Its Android and iOS apps come with an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and a kill switch. The provider lists four protocols: WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec and SSTP, giving you more protocol choices than the other plans in this top five.

hide.me lists 2,600 servers in 57 countries. Other listed features include a no-logs policy with an independent audit, multi-hop, split tunneling and port forwarding. It also offers a free version, and its support options include live chat, email, tickets, a forum and a knowledge base, with 24/7 support listed.

• Strengths: Ten simultaneous devices; all three core phone protections; four listed protocols; 24/7 support; independent no-logs audit; free version available.
• Limits: Its 57 listed countries are fewer than the first two providers. The plan does not list a free trial.

Choose hide.me if you value protocol choice and several support channels, or if you want a free version alongside a paid plan. Its ten-device limit works for a typical collection of personal devices, but not as broadly as Surfshark’s unlimited allowance.

4. ExpressVPN Basic

ExpressVPN Basic offers the same three smartphone protections that define this ranking: an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and a kill switch. It lists Android and iOS apps and allows ten simultaneous devices. Its protocol options include WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec and Lightway, ExpressVPN’s own protocol.

The provider lists servers in 113 countries, RAM-only servers and a no-logs policy backed by an independent audit. Obfuscated servers and split tunneling are included in the listed features. ExpressVPN also lists 24/7 support, a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Strengths: Ten simultaneous devices; all three core phone protections; 113 countries; RAM-only servers; independent no-logs audit; 24/7 support.
• Limits: A free version is not listed. The server count and permission for P2P or torrenting are not specified in the listed plan details.

Consider ExpressVPN if you want a choice of four protocols and value the listed RAM-only servers, broad country coverage and around-the-clock support. The ten-device cap is the same as Proton, hide.me and ZoogVPN, rather than unlimited.

5. ZoogVPN Premium

ZoogVPN Premium makes the top five with Android and iOS apps and all three smartphone-focused features: ad and tracker blocking, malware protection and a kill switch. It allows ten simultaneous connections. Its listed protocols are WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPsec and its own protocol.

ZoogVPN lists 1,000 servers in 55 countries, a no-logs policy and split tunneling. Obfuscated servers and 24/7 support are also listed. A free version is available, although the provider’s money-back guarantee is seven days, shorter than the 30-day guarantees listed by the first four products.

• Strengths: Ten simultaneous devices; ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and kill switch; five listed protocols; 24/7 support; free version available.
• Limits: It lists 55 countries and 1,000 servers, the smallest totals in this ranking. Its money-back guarantee is seven days.

ZoogVPN is a reasonable fit if you want the core phone protections and ten connections, and its listed protocol range appeals to you. Look closely at the shorter guarantee period before choosing it over a higher-ranked plan.

Products that narrowly missed the list

CyberGhost lists Android and iOS apps, all three core protections and seven simultaneous devices. It misses the top five because that device allowance is below every ranked plan except Surfshark’s unlimited connections.

X-VPN Premium also lists both phone platforms and the three core protections, but allows only five simultaneous devices. That makes it less flexible than the ten-device options ranked here.

How to choose a smartphone VPN

Start with the number of devices you actually want covered. If you share a plan or regularly use a phone, tablet and laptop, Surfshark’s unlimited connections remove the need to manage a cap. If ten is enough, compare the other plans by the features you will use rather than treating their shared device limit as a major difference.

Check that the protection features you care about are explicitly listed for the plan. Every product here lists an ad and tracker blocker, malware protection and a kill switch, but that does not make the plans identical in other respects. Proton lists 149 countries, while hide.me lists four protocols and 24/7 support. Those distinctions may matter more to you than a small difference in device coverage.

Finally, check the terms that affect your decision after installation: whether you want a free version or trial, how long the money-back guarantee lasts, and which support channels are listed. In 2026, the best fit is the VPN whose connection allowance and listed protections match your own phone and household needs, not simply the one with the longest feature list.