Is It Safe to Use a VPN on a Phone?

Yes, VPNs, or “virtual private networks,” can be used safely on phones, but there are risks if you don't choose a good, reliable VPN service.

VPNs add an extra layer of security to your internet, so it makes sense that you would want one on your phone. After all, we're increasingly relying on mobile devices as our main connection to the world around us, whether via social media, email, or messaging colleagues. The best VPNs let you share an account across 5 devices or more, including on smartphones.

We've rounded up our recommendations of the best VPNs further down in this guide, but, if you're itching to get going, then our top-scoring VPN is Surfshark, a simple, safe VPN with some great-value deals and discounts. What's more, the provider has recently released Surfshark One, an all-in-one cybersecurity plan that includes VPN and antivirus subscriptions as well as a safe search tool and a data breach alert function. For Christmas, Surfshark is offering up to 82% off + up to 4 months free.

We tell you what you need to know about using a VPN safely on your phone, plus how to choose the best VPN to use on a phone or tablet.

In this guide:

• Are VPNs Safe to Use on a Phone?
• Are VPN Safe to Use for Business on a Phone?
• How to Choose a Safe VPN for Your Phone
• Best VPNs for iPhone and Android
• Is It Legal to Use a VPN on Your Phone?

Are VPNs Safe to Use on a Phone?

The short answer is yes – it's perfectly safe to use a VPN on your phone. That is, so long as you choose a trustworthy app. A quality VPN app will let you change the server through which you connect to the internet, in effect, masking your location. This can let you access content that's locked to certain regions, or maintain a degree of privacy while online.

So, if a VPN is designed to make your internet connection safer, what risks could a VPN bring?

• Fake VPN scams
• VPNs that log your data
• VPNs selling your browsing details to advertising partners
• Significantly reduced browsing speeds

Your main concern is simple – you need to trust the VPN provider itself to look after your data. You also need to be certain that the app you are using is a genuine VPN, and not itself a scam.

In an ironic twist, many online hackers rely on scamming those who are working the hardest to avoid scams. This means that consumers should be wary of free anti-virus installers, fake ‘alert' pop-ups, and, yes, VPN software.

Even legitimate VPNs can get up to some pretty shady practice, such as monitoring your browsing data or selling it to advertising partners. You may be bombarded with unwanted ads while using the service, for instance.

Plus, a poor quality VPN can cause appalling slowdown. By nature, a VPN has an impact on your browsing speeds. However, the best VPN services (inevitably, paid-for) invest to ensure this isn't an undue impact.

Always check and double-check a VPN provider before committing to it, and only use the ones you trust.

Our research has shown that NordVPN is an excellent choice, thanks to its easy to use interface, and extensive features.

Are VPNs Safe to Use for Business on a Phone?

VPNs have recently become very popular for personal use, but the reality is that the technology was primarily used for businesses until recently. The ability to secure your data is great for companies looking to bolster their security, particularly amidst a pandemic that is seeing a large percentage of employees working from home.

In so many words, VPNs are safe for businesses, even when using them on your phone, but you have to make sure you're getting them set up correctly. You'll want to ensure that you're installing VPNs with the help of your IT department, so you can have a centralized, focused strategy for security. Basically, don't just tell your employees to download any VPN they can find, particularly because there are some less-than secure options out there.

Fortunately, most VPN providers offer some kind of business plan that allows you to manage accounts, centralize billing, and generally keep track of your entire businesses security, no matter where your team is working from.

Why Should Businesses Use a VPN on a Phone?

In earnest, the average business isn't going to need a VPN on its employees' phones. Business VPNs are typically geared more towards actual work devices, like desktops and laptops, as that is often where users are actually getting work done.

However, if your business is greatly concerned with security and want to ensure that every inch of your data is protected, getting VPNs on your employees' phones could be a good idea. They can protect business email accounts from being hacked and allows employees to access sensitive data when they're on the go. Simply put, minimizing your employees' digital footprints can only be good for a business's security.

If you're looking for a VPN for your business, check out our best VPNs for business guide to get started

How to Choose a Safe VPN for Your Phone

VPNs encrypt the data that leaves your internet-connected device, giving you the benefit of a private network even while you're on a public one. In a very un-private digital world, it's one of the more positive ways that technology has impacted our daily lives in the 21st century.

As a result, you can access websites and services that are geo-locked to certain regions, you'll avoid wi-fi spoofers while on unsecured coffee shop networks, and you'll mask your own IP address, giving your search history more anonymity. VPNs work whether you have a desktop, laptop, or mobile phone.

For mobile devices, the VPN must be in the form of an app. Here's how to protect your phone:

• Check with your favorite VPN service in order to confirm that they do use a mobile app.
• Download it — The Apple App Store has VPN apps listed for iPhone or iPad, and the Google Play store for Android phones. Only use the official Google Play store for Android, as alternative app stores can contain malware or unvetted apps.
• Install it — You then need to create an account, and might need to agree to certain permissions, or specify which region you'd like to browse from. For a paid-for VPN service, you'll need to submit payment details, too
• Check for an icon on the status bar at the top of your phone screen — if the VPN app is running, you should see a key icon on Android or a VPN one for iOS.

For more, see our handy guide on how to set up a VPN for the first time (or, if you're struggling to get going, read our VPN troubleshooting guide).

That's how the process of installing a VNP on your phone works. But don't start installing the app yet – there are potential risks involved if you choose the wrong service.

Best VPNs for iPhone and Android

You should expect any high-quality VPN service to offer a mobile app for Android and iOS devices. Smartphones are essential to modern life, and the best VPN services are prepared for the fact that most users want to browse on their phone as often (or more) as they do on their desktop.

Which VPNs should be at the top of your mind? Tech.Co has crunched the numbers in the past to figure out a definitive list of 2023's best overall VPN services. You can read our full guide to the best VPNs, or see our top choices, below:

Is It Legal to Use a VPN on Your Phone?

Yes, it is legal to use a VPN on your mobile device. At least, in most countries.

Anything that would be illegal without a VPN is still illegal with one, so don't buy drugs, stalk someone, or torrent copyrighted material

Those in the U.S. or the U.K. are legally in the clear. A few countries — Iraq, North Korea and Belarus — don't permit it, while a few more — China, Turkey, Russia and the United Arab Emirates — restrict VPN use.

However, even if you're following the letter of the law, you should keep a few caveats in mind. First, anything that would be illegal without a VPN is still illegal with one, so don't buy drugs, stalk someone, or torrent Game of Thrones with your smartphone.

Also, using a VPN to watch a geo-locked YouTube video or Netflix show is against the company's terms and conditions. It can't take legal action against you, but they're definitely within their rights to ban you from using their service if they associate your account with attempts to access it over a VPN. It's unlikely, but the rights are on Netflix's side.