A Virtual Private Network, or VPN for short, encrypts your internet activities and hides your location. And since most people use their portable devices like smartphones to browse the web, it’s imperative to have a VPN.
Here’s the list of browsers with built-in VPNs on Android, so you don’t have to download extra apps.
Why Do You Need a VPN on Your Android Smartphone?
There are various reasons you need a VPN. But the major ones revolve around privacy and security. VPNs route all your traffic through a secure tunnel which ensures your data in transit is protected. This layer of protection is essential, especially when you’re using public Wi-Fi.
Another thing that makes a VPN service a must-have is it protects your online activity from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and anyone who may try to sniff your activity via the connected network.
A VPN also masks your physical location by giving you a different virtual IP address, thus hiding your identity. Lastly, a VPN gives you access to content or websites that would otherwise not be available in your location. The latter is crucial when you still want to access your video streaming service, for example, when you travel to unsupported countries.
Instead of downloading an extra app for routing your traffic via a secure tunnel, browsers with built-in VPNs can save you some space. There are different VPN services available. Most are free, and some offer subscription options. Free VPN services are okay, but they cannot compare to paid solutions.
If you want to jump into the VPN bandwagon, you can grab one of the best free VPN services. For browser-based VPNs, keep reading.
1. Opera Browser
Opera has a free built-in VPN service, and you don’t even need to create an account to get started. Just open the app, tap the Opera logo and select Settings, then activate the VPN. The service has no bandwidth limitations, and it has no intrusive ads either. You can choose to use the VPN in both private mode and normal mode, or just in private mode.
The fact that it is baked inside the browser makes it easy to use as well. It offers a little bit of choice, allowing you to set your virtual location to Asia, Europe or America.
Download: Opera Browser (Free)
2. Tenta Private VPN Browser
Tenta is a mobile browser with a primary security and privacy approach. It has a built-in VPN which is available for free but with certain limitations. Tenta offers a paid version of its VPN service, which unlocks all of its VPN locations, and can you can use it across your entire device—not just inside the browser—with no extra download.
A couple of VPN servers are available in Japan, the US, UK, Spain, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand, India, Brazil, and others. The free version locks you on one of the servers, but the good thing is there’s no bandwidth limitation.
To turn on the VPN, tap the Tenta browser icon at the bottom and hit VPN browsing. Tenta offers additional functionality besides the VPN service to cement its privacy approach, including the ability to lock your browser with a PIN code, prevent browser screenshots, do not track support, and DNS customization options. You also get a feature that allows you to delete your browsing data on exit.
Download: Tenta Private VPN Browser (Free, in-app purchases available)
3. Aloha Browser
Aloha is another Android browser with a built-in VPN service. Key features of its VPN include unlimited traffic, a hidden IP address to prevent tracking, DNS leak prevention, and it doesn’t keep your activity logs.
Aloha offers over 10 VPN servers located in Asia, Europe, Africa, and America. However, in the free version, you can’t select a specific server location—this is a similar approach to the Tenta browser.
Aloha also offers phone-wide VPN support and an auto-start feature under its paid plan.
Download: Aloha Browser Turbo (Free, in-app purchases available)
4. Tor Browser
Tor is not necessarily a VPN service, but it offers anonymity which is one of the key reasons to use a VPN. It uses a slightly different approach to protect your identity, by routing your traffic via the open-source Tor network using a multi-layered encryption approach.
Key features that make Tor attractive to privacy freaks are that it blocks trackers, protects your online identity, and you can also access sites that are censored in your location or blocked by your Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Tor is available for free on Android, and there are no limitations on bandwidth or anything.
Download: Tor Browser (Free)
5. Epic Privacy Browser
Epic Browser also offers a built-in VPN, although you have to download it as an extension. The VPN sports unlimited bandwidth and you can select one of the available proxy servers located in different countries, including the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Singapore, Netherlands, and India.
Epic’s proxy includes a no-log policy, which has always been a critical VPN feature. You can download the extension from the Epic Extensions store by tapping Mobile Extensions on the browser’s home page.
While there are some differences between proxies and VPNs, they both achieve the same goal of masking your IP address in order to safeguard your privacy. Epic has no limitations whatsoever, although you’ll miss out on the robustness of a VPN service.
Download: Epic Privacy Browser (Free)
6. Cake Web Browser
Cake takes a similar privacy and security approach as most browsers on this list. It includes passcode protection, a do not track feature, a private tab time bomb, and, most importantly, a free unlimited VPN service.
Although Cake doesn’t limit bandwidth, you will not get to use all of its VPN features until you pay. The paid version offers the ability to select a server of your choice and device-wide support.
Turn on the VPN service by tapping the shield icon at the top.
Download: Cake Web Browser (Free, in-app purchases available)
7. AVG Browser
AVG is a free browser with a built-in VPN service. It comes from AVG, the company that makes security software. The VPN service boasts over 30 server locations, device-wide support, and it has different privacy browsing modes. But it’s not all for free; you’ll have to pay to use some features.
AVG browser is easy to use. Once you install the app, tap VPN Browsing, and you’re good to go.
Download: AVG Browser (Free, in-app purchases available)
Protect Your Privacy on Android
VPN services are a must-have for various reasons. Maybe you want to bypass geo-restrictions or browse the internet securely, or any other thing that falls under VPN applications.
Browsers with built-in VPN services can come in handy if you want an easy solution to browse the internet anonymously, and you don’t need anything serious that matches robust standalone VPN services.
