The world of the internet opens a door to virtually unlimited information. From movies and tv shows to history, news, encyclopedias, shopping and more, you can find practically anything when you go online. However, internet usage does have its risks. As more and more people use the web, identity thieves develop new ways to steal personal information and use it for their profit. Although I’ve been lucky so far, it is not a bad idea to add an extra layer of protection when browsing the web.
A great way to protect your information is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). I have a few friends that use them regularly, so with this topic in mind, I decided to do some research to find the best VPN service apps I could use on my phone. Another plus of using VPNs is that by shielding your location, you can also bypass internal firewalls and get around blocked websites. After spending some time searching on Google, I found a site called AppGrooves that lists the best 10 VPN apps. You can check the full list here:
Top 10 VPN (Virtual Private Network) Apps by AppGrooves
I tested some of the apps and reviewed my favorites.
Turbo VPN – Rating: 4.7, Downloads: 10M+
My first pick is Turbo VPN as it lets you use unlimited free VPN services. Although VPN services can produce a slight delay in data transfer, I found Turbo VPN to be really fast. The interface is super simple and intuitive, so even if you are a beginner, you won’t have any problem setting up your VPN. I tested the service at different locations to see if I could get around internal firewalls. At work, for example, some social media sites like Facebook and Instagram cannot be accessed from the Wi-Fi network. However, I didn’t have any problem opening the sites once I activated Turbo VPN.
Although I didn’t have any issues, I noticed that some users reported connection issues from time to time, depending on the server they were using. However, with such a simple interface, it is easy to switch to another server with a better connection.
Pros: Free unlimited VPN, simple and intuitive, bypass Wi-Fi firewalls
Cons: Some servers can be slow
Overall: Unlimited free VPN that is great for bypassing Wi-Fi firewalls, although you might run into a slow server from time to time
Hi VPN (Android) – Rating:4.6, Downloads: 10M+
Another great app I found for Android users is Hi VPN. Like Turbo VPN, I found the interface to be really simple and easy to use. With just a few taps, I was browsing the web using the VPN service. I also liked that you can check your connection speed, with real-time detailed information about your connection. Possibly my favorite feature is that you can also trick your phone’s GPS location, so you can geotag a picture with a different location and use location-based Snapchat or Instagram filters too!
Although you can use the VPN services for free, I didn’t find the connection speeds to be as fast as Turbo VPN’s. However, you can use unlimited bandwidth which is a great plus considering many other VPN services place limitations on it. For premium connection speeds you also have the option to purchase additional servers.
Pros: Unlimited bandwidth, checks connection speed, tricks phone GPS location
Cons: Premium connections speeds available for purchase
Overall: Great VPN for using free unlimited bandwidth but you will need to pay if you want premium connection speeds
SurfEasy VPN (iOS) – Rating: 4.0
A great VPN service I found for iOS users is SurfEasy VPN. If you are looking for a VPN with multiple security features, then look no further. I found SurfEasy VPN’s multi-layered protection to go above and beyond those offered by similar VPN apps. Not only can you browse the web anonymously and bypass blocked sites, but it also protects your information against third parties by blocking them from tracking your cookies. Another plus I found is that no logs are retained regarding your web activity, so even SurfEasy VPN doesn’t know what you’re up to.
Unlike HI VPN, SurfEasy VPN limits your monthly usage to 250MB. However, the starter plan is free, so if you are only planning on using it on your phone, then this is still a good amount of data for your basic navigation needs. I found the navigation speeds for the free service to be fast and stable, so there is no need to upgrade unless you plan to use VPN for heavy streaming or downloading.
Pros: Multi-layered protection, blocks third-party tracking, doesn’t retain web activity logs
Cons: Free plan has limited monthly data usage
Overall: Great VPN service with multi-layered protection, but you will need to subscribe for unlimited data usage
So, these are my top 3 picks for VPN apps. By using any of these apps, you will instantly add an extra layer of protection to your web surfing, so you can have peace of mind that your information is safe. My favorite is Turbo VPN. What about you? If you find another great, let me know.
