How to Install a VPN on a Cell Phone

With the explosion of mobile devices, it’s crucial that businesses protect their networks and sensitive data. Mobile devices, such as tablets and cell phones, are just as vulnerable as personal computers when it comes to cyberattacks. That’s why businesses need mobile device security — to keep their information secure whilst being productive on the move.

With a VPN (Virtual Private Network) app installed on a cell phone, businesses can ensure that their sensitive data is always protected when they’re on the go. A VPN gives you control over your personal data and the ability to securely access your company’s network from anywhere. That means you can engage with your employees and customers whilst travelling without the worry of your data being compromised.

If you’re looking to install a VPN on your cell phone, here are some of the best lightweight VPNs that provide great value for such a small device.

OpenVPN for Android

OpenVPN for Android is one of the most popular and trusted names in VPN software, having been used by over two million users worldwide. The app is completely free and open source, meaning it is maintained by the community of developers who contribute to its development. This puts it in a class of its own compared to other VPN apps available for Android, which are either free with limited features or come with a flashy price tag.

OpenVPN for Android offers lots of great features for mobile users, such as auto-connect, DNS leak protection, and more. It can also be easily configured through a graphic user interface, which non-programmers can easily understand. Another great thing about OpenVPN for Android is that it uses an open source server design, which allows for installation and configuration on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices. This makes it portable and accessible to users across many different platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux. One of the biggest selling points of OpenVPN for Android is its zero-configuration setup. This basically means that you don’t need to have previous experience in VPN set-ups to use the app. Simply launch it, and you’re good to go — simple!

IPVanish for Android

Another great VPN option for Android is IPVanish. To quote their website: “Protect your privacy. Don’t allow eavesdroppers to listen in on your personal phone calls. Hide your online identity. You can use the IPVanish app to easily set up a VPN on your Android device in a matter of minutes.”

IPVanish is also a completely free service, so you’re not going to need to spend a penny. It was also one of the first VPN services to offer a no-logs policy, which ensures you keep your personal data secure whilst using their service. Another great thing about IPVanish is that their VPN servers are based in secure data centers across the globe, so even if somebody does manage to hack into their systems, your data is still safe.

IPVanish is one of the most popular VPN services for Android with over 500,000 downloads globally. Its open source code is also available for inspection, meaning there’s no sneaking behind the scenes for developers who want to improve the app or create a competing product.

ProtonVPN for Android

ProtonVPN for Android is another excellent choice for VPNs on mobile devices. Like the two previous apps mentioned, ProtonVPN is licensed and authorised by the OpenVPN community, but doesn’t offer as many features as OpenVPN for Android. As the name would suggest, ProtonVPN is designed for those who are seeking a lightweight, secure solution for mobile use.

ProtonVPN for Android essentially does the same thing as the previously mentioned apps — connects you to a VPN server, offers you an easy-to-use interface, provides you with security, and allows you to connect your devices automatically whenever you use them.

What really makes ProtonVPN stand out is that it is one of the few VPNs that actually provide some good information about the products and services they offer. The app includes a small amount of text that gives you an idea of what each feature does and how to use it effectively.

ProtonVPN for Android has over 500,000 downloads worldwide and is available to download for free from the App Store.

Private Internet Access (PIA) Pocket VPN

Finally, we have Private Internet Access (PIA) Pocket VPN. This is one of the oldest and most established VPN services around, having been around since 2001. In the intervening years, they’ve grown to become one of the largest and most popular VPN services in the world. Its main attraction is that it is super easy to use — anyone can set it up and use it effectively without needing any previous experience in VPNs or setting them up.

PIA provides lots of great features for businesses, such as secure voice and video calls, dedicated IP addresses, and more. All of these features make it ideal for use within a corporate environment. It also has a very handy setting on the dashboard that automatically connects you to a VPN server whenever you log in from a new device. This makes connecting to a VPN server as simple as possible — whenever you log in from a new device, you automatically connect to a VPN server. This setting can be configured in the app’s preferences as well, so you can make sure that even if you forget to connect from time to time, your data is still safe and protected when you’re using public WiFis or other networked resources.

PIA is also one of the few VPNs that offer dedicated IP addresses, which are IP addresses that are specifically allocated to you by the VPN service to use as you see fit. This is essential for those who seek to do business online and avoid censorship, restrictions, or other interference. When you have a dedicated IP address, you have a unique, anonymized address that allows you to do whatever you want on the internet — no matter where you go, no matter what site you visit, no matter what you do, you will not be identified or tracked by the authorities or anyone else for that matter.

PIA offers lots of value for business users and those seeking to avoid censorship, restrictions, or other interference when using the internet. Its unique selling point is definitely its simplicity — anyone can use it and benefit from it effectively.

How to Install a VPN on a Cell Phone

So now that you know the best lightweight VPNs for Android, how do you install them? The steps are simple:

1. From the Google Play Store, download and install OpenVPN for Android. You can also get the Apple App Store version if you’re using an iPhone. (For the best experience, use the Play Store on a desktop computer and then transfer the file to your Android device.)

2. Once installed, launch the app and click the “Use a VPN” button. You’ll see the OpenVPN server icon at the top. Click it to connect to your VPN.

3. A prompt will appear on-screen asking you to set up a new VPN profile. Click the “Add profile” button. (You can use the dummy profile if you’re new to VPNs; it will work just fine.)

4. On the next screen, you can enter a name for your profile (e.g., “Corporate”) and choose a strong passphrase. You can also check the box to make the VPN connection automatically available whenever you use a connected device. (This feature is called “System-wide” in the app.)

5. You can click the “Save profile” button when you’re done.

That’s it! You now have an OpenVPN server instance running on your Android device. From here, you can use any device connected to the internet — including your cell phone — to securely access your company’s network and resources, as if you were physically in the office. If you’re worried about losing your data due to a hard drive failure or other similar accidents, rest assured that your VPN is set up with automatic back-ups, so all of your important information is safe and secure.