Do I Need a VPN on My Phone? Pros and Cons Explained

A VPN (virtual private network) is a service that provides a secure Internet connection by using private servers in remote locations. All data traveling between your computer, smartphone or tablet and the VPN server is securely encrypted.

The most typical scenario where you might use a VPN is if you’re working remotely and using your laptop to connect to a specific private network, thus protecting your sensitive data. But the use of a VPN service should not be limited to computers and laptops only – you’ve got sensitive data you want to safeguard from hackers and snoops on your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet. Read the facts below and decide for yourself: should you be running a VPN on your phone?

Nowadays the smartphones we use are constantly connected to the Internet, exchanging data, syncing your emails, social media accounts and other profiles. But what if somebody intercepts that traffic and gets a hold of your credit cart numbers, Facebook password, confidential emails and messages, and browsing history?

This is highly probable, especially when using unsecured public WiFi networks – as they have no encryption at all, even at the network access level. And if the WiFi networks is secured, it’s still not enough.

Pros: Almost all of today’s VPN solutions are at least adequate to protect your online privacy and are also available for mobile platforms, so you just have to choose the one that best fits your security needs (and budget) and get going.

Cons: Some VPNs might collect logs of your Internet usage and use your “anonymized” browsing data to sell it to third party companies for marketing purposes. Be sure you read the Privacy Policy of the VPN service you’re considering.

Some of the content on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, BBC, The Wall Street Journal is restricted to certain areas only. This means that if you’re trying to access your service from abroad, you will not be able to do so.

Pros: This is where a VPN service also comes in handy – it will allow you to connect to a server that is located within the area where the content can be accessed – e.g. if you’re in Europe, you’ll be able to select a US server to watch your favorite streaming video shows right there on your phone!

Cons: When it comes to streaming video, some Internet service providers may block VPN secure protocols from functioning properly. Also, some content providers keep a database of VPN servers worldwide, so in some cases you might not be able to access restricted content.

Sometimes it’s much easier to reply to someone via email from your iPhone or Android smartphone. But if you need to attach a confidential document (presentation, worksheet, etc.), you’d typically have to get them from the company’s online drive, which will require a secure connection.

Pros: If you’re using a VPN on your phone, not only you will be able to quickly do that, but also work in a completely secured environment, without any potential “leaks”.

Cons: You may be restricted to certain choices of VPN services, depending on your company’ policy. This means that the VPN service might not be the perfect fit for your other needs. But, all-in-all, it’s better than not using a VPN at all!

Pros: As it turns out, bonding VPN services allow you to use multiple Internet connections at once, so you’ll get increased bandwidth and lower latency for your needs. This may translate into no buffering for video streaming, no disconnections for your business calls and the ability to run a live broadcast on Facebook, YouTube or Twitch at higher quality.

Cons: Not all VPNs can do this; it only applies to bonding VPN services, like Speedify. All the other “traditional” VPNs will keep you protected, but with those you will compromise on speed and reliability.

Speedify is a fast bonding VPN that is able to securely combine multiple Internet connections on your iPhone or Android smartphone with advanced encryption while not logging anything.

It’s time to get a bonding VPN service for your smartphone. Get started with Speedify today for FREE! No strings attached, no email sign-up necessary!