In Summary
- Android phones are more prone to security risks because of their open-source nature and ability to sideload apps.
- Fortunately, by using third-party apps, you can increase the protection of your Android smartphone in various scenarios.
- These apps can help you prevent viruses, manage your passwords securely, browse public Wi-Fi using a VPN, lock apps with extra helpful features, and more.
Unlike the iPhone, Android’s open-source nature allows us to sideload apps, customize, and even change the operating system using custom ROMs. While this flexibility brings more freedom, it is also the primary reason Android is less secure than iPhone and more prone to security risks.
However, thanks to third-party security apps, you can reduce the risks and increase your device security with simple steps, and most apps are free to use and easy to set up, even if you are a beginner.
I have tested these apps on various security scenarios. Here are the 14 best Android security apps. This list includes antivirus and security and protection apps for various scenarios. If you want complete protection in terms of securing your device while using it on public Wi-Fi, increasing privacy when browsing the internet, or preventing your kids from accessing risky websites. These apps can help you with that.
Table of Contents
Best Antivirus Apps for Android
App Name | Benefits | Free/Paid |
|---|---|---|
Bitdefender Antivirus | Best all-round antivirus app with robust protection and less impact on your smartphone battery. | Free (limited), Paid |
AVG Antivirus | Best free option with improved user peace of mind and secure browsing. | Free (basic), Paid |
Norton Mobile Security | Best paid option if you frequently download apps from third-party websites. | Paid |
Bitwarden Password Manager | Stores unlimited passwords securely and syncs them across your devices for free. | Free, Paid |
Dashlane | Best paid password manager with VPN support. | Paid |
1Password | Best affordable password manager with the best user experience. | Paid |
Proton VPN | Best free VPN with unlimited data and limited servers. | Free, Paid |
NordVPN | Best paid option with reliable connectivity and broad server support. | Paid |
Signal | Best messaging app with a cleaner interface and secure conversations. | Free |
App Lock by Inshot | Best app locker with a vault to protect your photos and videos. | Free |
App Lock Pro | Adds extra protection with app locks, intruder selfies, and hidden notifications. | Free (ads), Paid |
Brave Browser | Best lightweight browser with advanced blockers. | Free |
DuckDuckGo Browser | Completely privacy-focused browser with its own privacy-focused search engine. | Free |
Crook Catcher | Best anti-theft app that captures photos of intruders and tracks your phone’s location. | Free |
Android Antivirus Apps
Modern antivirus apps offer more than just virus protection. A few go beyond and offer features like detecting unsecured and suspicious Wi-Fi networks, protection from phishing and harmful websites, tools like a remote lock and wiping your device if lost, and a handy VPN for secure browsing.
Most importantly, choose an app that uses fewer resources since an antivirus app should run 24×7, which can affect the battery life of your Android smartphone. After testing several antivirus apps for Android, here are my top three picks.
Bitdefender Antivirus App for Android: Best Alround App With Complete Protection
If you want complete protection for your Android smartphone and minimal impact on your device performance, the Bitdefender Antivirus app is the best option. It has three unique features that stand out from the rest.
First is an autopilot mode, which offers personal security recommendations based on your usage. It offers all essential protection features such as malware scan, web protection, VPN (up to 200 MB per day), and theft protection, including the ability to lock, wipe, or track your device location remotely.
It also includes an app lock to protect your apps with a PIN code and email protection, where it scans and notifies you if your email is involved in any data breaches. All the security functions work in real-time 24×7 while having minimal impact on your device, which is super important considering Android battery life.
However, there are a few issues with Bitdefender. You need a separate VPN app; the free version is limited but enough for most people, and the app always prompts users to upgrade to the premium version. Apart from this, due to its robust security features and enhanced protection, Bitdefender is my top pick for the best antivirus app you can get for Android.
AVG Antivirus: Free Antivirus App
AVG Antivirus has been in the game for a long time and has improved over the years. Back in the day, Kaspersky was my preferred antivirus until Kaspersky was banned from the Google Play Store in the US. The best alternative option I found was AVG.
I installed the app again after four years. The first thing I noticed is that the user experience has greatly improved. Now, the app is clean and neat. Next, it offers all the basic security features to protect your device from viruses and malware. You can scan the device, but advanced features are limited to the premium version.
Along with the basic security features, AVG offers tools like email protection, phishing protection, web protection, and a photo vault to store your secret images securely inside the app. However, in 2020, AVG was criticized for selling user data to third-party companies, but later, it adjusted its policies to comply with the latest US data collection regulations.
Norton Mobile Security: Best for Web Security
If you are looking for security apps, you might have heard about Norton Mobile Security, a popular and highly credited malware protection tool for PCs. Norton is also available for Android smartphones with the same level of security protection.
It is especially great if you frequently download and test third-party apps or connect to public Wi-Fi. First, it offers real-time scanning for apps installed on your device and details about privacy risks and the behavior of apps before installation. It even blocks the installation of apps that might potentially harm your device.
Next, if you connect to public Wi-Fi, it notifies you about unsafe networks and prevents access to them. However, there are a few downsides to Norton Security that you should know. First, it doesn’t have a feature to lock specific apps. Norton previously offered Norton App Lock, but it shut it down in 2024. Another important factor is that the price is higher than competitors, especially after the first year of taking the subscription.
These are the three best antivirus apps for Android mobile phones. Free options are limited. While Kaspersky and AVG were among the best free options previously, Kaspersky has been removed from the Google Play Store. AVG Antivirus was criticized for selling user data but has since corrected its practices. You can use Bitdefender’s free version for a complete solution with free options.
Password Manager Apps for Android
While we are heading to a passwordless future, most sites and apps still use passwords as a primary authentication method. To secure your password and your account, the password must be highly secure with unique characters and lengthy. Due to this, it also comes with downsides like forgetting the password and impossible to remember without storing it. This is where a password manager can come in handy.
Password managers store your password securely and help you sign in to your account. Several free password managers, such as Google Password Manager and Apple Password Manager, were introduced in iOS 18 for iPhones. However, paid options offer extra flexibility and more features. I have been using Dashlane as a primary password manager. However, with the recent price changes, I am looking for an alternative password manager that I can use.
Bitwarden Password Manager: Best Free Option
If you’re looking for a free password manager, look no further than Bitwarden Password Manager. There are plenty of reasons why you should choose Bitwarden. First, it is open-source, meaning the code is publicly available and transparent. Next, it is cross-platform compatible. You can sync your passwords between your devices.
Most importantly, the biggest highlight is that it is free and allows you to store unlimited passwords without any limitations. This is very rare in password managers. Most password managers also offer a free version, but it typically limits the number of passwords to 15 or 30. However, in Bitwarden, you can store unlimited passwords for free.
It also allows you to share with your family securely. It has all the features you expect from a password manager, such as password generation, sharing passwords, editing, etc. You can also host the app on your server for more privacy and password control. It uses AES-256 encryption for security protocols, ensuring that only you can access your data securely.
There is also a paid version, which is very affordable. It brings advanced features like encrypted storage and two-factor authentication support. If you have any issues, private support is also available.
However, The app is not as user-friendly as other paid offerings like Dashlane or 1Password. I have noticed some errors, and there are inconsistencies in autofill features. Sometimes, you have to fill in the passwords manually. Overall, if you’re looking for a free password manager that is transparent, secure, and supports multiple platforms, Bitwarden Password Manager is the best option you can get right now.
Best Paid Password Manager: Dashlane and 1Password
As I said, if you are looking for a free password manager, look no further than the Bitwarden Password Manager. However, paid password managers like Dashlane and 1Password offer advanced security features like dark web monitoring and alerting if the credentials appear in your data or VPN services for secure browsing and a better user experience and better user experience.
A free, affordable option is great if you’re looking for an all-rounder. However, if you like those features above, you can consider this comparison between the two.
First is pricing, which is important because you pay for these password managers. 1Password’s plan starts at $2.99 monthly, while the family plan starts at $4.99 monthly. Dashlane is a bit premium, with $4.99 per month and a family plan worth $7.49 per month, and especially with the recent hike in India, its plans cost even more for yearly plans.
Next, both password managers allow you to store unlimited passwords and auto-login features, store and write secure notes, and provide dark web monitoring. However, Dashlane has the advantage of offering a VPN service, while 1Password doesn’t offer any VPN service.
The most significant difference between the two comes in terms of user experience. 1Password offers a cleaner and more user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners. Dashlane is good and modern but a bit complicated for beginners.
For security, both offer end-to-end encryption and protection for your stored passwords. Based on the features, if you want to prioritize both security and user experience, both paid options are great.
If you want a built-in VPN and dark web monitoring, Dashlane is the best option. If you’re looking for a more affordable solution with a beginner-friendly interface, 1Password is a better option. Please Note that 1Password doesn’t offer a free version.
Reliable VPN Apps for Android
While apps like Bitdefender and Dashlane offer integrated VPN services with the plan, having a dedicated VPN can be beneficial for more flexibility, and if you’re looking for a separate VPN app for your Android, Proton VPN and Nord VPN are the two best picks.
Similar to other services, VPN apps also have a free and paid version. After research, I found a Proton VPN-free option. Among paid options, NordVPN is the best option. Let’s look at each app in detail and help you decide which is best.
Proton VPN: Best Free Option
Proton is very popular for its security services, and it has a dedicated free VPN app for Android that offers unlimited data transfer with limited servers. You can also use the app without signing or creating an account. The best part is you can change the server if the VPN server is slow in the free version.
One of the most highlighted features of this app is the no-log policy, which means the app doesn’t track or store user activity. Proton is known for its privacy-focused approach. As for encryption, it uses AES 256 encryption and allows users to route traffic through the Tor network, which can block trackers. It also supports P2P file sharing for specific servers and offers cross-platform compatibility.
The app has a few downsides, which may not be a dealbreaker for many people since it is a free offering. First, it has a limited server network, and the speeds are variable when you switch to different VPN servers. There is also a premium version; more advanced features require a premium subscription. Apart from this, I couldn’t find any major drawbacks in the Proton VPN app.
NordVPN: Best Premium Option
Paid VPNs like NordVPN offer more flexibility with extensive server support and faster speeds than free VPNs like Proton. If you’re looking for a paid service, NordVPN might be your best option. It has over 5000 servers in over 16 countries and offers good network speeds.
NordVPN also has a no-log policy, which doesn’t store any user data or activity, and the VPN can block ad trackers and malware on the network. However, NordVPN is a premium service compared to Proton VPN, and the prices are more expensive on the premium side. It also doesn’t offer a free plan.
Secure Messaging Apps
You can secure your conversations using secure messaging apps. It is not only for professionals; secure messaging apps can also helpful to the regular users who wants to secure conversations.
WhatsApp is a popular messaging app that also offers end-to-end encryption. However, unwanted calls and business messages are the biggest concern of the app. Signal is the best option for clutter-free communications. However, it has some downsides. Because of the fewer users, you cannot completely depend on Signal for all your communications.
Signal: Best Secure Messaging App
All your communications from the Signal app are encrypted, and the best part is its privacy-focused experience. Signal doesn’t have ads or tracking, nor is the data shared with third parties. It works very similarly to popular messaging apps. You can start a conversation with anyone who has the Signal app.
The messaging interface is very similar to other popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram and offers features like self-destructing messages, group chats, calls, sharing images, and more. Signal is also cross-platform compatible and available on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iPhone, and more.
However, the biggest downside with Signal is its smaller user base. This limits your conversations if other users not on Signal join the app to communicate, which is one of the biggest reasons for and challenges for secure apps. Additionally, it doesn’t offer cloud backup, which you should be aware of.
App Lock: Protect Your Sensitive Information
Android smartphones have offered app lock for years; however, stock Android devices cannot still natively support app lock. You must install a third-party app lock to lock apps on stock Android. However, you can also use these third-party app lockers apps on devices that already support the native app lock feature.
Compared to the native feature on Android, third-party apps offer extra features such as intruder selfies, setting different patterns, hiding locked apps with different themes, and a few apps that allow us to store personal files and photos in the app. However, the biggest downside of third-party apps is when your device is unlocked, anyone can uninstall the app locker and remove the app lock completely.
You can follow a few tricks, like hiding the app lock app after locking the other apps and also locking the system settings. After testing several Android lock apps, my top picks are App Lock Pro and App Lock by inshot.
App Lock by Inshot: Best App Locker With Price Vault
Another app lock feature I like the most is App Lock by inshot. It offers multiple locking methods, including pattern, fingerprint, and intruder selfies. It also provides customizable themes and advanced security options, and most importantly, it offers a separate vault to hide your photos and videos secretly without needing a separate app.
It is a great choice if you want to store your confidential photos and videos, along with the app lock functionality. However, X lock doesn’t offer as many features as App Lock Pro. The user experience is better when unlocking apps; it works faster and smoother than App Lock Pro.
App Lock Pro: Comes With Useful Features.
App Lock Pro offers multiple locking methods to lock apps, including PIN, pattern, fingerprint, and more. It offers the intruder selfie feature, which captures a photo of anyone attempting to open the app. It also displays a fake error message and locks access, adding an extra security layer. Most importantly, it lets you hide notifications from the locked apps.
It also offers a panic alarm, which activates an alarm after multiple incorrect password attempts and allows you to lock apps at specific periods using a timer. All these features make App Lock Pro a complete solution for an all-around app lock app.
However, there are a few issues, like ads in the free version and the ability for someone with access to your device to unlock the app and uninstall it easily.
Secure Browsing Apps
While the app lockers and antivirus apps can keep your device secure, hundreds of trackers will track your behavior online and collect your information when using the web. If you use Android, Chrome is your default browser with Google search engine. Chrome doesn’t block trackers and is accused of collecting user data in incognito mode.
Fortunately, you can use a secure browser like Brave Browser, Privacy Browser, and more to protect your privacy. Here are my two best picks: Brave Browser and DuckDuckGo Browser.
Brave Browser: Best Light Weight Browser With Security
Brave Browser is one of my top picks. It is close to the browsing experience we have been habituated to for years, and the experience is very similar to the regular browsing experience we find on Chromebooks and other popular browsers. However, Brave blocks trackers and ads and has a built-in private browsing integration. Most importantly, the reason for picking Brave is its lightweight and smoother browsing experience.
It is lighter than most apps and a great option for budget Android devices with less RAM while offering security.
DuckDuckGo Browser: Best for Private Browsing
On the other hand, DuckDuckGo Browser is an entirely privacy-focused browser that offers a different experience from standard browsers. It provides complete protection by blocking all trackers, offering encrypted connections, and not storing any data. The moment you exit the browser, all your data is cleared automatically.
It is also lightweight but requires some learning to be used effectively. It comes with a default Duckduckgo search engine, which is good but not as comprehensive as Google’s or Bing’s results. If you are looking for complete protection and don’t worry about the user experience, DuckDuckGo is the best option. However, if you prefer a faster, smoother experience with rich features, Brave is the best option.
Crook Catcher: Captures Intruder Selfies and Sends Device Location
Google offers the Find My Device feature, which allows you to locate, ring, or lock the device remotely. However, apps like CrookCatcher add additional helpful features, such as sending you an email with the intruders who tried to unlock your device after it was stolen, along with the device’s location.
This can come in handy, especially for Android smartphones, when you leave them somewhere or if they are stolen. If a thief tries to open your device, it sends an image and location, making it easier to find your device.
However, the biggest concern with this app is battery life. The app has to run constantly in the background, so there will be some battery drain on your smartphone. But it is worth it, especially if you often go outside or live in places where theft is more common.
I would highly suggest enabling or disabling it based on your preference. For instance, if you are outside, you can enable it; if you are at home, you can disable it temporarily to save battery life on your smartphone.
Securing an Android Smartphone is Easy and Important
Those are the fourteen best security apps you can install on your Android smartphone. Depending on your use case and preference, you can install and use any of these apps.
However, remember that most apps mentioned in the list run in the background and can consume battery life. These apps can be very helpful depending on the use case. For instance, an antivirus app can be useful if you often download apps from third-party websites. An app lock can help you secure your device. A secure browser blocks all the trackers. And finally, the CrookCatcher app can be helpful if your device is lost. Let me know in the comments below if you have any other recommendations. For more helpful guides, click on the links below for more details.
