Analysis: What is the best VPN for the mobile operating system HiOS

Which VPN is best for HiOS? An in-depth (and slightly nerdy) review

HiOS, the Android skin on many Tecno and Infinix phones, is fast, feature-filled and occasionally enthusiastic about killing background processes to save battery. That zeal for optimization is great for battery life, less ideal for a VPN that needs to stay connected. So, what VPN should you pick for HiOS? The right choice balances privacy, reliability (reconnects, always‑on support), small battery footprint, and a friendly Android UI. Below I test and compare the leading contenders and give step‑by‑step tips for making them behave on HiOS.

How I judged the contenders

Android friendliness — Does the app support Always‑On VPN, a reliable kill switch, split tunneling, and a compact resource footprint?
Privacy protocols — WireGuard (or secure alternative), no‑logs policy, audited code or independent audits.
Speed reliability — Real‑world speed, reconnection after network switches, obfuscation for restrictive networks.
Usability on HiOS — Workarounds required (battery whitelist, app restrictions) and whether the vendor documents them.

Top candidates

VPN	Android features	Privacy	Price (typical)
NordVPN	Always‑On, Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, NordLynx (WireGuard), obfuscated servers	Strong no‑logs, audited	Mid range (frequent discounts)
ExpressVPN	Always‑On, Network Lock (kill switch), lightweight app, excellent reconnection	Independent audits, proprietary Lightway protocol	Premium
Surfshark	Always‑On, Kill Switch, Split Tunneling, WireGuard, unlimited devices	No‑logs, audited	Budget (very competitive)
ProtonVPN	Always‑On, Kill Switch, strong privacy focus, free tier available	Swiss jurisdiction, audited	Free-to-mid
Mullvad	WireGuard, simple app, strong privacy (anonymous accounts)	Very privacy focused, open source	Simple flat rate

Winner: NordVPN (with caveats)

If you want a single answer: NordVPN is the best overall pick for HiOS. Why? It combines a polished Android app that supports Always‑On VPN and a kill switch, includes NordLynx (a WireGuard-derived protocol for both speed and low CPU usage), offers obfuscated servers for problematic networks, and has solid privacy practices with independent audits. In practice that means fewer dropped connections, minimal battery tax compared with older OpenVPN stacks, and features that work well even when a skin like HiOS throws aggressive app optimizations at you.

NordVPN is not the cheapest, but it strikes a strong balance between performance, privacy, and friendliness to Android power management. See NordVPN: https://nordvpn.com

Honorable mentions

ExpressVPN: If you want rock‑solid reliability and speed, its an excellent choice. The app is extremely polished and reconnects quickly. It’s a premium price, but you get top‑tier UX. https://www.expressvpn.com
Surfshark: For budget‑minded users who still want strong Android support and unlimited devices, Surfshark is a great value. https://surfshark.com
ProtonVPN Mullvad: Privacy purists will like ProtonVPN (Swiss jurisdiction) and Mullvad (anonymous account, simple pricing). Both support WireGuard Mullvad is especially minimal and privacy‑centric. https://protonvpn.com, https://mullvad.net

HiOS quirks and how to tame them

HiOS likes to be helpful. Sometimes helpful equals killing background apps to save power. That’s fine for a flashlight app not so fine for a VPN. Here are practical steps to keep your VPN behaving like a civilized network guardian.

Enable Always‑On VPN and Block Connections Without VPN — In Android VPN settings you can set your VPN as Always‑On and enable “block connections without VPN” (this is the kill switch equivalent). This prevents leaks if the VPN process is terminated. Most reputable VPNs expose these options in their Android apps or rely on the OS setting.
Disable battery optimization for the VPN app — HiOS often hides this setting under Battery or App power management. Whitelist the VPN app so the OS won’t kill it aggressively.
Allow autostart / protected app — Look for “Autostart” or “Protected Apps” settings in HiOS and make sure the VPN is allowed to start and run in the background.
Use WireGuard/NordLynx or Lightway when possible — Modern protocols are faster and more efficient on CPU, which reduces battery drain and makes reconnections smoother.
Test after setup — Use a DNS/IPv6 leak test and check your IP from a browser to ensure the kill switch and Always‑On are working. Websites like https://ipleak.net or https://browserleaks.com are handy.

Privacy, audits, and why they matter

When your VPN is a constant presence on your phone, trust matters. Prefer services with independent audits, clear privacy policies, and transparent logging claims. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN and Mullvad all make strong claims here Mullvad and Proton are particularly privacy‑leaning. Audit links and transparency reports are usually available on vendor sites (see sources).

Small details that make a big difference

Split tunneling: Letting certain apps bypass the VPN reduces unnecessary routing and saves battery. Useful for banking apps that refuse VPNs or for game traffic you want local latency for.
Server selection: Pick nearby fast servers for everyday use. Specialty servers for P2P or streaming are great when you need them.
Obfuscation: If you’re on restricted mobile networks or using public Wi‑Fi that blocks VPNs, obfuscated servers or protocols that mimic normal TLS traffic keep you connected.

Final verdict and recommended setup

For most HiOS users I recommend NordVPN as the best overall VPN because of its Android feature set (Always‑On, kill switch, NordLynx), speed, and balance of privacy convenience. If you prefer raw privacy and anonymous payments, consider Mullvad. If you want the simplest, most resilient app and don’t mind paying more, ExpressVPN is an excellent alternative. Budget users should check out Surfshark for strong features at a lower price.

Recommended setup checklist (quick):

Install chosen VPN app from Play Store.
Open Android Settings → Network internet → VPN (or search “VPN”). Set the VPN as Always‑On and enable block without VPN.
Disable battery optimization for the VPN app and enable Autostart/Protected Apps in HiOS battery settings.
Choose WireGuard/NordLynx/Lightway where available for speed and efficiency.
Run a leak test to confirm everything is sealed.

Sources further reading

There you go: a pragmatic, geek‑approved guide to picking the best VPN for HiOS. Keep your VPN app protected from HiOS’s helpful zeal, prefer modern protocols, and test for leaks — and you’ll be surfing safely, pleasantly anonymous, and with slightly less battery drama.