Hawk VPN review
A flexible free Android VPN balanced by advertising and limited metadata retention.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Hawk VPN is a free, open-source Android VPN proxy for private browsing, public Wi-Fi protection, and one-tap encrypted connections. It requires no registration or credit card, and its Android client provides access to servers across 50+ servers in 10+ countries. The product is aimed at Android users who want straightforward VPN access alongside more control over routing and protocol selection than a basic one-tap connection usually provides. Its GPL-3.0 license also makes the client relevant to users who prefer open-source software.
The free plan includes the core service rather than separating essential features into paid tiers. Users can select a country, connect through an encrypted VPN tunnel, and choose among Shadowsocks, VMess, and VLESS protocols. Split tunneling and per-app proxy selection add useful control for deciding which applications use the VPN connection. Banner and rewarded advertising controls are part of the service model, so Hawk VPN suits users who prioritize free access and configuration flexibility over an ad-free experience. Android is the supported platform, which narrows its fit for households or teams needing coverage across several device types.
Privacy is a more qualified strength. Hawk VPN states that it does not log browsing history, DNS queries, destination IP addresses, or traffic content. Its privacy policy also discloses limited connection metadata processing and advertising-related data collection, while the service may retain limited connection metadata for up to 30 days. That combination makes Hawk VPN a reasonable choice for Android users seeking an open-source, no-registration VPN with protocol and routing options, but a less suitable choice for people who require an ad-free service or a privacy posture centered on avoiding connection metadata retention. Users seeking broader platform coverage should also consider an alternative.
Hawk VPN pros and cons
- Where it wins
- 50+ servers across 10+ countries with country selection
- Supports Shadowsocks, VMess, and VLESS protocols
- Split tunneling and per-app proxy selection
- Where it doesn't
- Banner and rewarded advertising may appear
- Limited connection metadata may be retained for up to 30 days
- Available on Android only
Hawk VPN fact sheet, pricing and score →
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