Samsung Max VPN Is Shutting Down: The Best Alternatives

On June 15, 2026, Samsung pulled the plug on Samsung Max VPN, ending a service that had more than 50 million users. If you opened the app that morning, you were greeted with a banner confirming that all VPN, data-saving, and privacy features had stopped working permanently.

You need a replacement. Here is what happened, what to look for in a new VPN, and the best options available right now.

What Was Samsung Max VPN?

Samsung Max started life as Opera Max, a data-compression and privacy app that Opera launched in 2015. When Opera discontinued it, Samsung acquired the service, rebranded it, and integrated it into the Galaxy ecosystem in 2018.

Beyond basic VPN tunneling, Samsung Max offered a few features that made it popular with budget-conscious users: data compression, per-app background data controls, ad-tracker blocking, and video quality reduction to stretch mobile data plans further. All of that is now gone.

Samsung has not announced a direct replacement, so you are on your own.

What to Look for in a Replacement

Before picking a new VPN, consider what you actually used Samsung Max for:

• Basic privacy on public Wi-Fi: almost any VPN covers this. Prioritize a clean no-logs policy and a kill switch.
• Data saving: this was a niche Samsung Max feature. Standard VPNs do not compress data; in fact they can add slight overhead. If data saving was your primary reason for using it, focus on a VPN with a lightweight protocol (WireGuard).
• Free tier: Samsung Max was free. If you want to stay free, the options narrow considerably, but several solid choices exist.
• Mobile-first use: look for strong Android apps, reliable WireGuard support, and low battery drain.

Now, to the alternatives.

The Best Free Alternatives

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the standout free option and the one most privacy experts recommend. Its free tier is genuinely unlimited: no data cap, no speed throttling beyond what comes from free-server load, and no ads. Servers in three countries are available on the free plan (US, Netherlands, Romania). The no-logs policy has been independently audited, the apps are open source, and Proton is based in Switzerland under some of the world's strongest privacy laws.

If Samsung Max was your privacy tool on public Wi-Fi, Proton VPN is the closest like-for-like replacement and the place to start.

Windscribe

Windscribe gives you 10 GB per month for free (15 GB if you confirm your email), which is generous enough for casual use. The free plan includes servers in 11 countries, a built-in ad and tracker blocker called R.O.B.E.R.T., and a firewall feature. The apps are well-designed and available on all major platforms. The no-logs policy is credible, and the company is Canadian.

Windscribe is a better pick than most free-tier VPNs because the 10 GB cap resets monthly and the server selection on the free plan is broader than most competitors offer.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear is the friendliest free VPN for people who are not technical. The interface is simple, the performance is solid, and it has passed multiple independent security audits, which places it above most free competitors on trust. The free plan limits you to 2 GB per month, which is restrictive for heavy use but fine for occasional privacy needs or testing before upgrading. Servers in 47 countries are available on all plans.

hide.me

hide.me offers a free plan with 10 GB per month and servers in 5 locations. The no-logs policy is audited, the apps support WireGuard (important for battery life on mobile), and the service is based in Malaysia, outside the 14 Eyes intelligence alliance. The free plan has one simultaneous connection, which is a real limitation if you want to protect both your phone and your laptop.

For single-device mobile use, hide.me is a solid, under-the-radar free pick.

The Best Paid Alternative

NordVPN

If you are willing to pay, NordVPN is the most capable all-around VPN for most users. It combines a large server network (7,400 servers in 118 countries), fast NordLynx speeds built on WireGuard, and a well-audited no-logs policy. It also bundles threat protection that blocks malicious sites and trackers, which partially replaces the ad-blocking element of Samsung Max.

Pricing runs roughly $3 to $4 per month on a two-year plan. Six simultaneous devices are covered per subscription. The Android app is one of the best in the category.

NordVPN is overkill if you only need a VPN for occasional public Wi-Fi protection, but if you want a long-term service you can rely on across your devices and trust for sensitive browsing, it is the right call.

Quick Comparison

What to Do Right Now

If you were a Samsung Max user, the immediate action is straightforward:

1. Uninstall Samsung Max if you have not already. It is taking up space and no longer does anything.
2. Install Proton VPN or Windscribe if you want to stay free. Both are available on Google Play and require minimal setup.
3. Consider NordVPN or Proton VPN paid if you want unlimited data, faster speeds, or protection across multiple devices.

The good news is that the free VPN market has matured significantly. You are not losing much by moving away from Samsung Max. In fact, any of the options above are more trustworthy than a platform-vendor VPN tied to a hardware maker's business interests.

More

• Best free VPNs -- a full ranking of free VPNs with no paywalls, tested and reviewed
• NordVPN vs Proton VPN -- side-by-side comparison of the two most recommended paid options