OpenVPN Connect, the “official” OpenVPN Inc. app is designed to be more user friendly for VPN users with less technical knowledge. It’s less feature-rich than openvpn for Android, which is targeted toward more advanced OpenVPN users.
Openvpn for Android is a free and open source client created by Arne Schwabe that allows you to connect to any VPN service that is compatible with the OpenVPN protocol. It’s a great option for devices that aren’t compatible with pre-configured “off the shelf” VPN apps that are available on the Google Play Store. The process is relatively simple. You only need to import your VPN profile files (the config files have an extension of.ovpn) which you can get from your provider’s website or by contact their live chat support team.
After you’ve imported your profile, tap on the server to connect. Once connected all Internet traffic is sent through a secure tunnel and directed to the server chosen by the application. The Status tab allows you to examine your connection’s information and the status. The kill switch is activated by default. It will shut down your internet connection when the VPN tunnel is cut off.
The app also has per-app VPN and an automatic feature that automatically starts a VPN connection whenever the app is being used and will continue to work even after your device is shut down or switches networks. However, the latter requires Android 7.0 or higher and may drain your battery more than normal.