5 popular Android apps you absolutely shouldn’t download in 2026

https://www.androidauthority.com/popular-android-apps-dont-download-2026-3678392/

Publish Date: 2026-06-20 07:04:00

Megan Ellis / Android Authority

Those download numbers you see on the Play Store app listings are a terrible way to judge if an app is worth installing. I’ve seen it with popular VPNs, antivirus apps, caller ID services, and even password managers.

Of course, I’m not saying every popular app is bad. Far from it. But there are plenty of apps I’d recommend most people avoid, either because of privacy and security concerns or because they try to solve problems that Android already handles perfectly well on its own.

Which popular app would you not recommend in 2026?

15 votes

Turbo VPN

20%

LastPass

27%

Truecaller

20%

CCleaner

27%

AVG AntiVirus & Security

Other (let us know in the comments)

Turbo VPN

Pankil Shah / Android Authority

Turbo VPN has over 500 million downloads on the Play Store, which makes it look like a safe bet. It’s also free and does exactly what you’d expect from a VPN. But the thing is, free VPNs almost always have a catch. And no, I’m not just talking about the ads in Turbo VPN’s free tier, although those are annoying enough on their own.

Turbo VPN doesn’t have the cleanest track record. Over the years, there have been several reports about its questionable data practices and ties to China-based entities. Honestly, Turbo VPN is just one example. I’d say the same thing applies to most free VPNs that offer unlimited data. That’s because running a VPN service isn’t cheap, so if you’re not paying for it, the company is making its profits somewhere else.

It’s kind of ironic when you think about it. The whole point of using a VPN is to improve your privacy, but when you opt for an app like Turbo VPN, you could end up compromising it instead. If you really want a VPN that doesn’t cost anything, stick to providers that have been around for a few years and have a solid track record, like Proton VPN.