Free VPNs can provide a secure VPN connection and encrypt your data at no cost. However, even the best free VPNs come with limitations, including data and speed caps.
You also have to be careful of security vulnerabilities that may put your private data at risk or could expose you to malicious software. More importantly, most of the necessary features a VPN requires to do its job properly, are locked behind a paywall.
So you can make an informed choice, we have thoroughly tested each free VPN in this article to see if it manages to keep your data as safe and private as a premium provider.
The Best Free VPNs
The best free VPNs offer powerful online security without a premium price tag. We tested dozens of free VPNs to present you our best free VPNs for 2024.
Top 8 Best Free VPNs
- PrivadoVPN: Best free VPN overall
- Proton VPN: Great VPN free plan with unlimited data
- Hide.me: Best free VPN for torrenting
- TunnelBear: Free VPN plan with many server locations
- Windscribe: Best free VPN for fast connection speeds
- ZoogVPN: Free VPN service with a referral program
- Hotspot Shield: Free VPN without a data limit
- Opera VPN Free: Free VPN built into Opera browser
To select the best free VPNs we have evaluated the following points:
- Encryption and safety: we have only selected VPNs that keep your data safe at all times.
- Data limits: we have a preference for VPNs with a reasonable data limit.
- Speed and speed limits: we have tested the speed of each VPN in our list.
- Server network: we have evaluated the server network and unblocking possibilities.
- Simultaneous connections: we prefer VPNs that allow multiple simultaneous connections.
Is There a Good Free VPN?
Yes, there are some good free VPNs on the market. Based on our testing, our #1 recommendation is PrivadoVPN. This VPN has high-end security features, can unblock most streaming services, and has a decent amount of server locations.
However, it still only covers the basic needs. You won’t find any advanced features such as a password manager or dark web monitor. More importantly, it doesn’t always work to unblock Netflix and doesn’t have a large server network.
Premium VPNs are the way to go if you want to truly enjoy the benefits of a VPN. They can bypass geoblocks easily, come with better speeds, and won’t cap your data in any way. If you want to see the difference, consider using a free trial!
Best Premium VPNs With a Free Trial
If you want to see what a premium VPN can offer you, you can make use of a free trial or money-back guarantee. That way, you can easily explore all your options and find the best service, without risking your money. We’ve listed the best VPNs with a free trial here:
- NordVPN: If you’re an Android user, make sure you don’t miss the 7-day free trial. Alternatively, you can get a full refund if you use NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. NordVPN is a fast and secure VPN provider that can unblock any streaming service.
- Surfshark: You can try Surfshark for free for 7 days if you have an Android, iOS or macOS device! Just like NordVPN, Surfshark also has a 30-day money-back guarantee. With Surfshark, you can enjoy unlimited connections and a well-rounded, reliable VPN app.
- CyberGhost: CyberGhost has a 24-hour free trial on Windows or macOS. Too short? There’s a 45-day money-back guarantee in place for this user-friendly and privacy-focused VPN.
Our Best Free VPN Services of 2024 – Detailed List
Let’s discuss the details of the 8 best free VPNs.
1. PrivadoVPN: Best free VPN overall
Privado is the best free VPN on the market and our editor’s choice. It keeps your identity safe and is especially suited for PC and Mac users, with an easy-to-navigate interface and solid security features. PrivadoVPN also has apps for iOS, Android, and Android TV. There’s even a Fire TV Stick app, which is pretty great for a free VPN!
Privacy and security: PrivadoVPN offers a high level of privacy thanks to its strict zero-logs policy. On top of that, PrivadoVPN offers highly secure VPN protocols, as well as AES 256-bit encryption. For a free VPN, it also offers advanced security features, including an automatic kill switch and a split-tunneling feature called SmartRoute.
Note
Privado recently improved its kill switch feature on Windows. You can now select which apps are affected by the kill switch and which aren’t.
Server network: Privado has free servers in 13 locations, situated in 10 different countries, namely Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. That is quite a lot for a free VPN.
Streaming: We connected to the UK server easily and had no trouble unblocking BBC iPlayer. We could also watch shows on HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime Video without running into any issues. However, when it comes to Netflix, results are mixed. Occasionally, Privado is one of the best free Netflix VPNs, while other times it glitches. On top of that, the 10 GB data limit is somewhat restrictive.
Torrenting: Torrenting enthusiasts will be happy to know that PrivadoVPN allows for P2P file sharing. We tried downloading some torrents and didn’t encounter any throttling.
Limits on speed and data: PrivadoVPN offers unlimited speeds — as long as you stay within the monthly 10 GB data limit. Privado will only provide you with a 1 Mbps speed once you’ve exceeded your 10 GB monthly data cap. This is enough for browsing, but far to slow for streaming, gaming and downloading.
Good to know: Besides the 10 GB data cap, Privado has no dedicated Linux app. On top of that, you can only use PrivadoVPN’s free version on one device at a time. Of course, you’re free to create multiple accounts to get around this, but it will be a hassle.
Pros
- Has a strict zero-logs policy
- 13 server locations available to free users
- Unblocks streaming services easily
- Torrenting allowed
- Automatic kill switch available
- SmartRoute: a spit-tunneling feature (rare for free VPNs!)
- Easy to use and navigate
- Unlimited speed for the first 10 GB
Cons
- No Linux application
- Speed throttling after 10 GB
- Not great for extensive streaming sessions
- Only 1 simultaneous connection possible
PrivadoVPN
Deal
10 GB per month for free without speed limits
Check out the results of our tests on the premium version of Privado to learn more about this service.
2. Proton VPN: Best free VPN with unlimited data
Proton VPN is one of the most well-known free VPNs. As one of the only unlimited free plan options, this provider is ideal if you need unlimited data to browse the internet for as long as you like. The VPN works well on almost all devices. We’ve tried it on Mac, Windows, Android, Android TV, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, and even on some routers.
Privacy and security: Proton VPN doesn’t keep any logs of user data, which was verified by Securitum in July, 2024. Besides a kill switch, Proton VPN offers secure VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. It even has a Stealth protocol to overcome censorship and bypass geo-restrictions. This protocol masks the fact that you’re using a VPN.
Note:
Proton VPN is one of the few open-source VPN apps, which means that a community of developers works to improve the software. This process makes Proton VPN safer and more transparent. Proton VPN apps are also audited by cybersecurity expert to guarantee the safety of users.
Server network: Unfortunately, free users are not spoiled for choice when it comes to Proton’s server location. Proton connects automatically to a nearby server and doesn’t let you choose a server location. Unblocking international streaming services is not possible with Proton VPN free, since you can’t select a server location.
Streaming: In terms of streaming, the results were mixed. We tried to access Netflix but got an error message. The same happened for Amazon Prime Video. At other times, however, we’ve had no issues streaming with Proton VPN. ProtonVPN Premium is much better at unblocking due to the larger number of IP addresses you can choose from. You can try ProtonVPN Premium for free with Proton’s 30 day money-back-guarantee.
Torrenting: Unfortunately, Proton VPN Free doesn’t support torrenting. Even the best torrent sites are not accessible with this VPN unless you upgrade to the premium version.
Limits on speed and data: Proton VPN Free has no data or speed limits. That’s a huge thing for us — Proton is the only reliable, fully free VPN that offers uncapped data. Having said that, we found that the free version of Proton VPN can be quite slow at times. This makes sense, considering the large volume of free users using a limited amount of servers.
Note:
The Proton website openly advertises the speed of their free VPN as “medium,” while their paid subscriptions all have “high speeds.”
Good to know: You can use Proton for free on one device at a time. Want to protect different devices? You can use different email addresses to create multiple accounts.
Pros
- No logs policy
- Kill switch available
- Based in Switzerland, reputable for privacy and security
- Unlimited data usage: no caps
- No speed limit
- Works well on most operating systems (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and Chromebook)
- Easy to upgrade additional privacy products
Cons
- You can't select a server location
- Slow speeds make it unsuitable for extensive gaming or streaming
- Downloading torrents is not possible
- Only 1 simultaneous connections possible
Proton VPN Free
Deal
Unlimited data usage and no speed cap
Want to know more? Read our full Proton VPN review to see our testing results or check out our comparison between NordVPN and Proton VPN!
3. Hide.me: Best free VPN for torrenting
Hide.me is a trustworthy VPN that allows P2P file sharing and has excellent free customer support. If you want to torrent safely, we think that this is the best free option for you. The VPN has an app for most major operating systems, including Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, Linux, and even Fire TV Stick.
Privacy and security: Hide.me is a zero-logs VPN that has been independently certified, most recently by Securitum, which is good news for privacy-conscious users. Hide.me is based in Malaysia, which is outside of the 14-Eyes Alliance, so you won’t have to deal with invasive privacy legislation.
Server network: The free version of Hide.me gives you access to servers in eight countries: Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States. For many users that will be enough.
Streaming: Unfortunately, we had issues streaming with this VPN. Hide.me does not work with Netflix US nor with British streaming services like BBC iPlayer. During our test, we weren’t able to unblock any geo-restricted shows or movies.
Torrenting: In the past, Hide.me didn’t allow free users to download torrents. Luckily, the provider changed this policy, and free users can now download safely via torrent sites.
Limits on speed and data: The free version of Hide.me has a data cap of 10 GB per month. If you want to stream or download something, you’ll reach this limit easily. When testing the VPN, we also found that speeds varied quite a bit. If you don’t want to deal with these restrictions, have a look at our best VPNs for streaming.
Good to know: During the first week of your free membership, you’ll be able to use Hide.me Premium with a seven-day free trial. After that, you’ll be limited to the free features. You can use Hide.me on one device at a time.
We do find Hide.me’s upsell campaign quite invasive. There’s always a button urging you to switch to the premium version, which can be annoying. On a positive note, we found Hide.me’s customer support is very responsive and supportive!
Pros
- Strong privacy protection and encryption for your data
- Perfect for torrenting: no issues during testing
- No speed limit
- Free premium trial during first week
- Incredibly helpful customer support, even for the free version
Cons
- Can't unblock streaming services like Netflix
- Data caps (10 GB) limits the use of this VPN
- Pushes its premium version through ads
- Only 1 simultaneous connection
Hide.me VPN Free
Deal
10 GB for free without speed limit
We’ve tested all of Hide.me’s features. Read our Hide.me review to learn more about what this VPN can offer.
4. TunnelBear: Free VPN with many server locations
TunnelBear is a VPN with many servers. While TunnelBear’s free version has a small data limit, it’s great for users looking for plenty of server locations and a well-designed app. TunnelBear Free is available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS and can be used on unlimited devices simultaneously.
Privacy and security: In comparison to other free VPN services, we noted some great extra features, like a kill switch (VigilantBear) and obfuscation technology (GhostBear). In terms of privacy, TunnelBear has a no-logs policy. However, the provider is located in Canada, which is part of the Eyes Alliance. Have a look at our best VPNs outside the 14 Eyes for alternative options.
Server network: Even with the free version, TunnelBear allows you to choose from all of its available servers in 47 countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom. These servers give you the same experience as the Premium TunnelBear servers, which is unique among free VPNs.
Streaming: We tested TunnelBear to see if it could unblock online streaming sites. In the past, we’ve had a resounding success with TunnelBear being able to get around sites like Hulu and Netflix. However, in our most recent round of testing we were unable to unblock BBC iPlayer.
Torrenting: Unfortunately, there are torrenting restrictions. TunnelBear doesn’t allow P2P traffic on its servers.
Limits on speed and data: The biggest disadvantage we found when using TunnelBear is the data limit — you only get 2GB per month.
Good to know: Who said VPNs are boring? TunnelBear is one of the most fun VPN apps to use! The visual style is unique and engaging, and the software is full of bear-related puns.
It is worth noting that customer support is limited for free users, since premium users get priority.
Pros
- Big server network: choose from 47 locations all over the world
- Cute bear-themed design
- Unblock countless streaming services around the world
- Strong security and extra features like obfuscation (rare for free VPNs)
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- No speed cap
Cons
- Very limited data: 2GB
- Doesn't work with torrenting
- Access to Netflix USA can be spotty
- Limited customer support for free users
TunnelBear VPN Free
Deal
Free use of 47 server locations
You can find more details and our personal testing experience in our TunnelBear review.
5. Windscribe: Best free VPN for fast connection speeds
Windscribe is a popular free VPN that works on almost all operating systems and devices, including Linux. An Apple TV app is currently in development. Windscribe also offers fast servers and a reasonable data limit. You can get unlimited simultaneous connections with Windscribe, which is also a plus!
Notice
If you’re a journalist or you work for an NGO, you can get Windscribe Pro for free, as of April 2024.
Privacy and security: Windscribe offers world-class security features, including a kill switch, an ad blocker, and a split-tunneling option. You rarely see this many security features in a free VPN. Previous software hiccups have been overcome, and the provider has a tight no-logging policy, which has recently been reviewed by PacketLabs. Windscribe also offers multiple strong security protocols, including WireGuard.
Server network: The free version of Windscribe has fewer options than the paid package. For free users, Windscribe only provides servers in ten countries. However, for a free plan, the number of server locations is still surprisingly high.
Streaming and torrenting: We were able to unblock and stream content from many different streaming platforms with Windscribe. Unfortunately, we were unable to access Netflix with Windscribe.
Torrenting: Torrenting is entirely possible with Windscribe, a benefit for P2P fans!
Limits on speed and data: There is a data limit of 2 GB per month. However, if you choose to share your email address with Windscribe and verify your account, you get 10 GB a month. Unfortunately, Windscribe may use this data for marketing, so we recommend using a throwaway email address.
Good to know: Windscribe is not as easy to use as some of the other free VPN providers listed above. Most of the buttons in the software take you to your account page. We would prefer it if you could change your account settings in the VPN application itself.
Pros
- One of the best free VPNs in terms of security and privacy
- Has ten free servers
- Torrenting is allowed
- Offers really fast connection speeds!
- Data cap is pretty generous, compares to other VPN providers
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections
Cons
- Not ideal for Netflix and other streaming services
- Interface could be improved
Windscribe VPN Free
Deal
Get up to 10 GB a month for free
We conducted a thorough Windscribe review and found that the free version holds up well!
6. ZoogVPN: Free VPN with a referral program
ZoogVPN is a free zero-logs VPN provider with a useful referral program. Unfortunately, its security isn’t as good as that of other free VPNs, and the free version can only be used on one device at a time.
Privacy and security: ZoogVPN offers multiple encryption protocols, though the majority of these are only available to premium users. Free users can choose between IKEv2 and OpenVPN. Unfortunately, the type of encryption that’s available for free servers is 128-bit. This encryption is good but not as strong as the 256-bit encryption that other entries on this list offer.
Server network: With ZoogVPN’s free package, you only get access to servers in these five countries: the UK, the US, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore. This is a limited number that didn’t offer us much choice for unblocking websites.
Torrenting: You can torrent with ZoogVPN. The upload speeds are very low, so contributing is more of a challenge, but generally, P2P file sharing is possible and allowed with this free VPN.
Streaming: We did not have the same success with streaming. When we tested ZoogVPN’s free servers, Netflix did not work, and we experienced considerable lagging at times. We also struggled to unblock other streaming services with ZoogVPN.
Limits on speed and data: While ZoogVPN’s servers are quite fast, they can’t handle heavier loads. Free users will be the first to suffer from slow speeds. ZoogVPN has a 10 GB monthly data limit, which can be upgraded: if you refer a friend, you can earn an additional 5 GB per friend, up to a total of 50 GB per month.
Good to know: ZoogVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and smart TVs. This makes it very versatile. We found it a real plus that we could test this VPN on whatever device we wanted, and you can do the same!
Pros
- No logs policy
- Available on many devices and operating systems
- Kill switch will protect your data at crucial moments
- Torrenting allowed
- Up to 50 GB free data a month
Cons
- Subpar encryption compared to competitors
- Speeds might drop at busy times
- Unblocking streaming services is difficult
- Only 1 simultaneous connection
ZoogVPN
Deal
Get up to 50 GB for free if you refer a friend!
You can find out more about this provider in our ZoogVPN review.
7. Hotspot Shield: Free VPN without a data limit
Hotspot Shield is a popular free VPN without data limits. However, it uses 128-bit encryption, and the free version of the app is not very user-friendly. The VPN also caught some flak over the years for its lack of data protection on free plans. Even so, for a free service, we found it to be a solid contender and we have decided to include it on our list.
Privacy and security: Hotspot Shield uses a proprietary VPN protocol, Hydra. This is a powerful, secure protocol. On top of that, the VPN offers other security features, including IP and DNS leak protection, obfuscation, and DNS filtering. This makes Hotspot Shield one of the most feature-rich free VPN services we’ve come across.
A downside is that Hotspot Shield’s parent company, Aura (which also offers Aura identity theft protection) is located in the United States, a country known for threatening citizens’ privacy. Moreover, we found the privacy policy to be less than ideal, since they admit allowing third parties to display ads in their apps.
Server network: Hotspot Shield offers a limited server network to its free subscribers: only three server locations, namely the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore. This means that your options for unblocking international content are somewhat limited.
Torrenting: Torrenting is allowed with Hotspot Shield, but the speeds are not the fastest we’ve seen. However, this was no issue when we were just browsing the web.
Streaming: As soon as we tried to access streaming services, we ran into issues. We were unable to unblock any of the main streaming services.
Limits on speed and data: With Hotspot Shield, you get unlimited data allowing you to browse, torrent and game as much as you want while being protected.
Good to know: The free version of Hotspot Shield isn’t too user-friendly. It pushes ads on you and a lot of users reported random disconnections, although we experienced no disconnects when testing the app ourselves.
Pros
- Some nice extra security and encryption features (unique for free VPNs)
- Torrenting is allowed
- No data limit
Cons
- Display of ads from third parties in Hotspot's app
- Parent company based in a 5 Eyes country (United States)
- Subpar encryption compared to competitors (128 bit)
- Not able to unblock streaming services
- Lots of ads! Who doesn't hate them?
- Only 1 simultaneous connection
Hotspot Shield
Deal
Get unlimited data for free
Find out more about the provider in our comprehensive Hotspot Shield review.
8. Opera VPN: Free VPN built into Opera browser
Opera VPN is our final recommendation. It comes built-in with the Opera browser, which means you don’t need to do anything to use it. It will automatically encrypt your internet traffic, but it is unsuited for torrenting, gaming, or streaming due to the lack of control you can exercise over the VPN.
Privacy and security: Opera doesn’t log your internet traffic or your online activity. Within the Opera browser, your traffic is automatically encrypted with 256-bit encryption and your real location remains hidden. However, we do need to be clear about one thing: Opera Free VPN is not really a VPN, it’s a proxy extension. This means that it’s less safe than a regular VPN.
Server network: The free version of Opera VPN will select a random server for you in one of three regions: the Americas, Asia, and Europe. You can’t choose the server manually.
Streaming: We found that the free Opera VPN app doesn’t do much in terms of unblocking streaming services. This is mainly due to the fact that you can’t choose a specific location. Say you want to access Netflix USA; there’s no way to connect to the United States manually.
Torrenting: On top of that, it’s not possible (or safe!) to torrent with Opera Free VPN since it’s really a proxy.
Limits on speed and data: One of the benefits that Opera VPN holds over other free VPN services is that it doesn’t have any limitations on data or on speed. You’re free to browse as much as you like without risking being caught off.
Good to know: The free Opera VPN plan is only available for Android and Windows users. You can try out the Pro plan features in a 7-day free trial if you wish to use additional features and access the full VPN server network.
Pros
- No sign up required, can be used right away
- 256-bit encryption on all internet traffic
- No limitations on data or speed
- Unlimited number of simultaneous connections
Cons
- Limited control over server locations: random server assigned
- Proxy service: not as safe as a regular VPN
- Can't be used for streaming, gaming, or torrenting
- Only available for Windows and Android
Opera VPN Pro
Deal
Free proxy without data or speed limit
We also tested Opera VPN’s premium VPN. You can see how the service fared in our full Opera VPN review!
How We Chose Our Top Eight Best Free VPNs?
Our top criteria for these eight best free VPNs was that they had no direct or hidden subscription costs. VPNs with free trials that automatically turn into a paid subscription were not included in our list.
Additionally, we wanted VPNs on our list that did not collect your information extensively. This is a common problem with free VPNs, so we disqualified any app we found that didn’t take data protection seriously. Here are the other criteria we considered during our research:
- Encryption: A VPN provider needs to have secure encryption protocols and be able to safeguard your data effectively.
- Data limits: If you use the internet frequently and for data-heavy activities like gaming, you must ensure that a free VPN provider will offer an acceptable data limit to cover your daily needs.
- Speed caps: Decent speeds are important for most online activities as they give you an uninterrupted experience. A free VPN service that offers that is a winner in our books.
- Server network: The more servers and locations, the better. This will allow you to access websites that may be unavailable in your location, like a specific streaming platform.
- The number of simultaneous connections: If you want a free VPN for all your family members, one that offers you the choice to connect many devices at the same time is a sure winner.
Our Best Free VPN Services of 2024 – Comparison
If a totally free VPN is what you’re looking for, we rounded up the most reliable options in one list. You don’t even have to provide your payment information or make use of a money-back guarantee.Free really means free with these VPN providers.
| Feature |  1. PrivadoVPN |  2. Proton VPN |  3. hide.me |  4. TunnelBear |  5. Windscribe |  6. ZoogVPN |  7. Hotspot Shield |  8. Opera VPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free data per month | 10 GB | Unlimited | 10 GB | 2 GB | 2-10 GB | 10-50 GB | 15 GB (500 MB per day) | Unlimited |
| Countries with servers | 10 | 1 | 8 | 47 | 10 | 3 | 3 | Unspecified number of servers in 3 locations: the Americas, Asia, and Europe |
| Operating system | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, and Chromebook | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Fire TV | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux | Windows, Android |
| P2P traffic allowed | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Kill switch | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Split tunneling | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Multi-hop | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Ad blocker | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Obfuscation | ✖ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Website | Get PrivadoVPN  | Get Proton VPN | Get hide.me | Get TunnelBear | Get Windscribe | Get ZoogVPN | Get Hotspot Shield | Get Opera VPN |
Why We Avoid Recommending Free VPNs
Free products usually have hidden costs. This is certainly the case with free virtual private networks, as they might log your data or leave your IP address exposed.
Here are some of the biggest risks and limitations associated with free VPNs:
- Data logging and monitoring: A virtual private network should be private. However, the majority of free VPN services log your data and share it with third parties. This can include monitoring your internet traffic and the websites you visit.
- Infecting your device with malware: Certain free VPN providers have been found to contain adware, malware, and even spyware in their software.
- Leak user data: Free VPNs are more vulnerable to data breaches since they’re usually not up to the security standards of premium VPNs. This can lead to compromised user data.
- P2P server networks: Some free VPNs plug you into peer-to-peer networks, which might expose your data to other users.
For these reasons, we recommend trying an affordable premium VPN. With a free trial or a 30 day money-back guarantee you can try a premium VPN for free as well.
Free VPNs vs. Paid VPNs
Many free VPNs have other disadvantages that paid VPN services don’t. Here’s our brief overview of the main differences and similarities between paid and unpaid VPNs.
| Free VPNs | Paid VPNs |
|---|---|
| Don’t always hide your IP address properly | Will hide your IP address |
| May have limited encryption or VPN protocols available | Solid encryption (256-bit) and multiple VPN protocols |
| Often enforce data limits between 500 MB and 10 GB per month | No data limits |
| Speed caps are generally enforced | Don’t actively enforce speed limits |
| Often have a relatively small server network with few locations | Massive server networks, often with thousands of servers |
| Very low speeds (server overcrowding, limited choice) | Excellent speeds due to high-performance server infrastructure |
| Lack of extra features such as double VPN connections or threat detection | Tend to offer more extra features |
| Often only allow one connection at a time | Allow for multiple simultaneous connections |
| Usually can’t unblock popular streaming services such as Netflix US | Can easily unblock all major streaming services |
| Might sell your data or have questionable data logging practices | Unlikely to sell your data, and many have a strict no-logs policy |
As you can see, premium VPNs often offer features and options you’re not likely to get even with one of the best free VPNs.
Comparison: Free VPNs vs. Affordable VPNs
Premium VPNs are more secure and offer more options. Let’s look at how our completely free VPN services stack up against NordVPN, a very affordable premium VPN.
| Feature | PrivadoVPN (Free) | Proton VPN (Free) | NordVPN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries with servers | 10 | 5 | 111 |
| Data | 10 GB | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Speed cap | 1 Mbps (if data limit exceeded) | None | None (retained 95% of our usual speed) |
| Always unblocks Netflix? | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Simultaneous connections | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Money-back guarantee | N/A | N/A | 30 days |
| Price | Free | Free | $ 3.09 |
| Website | Get PrivadoVPN | Get Proton VPN | Try NordVPN |
You can get a NordVPN free trial by taking advantage of the 30-day money-back guarantee. Just ask for a refund before those 30 days are up, and the subscription won’t cost you a dime.
Plus, NordVPN offers a pretty good deal if you decide to invest in a trustworthy VPN: for only $ 3.09 per month, you get all the advantages of a premium VPN.
Try NordVPN Now With a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!
Which premium VPNs are affordable?
Here are just some of the most affordable premium VPNs on the market:
- NordVPN ($ 3.09/mo): NordVPN is the #1 VPN in the world and one of the most affordable options you can get right now! It might be slightly more expensive than some of the others on this list, but based on extensive testing, there is no better value-for-money option.
- Surfshark ($ 2.19/mo): Fast, affordable, and secure, Surfshark’s biggest selling point is its unlimited simultaneous connections. It also works great with streaming!
- CyberGhost ($ 2.19/mo): CyberGhost is extremely beginner-friendly and offers special gaming and streaming servers, making it perfect for VPN newbies or younger users.
- Private Internet Access ($ 2.19/mo): PIA is one of the absolute cheapest VPNs of high quality and offers 35000 servers worldwide, one of the biggest server networks we’ve seen.
Want more recommendations? Check out our full list of the best cheap VPNs.
Free VPNs You Should Avoid
There are also numerous free VPNs out there that you should avoid. Many aim to track or sell user data to others. Some free VPNs even sell your connection to other users. Your bandwidth is given to premium users of the service who, in turn, use your connection and IP address as their very own “VPN server.”
Below, you’ll find an overview of some unsafe free VPNs that are relatively popular and why you should avoid them.
| Free VPN | Why it’s best not to use it |
|---|---|
| Hola VPN | Hola VPN sells your bandwidth to paying users. This enables paying users to use your internet connection to access the web. As a result, your IP address could end up being connected to suspicious activities. |
| SuperVPN | SuperVPN keeps track of your data to fulfill DMCA (Digital Millenium Copyright Act) requests. If you’re looking for a way to download anonymously, you’ll be better off with a different VPN. |
| Psiphon Pro | Psiphon Pro allows partner companies to track users. It also shares data with commercial partners, other partners, and the Psiphon Pro parent company. In other words, you’ll have a hard time staying anonymous with this VPN. |
| Touch VPN | Touch VPN adds different types of trackers (cookies, pixel tags, web beacons) to a user’s browser and shares data with third parties. |
| Betternet | Betternet allows advertisers, among other third parties, to track user data. |
| AnonyTun | AnonyTun allows advertisers to place cookies and build user profiles. |
| Turbo VPN | The free version of Turbo VPN is filled with adware and allows advertising partners to place cookies and track users. |
| Tuxler VPN | Tuxler VPN’s free version is very unsafe. It collects user data and shares that with third parties. On top of that, it’s also incredibly slow. |
These aren’t the only unsafe free VPN providers out there. Many VPNs in the App Store and on Google Play don’t have clear policies regarding data processing and privacy. We recommend sticking to tried and tested VPN providers that our cybersecurity experts have vetted.
If you come across such a VPN yourself, be careful. Don’t assume you’ll be able to browse the internet anonymously with these VPNs.
Feel free to leave us a comment about (potentially) unsafe VPNs, and we’ll make sure to review them.
Conclusion: What is the Best Free VPN?
At the moment, our best all-around free VPN is PrivadoVPN. We found this provider to be the absolute best choice when it comes to security, as it has a strict no-logs policy and features such as those that enable torrenting.
PrivadoVPN
Deal Just $ 1.99/month for two years!
From
$ 1.99
7.8
- Secure VPN with strong encryption
- Doesn't keep logs
- Limited server network
Visit PrivadoVPN
While this is all well and good, keep in mind that you’ll likely run into data limits and speed caps, not to mention potential security vulnerabilities.
For that reason, we do recommend choosing a cheap paid VPN. You can experiment a little bit with different free VPN trials. NordVPN is the best choice in this regard.
NordVPN
Our choice
Deal Save big with up to 74% off + 3 months FREE with a two-year subscription!
From
$ 3.09
9.3
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Visit NordVPN
If you want to know more about the best free VPNs for different purposes, take a look at these articles:
- Best VPN Free Trials
- The Best Free VPNs for PC
The Best Free VPNs: Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a question about free VPNs? Click on one of the frequently asked questions below to read the answer.
Are free VPNs truly free?
Yes, some VPN providers offer all or some of their services for free. Some decent VPN providers include PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, Windscribe, and TunnelBear.
Can I watch Netflix with a free VPN?
You might be able to watch Netflix with a free VPN, but it’s not a guarantee. Free VPNs offer just a handful of servers, so Netflix probably has them on its radar already. Some free versions of VPNs, such as Proton VPN and ZoogVPN, occasionally work with Netflix.
If you want unlimited access to Netflix with a VPN (to get access to American Netflix, for example), you’ll be better off with a good premium VPN.
Are free VPNs safe to use?
Some free VPNs are safe to use. However, other free VPNs might endanger your personal information. They won’t make you anonymous, and some will sell your private data to other companies or even install malware on your phone or computer.
If you want to use a free VPN, you should always make sure to pick a safe one.
Do free VPNs sell my personal data?
Some (free) VPNs earn their money by collecting your user data and selling it to other parties. In such cases, you may not pay money to use the VPN, but you do pay with your personal information instead.
Luckily, not all VPNs do this. Proton VPN, for example, has a safe free version, which is supported by their premium service. If you want to know more check out our Proton VPN review.
What is the best free VPN?
There are several good free VPNs that you can use safely, although they often have data or speed limits. Your personal preferences determine which one is best for you. However, PrivadoVPN might be a good choice as it offers the best free experience.
If you’d rather have a free VPN with many server locations or unlimited data, other options are a better fit.
Is there a 100% free VPN?
Yes, there are 100% free VPNs and they’re some amazing ones as well. Our top two picks, PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN, offer strong 100% free VPN plans.
How do I choose which free VPN to use?
If you want to start using a free VPN, the most important consideration is your online security. Can the VPN be trusted? Be sure to look at the various features different free VPNs offer. Many free VPNs have a data or speed limit.
However, it might be worthwhile to purchase a cheap premium VPN, such as NordVPN or Surfshark.
Chris Bluvshtein
Senior Journalist
Chris is a tech journalist with many years’ experience covering online privacy and cybersecurity. He’s also a published author and works as a Product Manager for some of the most innovative software development companies.
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