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Most free VPNs aren't worth your time, so we devoted our time to make sure these are.
Last Updated: March 5, 2025
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Investing in a paid virtual private network (VPN) subscription is an effective way to safeguard your privacy or unlock restricted content, but not everyone is willing to pay for it. With VPN popularity increasing every year, more providers are offering free VPN services.
However, it is important to be cautious, as some free VPNs might be scams while others could have limited features. They may also contain malware or offer a minimal selection of servers.
But that doesn’t mean there are no decent free VPNs that can work for some users. If you want to keep yourself protected while traveling, unblock geo-restricted content, and maximize your digital security with a free VPN, this review will help you compare the best free VPN providers.
In this review, we’ll discuss many free VPN options, but they may not be the best picks for everyone. Before opting for a free VPN, you should know its potential shortcomings.
Due to limited resources and revenue, many free VPNs impose limitations on users. Most free VPNs are limited in multiple or all of the following ways:
For one or all of the reasons above, most people considering a free VPN for the first time quickly realize the vast majority of free VPNs simply won’t suit their needs.
Limitations aren’t the only concern. Many free VPNs engage in practices that compromise users’ privacy and security:
This article will discuss these shortcomings and vulnerabilities with the best free VPNs. Of course, we’ll also cover the positive sides of the best free VPNs so you can decide if any of them will work for you.
As I mentioned, free VPNs can never be as safe or reliable as paid VPNs. While paid VPNs cost you money, free VPNs cost you your privacy, security, and freedom, for which you are using a VPN in the first place. While you may be hesitant to spend your hard-earned money on a VPN subscription, paying for a proper VPN will provide the best value for you.
Besides, paid VPNs can be as cheap as $2 each month. The best paid VPNs all offer verified money-back guarantees, so you can test them for weeks or even a month and get a refund if they’re not worthwhile.
I want to briefly mention our favorite three VPNs overall so you can compare their features to those of free VPNs. You may also want to give one of these premium VPNs a try so you can witness a stellar VPN experience firsthand.
ExpressVPN is our top choice for a premium VPN. It’s one of the fastest VPNs around the world, especially with its proprietary VPN protocol, Lightway. With servers across 105 countries, it offers extensive coverage.
It also boasts strong core features that ensure robust privacy and security, including military-grade encryption and data leak protection.
It’s easy to use on every popular device and takes only two minutes to set up. It also has browser extensions. If you do encounter any problems, there’s 24/7 live customer support.
One of the least expensive VPNs is Private Internet Access, or PIA. The longest-term plan is about $2 per month, but that price doesn’t mean it compromises on service.
PIA offers all the expected features, including military-grade encryption and data leak protection. It even has a rare feature that lets you route traffic through two VPN servers for extra protection. Its servers span 91 countries and all 50 US states.
PIA supports all popular devices, with its Chrome extension standing out for cookie-blocking and other privacy tools. Its app is easy to use but offers highly customizable features for advanced users. There’s 24/7 live support.
CyberGhost is another fantastic VPN, with a monthly fee of just over $2 on its most extended plan. Its server network covers 100+ countries, and more interestingly, it offers specialty servers optimized for gaming, torrenting, and streaming.
The service is easy to use even though it’s packed with features. Like other premium VPNs, it offers military-grade encryption and data leak protection. CyberGhost has apps for all popular devices and offers 24/7 live support.
If you’re only looking for a VPN to feel a bit more secure or to connect to one or two popular locations, the best free VPNs can be a decent option.
I advise sticking to the carefully curated list below. There are so many free VPNs out there, and, as we’ve mentioned, plenty of them make false promises to the detriment of their users.
For those interested in more intensive activities like streaming, downloading, or gaming on your VPN, I’ll explain how each of the best free VPNs can or can’t serve you.
Here are the best free VPN services.
Data limit: Unlimited
Support: Knowledge base, email
Countries: 5 (randomly selected)
Maximum connections: 1
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
While most other free VPNs limit data usage, Proton VPN’s free version allows you to use it as much as you like. Still, Proton VPN deprioritizes speeds during peak times, which means that things could move slower during the evening or on weekends. Its website openly advertises the speed of its free VPN as a medium, while paid subscriptions come with high speeds.
Proton VPN offers features like DNS leak protection and split tunneling. It’s based in Switzerland and is not obligated to save any user logs, which allows it to ensure that your browsing history stays private. It has a good privacy and security history that addresses many of the concerns associated with free services.
One of the limitations of Proton VPN is that you only get access to five locations selected randomly.
Proton VPN works as a Netflix VPN but only for streaming Netflix Original content. It doesn’t work for accessing UK content like BBC iPlayer since there are no free servers there.
Unfortunately, Proton VPN doesn’t have P2P support.
You can only use Proton VPN for free on one device at a time, although you could theoretically register multiple free accounts with different email addresses.
Data limit: 500MB/day
Support: Knowledge base
Countries: 1
Maximum connections: 1
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
Hotspot Shield offers both a paid and free version. The free version allows about 15 GB of monthly data, which is pretty generous. If you go for the Premium version, this restriction doesn’t apply. Hotspot Shield VPN refreshes data allowance every 24 hours, and unused data from the previous day (up to 500 MB) doesn’t carry over.
The free plan limits you to one server location: the United States. The Premium plan offers servers in over 70 countries.
Hotspot Shield works with Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, and iOS but only allows one active connection with the free plan. Still, it’s easy enough to switch between devices. Establishing a connection usually takes less than five seconds. Plus, you can install the VPN on your router to protect other devices, including TVs and gaming consoles. Extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox.
One major drawback of Hotspot Shield’s free plan is the lack of streaming support. If Netflix access is important to you, you might want to explore other free VPN options or consider upgrading to the premium plan.
A significant privacy concern is that Hotspot Shield’s free plan doesn’t include a kill switch, available in the paid version. This means that your traffic could be exposed if the connection unexpectedly drops.
Both Hotspot Shield’s desktop and mobile apps are easy to use. However, free plan users do not get email or live chat support. You are left to figure things out on your own, with the only resource available being the FAQs. Furthermore, Hotspot Shield displays sponsors’ ads in mobile apps.
Data limit: 2 GB per month
Support: Knowledge base, email
Countries: 47+
Maximum connections: Unlimited
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
The biggest downside of TunnelBear’s free version is the 2 GB monthly data cap. That’s enough to occasionally log into a public Wi-Fi network, but not for active daily use. Even though you can access the same streaming services as with the paid plan, the data cap won’t let you enjoy the content frequently.
TunnelBear is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. The VPN also has extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge browsers. Unlike top-rated VPNs like ExpressVPN, TunnelBear doesn’t work with routers and other device types.
TunnelBear doesn’t limit the server location selection for free users. You can tunnel to and from over 47 countries. If you’re unsure which country to pick, use the auto-connect feature for fastest speeds.
The paid version of TunnelBear offers live chat support, but free plan users can only contact customer service via email. Nevertheless, the app’s interface is clear, fun, and easy to use. The TunnelBear app interface is unique and recognizable, while the installation process is quick and simple.
Since TunnelBear was acquired by McAfee in 2018, many changes have been made to its privacy policy. Even less data is now collected, which is great news for a free VPN. You don’t need to provide your name when signing up, and TunnelBear doesn’t keep a record of your connections.
Data limit: 10 GB per month
Support: Knowledge base, email
Countries: 10
Maximum connections: 1
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
PrivadoVPN’s free plan has a generous data limit of 10 GB per month. If you reach the cap, there is an option to get unlimited data via the so-called emergency server. However, you’ll be limited to one server location and 1 Mbps speed.
PrivadoVPN offers 12 locations across 10 countries: the UK, the US, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
Unlike other free VPN services, PrivadoVPN offers both free and paid plan users access to streaming servers. It unblocks US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer. Given the high data cap, this free VPN is an excellent choice for streaming.
PrivadoVPN has apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, and FireStick. The VPN is also compatible with select routers, so you can protect other devices, such as consoles. However, you can only use the free version on one device at a time.
PrivadoVPN operates from Switzerland, a country with no stringent data retention laws. It has a strict no-logs policy, so none of your data is stored. It also includes a kill switch to prevent data leaks in the event of connection drops.
The software is easy to use on both computers and mobile devices. Connecting to a server is quick and easy, and key features are neatly organized in a single tab. The home screen also displays the remaining monthly data usage.
Data limit: 10 GB per month
Support: Knowledge base, email
Countries: 10
Maximum connections: Unlimited
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
Windscribe provides free users with 14 server locations in 10 countries, which is generous compared to Proton VPN and Hotspot Shield. Furthermore, all Windscribe servers are fast and support Netflix and BBC iPlayer streaming.
Windscribe doesn’t store connection logs, IP stamps, or browsing history. It retains your username, but once your session ends, all data is erased within minutes. The Windscribe free plan has a built-in ad blocker and malware scanner.
Windscribe apps have a somewhat cramped and complicated interface. Still, it’s easy enough to navigate if you read the guides. Also, neither the paid nor free version of Windscribe offers 24/7 live chat support.
Windscribe works with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android devices. It also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and even a dedicated Amazon Fire TV app.
Most free plans restrict you to one active connection, but that’s not the case here. Windscribe offers unlimited connections, so you can protect as many devices as you need.
The free plan is limited to 10 GB of data per month with a verified email address. Fortunately, there are ways to score more data other than upgrading your plan, like referring a friend or tweeting about the Windscribe service.
Data limit: 10 GB per month
Support: Live chat, knowledge base
Countries: 8
Maximum connections: 1
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
Those who like to tailor their VPN experience will appreciate Hide.me, since its free plan comes with an array of features. It offers a kill switch, a customizable server list, a Stealth Guard, custom DNS, several protocols, split tunneling, and more.
However, free users can’t connect via WireGuard, the fastest tunneling protocol currently available.
With full P2P support and a 10 GB data cap, Hide.me is an excellent free VPN for torrenting. It also doesn’t restrict access to streaming services.
Despite the high data cap and top-notch functionality, the Hide.me free version has downsides. You can only connect one device at a time, and the server selection is limited to 8 countries.
Data limit: 5 GB per month
Support: Knowledge base, email
Countries: 2
Maximum connections: Unlimited
Price: Forever free, with optional premium plans
The Atlas VPN free version has a decent monthly data limit of 5 GB. It won’t let you binge-watch video content daily, but you can still enjoy Netflix and Amazon Prime Video occasionally.
If you are on the free plan, you don’t have to create an account. For this reason, Atlas VPN can be used on unlimited devices simultaneously.
The free plan offers only three server locations: the Netherlands, Los Angeles, and New York. Both US locations are optimized for better streaming speeds.
Atlas VPN implements AES 256-bit encryption and offers WireGuard and IPSec/IKEv2 tunneling protocols. That’s not much compared to popular VPNs like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. Despite its no-logs privacy policy, Atlas VPN is based in the US, a member of the Five Eyes Alliance.
Atlas VPN apps only cover the basics, but what you get works well. Dedicated apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The VPN doesn’t work on routers, and Linux users must upgrade to the paid plan.
The best free VPN apps can provide many of the same features that you get with paid ones. They can hide your location and encrypt all transmitted data. However, usually, you have to sacrifice the number of devices you can connect at a time, server selection, or connection speeds. In other words, a free service comes with limitations.
Free VPN services are best suited for occasional use – for example, when traveling or in a café. If you’re looking for a streaming, torrenting, or gaming VPN, even the best free apps may not do the job. Most of them have a low data allowance that you will purge quickly. For example, with 500MB of data, you might only be able to watch a single episode of any show on Netflix. Some free VPNs may not even grant access to streaming platforms.
Also, free VPNs often have slow connection speeds. That’s a no-go for online gamers and torrenters. These activities require high speeds, which only paid VPNs can provide.
The primary purpose of any VPN is to protect your privacy online. Unfortunately, not all free VPNs provide sufficient protection, and some might even compromise your security.
That said, make sure a VPN doesn’t store your internet activity and personally identifiable information. Privacy statements may hide significant details about how the company operates.
Look for a VPN that erases all your data after the session ends. Ideally, the VPN should regularly pass independent privacy audits and be headquartered in a privacy-respectful country.
Not all free VPNs are safe. It’s always better to get a free version of a legitimate paid VPN rather than a fully free VPN. If a VPN app doesn’t have a paid option, you might wonder where a company gets its money. It’s not rare that free VPNs collect user data and sell it to third parties for a profit.
Research in 2020 suggested that around 40% of the free VPNs on the Google Play Store failed to protect their users’ privacy adequately. If you want the most secure service, there’s no other option than to pay for one.
Moreover, even reputable free VPNs come with some limitations. They might offer few server locations, limited security features, poor speeds, or a low data cap. That’s why free VPNs are best suited for testing the core functionality rather than long-term use.
Premium apps like ExpressVPN, PIA, and CyberGhost are a better idea because they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. With these providers, you get fast speeds, unlimited data, 24/7 customer support, and excellent security features with no risks.
Yes, many VPN providers offer forever-free services. However, ensure that the VPN is trustworthy. Note that free apps usually have limitations in terms of speeds, server locations, or security features. Most free VPNs have a data cap, which makes them unsuitable for daily use or data-demanding activities like streaming or torrenting.
The answer depends on your needs. For example, Hotspot Shield offers 500 MB per day (up to 15 GB per month) but only offers one server location. TunnelBear, on the other hand, offers numerous server locations but only 2 GB of monthly data. Any legitimate and trustworthy free VPN that accomplishes your goal is a good one.
Kind of. Many free VPNs have zero-logs policies, decent speeds, great security features, and sufficient data allowances. However, all free apps have some limitations. We advise testing several free VPN apps to find one that suits your needs.
Since you don't pay anything, free VPNs are technically worth it. But you should be careful not to trade your privacy for a free service. Many free VPNs collect and sell user data to third parties, and some may plant malware on your device. Even legitimate free apps have drawbacks like speed or data limits, so we always recommend paid services.
Some free VPNs, like PrivadoVPN, work with Netflix. However, free apps tend to be unreliable in bypassing geo-restrictions. Netflix constantly blocks VPN server IP addresses, so free services may not bother keeping up with the necessary updates. If you're looking for a streaming VPN, consider paid apps like ExpressVPN or PIA.
No free VPN can be trusted in bypassing the Great Firewall of China. Even paid VPNs often fail to unblock Western websites and streaming services from the region. Our experience shows that ExpressVPN is the best VPN for China, as it has obfuscated servers and excellent speeds.
Yes. The primary purpose of any VPN is to hide your IP address. Regardless of limitations like a data cap or lack of streaming support, any free VPN will mask your real location. A free VPN also encrypts your web traffic. Paid VPNs serve the same purpose but have fewer limitations or extra security features.
Yes, for example, PrivadoVPN or Windscribe. If your preferred VPN doesn't have a dedicated FireStick app, check whether it works with routers. A router VPN covers your entire home network, protecting all devices, including the FireStick.
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