For many online activities, a free VPN is sufficient. It is not necessary to pay for some expensive application if you do not need all its enhanced features. You do, however, need to be able to distinguish between applications that are secure and that get the job done, and those that exist simply to make money for the company offering them that sell information about you and your traffic to third parties.
In addition, sometimes free VPNs will infect your devices with viruses and spyware. They may also alter search results, steal your passwords and palm off their partner’s content.
We have tested over forty popular VPNs available on Android, Apple-based devices and PCs, and have put together a selection of secure and free VPN apps for phones and computers. They usually come with limitations in terms of traffic, servers and features, but for most users they are sufficient enough.
If you need a fast VPN without restrictions, then check out our selection of the best VPN providers:
List of free VPN
#1. ExpressVPN - No activity logs VPN, all-access pass to global content. 30-day money-back guarantee. 3 Months Special Deal (save up to 49%)
#2. NordVPN - The Most Stable VPN. Protects all your devices, private DNS on every server. Best value deal: save 59% (2 year-Deal)
#3. PureVPN - AES-256 encryption, 6500+ servers in 140+ Countries, 7-day VPN trial. Browsers Extensions available. 31 Days Money-Back Guarantee
#4. Surfshark - Deal of the Day: 59$ for 24 months. Tested on Windows PC - Android - macOS. Split tunneling, Free Trial available
#5. CyberGhost - Ultra Fast Servers, up to 7 devices, no Logs Policy, Special streaming servers, 45-day money back (Incorporated in USA)
Our Top Product Picks
- 256-bit AES encryption
- Fastest streaming speeds
- Unblocks China geoblocks
- IP leak protection
- Over 5,400 servers worldwide
- Automatic kill switch
- DNS/IPS leak protection
- Unblocks Netflix
- Up to 256-bit encryption
- Breaks Chinese firewall
- IPS Leak protection
- Internet kill switch
- HackLock protection
- MultiHop mode with an extra layer of encryption
- BlindSearch for private and ad-free
- Camouflage Mode
- Country: Romania
- Founded: 2011
- Connections: 5
- Refund policy: 30 days
1. ExpressVPN
Price Range: $6.67 - $12.95. Special offer: $99.95 for 15 months
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices: up to 5 |
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Devices: Apple TV, Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux |
Express is the de facto leader in the VPN app sector. It has over 3000 servers spread across 94 countries, providing you truly global coverage. The customer support at Express is better than its counterparts. It can stream Amazon Prime, Netflix, BBC iPlayer and provide you the fastest browsing speeds among its peers. It is easy to use, and download and installation take less than 4 minutes. It breaks the toughest geoblocks, including China, with ease and provides quick browsing, streaming, and downloading as well.
It is based in a privacy-friendly location and has a strict no-logs policy that keeps your browsing data and history safe from prying eyes. The VPN works best for global streaming services and makes torrenting speeds faster. It provides DNS on each server and follows 256-bit AES encryption as well. Combined with an AES 256-bit cipher that comes with SHA-512 HMAC authentication and 4096-bit RSA key. Plans start at $6.67 per month.
Try ExpressVPN now and get our special offer!
2. NordVPN
Price Range: $3.49 - $11.95. Special offer: 2-year deal with 68% off
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:6 |
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Devices: Firestick, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, Raspberry Pi, Chromebook, Chromecast |
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS |
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPNs on the market. You can get this free VPN on your Android, iPhone, and desktop. It has 5,400 servers across the world and comes with the best in class security features as well. It provides an automatic kill switch that shuts your access to the internet as soon as the VPN shield is down. The Panama-based firm keeps you away from prying eyes and helps you get great streaming and download speeds. It bypasses IP throttling and provides access to Netflix and Amazon Prime from almost any country of your choice.
It follows a no-logs policy which provides you better security than a free VPN. It has dedicated P2P servers providing better security and privacy. It allows you to get extra protection with double IP and Onion over a VPN. It can support six devices at once and provides a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. Plans start at $3.39 per month.
3. PureVPN
Price Range: $1.32 - $10.95. Special offer: 7-day trial for only $0.99
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Money-Back: 31-day free trial |
Devices: 10 |
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Devices: Routers, Android TV, Amazon FireStick, Microsoft Surface |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox |
If you like accessing streaming platforms from different counties, then PureVPN is the right choice for you. Though this app is not the fastest among its peers, it could easily stream Hulu, Netflix, HBO GO, and BBC iPlayer in HD. The encryption protocol of the service is also not as strong as its peers, and the customer service is not as good as others. However, it is a relatively cheap option with plans starting at $1.99 per month.
Increasing your encryption will be detrimental to your speed. However, when it comes to streaming, PureVPN works well because of its specialized servers for popular websites. You can select a specialized server for a specific website from the app. The Hong Kong-based firm focuses extensively on privacy protection and lies outside the 14-Eyes jurisdiction. It also claims to have a strict no-logs policy for the users. It can also break the Chinese internet firewall.
Now work, binge & stay secure online with PureVPN
4. Surfshark
Price Range: $1.99 - $11.95. Special offer: Get 81% discount
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Money-Back: 30-day free trial |
Devices:Unlimited |
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Devices:Android TV, FireTV |
Platforms: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Linux, Chrome |
SurfShark is another reliable and high-speed VPN service provider. It is also one of the cheapest products on the market. If you are unhappy with a free VPN but don’t want to spend a fortune on a paid VPN product, then SurfShark should be the app of your choice. It provides you high-speed servers that allow you to stream in high definition. It also comes with a CleanWeb adblocker, which helps people in avoiding midroll ads in video streaming platforms like YouTube.
It comes with high-speed connections as well, which can go up to 14.52 Mbps upload and 40.92 Mbps download. SurfShark provides P2P sharing, which makes torrenting very speedy. It has industry-standard 256-bit encryption as well and follows a strict no-logs policy. It also provides IP and DNS leak protection. It also works well with P2P clients. It also provides you double VPN protection, which keeps your browsing data safe.
5. CyberGhost
Price Range: $2.75- $12.99. Special offer: 3 extra months for FREE
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Money-Back: 45-day free trial |
Devices: 7 |
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Devices: Amazon Fire TV & Fire Stick, Android TV, Routers |
Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Linux |
CyberGhost is a reliable provider with strong encryption and extra features that come with a fair price.It allows access to popular social networks and streaming services even in the countries with active censorship. Technical documentation is quite helpful, and the first line support is responsive and friendly. Overall, CyberGhost is a good choice for beginner and intermediate users.
Enjoy a fast and reliable VPN
Comparison of the characteristics of free VPNs
| VPN | Number of countries to connect | Limits | Inline ADS | Simultaneous connections | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windscribe | 10 | 10 GB per month after email verification | No | 1 | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
| TunnelBear | 49 | MB per month or up to 2 GB per post repost on social networks | No | 5 | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
| ProtonVPN | 3 | Unlimited traffic, average connection speed | No | 1 | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
| Hide.Me | 5 | 10 GB per month | No | 1 | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS |
How to distinguish good free VPNs from ones that are dangerous or are just plain bad
The main attribute that will help you in ninety percent of cases is that you must understand how any service is monetized. All VPN structures includes a lot of servers, technical capacities, developers' salaries and other expenses. Infrastructure needs to be created, maintained and developed, and money is needed for this.
- A free VPN that contains advertising is fine, but companies are seldom limited to that. Over time, as they want more money, the collection of user data begins.
- A free VPN as a multi-user network - where devices are exit points for other users – and is adequate as a concept, but dangerous in practice. Everything that another person receives from your IP can still be attributed to you.
The best free VPNs are shareware VPNs. In this example, a company also offers a paid version of their software without restrictions, and attracts additional users by offering them a truncated package: a limited amount of traffic, a reduced number of servers and limited speeds in the hope of motivating users to buy the full package.
VPN trial versions: Seven days for free
Some providers will offer customers the opportunity to use their service for free for a limited period before then having to pay to continue. The full service is usually offered without restrictions and with all locations and functions. Some examples include:
For the majority of VPN providers you can get a seven-day trial on Android or iOS for free in application stores upon your initial registration. Note that you must cancel your subscription if you do not wish to continue. Simply uninstalling the application is not enough to stop you from being charged.
30 days free VPN: Moneyback system
This is the most convenient option if you need a VPN for a relatively short period, but both speed and security remain important - for example, if you travel to China, the UAE or Turkey or some other jurisdiction with strict internet censorship, or if you need a VPN for a game (to reduce ping, protect against DDoS or to access the game from abroad) or to watch streaming content.
Such offers work by allowing you full access to a VPN package from a provider. You can then cancel after a specific time (up to 30 days, usually) and request a refund.
The most hassle-free return offers are from NordVPN, Express VPN and Surfshark VPN .
Sometimes there may be restrictions. For example you may only be able to use less than 100 GB traffic, or connect no more than twenty times. Make sure you carefully read the T&Cs.
You cannot do this multiple times with the same provider – you can only take the offer once.
Here are the main attributes of the best VPNs than you can use for up to 30 days for free.
Latest Customer Review
FAQ
- Which free VPNs are lacking in security?
Of the most popular services, we do not recommend VPN Master, Thunder, Touch, Betternet, Hola, Hide My Ass, Super VPN or the Opera browser (which is not a VPN at all). These services have frequently been found guilty of espionage, malicious advertising, theft and sale of data and allowing viruses.
- Which free VPN for browsers is the best?
A. Technically, almost everything that is available in extension stores for free is usually not a VPN, but a proxy that will not provide you with the same level of security. Check out our VPN reviews for browsers to learn more.
- Which free VPN for Android is the best?
It Is best to choose from the list of recommended shareware that is recommended by us, or at least look at the permissions requested by the service when you install. Some ask for access to your files, correspondence, contacts, location and over a dozen other types of data. The less an app asks for, the better!
Other VPNs
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4.0
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3.7
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Written by: Stefany Anderson
Technical Writer, Visit My WebSite Techno-copywriter, Privacy, Internet Security
Read Comments
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Anonymous
Why did they forget about free VPN from Hotspot Shield? They give 500 MB of traffic per day, although they limit the speed and only 1 country is available for connection. To go to some site, more than enough.
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Denzi
Although ZenMate is not a free VPN, but a regular proxy, that's enough for me.
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Kuzya
Downloaded free VPN Avira Phantom. The speed is excellent, you can connect on all devices, only the traffic limit is 500 MB for a month and Kill Switch does not work(
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Emily
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Admin
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Master
In 2020, AdGuard, a company that used to be an ad blocker, launched its free VPN. Their Free subscription offers 2 simultaneous connections, 3 GB of traffic per month, and a connection speed limit of up to 20 Mbps. The same Hotspot Shield or ZenMate has a 2 Mbps limit. Well, the number of available locations is limited, as well as there is no clear information about the VPN protocols used.
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Biter
I use free VPN Kaspersky Secure Connection. 200 MB per day is enough to open access to restricted sites. It infuriates that you can’t choose the country of connection on your own, and the privacy policy leaves questions.