The Best Free VPNs 2024
We round up the best free VPNs and explore the pros and cons of using a free VPN service.
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Last updated Jul 15, 2024
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Editorial Rating
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On Proton VPN's website
Proton VPN
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More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
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On TunnelBear's website
TunnelBear
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Headquartered in a Five Eyes Alliance country
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Slow to switch and connect to a VPN server
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PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, TunnelBear, and Windscribe are our favorite VPNs with trustworthy free versions.
Many free VPNs are known to have poor privacy practices, lack security features, or outright sell your data for profit. Let's dig in to why we selected these four options as the best free VPNs.
In this article
The best free VPN servicesPrivadoVPN
Proton VPN
TunnelBear
Windscribe
Best premium VPN free trials
What to look for in a free VPN
Are free VPNs safe?
6 free VPNs to avoid
FAQs
Bottom line
The best free VPN services
Despite the general warnings, there are a handful of trustworthy, truly free VPN services that aren’t just free trials. Many of them do have limits, but they should still be more than enough for casual users who value privacy.
If you’re looking to save money on a VPN, here are our top four free VPN services:
| VPN | 
|
|
|
|
| Free version | ||||
| Unlimited data | ||||
| # of server locations | 13 server locations | 5 server locations | 47 server locations | 10 server locations |
| Learn more | Get PrivadoVPN | Get Proton VPN | Get TunnelBear | Get Windscribe |
PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN
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Affordable pricing and a free plan option
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Fast speeds and unblocks Netflix
- Low server count
What we liked
Privado VPN is a newer VPN, based out of Switzerland. It offers a fairly generous free tier, along with some reasonably priced premium plans. The servers, and your connection, are fully encrypted, and the company keeps no logs of any of your traffic or data.
If you want to watch Netflix with a VPN, you’re in luck. The free plan of Privado VPN works with Netflix and many other popular streaming services, so you can watch content that may be blocked in your location.
The free plan gives you a healthy 10 GB of full-speed data every month. The performance is quite good, with no arbitrary speed limits.
What we didn't like
Privado VPN’s biggest downside is that the free plan only supports one VPN connection at a time. That means if you have the VPN installed on your phone, router, and computer, only one of these devices can access it. This could be a hard limit for some to work around.
| Data cap | 10 GB/mo |
| Speed cap | No speed limits |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
| Server locations | 13 server locations |
| Headquarters | Switzerland |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Details | Get PrivadoVPN |
Proton VPN
Proton VPN
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Easy to use
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A strict no-logs policy that’s been tested in court
- More expensive than NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost
What we liked
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, so we love that it offers a free service as well. Proton's free VPN has no caps on bandwidth or on speed. You'll also still get security features like a kill switch.
Proton is a provider dedicated to privacy, and this extends to its free version. Its strict no-logs polciy, which has been independently audited and tested in court, extends to Proton Free. Plus, it offers open-source apps so anyone can check and make sure it's secure.
What we didn't like
Proton Free lacks many of the features that makes Proton Premium so great. You won't get access to its unique features like the VPN Accelerator for faster speeds or servers optimized for streaming torrenting. Also, the 24/7 live chat is limited to paid subscribers.
| Data cap | No data limits |
| Speed cap | No speed limits |
| Simultaneous connections | 1 |
| Server locations | 5 server locations |
| Headquarters | Switzerland |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Encryption | AES-256 or ChaCha20 |
| Details | Get Proton VPN |
TunnelBear
TunnelBear
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Unlimited devices with paid subscription
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Strict no-logs policy
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Minimal local IP data leaks
- Headquartered in a Five Eyes Alliance country
- Slow to switch and connect to a VPN server
TunnelBear is a Canadian VPN that’s all about simplicity. The idea behind this VPN is to get you browsing securely and privately with as little hassle as possible.
To that end, it hides many of the more advanced features and technical settings that most VPNs pride themselves on. The features it does offer are packaged in a way that makes it easy to understand.
The result is an easy-to-use service that works very well. This is also the only free VPN we’re aware of that doesn’t limit you to certain servers when you’re on the free plan — you can access all 48 server locations across 46 countries. Performance is snappy across the board, and the free version can access Netflix.
What we didn't like
Unfortunately, the free version of TunnelBear has a major issue: a 2 GB monthly data limit. This means it's effectively limited to occasional use and emergencies, and the Netflix access is almost entirely useless.
You can earn an extra 1 GB by posting about TunnelBear on social media, but that’s still only 1.5 GB — far less than any other provider on this list. That said, if you only need a VPN occasionally, TunnelBear might be your best option.
| Data cap | 500 MB/mo (you can earn 1 GB extra by posting on social media) |
| Speed cap | None |
| Simultaneous connections | 1 |
| Server locations | 47 server locations |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| No-logs policy | No logs |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Details | Get TunnelBear |
Windscribe
Windscribe
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Unlimited device connections
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Has a customizable plan if you only need access to servers in specific countries
What we liked
Windscribe provides a solid free VPN offering. You get 10 GB of monthly data allowance and access to a healthy 14 server locations across 11 countries. Windscribe is also the only free VPN on this list that offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can seamlessly transition from phone to laptop to tablet without a hiccup.
Windscribe’s performance, though not as fast as some of the other VPNs here, is more than adequate, and it doesn’t appear to throttle speeds in any way. And you can really put that speed to use because it supports Netflix streaming.
What we didn't like
The main downside of Windscribe is complexity. Although the apps offer a number of features and configuration options, this can make them tough to use for the less tech-savvy among us. If you can deal with that, though, Windscribe is a fine choice.
| Data cap | 10 GB/mo |
| Speed cap | No speed limits |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited |
| Server locations | 10 server locations |
| Headquarters | Canada |
| No-logs policy | Logs the last time you connected and the amount of data you’ve used for the month |
| Encryption | AES-256 |
| Details | Get Windscribe |
Best premium VPN free trials
You can’t get paid VPNs completely free. However, many of the top paid VPNs offer free trials and/or offers like a 30-day money-back guarantee. This is a great way to try them out risk-free before purchasing. Of the VPNs that offer these trials, these four are our favorites.
| VPN | Free trial | Money-back guarantee | Learn more |
|
Yes — 7 days for Android | 30 days | Get NordVPN |
|
Yes — 7 days for Android, iOS, and macOS | 30 days | Get Surfshark |
|
Yes — 7 days for Android and iOS | 30 days | Get ExpressVPN |
|
Yes — 3 days for Android, 7 days for iOS, 24 hours for Windows and macOS | 30 days | Get CyberGhost |
Remember to cancel your plan
Don’t forget to cancel your plan before your free trial or guarantee period ends! Some providers will send you reminders, but it’s always a good idea to set your own.
What to look for in a free VPN
There are a few key features and specs to watch for when choosing any VPN — but especially a free one. Here are some of the most important things to consider:
- No-logs policy: Most people use a VPN to protect their privacy. To this end, you should review the logs policy of any VPN you use, free or not, to see what they keep and what they don’t. Ideally, you want a provider that masks your IP address and keeps no logs of your personal data whatsoever.
- Data and speed limits: Many of the trustworthy free VPN options are limited versions of paid services. This often means data usage and speed are limited. Make sure your choice offers enough data to meet your needs.
- User reviews: It’s always a smart idea to pay attention to user reviews — especially when the product or service deals so heavily with something as sensitive as your privacy. User reviews will often expose issues that may not be readily apparent.
- Number and location of servers: A VPN is only as good as its servers. The location, in particular, can have a big impact on speed, latency, and privacy.
- Business model: VPNs are operated by companies, and those companies need to make money to stay in business. The old saying applies here: if you’re not the customer, you’re the product. Ensure that your choice of provider has a way to make money that doesn’t involve selling your data. Examples include premium VPN plans.
- Encryption: Make sure any VPN you use encrypts your data with AES-256-level encryption. It should also use a secure VPN protocol like WireGuard, OpenVPN, or IKEv2.
Want to try a premium VPN risk-free? Check out the best VPN free trials and take advantage of money-back guarantees that have you covered for 30 to 45 days.
Are free VPNs safe?
It depends on how free they are. VPNs require a lot of infrastructure and can be expensive services to maintain. If the company has no way to turn a profit, it won’t last long. For this reason, most VPNs are premium services, and nearly all of the trustworthy free options are free versions of those paid services.
If you find a 100% free VPN that has no other obvious way to make money, there’s a decent chance your data is the product they’re selling. Plus, there are some other risks you should consider:
- VPNs are, by nature, able to track your data. Free options may not have the same rigorous security measures and safe logging practices that premium options offer.
- Some free VPNs have been known to display outright malicious behavior, such as selling data or embedding malware in the service.
- Some VPNs, particularly free ones, are not clear about ownership. In some instances, there is evidence of ties to certain governments that may have ulterior motives.
- This isn’t exclusive to free VPNs, but If you log into accounts with any VPN, the company that owns that account can still see your activity. For example, if you log into Google when performing a search, it will still be recorded in your Google search history.
Free VPN apps also tend to come with limitations, such as a lack of unlimited data or missing features like split tunneling and a kill switch. Others may slow your connection speed or keep free users from accessing VPN servers that support torrenting or allow you to unblock shows in other countries on BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other streaming sites.
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NordVPN
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Ultra-secure, high-speed VPN complete with malware protection and automatic blocking of intrusive ads and third-party trackers
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Other benefits include a premium password manager, dark web monitoring, and access to IP-restricted content
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3 plans to choose from for custom protection on up to 10 devices
6 free VPNs to avoid
We’ve said it several times now, but it bears repeating: not all free VPNs are trustworthy! These six, in particular, have reputations as insecure, shady, or outright malicious:
- Hola: Hola keeps a lot of data and has a poor reputation for privacy and security.
- Hoxx VPN: Hoxx VPN has poor security, sketchy logging practices, and slow speeds.
- SuperVPN: SuperVPN has a reputation for poor privacy practices and lack of transparency, particularly around who owns it.
- Turbo VPN: Turbo VPN has a poor reputation for security and, despite its name, is very slow.
- Betternet VPN: Betternet fails to live up to its promise, with slow speeds and a lack of basic privacy and security features.
- Psiphon: Psiphon performs well, but logs way too much data for an app that’s meant to protect your privacy.
FAQs
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Which VPN is the safest and free?
Our pick for the safest free VPN is Proton VPN. It offers unlimited data, no speed limits, and a strong privacy policy.
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Can a VPN steal your data?
Yes, a VPN can absolutely steal your data. VPNs, due to their nature, have privileged access to your information, as your traffic passes through their servers. If the VPN provider is a bad actor, or the software or server is infected with malware, your data can be at risk.
There are safe VPNs available, but it’s critical that the one you choose is trustworthy and has been vetted by reviewers and other users. It’s also important to review privacy and log policies to make sure that the VPN isn’t storing data that could be stolen by others.
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Can free VPNs be trusted?
Free VPNs can’t usually be trusted, no. The only free VPNs we would trust are free versions of premium VPNs. Many VPN providers offer limited free versions so users can try the service, and many of these are sufficient for light to moderate use. These are what you’ll find in our list above.
The reality is that a VPN service is expensive to operate, and that money has to come from somewhere. If the provider isn’t selling premium plans, it’s likely selling user data. That may sound harsh, but it’s the reality of the situation.
The one exception is OpenVPN, which is an open-source application that is, by nature, free of charge. However, as with many open source tools, it’s complex and difficult to set up and requires you to provide your own server.
Bottom line
VPNs are excellent privacy tools, but they can be expensive, and the free options out there can be… well, anything but private.
Fortunately, there are some options for those who want a free, secure VPN. Our four favorite free VPNs are PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, TunnelBear, and Windscribe. Each of these offers solid data, speed, and — most importantly — privacy practices.
If none of these free VPNs meet your needs, you can spring for a paid option, such as the powerful NordVPN (check out the NordVPN plans). You can also try some other useful online privacy tools, such as a password manager, ad blocker, or secure search engine.
PrivadoVPN
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Affordable pricing and a free plan option
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Fast speeds and unblocks Netflix
- Low server count
Author Details
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Dave Schafer is a professional writer with a decade of experience specializing in cybersecurity. His expertise spans gadgets, technology, and the internet, with a focus on topics such as routers, hardware, and VPN product comparisons.
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