The best free VPNs of 2024: Expert tested

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Do not fall easily to the allure of "free" in the VPN world. There's likely to be a catch, because providers often explore other ways to make money from you. They may hide crucial features behind a paywall, or worse, they may sell your data for a profit.

You can test the best VPNs for free with a trial or a money-back guarantee. But if you want a 100% free VPN to use for the long term, there are some secure options you can choose from. The reputation of the provider is important to ensure free apps don't compromise your security once they've been installed on your device.

Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested

What is the best VPN for free right now?

We've extensively tested every major VPN on the market, including some free VPN offerings. Our pick for the best free VPN is ProtonVPN. The company, developed by the team behind the encrypted ProtonMail service, offers a free VPN supported by paying subscribers. It's limited in device usage, but is still a top-tier VPN that can help to keep a high level of privacy. (If you're interested in trying out a VPN for a short time, consider one of our picks for the best VPNs with free trials.)

Best free VPNs of 2024

ProtonVPN

Best free VPN overall

The free version of Proton VPN offers many useful features that are paid for in other services. It doesn't cap bandwidth, so you can use it year-round without worrying about exceeding monthly data limits. And if your internet connection is fast, Proton VPN can deliver speeds close to your baseline internet because the free app doesn't restrict speeds either.

Robust online protection features like AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, leak protection, and no-logs policy help to hide your identity and digital footprints. Also, Proton VPN doesn't monetize its free apps with ads, allowing you to browse without distractions.

There are free servers in five locations: the US, Romania, Poland, Netherlands, and Japan. However, you can't manually choose and connect to a server. The VPN automatically selects one for you, but you can click the "Change Server" button to be assigned a different server location. Another drawback is that you can only use one device with your free account. Premium plans unlock 10 simultaneous connections and start at $4.49/month.

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Windscribe

Best free VPN with multiple secure settings

Windscribe is our second-best free VPN choice because, like Proton VPN, you can do a lot with the unpaid app. There are many customizable settings, including an ad-block feature, split tunneling, and a firewall to prevent leaks. You have access to free servers in 10+ countries, allowing you to easily change locations. It even offers free servers in Hong Kong for browsing content in China. The free servers support streaming across multiple popular platforms, too.

You can connect unlimited devices, but free users have 10GB/month maximum data usage (and only 2GB/month for users not signed up with an email address). The VPN also allows you to build your plan, paying just $1/month for some premium features like an ad blocker and server locations. You can use Windscribe on various devices, including Amazon Fire TV and browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge.

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Hotspot Shield VPN

Best free VPN for speed

Free users can connect to Hotspot Shield's proprietary protocol for quick speeds. The protocol has a reputation for fast speeds like NordVPN's NordLynx and ExpressVPN's Lightway. Hydra can handle connections up to 1Gbps (including on the free tier plan) and works on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Were it not for the limited free server locations (only in the US, UK, and Singapore), Hotspot Shield Basic could have easily made it to our fastest VPN shortlist.

For optimal connections, you can use the split tunneling feature to exclude some apps and websites from routing traffic on the VPN. This also helps you to conserve bandwidth since you only get 500MB every day (amounting to 15GB per month). Though Hotspot Shield Basic offers high-end encryption, the app has ads, raising questions about its privacy. The premium upgrade without ads plan starts at $2.99/month.

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TunnelBear

Best free VPN for server locations

You can use all TunnelBear servers in 47 countries for free. That's more generous than one of our top free VPN contenders, Windscribe. If you want to change your IP address to anywhere, TunnelBear should be your choice. It works with streaming platforms, including Netflix. The only limitation you have to deal with is the 2GB monthly bandwidth cap, which diminishes its usefulness for regular content streaming.

Thanks to its user-friendly interface, using TunnelBear won't be a problem, even if it's your first time with VPNs. You can also connect as many devices as you want on the free account, and it has native apps for PC, phones, and browsers. To access more features, like unlimited bandwidth, you can subscribe for as low as $3.33/month.

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Privado VPN

Best free VPN for streaming

Unlike many services that only support streaming with a premium account, Privado VPN allows you to watch online with the free tier plan. You can access servers in 13 countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK (for watching BBC iPlayer in HD). The VPN can easily pass for the best free VPN for India because it offers free servers there. Speeds aren't limited either, so you get fast connections.

Servers available to free users are part of the paid server fleet, meaning you have the same high-end protection online. Privado VPN also supports safe torrenting and file-sharing on the free servers. It can easily be installed on devices, including Android TV, and streaming media players like Fire TV Stick. You get only 10GB of free data per month, but subscriptions are very affordable, starting from just $1.99/month.

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Hide.me

Best free VPN with unlimited data transfer

Hide.me, like Proton VPN, offers unlimited bandwidth on the free plan. That means you can freely browse, stream, and download content without limitations. You can also connect up to 8 server locations, which is slightly more than Proton VPN. It has a minimalistic interface that I honestly feel needs a brush-over to be more inspiring (like one of my all-time favorites, TunnelBear).

No sign up is necessary to use the free version of Hide.me. It has an ad and tracker blocker, minimizing annoyances and third-party intrusion. There is also a no-logs policy in place to maintain a high level of online privacy. The free plan allows only one simultaneous connection per account, with premium subscriptions starting at $2.49/month.

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Best premium VPNs you can try for free

The most popular VPN services barely have freemiums, but some offer free trials and money-back guarantees. These allow you to test all premium VPN features risk-free for a limited period. Here are our best picks with free trial opportunities.

NordVPN

Best free VPN trial for Android

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to all users, including iOS and Android. It remains our best VPN for iPhone, but the free trial is only available to Android users. The free trial runs for 7 days and is only accessible if you sign up through the Google Play Store (not the website).

With its servers in 110+ countries, secure features, and fast speeds globally, you can experience the best streaming and online gaming performance at no cost. There are specialty servers, like Double VPN, for secure P2P file sharing, and subscriptions start at $3.59.

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CyberGhost

Best free VPN trial for iPhone

Contrary to NordVPN, CyberGhost favors iPhone users more, offering them a 7-day free trial without a credit card or subscription. Android and Windows/macOS devices can access shorter free trials of only 3 days and 24 hours, respectively. Plus, CyberGhost's 45-day money-back guarantee is more generous than most providers, allowing you to test the service and claim a refund.

As recommended in our CyberGhost review, it's one of the best choices for streaming, thanks to its optimized for several streaming platforms worldwide. The app can be used even on PlayStation and Xbox consoles via the Smart DNS feature or router setup. It costs just $2.19/month for the most affordable 2-year plan.

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Surfshark

Best free VPN trial for MacOS

Surfshark's free trial is available for 7 days, including on Mac devices. You can only access the free trial via the App Store (or Google Play Store for Android devices). It's also supported by a 30-day money-back guarantee for risk-free testing. Note that the refunds will be processed by your app store (not Surfshark), which makes things more complex.

When using the Surfshark app for free, you can access servers in 100 countries and tons of other paid features, including the NoBorders tool that works on network firewalls blocking VPN traffic. It's only $2.19/month for the long-term (starter) package, but short-term plans are more expensive.

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The primary reason free VPNs are discouraged is because they can put your safety and privacy at risk. Some of them want to secretly collect your data and auction it to the highest bidder, which beats the purpose of the VPN. Also, some offer only basic protection, and cybercriminals, like hackers, can exploit their flaws and do whatever they want to.

Another problem is ads. They're not only annoying, but could also indicate that trackers are being used to monitor how you interact with the ads.

Some free VPNs are malware apps in disguise. They may contain viruses, spyware, or keyloggers that can be used to steal your information.

These and many more hidden risks of free VPNs prompted us to sort secure options you can use to protect your online privacy. Our chosen free VPNs on this list have passed safety tests and have garnered positive testimonials from millions of users. It's not that they're without flaws, but at least you don't have to watch your back much while using them.

The mode of accessing a VPN free trial depends on the VPN provider. It's important to check the provider's website for clear instructions on how to access their free trial. Some require you to sign up and provide your billing information, and others give a free trial without this information. VPNs that offer free trials via money-back refunds will charge you beforehand, expecting that you'll voluntarily ask back the money if you change your mind.

Proton VPN delivers the promise of a free VPN experience better than many freemium services. It doesn't cap speeds or bandwidth, meaning you get reliable connections like you would with a paid service. Added to that, the VPN is secure and you won't be bothered with ads. There are some minor drawbacks with the free service like you can't connect more than one device, and the free servers may not support streaming.

But here's how the best free VPNs compare in terms of features.

Best free VPN	Free for life	Free bandwidth	AES 256-bit encryption and no-logs	Free server locations (countries)	Lowest starting price (USD/month)
Proton VPN	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	5	$4.49
Windscribe	Yes	10GB/month	Yes	10	$3
Hotspot Shield Basic	Yes	15GB/month	Yes	1	$2.99
TunnelBear	Yes	2GB/month	Yes	47	$3.33
Privado VPN	Yes	10GB/month	Yes	13	$1.99
Hide.me	Yes	Unlimited	Yes	8	$2.49
NordVPN	No	Unlimited	Yes	111	$3.59
CyberGhost	No	Unlimited	Yes	100	$2.19
Surfshark	No	Unlimited	Yes	100	$2.19

The best free VPN for you will greatly depend on what you want to use it for. Some VPNs offer free features that you won't find in others. Here's a summary of what our best secure and free selections are ideal for.

Choose this free VPN...	If you want…
Proton VPN	Unlimited data transfer and privacy-centered features
Windscribe	Many server locations and unlimited simultaneous connections
Hotspot Shield Basic	Fast connections in the US and on major devices and platforms
TunnelBear	IP addresses in 47 countries and user-friendly apps
Privado VPN	Ample servers for streaming and safe torrenting
Hide.me	Unlimited data transfers without a subscription
NordVPN	Premium VPN with free trial VPN for Android
CyberGhost	Premium VPN with free trial for iPhone
Surfshark	Premium VPN with free trial for Mac

If you're set on a free VPN instead of a paid one, be sure to check for these essentials.

Truly free without a catch: Some free services aren't what they claim to be. You can easily consent to a free app that collects your private data and shares it with other entities, like marketers. Therefore, you should carefully scrutinize your provider's policy and only choose transparent services.Safety: Even on free apps, the encryption should be AES 256-bit as it helps mitigate online risks like hacking. Also look for other features like secure protocols, a kill switch, and leak protection.
Intended use: Consider what you want to use a VPN for. A free VPN might be fine for casual browsing, for example, but is unlikely to work well for streaming or gaming.
Speed and bandwidth: The VPN, while free, shouldn't restrict too much speed and bandwidth usage because these can negatively impact your overall experience.
Server selection: The coverage should be decent to offer you connections in multiple locations.

The free and paid VPN providers we recommend have been vetted and reviewed by members of our ZDNET team. Using our VPN testing methodology, we evaluatedvarious aspects of these apps.

First, we shortlisted only well-established free VPN providers with good reputations. This is because unknown or shady companies pose a danger to your privacy and data. We also researched how they handle user privacy and weeded out those with questionable policies.

Next, we checked for security. All of our top free selections use military-grade encryption and have a no-logs policy. We checked whether they use reputable tunneling protocols and are consistently maintained to fix potential security bugs and reported problems. We also did leak tests to verify that they don't expose your identity.

Additionally, we tested the VPNs to ensure they have reliable performance in terms of connection and speed. With free services, however, there are no guarantees that connections will be blazing-fast because they have many limitations, including speed restrictions.

Also included on our free list are paid VPNs with free trials and money-back guarantees. These are some of the best options to explore if you want access to premium VPN features for free.

Testing Proton VPN's ability to change servers.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

Free VPN FAQs

Avoid free VPNs that don't provide very basic security or have a negative privacy reputation. Some of the services users have reported experiencing major issues with are:

Hola VPN: This VPN works by randomly assigning your device's IP address to other users on the peer-to-peer (P2P) network. The IP might be used for criminal activities and traced back to you.Hoxx VPN: The encryption used isn't safe, and the VPN collects more user data than what is necessary for tracking purposes.
Urban VPN: Though offering lots of free features, including unlimited bandwidth and device connections, the app collects and stores your identifiable information like your IP address. This isn't safe, given that it's also based in the US and can be legally forced to hand over your information.
Betternet: A 2016 cybersecurity research paper found that Betternet Android app had hidden trackers. Also, the VPN's Chrome extension was hacked and used to spread malware a year later. The VPN has since undergone many changes, including a change of ownership, but we haven't tested it ourselves.
Tuxler VPN: Just like Hola, Tuxler offers a residential IP address pool, whereby users are assigned IP addresses of other users in the locations they want to connect. While this model seems to work, concerns have been raised about the VPN's lack of transparency when it comes to the logging policy.

Astrill VPN is one of the best free VPN choices for China. Windscribe is another free option you can try to access content in China securely while abroad, since it has servers in Hong Kong. However, China has imposed restrictions on many providers and even premium VPNs might not work properly. Also, you should download your VPN app before arriving in the country because you might face challenges accessing the website once you're there.

Windscribe, CyberGhost, TunnelBear, Proton VPN, and many more services have Chrome extensions. All VPNs on our free list have extensions for Chrome and other browsers like Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

A VPN installed on a browser masks your IP address, secures your online activities, and also enables you to access content on the go without the need for a native app on your device. However, you should carefully check the features supported by free VPN extensions because some do not provide encryption or servers.

If you prefer using a proxy over VPNs, you can try some VPN providers that double as proxy services such as Hide.me, Turbo VPN, HMA, and VPN Proxy Master. You can also use exclusive proxy services like ProxyScrape, FreeProxy, Oxylabs, and more. Keep in mind that while proxies can give you IP addresses to different locations, they do not encrypt your traffic like VPNs. This means websites, ISPs, and Wi-Fi owners can still monitor your activities.

There are more free options you can explore, but as already mentioned, you should be cautious. They include:

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