The best free VPNs of 2025: Expert tested

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Proton VPN | Best free VPN overall

Best free VPN overall

Proton VPN

Proton VPN is one of the very few free VPNs we can recommend. While restricted, the plan is backed by paid subscribers.

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Do not fall easily to the allure of "free" in the VPN world. There's usually 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.

Also: The best VPN services: Expert tested

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 is a handful of secure options you can choose from. The VPN provider's reputation is important to ensure free apps don't compromise your security once installed on your device, and so the only free services we can recommend are usually backed by their paying subscribers.

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 Proton VPN. 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 it is still a top-tier VPN that can help you maintain a high level of online privacy.

Alternatively, 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.

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All Countries and servers Usability Speed and performance Security Price

The best free VPNs of 2025

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 and is backed by paid subscribers.

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 $3.59/month on a two-year subscription.

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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. 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 a 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. Alternatively, a subscription starts at $5.75/month on an annual plan.

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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 (one virtual location), 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 $6.66/month.

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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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Unlike many services that only support streaming with a premium account, Privado VPN allows you to watch content 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).

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.

This VPN 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 $1.11/month (three months free).

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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 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 $2.39/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 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.

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. Subscriptions start at $3.39.

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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. You can also opt for a subscription for six months.

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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 with three months of free access included, 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.

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 or plan.

Some require you to sign up and provide your billing information, and others give a free service 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. When it comes to mobile trials, you'll likely need to visit Google Play or Apple's App Store to access them.

Best free VPN	Free bandwidth	Free server locations / countries	Lowest starting price
Proton VPN	Unlimited	5	$3.59
Windscribe	10GB/month	10	$1/5.75
Hotspot Shield Basic	15GB/month	1	$6.66
TunnelBear	2GB/month	47	$3.33
Privado VPN	10GB/month	13	$1.11
Hide.me	Unlimited	8	$2.39

Choose this free VPN...	If you want…
Proton VPN	Unlimited data transfer and privacy-centered features. While limited in server availability, Proton VPN will maintain your privacy.
Windscribe	Many server locations and unlimited simultaneous connections. Bandwidth is limited but generous, and custom, paid plans are also available.
Hotspot Shield Basic	Fast connections in the US and on major devices and platforms. However, customer support and server locations are limited.
TunnelBear	IP addresses in multiple countries and user-friendly apps. You can tap into 47 countries, but bandwidth is extremely limited.
Privado VPN	Ample servers for streaming and accessing geolocked content. If 10GB/month is enough, this is a great option for streaming and safe torrenting.
Hide.me	Unlimited data transfers without a subscription. However, the app is basic and you are restricted to one device.

If you're set on a free VPN instead of a paid one, be sure to check for these essential factors and be aware of some of the disadvantages of free VPNs.

Truly free without a catch: Some free VPN services aren't what they claim to be. You can easily consent to a free app that collects and shares your private data 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 resource-heavy applications.
Speed and bandwidth: The VPN, while free, will likely come with speed restrictions. If you want a free VPN, you might need to accept lower speeds as a trade-off.
Server selection: The coverage should be decent to offer you connections in multiple locations. However, many free VPNs will impose limits on your access to the server network.
Streaming, torrenting, gaming: If you want to use a VPN to game, stream, or torrent, free options are unlikely to be suitable. You may need to opt for a paid subscription or trial, instead.

The free and paid VPN providers we recommend have been vetted and reviewed by members of our ZDNET team. We've been reviewing VPNs for years, have spoken with their management and their users, and developed a generally favorable impression if we've included them on this list.

ZDNET tests VPN services from multiple locations, but we can't test from all locations. Every home, community, local ISP, and nation has a different infrastructure. Once you choose a VPN, it's essential that you test for all your likely usage patterns and only then decide whether to keep the service or request a money-back guaranteed refund.

We analyzed the best free VPNs below using the following criteria:

Performance: Our recommended VPNs must have a minimum level of performance. After all, there's no point in using a VPN if your connection continually drops or lags.Simultaneous connections: Many VPNs limit the number of devices you can connect to a service simultaneously. If you have a phone, tablet, laptop, desktop, or smart TV you want to connect to a VPN, you need a paid service that allows at least five or six simultaneous connections. When it comes to free services, though, there needs to be at least one.Security: There's no point in using a VPN unless its security protocols and encryption levels are up to scratch. We also ensured the development team behind each recommended VPN cares about making security improvements and patching reported bugs. It's important that our free VPN recommendations are not known for selling user data.Kill switch: A kill switch prevents you from having an unprotected connection. It is an important feature for a VPN, as it protects you by preventing a return to a default Wi-Fi connection should your internet connection unexpectedly drop.Platforms: What systems and devices can you run the VPN on? Our VPN recommendations have to offer easy-to-use and intuitive apps suitable for various hardware. Countries and servers: In how many different countries does the VPN have servers? This can include physical and virtual servers, and whether there are enough to provide variety. Expect fewer options with free plans.

Support: As with any subscription software, you may encounter problems with installing apps, using the service, renewing, or canceling. We list VPNs with an available support team, although support may be limited on free plans.

For a more extensive breakdown, check out our comprehensive VPN testing methodology page.

Testing Proton VPN's ability to change servers.

Screenshot by Kennedy Otieno/ZDNET

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. 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. It's pricey, but customers show high rates of success.

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.