The best VPN trials of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

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Protecting your privacy online is a necessity in today's world, and a virtual private network (VPN) is an excellent way to begin.

VPNs provide tunnels that mask your online communication by issuing you an IP from another location, encrypting data, and disguising your online activities. They make it harder for third parties to track you, making you less likely to become a victim of eavesdropping, a data breach, or for your personal information to be exploited by marketers.

The choices out there for VPNs are endless, but some are more trustworthy than others. The easiest way to see if a particular VPN is the right option for you is to sign up for a free trial. Many VPN companies now allow potential customers to test them out for free for a set amount of time. In most cases, we recommend you choose a trial over a free VPN service, as many free offerings require you to agree to data collection and targeted advertising. That said, you must sign up if you want a trial, so take note of the money-back guarantee period and cancel before you are charged.

Also: The best VPN services you can buy

What is the best VPN trial right now?

Our top pick is Proton VPN as it is one of the few VPN providers that still provides a free option. Although limited, the VPN is user-friendly and has an attractive user interface, giving you all the time you need to figure out how VPNs work and whether this one suits your needs. Paid plans are also available.

Below are ZDNET's top picks for the best VPN trials on the market right now.

The best VPN trials of 2024

Proton VPN

Best VPN trial overall

Since launching in 2017, Proton VPN -- the open-source virtual private network from the minds of Proton Mail -- has made its mark. It has garnered support because the company is transparent about software security practices and implements secure technologies, including two-factor authentication, Wireguard, forward security encryption keys, and a kill switch.

Review: Proton VPN

Proton VPN doesn't offer a trial, but its free option has some of the same features as its paid subscriptions. Alternatively, you can sign up for a subscription and cancel within 30 days.

At ZDNET, we like Proton VPN's free offering and view it as a "trial," especially if you are new to the world of VPNs and want to learn how to use the software before signing up for a paid plan. A bonus is that the VPN provider is backed by Swiss privacy laws, which are some of the strongest in the world.

The caveat is that you can only have one device connection to one of three countries with the trial. On the flip side, there are no data limits. If you opt for a paid subscription, you can access over 4,600 servers in 91 countries.

If you're interested in a paid plan, you can pay $4.99 per month on a two-year contract or $6.66 per month on an annual plan. One month of access is $9.99.

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Surfshark

Best VPN for affordability

Surfshark, which includes a mobile trial, has many additional features, such as cookie blockers, an IP rotator, and the option to connect to two servers simultaneously. Our past tests found the connections to be reliable and secure, albeit with download speeds that can be slower than other VPN services.

A bonus to consider is the reasonable size of its server network -- with over 3,200 servers available in over 100 countries. Surfshark is also a very affordable VPN.

Review: Surfshark VPN

A seven-day free VPN trial is available for Android, iOS, and macOS, but you need to sign up for it by downloading the app from the Google Play Store or Apple's App Store.

You can also test out Surfshark by signing up for a plan. Don't forget to cancel within 30 days for a refund if you're unsatisfied. The subscription options include a two-year subscription for $2.19 per month (plus three months free), a 12-month subscription for $2.99 per month, or one month of access for $15.45.

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Privado VPN

Best for free simultaneous device support

Another choice you should consider is Privado VPN. This Swiss VPN offers a comprehensive free plan with support for up to 10 devices, 10GB of traffic per month, and 13 server locations.

During our testing, we found the user interface clean and easy to use, with a handy button to enable or disable the kill switch. Unfortunately, it lacks the advanced features of many other VPNs.

For paid plans, the prices begin at $1.99 per month for two years of access (with three months free) and $2.99 per month for an annual plan, and rising to $10.99 if you want to try out the software for just one month.

Privado has a clear privacy policy. At the time of writing, however, there was no evidence of third-party auditing, an area the company should tackle if it wants to build more trust in the brand as a solid, secure VPN.

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ExpressVPN

Best VPN trial for user-friendliness

ExpressVPN is a widely used and popular VPN. While expensive, the service is best suited for individuals who want to adopt a reliable VPN that can be used both at home and abroad. Advanced features include content streaming and torrenting availability, split tunneling, and a threat manager designed to stop tracking.

The VPN is straightforward: install, choose a smart location or your preferred country, and connect.

You can connect up to eight devices simultaneously. A router app is also available to protect every device in your household.

Review: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN has adopted the same stance as many other VPN providers and does not offer a standalone trial. Instead, you can sign up for a short-term service -- either one month, six months, or a year -- and then cancel within 30 days to take advantage of a money-back guarantee. There are no functionality, speed, or server restrictions.

ExpressVPN subscriptions are priced as follows: $12.95 for one month of access, $9.99 per month for six months, or $6.67 per month if you sign up for one year. Three months of free access are also added to the yearly subscription, together with free Backblaze cloud backup.

There is also 24/7 chat support if you have queries or trouble setting up the VPN. Customers note the high price point but still appreciate this VPN's speed, rapid connections, and server network.

ExpressVPN features: Simultaneous connections: Eight | Kill switch: Yes | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Linux, Fire TV, Android TV, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 105 | Logging: No browsing logs, some connection logs | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android and iOS

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NordVPN

Best VPN for speed

Although NordVPN doesn't offer a free trial, you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the service and cancel within 30 days if you're unsatisfied or want to test other VPNs. Subscriptions start at $3.59 per month on a Standard, two-year plan, with three months of access thrown in for free.

Review: NordVPN review

Given NordVPN's popularity, accounting for millions of downloads, the service is worth considering, even though you have to jump through a few hoops to test it out. It's very fast and reliable, and the developers are constantly monitoring and working toward improving the VPN's security and features.

As we found in our own tests, NordVPN offers consistently fast speeds across an impressive array of country servers. Plus, it's compatible with many operating systems and devices. The company has a server network of 111 countries and allows 10 simultaneous device connections.

Also: NordVPN vs. Surfshark: Which is better for you?

NordVPN features: Simultaneous connections: 10 | Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Android TV, Fire TV, tvOS, and routers | Countries: 111 | Kill switch: Yes | Logging: Email address and billing information only | Money-back guarantee: 30 days | Trial: Seven days on Android

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VPN trial	Starting price	Number of countries/locations	Credit card required	Separate free trial or money-back guarantee	Mobile trial?
Proton VPN	Free/$4.99 per month	91	No	Free version	Free plan, limited
Surfshark	$2.19 per month	100	Yes	Money-back guarantee	Seven days
Privado VPN	Free/$1.99 per month	49	No	Free version	Free plan, limited
ExpressVPN	$6.67 per month	105	Yes	Money-back guarantee	Seven days
NordVPN	$3.59 per month	111	Yes	Money-back guarantee	Seven days

A VPN trial is a way for you to test out a service before committing to a contract. Few VPN providers offer trials beyond a week or so on mobile devices.

Instead, you can rely on a handful of free plans or sign up for a service and use what is typically a 30-day money-back guarantee to try out a VPN. You should use these methods when you can to find the VPN that is right for you.

While deciding on the best use cases for each VPN, we considered trial features, levels of security, and affordability. We recommend testing different VPNs to find the right fit for your budget and needs. The recommendations below can make the decision easier if you already know your priorities.

Choose this VPN if...	If you want...
Proton VPN	A security-first option with a free plan that strongly emphasizes transparency and open-source technology. It offers advanced security features like a no-logs policy, security audits, and support for the Tor network. This is our favorite way to try out a VPN.
SurfShark	An affordable VPN subscription and a seven-day iOS, macOS, and Android trial. With pricing starting at just a few dollars per month, SurfShark is inexpensive and still provides a wide range of features, including ad blocking and two-factor authentication.
Privado VPN	A generous free plan. While there may be questions surrounding its lack of auditing, the VPN is subject to strict Swiss privacy laws and offers users a clean, bare-bones service.
ExpressVPN	A full-featured, easy-to-use trial that is not restricted in functionality, speed, or server connections. ExpressVPN offers advanced features like content streaming and torrenting availability, split tunneling, and a threat manager designed to stop tracking.
NordVPN	Access to over 6,000 servers in 111 countries. NordVPN is a long-term, reliable solution if you want a VPN you can depend on. NordVPN offers advanced features like a no-logs policy, threat protection, and dark web monitoring.

When considering trying out a new VPN or two, there are numerous factors and conditions to think about, the most important of which are outlined below:

Trial length: VPN trials vary in length. For example, you may have 30 days on your PC, whereas iOS- or Android-based trials may only last seven days. The latter can be useful but may not be enough time to properly test out a VPN before purchase.Limits: VPN trials are often limited, which may impact the devices you can use your VPN on, the number of devices, speed, or server access. Furthermore, there may be speed caps imposed on free VPN plans or during trial periods, which doesn't reflect the true capabilities of the VPN service.Payment details: Some VPNs require payment card details before you can test out their service. If this is the case, remember to remove your details before your time runs out, to avoid being automatically charged for a paid subscription. Paid plans: If you find a VPN that you like, you may then decide to sign up for a paid plan. Consider the monthly cost of your new plan ahead of time and decide whether it is within your preferred price range.

When looking for the best VPN trials of 2024, we wanted to see just how user-friendly they are, whether you'll be asked to hand over payment card details, and whether the trials themselves have value. We considered the following factors.

Hands-on research: We conduct extensive hands-on research, including speed tests and DNS leak tests, on many VPN offerings. If a VPN doesn't perform as it should, they don't make the cut. Usability: We kept usability and user-friendliness across the different VPN trials. The point of a trial is to learn how VPNs work and to ensure a VPN is the right product for you. Limitations: Some VPN trials are limited; for example, maybe you can only connect to a handful of servers. We prefer it when trials are for the full VPN service, but there are some exceptions.Customer reviews: We examined customer reviews, including both positive and negative experiences. We also kept in mind the longevity of VPN providers, considering their track records for user and data privacy, popularity, and the variety and accessibility of services. Money-back guarantee: You often have to rely on a 30-day money-back guarantee to test the most popular VPNs. Except for services like Proton VPN and Windscribe, a subscription model is still preferable to free VPNs, unless they use the revenue generated from paid plans to support free options.

Frequently Asked Questions

A virtual private network (VPN) is a network of nodes -- or servers -- that reroute internet traffic to mask its original IP address. VPNs also add a layer of encryption to protect data packets and online communication. As the internet was not designed to be inherently secure, VPNs were developed to bridge part of the security gap. While they are not a foolproof solution, a reliable and trustworthy VPN can help protect your online privacy.

If you want to understand how VPNs work in more detail, check out our guide on everything you need to know about VPNs.

A VPN trial is a way to test a VPN service before purchasing it.

Typically, VPN trials last for a specific period or have limited functionality. Once the trial period ends, you must subscribe to continue using the service. VPN trials work by providing you with a temporary account, allowing you to test the VPN's features and functionality.

Some VPN providers offer free trials. You can cancel your subscription within the trial period to avoid being charged, but you will likely have to provide your payment card details when signing up. VPN trials can range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the provider. During the trial period, you may have limited access to certain features, reduced connection speeds, or a limited number of servers to choose from. Most VPN providers, however, offer a full range of features during the trial period.

Not all VPN trials are secure and trustworthy, so it's essential to choose a reputable VPN provider that has a history of protecting user privacy and security.

Using a VPN is generally recommended day-to-day. In some circumstances, you may decide not to enable your VPN.

VPNs can slow down your connection, so if you're not dealing with sensitive information, you may want to trade speed for security temporarily, such as when gaming. You should also always check if using a VPN is legal in your country.

VPNs protect your privacy by masking your IP address and encrypting your traffic. Unless there are specific, integrated features, they do not offer protection against online threats such as phishing, drive-by malicious downloads, malware, ransomware, or data breaches.

To protect yourself against these attack vectors, you should ensure you have a firewall and antivirus software. Stay suspicious of untrusted messages and emails.

There is a huge selection of VPN offerings in the market today. While we've showcased what we consider the best VPN providers that offer decent trials, there are other options available you may want to consider in 2024, as shown below: