A virtual private network (VPN) is software that creates a unique “tunnel” you can use to access the internet while protecting your data and IP address from being viewed by others. Paid subscriptions cost upwards of $12.95 per month unless you commit to a contract stretching anywhere from six months to three years. Free VPNs don’t require a monthly subscription but lack the premium features of a paid plan.
We’ll walk you through the pros and cons and help you find the best free VPN for you, if you decide it’s worth the trade-offs.
How we chose the top free VPN providers
We tested more than a dozen VPN services — free and paid VPNs — over several weeks, checking for latency, download and upload speeds and streaming quality across macOS and Windows 10. We also tested providers’ security features, sign-up process and pricing plans.
It’s worth noting that while all of these free plans have average or higher ratings for reputation and credibility, they earned lower overall scores than paid plans. That’s because free plans will almost always reduce your speed, usage, server selection and/or other features.
Windscribe offers both paid and free packages, and the company makes a point of promising no data logs on either service. Some of Windscribe’s best additional features include:
- Netflix compatibility: Though some free VPNs limit Netflix streaming availability, Windscribe’s free 10-country network will allow you to access streaming content without a paid upgrade. This can be a major benefit for travelers who have become frustrated with the streaming limitations associated with other free VPNs.
- Built-in malware blocker: Windscribe’s free version includes a built-in ad, malware, and spyware blocker. If you currently have multiple software programs running all of these features independently, you can likely save storage space by using Windscribe.
If you want to select a server in a country that’s not available for free users, you may pay a one-time fee of $1 per location each month. There’s a $2 minimum purchase required, but you’ll get unlimited data.
With a quick and simple setup, most users will be able to access Hotspot Shield in just a few minutes. This makes it ideal for new users intimidated by more complicated paid VPNs. Some additional features we love about Hotspot Shield include:
- Higher-than-average data caps: Hotspot Shield provides all users with 500 MB of data daily, meaning that you can access up to 15 GB per month without spending a dime.
- Split-tunneling supported: Split-tunneling allows you to route some of your apps or devices through a VPN while allowing others to connect to the internet directly. This feature can be useful if you do a lot of mobile banking or manage your credit cards on-the-go, as most financial institutions will block traffic from unfamiliar IP addresses and VPNs. Hotspot Shield supports split-tunneling on both its paid and free versions.
Hotspot Shield isn’t a perfect VPN. For example, it logs domain names (not full URLs), though this data is not logged in a way that can be connected to specific users or devices. Advertising partners for the free version may also collect information about you, though ads are not personalized based on your VPN browsing activity.
Data limits are one of the unfortunate constants in the world of free VPNs. Once you reach your data limit for the day or month, you cannot continue to stream data through your VPN until your data limit is reset. ProtonVPN is one of the only VPN providers we’ve seen to offer no data caps on free users. This means that you can funnel as much traffic through your free ProtonVPN account as you need, without worrying about running out of data.
Some other unique features we love about ProtonVPN include:
- No logging policies: Unlike many other free VPN services, ProtonVPN doesn’t keep logs of your data usage. If your primary concern when using a VPN is privacy, this might move ProtonVPN to the top of your list when considering free VPN options.
- Split-tunneling supported: Like Hotspot Shield, ProtonVPN provides you with split-tunneling features that you can use to limit VPN usage by website or application.
Keep in mind that you’ll only be allowed to use one device at a time and will not have access to ProtonVPN’s full menu of 1,500+ servers in 63 countries.
When you choose TunnelBear, you can view an annual security audit performed by cybersecurity firm Cure53 to ensure that the company’s software supports the features and functionality it advertises. Some additional benefits that come with using TunnelBear include:
- Beginner-friendly interface: If you’ve never used a VPN before, you’ll likely find TunnelBear’s intuitive, easy download and launch process to be a welcome change of pace from more complex VPN options.
- No speed throttling: TunnelBear doesn’t intentionally throttle the speed of free users, unlike many free VPNs. Though you may experience some delay if you are tunneling through a server that’s far away from your current location, TunnelBear doesn’t actively take steps to slow your browsing down in order to encourage you to invest in a paid plan.
If your primary concern when selecting a VPN is data caps, TunnelBear probably won’t be the best choice for you. The software’s free version includes low data caps of 500 MB per month, which even casual internet users are likely to burn through quickly.
The pros and cons of free VPNs
Though these VPNs are free and provide you with the same basic protection as a paid VPN, they typically lack the full features that draw users to VPN services in the first place. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons that come with using a free VPN:
Pros of free VPNs
- Free VPNs provide the same basic infrastructure as paid VPNs: At the most basic level, both free and paid VPNs work using the same mechanisms. A VPN will create a personal “tunnel” that connects with a public Wi-Fi source and makes it impossible to connect your IP address with your browsing history, regardless of whether the VPN is paid or free. This means that if you have no money to spare, a free VPN can provide comparable functionality.
- Free VPNs offer geo-location spoofing services: One of the reasons why users connect to the internet via VPN is for geo-location spoofing. When a website or third party can view your IP address, it can tell where your computer is located. Countries and companies that block certain content in regions of the world can be bypassed when using a VPN. Likewise, if you want to watch Canada’s version of Netflix, but you’re in the United States, a VPN can help with that as well, as long as the service offers servers in Canada to free users.
Cons of free VPNs
- Free VPNs often log your data: If you’re in the market for a VPN, it may be because you want to keep your data secure from prying eyes. Free VPNs often earn their money by selling information about you to third parties. For many users, this defeats the entire purpose of having a VPN in the first place. If your primary concern is data security, a free VPN might not be the best choice for you.
- Free VPNs are often full of ads: If a VPN doesn’t log your data, it likely makes money by selling advertisements, which are served to users each time they use their VPN. These ads can be intrusive and seriously disrupt your browsing experience. Some free VPNs even come with persistent ads, which remain on your screen for as long as you have the VPN’s app installed on your browser. If you’re searching for a clean user experience, it’s better to go with a paid VPN, or a free VPN that doesn’t sell ads on its service.
- Free VPNs may have lessened security: While many free VPNs offer similar levels of encryption and security as competing paid VPN providers, this is by no means true for every free VPN. Select free VPNs cut costs by sacrificing encryption or security features or by sharing servers with other companies. If a VPN shares servers with a third party, your data is also at the mercy of the security protocols that the third party chooses, or doesn’t choose, to take.
Which free VPN is the best?
No free VPN is perfect. Whether it be data logging and tracking, advertisements served to you each time you get online, or caps on the amount of browsing that you are allowed, free VPNs always come with a price. The best free VPN for your needs will vary depending on which qualities you’re able to put up with, and which ones are deal breakers. Be sure to research the drawbacks of each free VPN before you download it, as no software comes without some type of price.
Prices are accurate as of January 27, 2022.