7 Best REALLY FREE VPNs in 2024: 100% Safe & Very Fast

Eric Goldstein
Updated on: April 25, 2024

I’m not a big fan of free VPNs, and I usually don’t recommend them. While some free VPNs include decent security features, like bank-grade encryption that hides all of your online traffic, most are too limited and not worth the time or hassle.

The majority of completely free VPN apps out there are borderline dangerous. At worst, some contain malware and infect your device, keep user logs and sell your personal information, like the websites you visit and your IP address, to shady third parties, or have suffered a data breach. Other legit free VPNs typically lack essential security features, impose extremely low data caps so you can barely even use the VPN, have very slow speeds, offer glitchy or outdated apps, or frankly don’t work at all.

Even free plans from the top VPNs have their hard-to-miss drawbacks. For example, you only get access to a couple of server locations, a lot of them don’t provide support for streaming or torrenting, many of their features are hidden behind a paywall, some limit access to customer support platforms (such as live chat), and they usually only allow you to connect 1 device at a time.

Quite simply, the benefits you get with paid VPNs far outweigh the minor pros of free VPNs. A top premium VPN provides much better perks, such as advanced security features, fast speeds, unlimited data, multiple simultaneous connections, streaming and torrenting support, and apps for all of the top operating systems that are reliable and easy to use. I recommend that you upgrade to a low-cost premium VPN service (ExpressVPN is my top choice in 2024).

However, if you are only in the market for a free VPN, there are a handful of good ones to choose from. All of the free VPNs on this list are secure, provide a few “extra” features, and are user-friendly.

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🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN in 2024

ExpressVPN is not 100% free, but it’s the best VPN on the market and covers each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee — so you can test it out and still receive a full refund if you’re not happy with it.

However, it shouldn’t take you that long to realize why ExpressVPN sits at the top of the industry. It includes the best security features, it’s the best VPN for streaming, torrenting, and gaming, it maintains the fastest speeds, and it offers easy-to-use apps for just about every online device.

ExpressVPN provides excellent security features. In addition to a no-logs policy that’s been independently audited and confirmed, it also comes with:

• TrustedServer Technology. This means no data is ever saved to the hard drive, and all of the data is erased each time the server is turned off/on. Plus, it has been verified by an external audit.
• Perfect forward secrecy. Changes your encryption key each time you connect to a server.
• Full leak protection. ExpressVPN includes protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks.
• ExpressVPN Keys. This is a password manager that secures all of your logins and helps you generate strong passwords.

ExpressVPN also has a really excellent security feature called Advanced Protection. It’s an effective ad blocker (one of the best available), includes an option to block adult sites, and comes with Threat Manager — it’s great for blocking connections to malicious sites and also blocks ad trackers. Plus, the desktop apps automatically update all security features so you’re never without full protection.

In comparison to ExpressVPN, only 1 free VPN on this list (Proton VPN) gives you access to a password manager, and other free products either don’t include an ad blocker on the free plan or restrict your access to it, like Windscribe.

In my speed tests, ExpressVPN had impressive results. Regardless of whether I was connected to a nearby or distant server, websites always loaded right away, videos started immediately, I was able to download a 20 GB file in only about 13 minutes, and there was zero lag while gaming.

While most of the free VPNs listed in this article have fast speeds on nearby servers, all but one of them (TunnelBear) severely limit the number of servers that are accessible to free users — this means that some people won’t be able to connect to a local server, so their speeds will be much slower. However, ExpressVPN has a vast server network in 105 countries.

Plus, the VPN also has split-tunneling, which lets you pick which apps use the VPN and which apps use your local network — for example, you can route only torrenting traffic through ExpressVPN and still watch a TV series on Netflix connected to your local network.

If you enjoy streaming movies and TV shows, you’ll love ExpressVPN. It works with every single popular streaming app, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Hulu, as well as 100+ other streaming services. The only free VPNs on this list that support streaming are Windscribe and TunnelBear, but both of them have monthly data limits of 10 GB and 2 GB, respectively — so you can’t stream an unlimited number of shows and movies. I also like how the provider comes with a smart DNS (called MediaStreamer), which lets you use the VPN on devices that don’t natively support VPNs, like gaming consoles or certain smart TVs.

You also get excellent P2P support, as the provider allows torrenting across all of its servers, which are located in 105 countries (Proton VPN and Hotspot Shield don’t allow torrenting on their free plans). Also, it works with top P2P apps like qBittorrent and uTorrent.

I’m a huge fan of using ExpressVPN for gaming. All servers include DDoS protections, preventing other gamers from knocking you offline. In addition, if you’re into cloud gaming, ExpressVPN works with many services.

Plus, it comes with a native router app, which allows you to connect your gaming consoles to the VPN — all of the devices in your household connected to your router will be protected by ExpressVPN. While the VPN allows 8 connections with a single account, our top VPNs with free plans, like Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, and hide.me, allow only 1 connection.

ExpressVPN offers obfuscation on all of its servers too, and its customer support reps confirmed that it works well in restrictive countries like China. Plus, it’s great that ExpressVPN protects you on the dark web — it supports Tor traffic across all of its servers and locations.

ExpressVPN offers monthly and yearly plans, and with our special 49% discount, you can get it for as low as $6.67 / month (and there’s usually a deal for additional months for free). And remember, ExpressVPN backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

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🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Really Good VPN for Streaming (With Free Trial & 45-Day Refund)

CyberGhost VPN is not completely free, but it comes with a free 24-hour trial — you don’t need to share credit card details to be eligible for the trial, and you get access to all of the provider’s features. This provider actually has one of the best free trials on the market.

On top of that, CyberGhost VPN also has a 45-day money-back guarantee for all long-term plans — this provides plenty of time to fully test the VPN to make sure it meets your needs. The shortest plan is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee, which still provides enough time to try out the VPN.

I think this VPN is great for streaming because it has 100+ streaming servers in 20+ countries that work with 50+ streaming platforms, including top services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Max — our international team tested its streaming-optimized and regular servers with libraries in their locations and confirmed it works with 15+ Netflix libraries, 5+ Amazon Prime libraries, and 5+ Max libraries. As I noted in the ExpressVPN review above, the only VPN listed here that supports streaming on its free plan is Windscribe (and it only allows 10 GB of data per month).

CyberGhost VPN also has one of the largest server networks out there with servers in 11,528 countries spread across all regions of the world. There are servers in 40+ countries in Europe, 15+ in the Americas, 20+ in Asia and the Pacific, and 10+ in Africa and the Middle East. TunnelBear allows access to servers in all 47 countries, but you only get a measly 2 GB of data per month, while the VPN with the next highest server locations is Windscribe (and you only get 10+ countries).

When it comes to P2P support, it allows torrenting on servers in 70+ countries — though, I like ExpressVPN’s P2P support more because it allows P2P traffic on servers in 105 countries. You also get access to dedicated gaming servers in 4 countries (the US, Germany, France, and the UK) that are designed to deliver the lowest ping and include DDoS protection. However, CyberGhost doesn’t support cloud gaming.

And you also get very strong security and privacy features — the VPN comes with advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, and perfect forward secrecy, and it also has an audited no-logs policy. What’s more, it has Content Blocker, which is able to block some ads and can protect you from malicious sites.

I also like Smart Rules, which lets you set up VPN connection preferences — for example, you can configure CyberGhost VPN to automatically connect to a streaming server and open a streaming app when you launch it. There’s an option to auto-connect to a VPN server on launch or when the VPN detects a Wi-Fi network, which is pretty useful if you often use public networks. You can even set up CyberGhost to connect to a specific server after a certain period of time once you open the VPN app — none of the VPNs on this list give you this level of customization on their free plans.

The provider also has really good speeds — in my tests, websites, HD videos, and 4K videos loaded instantly, and there was only minor buffering at the start. Even so, this VPN still isn’t as fast as ExpressVPN, but it had faster speeds than the free servers that Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, and hide.me provided.

I like how you can manually set up CyberGhost on your router. When you configure the VPN on your router, you don’t have to worry about maxing out on the VPN’s 7 simultaneous connections — all of the devices connected to your router are connected to CyberGhost. The only drawback is CyberGhost doesn’t have a native router app, but it provides really good step-by-step instructions on how to configure it to your router.

CyberGhost VPN has affordable plans that start at only $2.03 / month — plus, the longest plan usually provides extra months for free. So, it’s the perfect choice for very budget-conscious users. And don’t forget, there’s a generous 45-day money-back guarantee for all of the provider’s long-term plans.

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🥉3. Proton VPN — Great Free Plan With Unlimited Data + Very Fast

Proton VPN’s free plan comes with unlimited data and the fastest speeds for a free VPN. With unlimited data, this means it doesn’t place a cap on how much internet data you can use per day or month, and it’s ad-free. This is pretty impressive because most VPNs limit bandwidth usage for their free users — Windscribe and TunnelBear have a monthly data limit on their free plans, and Hotspot Shield forces you to watch an annoying ad every 15 minutes.

The provider’s free plan also includes access to servers in 5 countries — the US, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. The only downside is you don’t get to choose the server location. Instead, Proton VPN automatically connects you to the fastest server. A customer support representative told me that to get assigned another server, you’ll need to disconnect and reconnect to the VPN, but you still won’t be able to pick from a list of free servers. This is why I always prefer a premium VPN, as ExpressVPN includes access to servers in 105 countries, and you can connect to which ever one you want.

Proton VPN offers additional free servers in censorship-heavy countries 2 weeks before the elections and 1 week after. This initiative makes sure citizens have unrestricted access to important information and can securely communicate during these periods. Here’s a breakdown of where and when Proton VPN boosts its free server availability:

And Proton VPN’s free plan comes with good speeds — websites generally loaded in right away, HD videos took 1-2 seconds, and 4K videos started within 3-4 seconds, and there was only minor buffering at the start of the videos. Proton VPN scored the fastest speeds for a free VPN but was nowhere near as fast as ExpressVPN or Cyberghost VPN. Plus, Proton VPN’s free plan excludes the VPN Accelerator feature, which boosts your speeds on distant servers.

But the provider’s free plan has some drawbacks. It doesn’t support torrenting, and it limits you to 1 device (though you can bypass this at least in your home by installing the VPN on your router) — but you don’t get its browser extensions for Chrome or FireFox.

While Proton VPN claims the free plan lacks streaming support, I was able to watch content on streaming services, but not consistently — for example, Netflix US and Amazon Prime US worked about half of the time. It also doesn’t include its ad blocker (NetShield), split-tunneling, port forwarding, Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through 2 servers instead of 1, or access to live chat.

Even though the free plan lacks torrenting and (reliable) streaming support, there is a silver lining. You’ll maintain super fast speeds on the free plan without these bandwidth-heavy activities slowing things down.

I really like that Proton VPN’s free plan comes with enhanced security and privacy features, such as perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and full-disk encryption, which keeps all of the data on a server unreadable. Also, Proton VPN’s apps are all open-source, which means anyone can inspect the source code for any holes in security and privacy. And its no-logs policy has passed an independent security audit.

Finally, you can download Proton Pass alongside Proton VPN — a free, secure, and open-source password manager that works pretty well. In addition to storing and generating passwords, it also offers unique email aliases to shield your real email address from tracking, breaches, and spam — which is pretty cool.

Upgrading to the paid version (called Plus) adds more perks, such as servers in 91 countries, support for 30+ streaming services, P2P servers in 70+ countries, and 10 connections. That said, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN provide much better value overall, as they have larger server networks, work with more streaming services, and have better P2P support.

Proton VPN’s paid plans start at $4.99 / month, and the provider has a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.

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4. hide.me — Decent Free VPN for Torrenting

hide.me has one of the only free plans on the market that allows P2P traffic — you get unlimited data (without ads), so you can download as many files as you want. It also works with top P2P apps like uTorrent and qBittorrent.

The VPN’s free plan also provides access to servers in 8 countries, including the US, the UK, Singapore, and Germany.

And speaking of speeds, hide.me’s free plan says it doesn’t have unlimited speeds. This means the free servers aren’t as fast as the premium ones. The good news is I still had decent speeds for browsing but it took me 6–7 minutes to torrent a 2.2 GB file — the same file took just 2 minutes using ExpressVPN.

Also, the VPN’s free plan provides strong security and privacy. It has advanced features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, full leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy.

Hide.me’s apps are beginner-friendly. The interface is clear and easy to navigate. Also, all settings feature quick explanations, so you don’t have to Google what they do or mean, which is great if you’ve never used a VPN before. In addition, the free plan gives you access to split-tunneling, as well as live chat.

That said, the free plan has some limitations — you can only connect 1 device (and no router support), and you don’t get streaming support, but it offers a free Chrome extension.

hide.me’s paid version allows 10 connections and adds great streaming support, as it works with popular platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime — however, it doesn’t work with Hulu.

You also get access to Multihop, which sends your traffic through 2 VPN servers, adding an extra layer of security. hide.me Bolt is another experimental feature that’s included, which can significantly increase VPN speeds. Finally, there’s port forwarding, which lets you connect to more peers to increase your P2P speeds.

The paid plan also adds access to the provider’s entire server network, which numbers 2,300+ servers in 54 countries.

hide.me has affordable plans that start at $2.22 / month. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.

Read the full hide.me review here

5. Hotspot Shield — Good for Secure Web Browsing

Hotspot Shield’s free plan is good for surfing the web as it has unlimited data. So there’s no limit to how many sites you can browse or how many videos you can watch.

I like that it also has a 7-day free trial, which very few VPNs offer. However, you do have to put in your credit card details, so if you don’t cancel within 7 days, you’ll be automatically charged. That said, you could take advantage of the generous 45-day money-back guarantee to get your money back if you forget to cancel before your free week is up.

However, it collects your IP address to serve you ads. These ads can get frustrating, as you have to watch a 30-second ad for every 15 minutes of VPN-use. Plus, there’s a pop-up ad when you open the app and terminate the connection. I like how Proton VPN and hide.me both don’t log your IP address and are ad-free on their free plans.

The free plan didn’t cause big slowdowns on my end — its proprietary Hydra protocol delivers excellent speeds while still being very secure (it has perfect forward secrecy, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch). In my tests, websites took 2–3 seconds to load, and I was able to watch videos on YouTube in standard definition without any buffering. That being said, ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN maintained much faster speeds and Proton VPN’s free servers were slighter faster than Hotspot Shield’s.

But the free plan only lets you use servers in 3 countries: the US, the UK, and Singapore. While the number is low, users in North America, Europe, and Asia will still be able to use a server that’s close to them to get smooth speeds. I particularly like that there are 2 options in the US (New York and Los Angeles) for both East and West Coast users.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t too impressed with its customer support. The free plan doesn’t give you access to any real-life humans, only an online database of troubleshooting guides.

Hotspot Shield’s free version also lacks streaming and torrenting support, and it only lets you connect 1 device (and it doesn’t include router support like the top 3 VPNs on this list). However, it offers a free Chrome extension and has other extras like split-tunneling, “Auto-connect” and “Start on launch” options.

Hotspot Shield has monthly and yearly subscriptions that start at $2.99 / month — they remove the IP logging, add access to 1,800+ servers in 85 countries, add streaming support, allow 10 connections, and are also backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Hotspot Shield review here

6. Windscribe — Decent Free VPN for Streaming

Windscribe has one of the only free plans that has streaming support — it works with top sites like Netflix, Max, and Amazon Prime, and my colleague in the UK confirmed he could watch BBC iPlayer, too. In addition, this is also one of the few free VPNs that allows unlimited connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want, making it a good pick if everyone in your family needs a free VPN.

However, my biggest complaint about Windscribe is it places a limit of data per month. You automatically get 2 GB per month, but that amount is increased to 10 GB if you provide your email address — this allows the VPN’s marketing department to contact you with offers. While 10 GB of data per month is decent (I got around 50 hours of browsing time and 8 and a half hours of streaming time in my tests), I still prefer Proton VPN’s free plan, as it comes with unlimited data.

Windscribe also has pretty good speeds. During testing, websites usually took 4 seconds to load, and HD videos loaded in 4–5 seconds — this is decent, but not as fast as the other top free VPNs on this list.

Windscribe allows you to access servers in 10+ countries, and it also provides access to split-tunneling — I was impressed to see that you can split-tunnel both apps and IP addresses. In addition, it comes with advanced security features like perfect forward secrecy, RAM-only servers, and full leak protection.

You get limited access to ad and malware blocking too, via the R.O.B.E.R.T feature. This feature also blocks certain website content, like gambling, clickbait, and crypto, as well as social media sites, such as Facebook.

Windscribe’s paid version starts at $5.75 / month, and it adds servers in 62 countries. Unfortunately, there’s only a 3-day money-back guarantee.

Read the full Windscribe review here

7. TunnelBear — Really Good Free VPN for New Users

TunnelBear has a very intuitive dashboard across all apps — all of its features are well-designed and easy to access, and there are cute bear cartoons all over the apps that help you understand and use all of the functions.

I really like that all of its apps come with an interactive map, which allows you to click on a country pin to connect to a server that’s located there. This is very convenient since you won’t have to scroll through the entire server list to find a certain server location.

Unfortunately, TunnelBear Free has a monthly data limit of only 2 GB — it’s enough for basic browsing, but that’s about it. Essentially, the free plan is really only good for testing out the VPN (and upgrading to one of TunnelBear’s paid plans if you like it) rather than using it on a daily basis.

TunnelBear’s free plan includes access to all of its 5,000+ servers in 47 countries, which makes it very simple to find the server that’s closest to your real location to get the best speeds. In my tests, TunnelBear had pretty good speeds, but they weren’t as fast as hide.me, Proton VPN, and Hotspot Shield’s free plan speeds. Sites and HD videos took 3–4 seconds to load, but the speeds were still good for general browsing.

It’s also great that TunnelBear gives free subscribers full access to its premium features, including GhostBear, which overcomes VPN blocks in countries that restrict internet access, and SplitBear, TunnelBear’s split-tunneling tool that lets you exclude both apps and websites from the VPN tunnel. Plus, TunnelBear lets all free subscribers install TunnelBear on unlimited devices — but with only 2 GB of data per month, this is all but irrelevant.

To get unlimited data, you’ll need to upgrade to one of TunnelBear’s premium plans, which start at $3.33 / month.

Read the full TunnelBear review here

Bonus. Private Internet Access — Affordable VPN With Fast Speeds

Private Internet Access is one of the cheapest VPNs on the market, starting at just $2.03 / month. Although it doesn’t have a free plan, PIA offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its plans, so you can try it risk-free.

In addition to having unlimited data, PIA offers an excellent server network — you get servers in 91 countries. Since it allows unlimited connections, your entire household can connect to a server and enjoy added security for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming.

What I like about PIA is that it’s very fast, though not as fast as ExpressVPN. In my tests, all sites and videos loaded instantly, and it only took about 1–2 seconds for 4K videos to load, which is pretty fast.

PIA is one of my favorite VPNs because it’s highly secure. It has advanced security features like RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection.

However, its top feature is its ad blocker, called PIA MACE, which blocks ads, trackers, and malicious sites. When I tested it, it blocked all ads on ad-heavy sites, and it stopped me from visiting shady websites every time.

You get great streaming and torrenting support, too. It works with all top streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, and it allows torrenting on all of its servers. I downloaded a couple of P2P files with PIA on different torrent clients, like BitTorrent and Vuze, and I didn’t experience any issues.

It has a great split-tunneling feature too, which allows you to split-tunnel apps and IP addresses. It’s also pretty customizable — for example, you can choose between 128-bit (faster and less secure) and 256-bit AES encryption, which is slower but very secure.

Read the full Private Internet Access review here

Quick Comparison Table

Testing Methodology: Comparison & Ranking Criteria

I used our proven testing methodology to guarantee I only recommend free VPNs that meet our strict standards. I tested each VPN with numerous real-life scenarios to determine ease of use, security and privacy, speeds, and more. Each VPN on this list surpassed my expectations and offers more value than other options on the market. Here are the testing criteria I used to decide which VPNs to include on my list and where each one is ranked.

• I evaluated what each free VPN offers. Most free VPN plans are very limited — so I looked for free VPN plans that have good data allowances, don’t spam you with a lot of ads, provide access to a decent number of server locations, or come with P2P or streaming support.
• I looked for a VPN with strong security. All of the VPNs on this list come with standard security features like 256-bit AES encryption (one of the strongest encryptions in the world that is also used by banks), a kill switch that disconnects you from the internet if your VPN connection is dropped, a no-logs policy to prevent the VPN from collecting your data, or protection against IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks. I made sure my data wasn’t leaked and that the kill switch was effective in shutting down my connection.
• I tested the VPN’s speeds on the free plan. All VPNs decrease your internet speeds due to the encryption process. Free VPNs usually have even slower speeds than premium VPNs because they only give you access to a small number of servers, which creates overcrowding and slows down your connection. I tested all server locations available from each free VPN to make sure the VPN provides good speeds on all servers (ExpressVPN is the fastest).
• I checked that the provider has user-friendly apps. Many free VPNs often come with buggy apps that are difficult to use. However, I tested the desktop and mobile apps to make sure they were simple to install and use.
• I made sure the VPN offered affordable pricing and good value. In case you decide to upgrade to a premium plan, I ensured the VPNs offered budget-friendly plans and come with large server networks, great streaming and P2P support, and multiple connections. I also checked to see if there’s a money-back guarantee for all purchases.

Risks & Disadvantages of Using a Free VPN

• Poor security — Most free VPNs are missing essential security features, which basically defeats the purpose of using one. For example, without strong encryption, a third party can track your browsing habits, and without a kill switch, your data could leak onto the internet if your VPN connection fails. The best way to ensure you’re fully protected is to use a reputable VPN like the ones on this list.
• Slow speeds — A lot of free VPNs only allow you to access a small number of servers. This creates overcrowding on the servers, which leads to slower speeds. However, all of the VPNs on this list maintain good speeds.
• Blacklisted servers — The servers that are available on free VPN plans usually don’t refresh their IP addresses often. This means that many of these IP addresses will get blocked or blacklisted, preventing you from accessing certain websites.
• Weak streaming & torrenting support — The majority of free VPNs don’t have streaming support and very few allow you to share P2P traffic on their free servers. And the free VPNs that actually work with streaming sites and torrent clients usually have monthly or daily data limits, so you can only watch and torrent a few movies or TV shows each day or month. If you’re looking to stream or torrent a lot of content, I strongly recommend purchasing a premium VPN.
• Selling your data — There are some free VPNs that log the websites you visit and then sell this information to other websites. These websites then target you with annoying ads. To protect your privacy, make sure you use a quality VPN that has a strict no-logs policy (ExpressVPN and CyberGhost VPN have both had their no-logs policy independently audited and confirmed).
• Data caps — A lot of free VPNs usually limit how much data you can use each day or month. So, you can really only use a free VPN for a few hours of web browsing, SD or HD streaming, or downloading small files. Proton VPN and Hotspot Shield are some of the only ones that allow unlimited data.
• Ads — Some free VPNs may display ads or sponsored content within their apps or while you browse the internet, which can be intrusive and annoying. On top of that, the ads may consume bandwidth, which can slow down your connection.
• Limited simultaneous connections — Free VPNs often restrict the number of devices you can connect simultaneously, which can be a significant limitation if you have multiple devices or if several people in your household need to use the VPN at the same time.
• Limited server locations — Free VPNs typically offer a very limited selection of server locations. This can be an issue if the available servers aren’t close to your location, which’ll mean slower speeds.
• Potential malware — There are free VPNs that contain malware, adware, or other security risks that can compromise your device and personal information. But all VPNs on my list are safe options.
• Compatibility issues — Some free VPNs lack apps for certain platforms (like mobile devices). What’s more, many free VPNs have apps that are difficult to use. Luckily, every free VPN I recommend has user-friendly apps for all major platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS.
• Poor customer support — Free VPN providers can’t afford to provide the same level of customer support as paid VPN providers. This means you might deal with slow response times, limited availability, and a lack of support resources if you encounter issues with your VPN app.

Free vs. Paid VPNs

The free VPNs featured on this list include strong security features to safeguard your data and privacy. They offer industry-standard protections, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Additionally, some of these VPNs provide advanced tools like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption for enhanced security.

Most free VPNs lack the features offered by premium VPNs, which means they tend to offer limited server networks, data usage restrictions, and fewer connections. Plus they can throttle your speeds and fail to offer streaming and P2P support.

Here are a few examples — hide.me’s free plan allows torrenting and has good speeds, but it limits you to servers in 5+ countries, 1 connection, and 10 GB per month, while Proton VPN’s free plan allows unlimited data and has strong security and good speeds, but it lacks streaming and P2P support, and it limits you to servers in 5 countries and 1 connection.

In contrast, upgrading to a top paid VPN will provide you with a much better experience — unlimited data, a large server network, multiple connections, very fast speeds, extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker, and full support for streaming and torrenting. Plus, most VPNs offer competitive pricing and back each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test out the product risk-free.

Overall, there are good free VPNs, but they’re still pretty limited — paid VPNs offer a much better value.

How Do Free VPNs Make Money?

• Advertisements. One of the most common methods free VPNs use to make money is by displaying ads to their users, so it’s not uncommon to see banner ads, pop-ups, or sponsored content in some free VPN apps. Advertisers pay the VPN provider based on impressions, clicks, or other ad performance metrics.
• Premium plans. Some VPNs offer free versions of their apps that often come with limited bandwidth, features, and server selection — mostly so you can test the VPN before buying a subscription. These VPN providers have paid users and generate enough revenue to financially support their free (but often limited) VPN product.
• Selling user data. Unfortunately, a lot of free VPNs out there collect and sell user data (such as browsing history or demographic information) to third-party advertisers, data brokers, or other interested parties. This is why I always recommend getting an affordable premium VPN like ExpressVPN. Also, all VPNs on my list come with a no-logs policy so they don’t collect any of your data and don’t have anything to sell.

Who Are Free VPNs Good For?

Free VPNs offer a basic level of online privacy and security without costing you anything. They’re ideal if you consider yourself one of the following types of users:

• Budget-conscious users: If you’re keen on boosting your online privacy but don’t want to spend any money doing it, a quality free VPN is a good choice. They provide basic protection, such as masking your real IP address and encrypting your web traffic.
• Occasional VPN users: If you only use a VPN for sporadic tasks, like when you’re using a public Wi-Fi network, a good free VPN is enough. This way, you can secure your data no matter where you’re connected, including at the airport, cafe, or gym.
• New VPN users: If you’ve never used a VPN, a free VPN is a good way to test one out without any strings attached. However, keep in mind that free VPNs have limitations, such as slower speeds and fewer server locations, many don’t support streaming and torrenting, and most of them have a daily or monthly data limit.

Overall, there are good reasons to use a free VPN but tread carefully. Free VPNs often have constraints, and some could lack key security features or peddle your data to third parties. If you’re considering a free VPN, always do your homework and pick reputable providers.

How to Get a Premium VPN for Free

You can actually test many top VPNs “for free” since many of them offer refunds. For example, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans, while CyberGhost VPN has a 45-day money-back guarantee for its long-term plans (and a 14-day refund for the shortest plan). If you’re not satisfied with the VPN within the refund time period, you can get your money back risk-free.

A number of leading VPNs provide free trials that allow you to try out their services. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that these free trials are usually somewhat limited, since they don’t give total access to all features. In fact, CyberGhost VPN is one of the few VPNs that provides a 24-hour free trial for macOS and Windows, with access to all its features, and doesn’t request your credit card details.

Some premium VPNs have completely free plans, but they come with certain limitations. For example, Proton VPN’s free plan offers unlimited bandwidth, but you only get access to servers in 5 countries. TunnelBear, on the other hand, lets you connect to any of its servers, but it caps your bandwidth at 2 GB per month.

Free VPNs to Avoid

• Hola VPN. Hola VPN is a P2P VPN, which means it assigns you another user’s IP address and assigns yours to someone else. This is super dangerous as a bad actor can use it for criminal activities. It also keeps users’ logs, doesn’t encrypt your traffic, and has a history of leaking user IP addresses.
• SuperVPN. SuperVPN is a dangerous VPN that logs a lot of your data, including your IP address, operating system, and browser type. It lacks basic security features, and there’s no way to reach its customer support. On top of that, SuperVPN had a data breach that exposed 133 GB worth of data, including users’ IP addresses, email addresses, and geo-locations.
• Phone Guardian. Phone Guardian isn’t necessarily shady, but it doesn’t work like a regular VPN. The only thing that it does as a VPN is it encrypts your data — it doesn’t hide your IP address or location, it doesn’t have security features like a kill switch, and it lacks any other functionalities that you get with a regular VPN.
• AceVPN. AceVPN has some decent features (like DNS leak protection), but it’s not enough for me to recommend it. It lacks a kill switch, which is an essential security feature, has around 20 server locations, and only offers 1 P2P server. The biggest issue I have with it is that it doesn’t have any dedicated apps, so you’ll have to manually configure it on your device, which is super inconvenient.
• TouchVPN. TouchVPN has 5,500+ servers in 80+ countries, which is impressive. What’s not impressive is that it collects your IP address and the sites you’ve visited.
• Hoxx VPN. HoxxVPN collects information about all of your web activities, your device, and your location. On top of that, it says in its terms of use that it “may” keep it even after you close your account.
• TurboVPN. TurboVPN says that it doesn’t collect any information about your online activities under its no-logs policy, but it doesn’t say anything about not collecting your IP address.
• TuxlerVPN. TuxlerVPN’s privacy policy says it logs your website activities, browser information, and contact information, and it can share all of this data with third parties for business purposes.
• FinchVPN. FinchVPN’s site is very shady and buggy. It doesn’t say anything about the VPN features, and when I try to click on the Privacy Policy, it redirects me to the home page.

I’ve also found these shady VPN apps in app stores, but they don’t have an official page or any other official information about them:

• VPN – Super Unlimited Proxy.
• SuperVPN.
• VPN Proxy Master.
• VPN – fast proxy.
• MapleVPN.
• CrossVPN.
• AnonyTun.
• OK VPN.
• VPN Hat (or Hat VPN).
• VPNGO (or GO VPN).

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best free VPN?

Proton VPN is my #1 pick for the best 100% completely free VPN in 2024 — it’s one of the only free VPN plans that allows unlimited bandwidth, and it comes with fast speeds, servers in 5 countries, and strong security and privacy features.

While all of the free VPNs on this list are decent, ExpressVPN is the best overall VPN on the market. It’s not free, but it covers each plan with a 30-day money-back guarantee. ExpressVPN is ultra-secure, has the fastest speeds out there for browsing, streaming, torrenting, and gaming, and offers user-friendly apps for all of the major platforms.

Are free VPNs safe?

Most free VPNs aren’t safe — some free VPNs lack industry-standard security features, some store your data and personal information, and some even come bundled with malware. But if you’re only in the market for a free VPN, I recommend the free VPNs on this list — hide.me, Proton VPN, and Windscribe all come with really strong security and privacy features.

Are free VPNs legal?

Yes, free VPNs (and premium VPNs) are perfectly legal in most countries, but there are some exceptions — countries like China, Iran, Indonesia, North Korea, and a few others have banned the use of VPNs. If you’re caught using a VPN in a country that has banned VPNs, you could face a stiff fine or even jail time.

Do free VPNs work with Netflix and other streaming platforms?

Yes, there are some free VPNs that work with streaming services. However, most aren’t very good for Netflix — most of them don’t work with the site at all, and there are some that only sometimes work with the platform. During my tests, Windscribe worked well with Netflix US and other top sites available in my location, like Amazon Prime US, Max, and Disney+ US. Even so, Windscribe’s free plan limits you to 10 GB per month, so you can’t use it to binge Netflix titles.

Instead, you’re better off with a paid VPN like ExpressVPN — it works with 100+ streaming services, including Netflix, and doesn’t limit your data.

Is there a 100% free VPN?

Yes, and there are a few pretty good ones, too. For example, Proton VPN’s free plan allows unlimited data, has fast speeds, and is very secure. Also, hide.me’s free plan allows torrenting, provides strong security and privacy, and lets you connect to servers in 5+ countries.

But even great free VPNs have noticeable limitations — Proton VPN’s free plan lacks streaming and P2P support, only lets you use servers in 5 countries, and limits you to 1 device. hide.me’s free plan limits you to 10 GB per month and 1 device, and you don’t get streaming support.

Overall, you get a much better experience if you pick a premium paid VPN, like ExpressVPN — it includes unlimited data, maintains the fastest speeds on the market, works with 100+ streaming services, has servers in 105 countries, and allows P2P traffic on all of them.

Which devices can I install a free VPN on?

Most free VPNs are available on all popular devices. All of the VPNs on this list have easy-to-use apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. A few of them are also available on Linux and smart TVs.

What is the best free VPN for torrenting?

hide.me is my favorite free VPN for torrenting — it’s one of the only free VPNs that allows torrenting, maintains fast download speeds, and works with all popular torrenting apps like BitTorrent, uTorrent, Vuze, and others.

That said, hide.me’s free plan restricts you to only 10 GB of data per month, so you can only download a handful of small files. Upgrading to one of its paid plans gives you unlimited data, access to 2,300+ servers in 50+ countries, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.

Even so, ExpressVPN is our top pick for torrenting, as it has high-end security features, the fastest speeds in the industry, servers in 100+ countries that all support P2P traffic, and port forwarding (lets you connect to more peers for faster downloads).

What’s the fastest free VPN?

Proton VPN is the fastest free VPN on this list — in my tests, sites loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos loaded in up to 3 seconds, and it only took around 7 minutes to download a 2.2 GB file. But ProtonVPN’s free plan has some noticeable limitations — it only lets you connect 1 device, doesn’t have streaming support, and limits you to servers in 5 countries.

So it’s ultimately better to just get an affordable premium VPN, like ExpressVPN — it’s the fastest VPN on the market, and it also comes with unlimited data, 8 connections, support for 100+ streaming apps, and servers in 105 countries.

What’s the best free VPN for gaming?

The best VPN for gaming is ExpressVPN. It maintains the fastest speeds on the market, which means zero lag and very low ping during your online games. It also offers excellent security features, such as anti-DDoS protection, and it’s one of the only VPNs that offers cloud support. Plus, you get a router app and smart DNS that allows you to connect to the VPN on your PlayStation and Xbox.

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