Best Free & Freemium VPNs
Overview
| VPN | Speed | Servers | Rating/100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProtonVPN | 580 Mbps | 15,000+ servers | 88 |
| TunnelBear | 420 Mbps | 5,000+ servers | 70 |
| NordVPN | 730 Mbps | 8,900+ servers | 94 |
| ExpressVPN | 630 Mbps | 3,000+ servers | 85 |
Bottom Line: Most free VPNs are unsafe. They fund themselves by logging and selling your browsing data, the exact behavior they claim to prevent. The only trustworthy free options are limited versions of paid services: Proton VPN (unlimited data), Windscribe (10 GB/month), and a few others. If privacy is the goal, know what you are signing up for.
Trusted Free VPNs at a Glance
| Free VPN | Data Limit | Best For | Server Countries | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Unlimited | Overall privacy | 8–10 | 1 |
| Windscribe | 10 GB/month | Privacy tools + ad blocking | 10 | Unlimited |
| TunnelBear | 2 GB/month | Beginners | 48 | Unlimited |
| Hide.me | Unlimited | Mobile devices | 7 | 1 |
| PrivadoVPN | 10 GB/month (then throttled) | Speed (up to 900 Mbps) | 10–12 | 1 |
You want to secure your privacy online without spending money on a VPN yet. You searched for a free VPN, got overwhelmed with results, and now you have no idea which ones are trustworthy.
Here is what someone should have told you first: most free VPNs are terrible. Slow speeds, constant advertising, tiny data limits. Some secretly track and sell your browsing history to third parties.
The Business Model Behind Free VPNs
Most VPN review sites rank options and move on. We think it is worth understanding what actually happens behind the scenes with free VPNs.
Free VPNs Have to Make Money Somehow
Running a VPN costs real money. Servers, bandwidth, maintenance, and staff require ongoing funding. When a VPN is completely free with no paid version, the obvious question is: how does the company generate revenue?
The most common methods include in-app advertising, selling anonymized browsing data to advertisers, or aggressively upselling a premium plan.
Many Free VPNs Collect and Sell User Data
A 2020 study found that many free VPN applications, especially on Android, had privacy policies that explicitly authorized selling user data to third parties. Others lacked a privacy policy entirely.
Some Free VPN Apps Contain Trackers or Malware
Independent security researchers have found embedded ad trackers in free VPN apps on official app stores.
Limited Bandwidth and Speed Are Standard
Even the trustworthy free VPNs impose restrictions. Data caps between 500 MB and 10 GB per month are standard. Server options are minimal.
Why Trustworthy Free VPNs Are Limited Versions of Paid Services
The free VPNs we trust are reduced versions of existing premium services. Companies like Proton, Windscribe, and hide.me offer free tiers so users can test their products.
Best Free VPNs Reviewed in Detail
Proton VPN: Best Overall Free VPN
When someone asks us to name one free VPN to install, we recommend Proton VPN most often. It is the only reputable free VPN with unlimited data, no throttling, no ads, and no data selling.
Key Strengths
- Headquarters in Switzerland
- No-logs policy independently audited
- Uses WireGuard and OpenVPN protocols
- Built-in kill switch
Data Limits: Unlimited, no caps
Supported Devices: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV (1 simultaneous connection)
Windscribe: Best Free VPN for Privacy
Windscribe is the strongest free VPN for users willing to prioritize privacy tools over unlimited data.
Key Strengths
- Built-in ad and tracker blocker (R.O.B.E.R.T.)
- RAM-only servers
- Unlimited simultaneous connections for the free plan
Data Limits: 10GB per month (15GB if you tweet about them)
TunnelBear: Best Free VPN for Beginners
TunnelBear is user-friendly, perfect for someone with zero technical knowledge.
Key Strengths
- Simple interface
- Annual independent security audits
Data Limits: 2GB per month
Hide.me: Best Free VPN for Mobile Devices
Hide.me is strong for mobile users and provides unlimited data.
Key Strengths
- Programmable auto-connect rules
Data Limits: Unlimited
PrivadoVPN: Best Free VPN for Speed
PrivadoVPN is the fastest free VPN tested, hitting 900 Mbps.
Key Strengths
- Smart Route split tunneling
Data Limits: 10GB per month, then throttled
Free VPN vs Paid VPN: What Separates Them?
| Feature | Free VPN | Paid VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Data cap | 500 MB – 10 GB/month | Unlimited |
| Server locations | 5–10 countries | 60–100+ countries |
| Speed | Slower | Faster |
| Simultaneous connections | 1 (most providers) | 5–10+ (some unlimited) |
| Kill switch | Sometimes | Always |
Choosing the Right Free VPN for Your Situation
If Privacy Is Your Priority
Look for a VPN with a no-logs policy confirmed by a third-party audit.
If Speed Matters Most
Focus on free VPNs that provide a reasonable number of servers.
If You Primarily Use Mobile Devices
Verify that the VPN has active support on both Android and iOS.
If You Want Something Simple
Look for a clean interface with sensible defaults.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are free VPNs safe to use? Some are, but most are not. Free VPNs without a paid tier often log and sell your data.
- What is the best free VPN with no data cap? Proton VPN is the only reputable free VPN with unlimited data.
Final Verdict
After testing all of these options, here is the straightforward truth: no free VPN is perfect. For most users, we recommend Proton VPN for its unlimited data and verified privacy credentials.