🛡️ Free VPNs can be a great tool to boost your online safety. You don’t have to pay for it. But, not all free VPNs are equal. Only a few stand out as safe to use. Our experts have reviewed many free VPNs. They found the ones that are reliable and secure.
We listed the best free VPN services. They have passed our trust and security tests. However, paid VPNs have their benefits. They offer more features, like unlimited data and servers in many countries. This makes them better for tasks such as streaming.
But here’s a tip: the top paid VPNs often offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can try these without risk. This means you can use their premium service for free for a short time.
📺 Looking for a free VPN for streaming or gaming? Maybe you need one for your Windows, Android, or iOS device? We’ve got you covered with our top picks for free VPNs. These are the best ones we recommend.
Why Free VPNs Can Be Risky
Getting a free VPN sounds cool. But the truth is, it can put us in danger. They aren’t as secure as paid ones. Using them might risk our private info, gadgets, and money.
Free VPNs Simply Aren’t as Safe
Running a VPN is complex and costs money. Free VPNs may sell our info to pay for their side of things. A study found 86% of free VPN apps have poor privacy rules. Some admit to sharing user data with China.
Potential for Catching Malware
But wait, there’s more bad news about free VPNs. A study shows 38% of free Android VPNs have harmful software in them. These Apps were popular and seemed safe. This puts users at risk of having their info stolen by cybercriminals.
Aggressive Advertising Practices
More risks come from the ads in free VPNs. Some use sneaky ad methods that invade our privacy. For example, HotSpot Shield was in trouble for sending traffic to its servers to show ads. This broke users’ trust and privacy.
Speed and Performance Limitations
People often get a VPN to watch their favorite shows when abroad. However, free vpn speed and performance issues might make it hard to enjoy what you want. Imagine not being able to watch a show you paid for because your VPN is so slow.
Some free VPNs sell your internet connection to others. This is what happened with Hola VPN in 2015. They were caught using their users’ internet to form a botnet. Plus, big streaming sites might block you if they see you’re using a free VPN. They often block the IP addresses they know belong to free vpn buffering and slow speeds users.
Free VPNs use the same IP addresses a lot, unlike paid services. This can make it tricky for free VPN users to get around streaming site blocks.
Advantages of Paid VPN Services
Plenty of top [benefits of paid vpn services] come with lots of features. They suit our needs and what we can spend. For more freedom and security online, paid VPNs are the way to go. They give us unlimited data and access to servers all over the world. This makes it easy to watch shows and movies everywhere. Plus, if we’re unsure, many offer money-back guarantees. So, we can try them risk-free against free options for a month.
| Feature | Free VPN | [Reasons to get a paid vpn] |
|---|---|---|
| Data Allowance | Limited | Unlimited |
| Server Locations | Fewer options | Thousands of servers worldwide |
| Streaming Capabilities | Limited or unreliable | Reliable access to global content |
| Security Features | Basic | Advanced options like kill switch, split tunneling |
| Simultaneous Connections | Limited | Multiple devices supported |
Top Free VPN Providers
Looking for the best free VPN services? Our experts tested many to find the top choices. They found PrivadoVPN and ProtonVPN to be the best. Here’s why:
PrivadoVPN: Best Overall Free VPN
PrivadoVPN Free keeps you safe online with key privacy features. If the VPN drops, a kill switch blocks traffic until it reconnects. Split tunneling lets you use some apps with the VPN and others without. It’s also quick, hitting speeds of up to 900 Mbps. This VPN is great for streaming, especially US Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Plus, you can choose from 13 server locations in 10 countries, including the US and UK.
Proton VPN Free: Unlimited Data Allowance
Proton VPN Free provides necessary privacy tools like a kill switch and high-level AES-256 encryption. It gives you unlimited data, meaning you can use it as much as you want without limits. While its speeds reach 520 Mbps, they are a bit slower than PrivadoVPN.
However, with only 3 server locations, it’s less varied than PrivadoVPN’s 13 locations.
How to Get Free VPN
When you look for a free VPN, not all are safe. We’ve tested many and found only a few we trust. It’s crucial to pick a free VPN with a clear history of keeping user info secure. Stay away from those with unknown owners or bad privacy practices.
Choosing a Trusted Provider
A few free VPNs, like PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN, are indeed trustworthy. They take user privacy and safety seriously. Plus, their free services offer great features for staying secure online.
Understanding Limitations
Free VPNs have limits you need to know about. These include how much data you can use, slower speeds, and fewer servers to choose from. They might not be good for streaming or using P2P. Before you sign up, make sure these limits won’t get in your way.
Installation and Setup
Setting up a free VPN is usually easy. Most have apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. Just download the app, make an account, and pick a server. Some might need more setup, like creating a VPN profile. Always follow the provider’s setup guide closely for the best experience.
PrivadoVPN Free Plan Features
Looking for a trustworthy free VPN choice? Consider PrivadoVPN. It’s a standout among other free VPNs. Their free plan has many top-notch features.
10GB Monthly Data Cap
PrivadoVPN Free lets you use up to 10GB a month at full speed. This is great for typical internet needs. But for heavy-on-data tasks like streaming, it might fall short. After using up 10GB, speeds drop to 1 Mbps, still enough for basic browsing.
Streaming Capabilities
PrivadoVPN Free can unblock Netflix, Disney+, and more from anywhere. This is rare for free VPNs. It’s perfect for watching your favorite shows while out of your home country.
Security and Privacy Features
This free service doesn’t skimp on safety. It has a kill switch, to stop traffic if the VPN fails, and split tunneling, for choosing what goes through the VPN. With the best AES-256 encryption and OpenVPN plus WireGuard, your online privacy is covered.
Proton VPN Free Plan Overview
Proton VPN is a top pick for those who want a safe and solid free VPN. A big plus of Proton VPN Free is the unlimited data usage. Most free VPNs limit how much you can use, but not Proton VPN Free. It lets you surf the web without worrying about data limits. This is awesome for heavy data users or anyone who doesn’t want a monthly cap.
Truly Unlimited Data Usage
Proton VPN takes your privacy and safety seriously. This shows in their open-source VPN apps. All their apps are open for anyone to see and check. This openness means programmers worldwide can make sure the apps are clean. There are no secret entrances for others to mess with your privacy.
Open-Source and Audited Apps
Proton VPN Free is great, but it has one catch. It doesn’t have many server locations. With the paid version, you get to choose from servers in lots of countries. But with the free plan, you only have 3 options. If you need more places to connect to, this might not be ideal for you.
Limited Server Locations
Comparing Free vs Paid VPNs
Choosing between a free and a paid VPN service can greatly change how you use the internet. Let’s look at the big differences between them.
Data and Speed Restrictions
Free VPNs have certain limits on the data you can use and how fast you can go online. They might cap your data, making it hard to stream or download. And, they could make your internet run slower, causing videos to buffer when you’re trying to watch something.
Paid VPNs offer more freedom. They don’t limit your data use and usually keep your internet speeds up. This means you can stream movies or music without interruptions.
Server Network Size
Paid VPNs have a massive network of servers all over the world. With access to thousands of servers, you can get around region locks and see content from various places.
Free VPNs, however, have a much smaller server network. You might only find servers in a handful of locations. This can limit what you can do online.
Advanced Features and Options
When you pay for a VPN, you unlock many more features. Things like split tunneling or hopping through multiple servers are usually just for paid plans. These advanced features can make your connection more secure and versatile.
Free VPNs are more basic. They offer the essentials but not the latest in VPN technology. The most advanced features are typically in paid VPN services.
When to Consider a Paid VPN
Free VPNs are great for saving money while increasing online privacy. However, paid VPN services shine in specific scenarios. They work well for those who love streaming, downloading torrents, or need strong security. Also, if you use multiple devices, a paid VPN offers great value.
Streaming and Torrenting Needs
Doing a lot of streaming or torrenting? A paid VPN might be your best bet. Free VPNs can struggle with streaming and have limits on torrenting. Paid options have better servers and IP management, making them more reliable for these uses.
Advanced Security Requirements
If you need top-notch security, look towards a paid VPN. They offer advanced features like a kill switch, split tunneling, and multi-hop connections. Free VPNs sometimes have basic security but true safety often comes with paid services.
Multiple Device Usage
Need protection for all your devices at once? A paid VPN is essential. Free services often allow only one connection. Paid plans let you protect many devices together. Perfect for families or tech-savvy individuals with lots of gadgets.
Conclusion
Free VPNs can seem like a good way to boost privacy online. But, using them requires some thought. Most free VPNs face big limits, can be unsafe, and might not work well. Our research points to a few exceptions, like PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN, that are safe and reliable.
The conclusion of our guide is simple: be careful with free VPNs. They could bring more trouble than they’re worth. If you need good streaming or high security, it might be smarter to pay for a VPN service you can trust. Yet, if money is tight, the free options we suggest can still help. Just know what they can’t do.
Finding the right VPN, free or paid, depends on what you need most. Think about the good and bad points of each, and pick one that you can trust. As you look for a VPN, always keep your guard up. Your online safety is key.
