There are free VPN companies on the market, however we wouldn’t advocate lots of them. Both they’re far too restricted and received’t do what you want them to, or they’ll take your knowledge and promote it to pay to your use of the service.
Keep in mind that if you use a VPN, you’re routing all of your web visitors by way of its servers, so it’s essential you belief that supplier.
The excellent news is that there are a handful of free VPN companies you may belief… and so they would possibly simply do what you need regardless of their limitations.
For instance, if all you need to do is unblock an internet site, a free VPN would possibly do it. All you want is for the VPN service to have a server within the nation the place the web site relies.
The issue is that just about each free VPN limits you to just some nations, and they won’t embrace the one you need. The identical goes for movies and different content material.
The pace of a free VPN could also be restricted as effectively, however the largest restriction is generally the quantity of knowledge you get. That is known as bandwidth, and also you want lots of it to stream video. So in case your plan is to make use of a free VPN to unblock Netflix and binge present after present, you’ll be dissatisfied.
Nevertheless, the companies we’ve picked right here will likely be ideally suited for some folks, not less than.
They received’t swimsuit everybody, however for infrequent use to extend your privateness whereas buying on-line or utilizing free Wi-Fi in a café, airport or resort, a free VPN can do the job. A pair will even unblock Netflix and different streaming companies, however their month-to-month (or every day) knowledge caps imply you may’t watch masses.
Regardless, a free VPN is nice technique to check out this convenient know-how for the primary time. Paid-for VPN companies hardly ever provide free trials, as a substitute preferring to make you join a month and declare a refund in case you don’t prefer it. And that’s inconvenient.
We’ve outlined the restrictions of every free VPN service within the critiques under however, usually, the free tier will prohibit you to picking from solely a handful of various nations, and can cease working when you’ve hit your month-to-month knowledge allowance and / or restrict the connection pace.
These are all completely truthful limitations: the total vary of servers, areas and greatest speeds needs to be reserved for paying clients. VPN suppliers definitely don’t need the service being slowed down by free customers and spoiling the enjoyable for the those who pay for it. And because it prices just a few {dollars} or kilos per thirty days, there’s an excellent argument for paying for a VPN.
The very best free VPNs to make use of in 2024
1. Privado
Professionals
- Unblocks Netflix & different streaming companies
- Alternative of 13 servers in 10 nations
Cons
- Restricted to 10GB per thirty days
- Usable on one machine at a time
Value When Reviewed:
From free
Privado continues to be a comparatively new VPN, however the firm behind it has big expertise. Not like most of its rivals, it owns and operates nearly all of its servers as a substitute of renting them. This makes it safer, and the very fact it’s headquartered in Switzerland makes it a sensible choice if privateness is necessary to you.
However in case you simply need to unblock Netflix, Privado is the only option as a result of it’s one of many solely free VPNs that may do that. And it’ll do it within the nations the place it has servers you should utilize without spending a dime, together with the US, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and Argentina. In all, you may select between 12 servers in 9 nations, which is surprisingly beneficiant.
Privado helps P2P downloads, and the most important drawback of utilizing the free tier is the restrict of 10GB of knowledge (per thirty days). With that, you may stream movies, obtain recordsdata and browse the online. As soon as it’s used up, you’ll have to attend till the allowance renews the next month.
The one different restriction is that Privado’s free tier can be utilized on one machine at a time.
There are apps for Home windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV and Hearth TV. The latter two are good for streaming and the apps even have a kill swap. It’s not enabled by default so that you’ll need to toggle it on in case you care about privateness.
Privado’s apps now have WireGuard, and the corporate has labored to optimise speeds and extra intelligently select one of the best protocol, which is often WireGuard within the West.
As long as you utilize the hyperlinks above or under to enroll, you’ll additionally discover it may possibly unblock different streaming companies reminiscent of Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer and ITV Hub. If you happen to go to Privado’s web site independently, you’ll discover the service received’t try this, as you’ll get a distinct model.
To enroll, you want solely a legitimate e-mail handle, as that’s the place your login particulars will likely be despatched. Get Privado free.
Learn our full
Privado VPN assessment
2. Atlas VPN
Professionals
- Limitless connections
- P2P downloads supported
Cons
- Solely 4 servers in 3 nations
- 5GB month-to-month restrict
Value When Reviewed:
From free ($1.39 per thirty days for Premium subscription)
Atlas VPN is owned by Nord Safety, which runs NordVPN. It’s primarily a paid-for VPN, however does provide a free tier. When it launched it didn’t have any bandwidth restrictions however now limits you to 5GB per thirty days. That’s fairly beneficiant.. but it surely’s not limitless.
Atlas VPN has 4 free servers, one on every coast of the USA, one in Europe (in Amsterdam) and one in Asia (Singapore).
These don’t provide the ‘excessive connection speeds’ claimed for paying customers, and there are not any ensures of efficiency for streaming video. Nevertheless, they do help P2P downloads.
We hit a roadblocks with US Netflix and Singapore Disney+, neither of which might allow us to watch content material from exterior of these nations. Atlas VPN says Premium subscribers have a greater success price.
Once we initially examined the free model of Atlas VPN we liked that it by no means requested for any particulars: you downloaded, put in and it simply works. Now, it’s essential to enter an e-mail handle to get a sign-in hyperlink, which suggests much less privateness however you may nonetheless apply it to all of your units, you’re not restricted to only one.
On cell, you’ll have to faucet by way of a number of screens explaining concerning the Premium tier. It appears there isn’t any choice however to go for the free trial, however you may faucet the X to dismiss this and use the app without spending a dime.
Atlas VPN relies within the US, which isn’t ideally suited for a VPN service as a result of unfavourable privateness legal guidelines. Atlas operates a ‘no-logs’ coverage that ought to offset this considerably. Nevertheless, its privateness coverage says that it ‘collects’ knowledge (reminiscent of your tough location, extracted out of your IP handle) as a way to ‘guarantee nice service to all our customers’. Loads of paid-for companies do the identical factor, however that is extra worrying when the jurisdiction isn’t one of the best for privateness.
In fact, most individuals wanting a free VPN don’t have privateness on the very prime of their lists. They simply need to unblock web sites, movies and different content material, so it’s not a significant subject.
Atlas provides apps for Home windows, macOS, iOS and Android, and there’s a kill swap current in all 4 apps. There are additionally Hearth TV and Android TV apps, however these are reserved for paying clients.
There’s a alternative of IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols, even without spending a dime customers. Connection occasions are fast and speeds have been surprisingly good. In testing, from the UK, we noticed obtain speeds of over 70Mbps (doubtless restricted by our broadband connection). And – as a bonus – it helps each IPv4 and IPv6, which means higher safety from IP handle leaks.
If you happen to can dwell with a 5GB month-to-month restrict and don’t have to unblock video streaming companies, it is a nice free VPN service.
Get AtlasVPN right here.
3. Windscribe
Professionals
- Servers in 11 areas
- No pace restrictions
- Can unblock some streaming companies
Cons
- Restricted to 10GB per thirty days
- UI not as user-friendly as rivals
Value When Reviewed:
Free
Whereas many free VPNs are severely restricted, Windscribe is fairly beneficiant with bandwidth and server areas, providing 10GB of knowledge per thirty days and the selection of 11 nations with completely different servers, with no pace restrictions.
These servers embrace areas within the US and UK plus Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Romania. Switzerland and Hong Kong.
You don’t get to make use of the particular Windflix servers that are optimised for streaming video, however you may nonetheless try this utilizing the opposite servers.
Throughout our testing, the servers have been in a position to efficiently unblock each Netflix US and Disney+ US, and the 10GB allowance is definitely sufficient to observe a number of movies per week. There’s a useful Amazon Hearth TV app as effectively.
All it’s important to do is present an e-mail handle, and you’ll relaxation assured that Windscribe received’t promote your knowledge to 3rd events since you’re utilizing its free VPN service. If you wish to apply it to multiple machine on the similar time, you’ll want to make use of a distinct e-mail handle and join once more.
Our solely different grievance is that the UI is just a little cramped in comparison with rivals, so can take some navigating to get the dangle of issues in case you’re a brand new consumer.
Get Windscribe right here.
4. ProtonVPN
Professionals
- Limitless bandwidth
- No adverts
- Unblocks Netflix
Cons
- Servers in solely 5 nations
- Restricted speeds
- Cannot select nation
Value When Reviewed:
From free ($5 per thirty days for Fundamental)
ProtonVPN is the one VPN service we all know of that gives a very free tier which isn’t supported by adverts and which provides limitless knowledge.
Proton operates a zero-logs coverage – together with for the free model – and in any case has knowledge safety underneath Swiss legal guidelines.
There are limitations in comparison with the paid model. One is that you’ve a alternative of simply 5 servers: US, Netherlands, Romania, Poland and Japan, and you should utilize the account on one machine solely.
Proton says you’ll get ‘medium’ pace whereas utilizing the free plan, and solely get the quickest in case you stump up the cash for its paid-for service.
You can also’t select which nation you hook up with, solely the flexibility to ‘change servers’ to provide the quickest connection potential. Throughout our assessments, we have been solely in a position to swap between the Netherlands and Romania.
The platform additionally occasions you out each time you need to swap servers, with longer penalties the extra you modify
The free tier was in a position to unblock Netflix within the Netherlands, however not Disney+. It additionally doesn’t it help P2P/BitTorrent downloads. The one different notable restriction is that you would be able to’t use the Safe Core VPN function which routes your connection by way of a number of servers.
However this nonetheless means it’s very usable, as long as your intention isn’t to unblock a particular nation’s platform or obtain torrent recordsdata.
There are apps for Android, iOS and Home windows, that are all open supply and audited – a formidable degree of transparency that reassures you they’re safe.
Though separate and never a part of the VPN, you can too have a free e-mail account with ProtonMail.
Get ProtonVPN right here.
Learn our full
ProtonVPN assessment
5. Conceal.me
Professionals
- Limitless bandwidth at restricted pace
- No account required
Cons
- Solely 7 servers
- Would not unblock all streaming companies
Value When Reviewed:
From free (Premium subscription from $2.92 per thirty days)
Conceal.me used to supply 2GB of knowledge per thirty days on its free tier however has lifted that cap to 10GB with no pace restrictions.
Higher nonetheless, you may proceed to make use of the service when you hit that restrict: you simply received’t be capable of select which server you’re linked to. Pace isn’t assured at this level, however it should one of the best cover.me can provide.
No bank card is required and also you don’t even should create an account. Simply set up the app in your cellphone, choose the free tier and click on the Activate button.
Usefully, though there’s a alternative of solely seven servers, these embrace the USA, so you may browse US web sites which are blocked in Europe due to GDPR restrictions. And all 5 areas help P2P downloads.
Conceal.me free did unblock US Netflix throughout our assessments, however didn’t work for Disney+ US, so it isn’t as dependable as another decisions on this listing.
You need to use Conceal.me without spending a dime on Android, iOS, Home windows, macOS and there’s even an app for the Amazon Hearth TV.
There’s extra excellent news: Conceal.me provides the identical options on all plans, together with its free ones. That imply it doesn’t log any consumer exercise and it additionally doesn’t promote consumer knowledge to earn a living.
You’ll be able to learn our full Conceal.me assessment for extra particulars.
Get cover.me’s free plan right here.
Learn our full
cover.me VPN assessment
6. Tunnel Bear
Professionals
- Alternative of 47 nations
- No pace restrictions
Cons
- Solely 2GB of bandwidth per thirty days
Value When Reviewed:
From free ($4.19 per thirty days for annual plan)
Tunnel Bear is likely one of the best-known VPN companies to supply a free model, although it’s actually designed to assist you to check out the service to resolve whether or not you need to pay for it.
It provides servers in 47 nations, together with the UK, US, Australia, Canada and extra. There are apps for iOS, Android, macOS and Home windows.
The distinction between the free and the paid-for service is actually only a restriction on bandwidth. The free service provides you solely 2GB per thirty days though you may request a rise to 1GB by way of Twitter. Apparently, utilizing bear-related puns will improve your probabilities of success.
Past this you may pay both month-to-month or yearly for limitless knowledge, but it surely isn’t top-of-the-line VPN companies. If you happen to’re seeking to unblock Netflix, then we are able to verify that it labored for watching the American library, however you’re restricted by the bandwidth.
Learn our full Tunnel Bear assessment.
Get Tunnel Bear right here.
7. Hotspot Protect Fundamental
Professionals
- Complete of 15GB bandwidth per thirty days
Cons
- Restrict of 500MB per day
- Just one server
- 2Mbps pace
Value When Reviewed:
From $3.49 per thirty days
Hotspot Protect is one other massive title in VPN, and can also be broadly recognized for providing a free tier.
Sadly, it’s restricted in plenty of methods which is able to doubtless make it much less interesting than others right here.
First, though it’s true that it provides 15GB of bandwidth per thirty days, there’s a secondary restrict of 500MB of knowledge per day. And which means any plans you might need had of binge-watching US Netflix on the weekend are out of the window. Video streaming can also be restricted to straightforward definition, so you may’t watch in HD.
Additionally, you’ll see loads of adverts whereas utilizing Hotspot Protect: that’s how the free service is funded.
There’s only one server on provide (which is a US digital location), and you’ll solely hyperlink one machine with the free account.
Essentially the most limiting of all is that pace is proscribed to a paltry 2Mbps, which most individuals received’t need to put up with and free customers haven’t any entry to tech help.
If you happen to simply need privateness whereas shopping the online, you is likely to be glad utilizing Hotspot Protect. However the sluggish speeds and different drawbacks imply it’s exhausting to advocate Hotspot Protect over others right here.
Get Hotspot Protect.
Learn our full
Hotspot Protect assessment
Is it secure to make use of a free VPN?
It may be, sure. There are hardly ever any variations by way of the know-how used, so that you’re getting the identical safety and privateness. Nevertheless, in a number of uncommon circumstances, if you use a free VPN service, you’re agreeing that the corporate can log knowledge and promote it to 3rd events.
That doesn’t occur with the VPNs advocate right here, however in case you resolve to make use of a distinct service then rigorously learn the Ts &Cs earlier than you join.
Are free VPNs price it?
It’s potential that you’re keen to dwell with restricted bandwidth and/or servers, particularly if all you need to do is use a VPN on public Wi-Fi for safety, however the meagre knowledge allowances from most free packages imply you received’t be streaming movies. Most received’t unblock any streaming companies anyway.
While you hit the info restrict you’ll want to attend till your knowledge allowance is renewed the next month, discover one other free service, or improve to the paid model of a free service.
There are exceptions. ProtonVPN provides limitless bandwidth without spending a dime and conceal.me has not too long ago modified its free bundle so if you’ve used up your month-to-month allowance you may preserve utilizing the service however you may now not choose which server to make use of. That’s very beneficiant if you’re not paying.
In our intensive testing of VPNs – each free and paid companies – it’s obvious that you can be considerably extra happy in case you spend just some kilos or {dollars} a month on a service reminiscent of Surfshark, NordVPN, CyberGhost and others.
However as we stated, in case you haven’t used a VPN service earlier than, do strive the choices under to see the way you get on with them. Three of them – ProtonVPN, Privado and AtlasVPN – stand out from the group. All prohibit your alternative of servers and received’t assure efficiency, however they do provide advantages often discovered solely in paid-for companies.