As part of the ongoing story, they help keep your browsing anonymous, secure your data from prying eyes, and block invasive trackers from following your activity. On top of that, VPNs can bypass regional streaming restrictions and help prevent ISP throttling. The catch, however, is that most reliable VPNs require a paid subscription — and adding another monthly bill isn’t always ideal. That’s where free VPNs come in, offering an extra layer of privacy and security without costing you a cent. VPNs, or virtual private networks, are among the best tools for protecting yourself online.
In a fresh development, that’s why I’ve put together a list of the best, most trustworthy free VPN services currently available. Below, I break down their limitations and explain which activities they’re best suited for, whether that’s streaming, torrenting, casual private browsing, or something else entirely. Although I generally recommend choosing a premium service, such as those in our roundup of the best VPNs, I also understand that not everyone wants to pay for another subscription.
The report highlights that as reviewers and users of PC devices and programs, we put every product through its paces using rigorous benchmarking and hands-on evaluation. We’d never recommend something we wouldn’t want for ourselves. Why you should trust PCWorld for VPN reviews and buying advice: Here at PCWorld we’ve been testing computer devices, programs, and services since the 1980s.
According to the latest update, the only real limitation to this service is that you can only connect with one device at a time. Other than that, it’s practically a premium VPN. If you’re looking for speed and excellent privacy in a free VPN then Proton VPN is your best choice.
Industry observers note that the free version is also mercifully free of ads — a rarity among no-cost VPNs. You’ll be able to choose from five servers located all over the global stage including Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the U.S. Plus, the real kicker is that there are no data limits, meaning you can surf and stream to your heart’s content. This capability alone — no data limits — is reason enough to use Proton VPN; add in everything else and the competition for top spot isn’t even close. The service comes from a trustworthy, privacy-focused publisher that has undergone multiple successful audits of its no-logs policy.
According to the latest update, proton VPN’s free version even showed decent speeds in my tests, just going to show that this is the VPN to get if you don’t want to spend any money.
The report highlights that the VPN is from the same publisher behind Proton Mail, a privacy-focused email service, so it’s very easy to integrate the VPN into the whole Proton ecosystem if you so wish.
According to the latest update, if you decide to upgrade to the premium version the monthly price does come in at the expensive side, so make sure you try out the free version first before upgrading. The publisher has undergone multiple independent audits confirming its no-logs policy — that includes the free VPN, as well.
As part of the ongoing story, the good amount of worldwide servers to choose from and ability to unblock streaming services means you can use it to stream while traveling for free. PrivadoVPN is a good option for just about anyone looking to use a free VPN.
In a fresh development, most of the other free VPNs only match one of these functions, but PrivadoVPN provides them all. The free version comes with 13 worldwide servers to choose from, a generous 10 simultaneous device-connection limit, and up to 10GB per month of high-speed data.
The report highlights that the 10GB-per-month data cap only applies to high speeds though, after you reach the cap you’ll still be able to use the free VPN but with throttled speeds. Privacy-conscious users should also be aware that the publisher has not yet completed an independent audit, but it does promise to abide by its no-logs policy for both the paid and free versions. While the PrivadoVPN does work to unblock streaming services, just be aware that streaming in HD will hit that 10GB data limit pretty fast.
The report highlights that that doesn’t take away from PrivadoVPN though, as it’s about as close as you’re going to get otherwise. The only reason Proton VPN came out on top in this list is because it offers a truly unlimited free version.
In a fresh development, while you do need to pay for the premium service, with access to all of its 11,500-plus servers and additional security functions, CyberGhost also has a great browser extension that it offers for free. If you have either Chrome or Firefox you can download the extension without having to pay anything and enjoy access to a limited number of the VPN servers — currently sitting at eight servers in four countries. Additionally, you are able to connect to and use these VPN servers without having to worry about bandwidth limits or data capping — which is a huge advantage as most other free services impose strict limits. CyberGhost VPN provides an excellent VPN with plenty of servers optimized for different tasks such as tech industry, streaming, and torrenting.
The report highlights that plus, the fact that CyberGhost VPN’s free version is browser-based means that users who don’t want to bother downloading and setting up a fresh application can simply use the VPN in either their Firefox or Chrome browser. CyberGhost’s free version is ideal for users who don’t want to pay for a premium VPN service but also don’t want to worry about a monthly data cap.
Industry observers note that you lose access to all of the robust functions and tools included in the standalone VPN app. While being a browser-based VPN is certainly convenient, it does come with the drawback of being overly simplistic.
In a fresh development, however, if you start using the free browser extension and decide you like CyberGhost, you can always opt for a premium membership, which can be as low as $3 a month for a long-term plan and even comes with a generous 45-day money back guarantee. Also, in my tests I found that the servers I used in the browser extension were not able to successfully unblock streaming servers.
In a fresh development, in my testing, I noticed no discernible speed differences between the paid and free versions, and considering that the paid version already had great average speeds, that is a huge bonus. Those who want a free VPN with fast speeds and a generous helping of extra perks will find that Windscribe is the go-to option.
As part of the ongoing story, it offers way more for users and the fact that it gives you up to 10GB of bandwidth means you can use it multiple times throughout the month before hitting the data cap. The free service offers 10 regional connections including the U.S., Canada, UK, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. Plus, Windscribe does not use any virtual servers at all, meaning everything is a real physical server located in that region—a nice bonus for those concerned about server security and location spoofing. Most free VPNs are only good for location spoofing with no real added functions, and that’s why Windscribe is so good.
In a fresh development, the service is extremely easy to use with a simple setup and solid performance for a free VPN. It also has a ton of privacy functions such as blockers for site notifications and “we use cookies” banners, WebRTC leak protection, user agent rotation, and more.
The report highlights that additionally, some users might be turned off of the interface which seems a bit over-designed and not as intuitive as it could be. Still, Windscribe is a great free option with very few downsides. While Windscribe’s free version does offer up to 10GB of data per month, to get that bandwidth you’ll need to confirm via email address — if not, you’re stuck at 2GB per month.
As part of the ongoing story, i not only recommend the Windscribe free service on its own, but also as an easy way to get to know the service before committing to a paid tier with premium functions.
According to the latest update, read our full.
Industry observers note that windscribe Pro review.
According to the latest update, it’s simple to use, affordable, and the speeds are fine. TunnelBear’s free VPN is best suited for those who need a one-and-done VPN experience. The 500MB data cap is quite restrictive, but you have access to all of the premium functions from an excellent VPN service. This includes split-tunneling, a unique HTTPS masking capability, and your choice of multiple VPN protocols. I’ve always liked TunnelBear.
According to the latest update, thankfully, beyond the data limit, the free version of TunnelBear puts no restrictions on what functions are available so you’re able to experience the full application for no charge. The idea is to provide a trial for testing out the service before making a bigger commitment.
According to the latest update, plus, TunnelBear keeps track of your bandwidth usage so you can see when you’re getting too close to the limit. TunnelBear’s data limit won’t allow you to stream or play platform releases for the most part, but it’s enough for quick hits when you’re on the road for checking email, or some basic web browsing.
The report highlights that tunnelBear is all about simplicity and fun and that will appeal to a lot of people, but not everyone. Also, while TunnelBear’s free version provides you with its full premium capability set, these functions are rather minimal compared to other top services.
As part of the ongoing story, it recently did away with it’s data limits as well, which is a huge upgrade for free users. Hotspot Shield is another decent free option if you’re fine with only U.S.-based servers and a few ads. There is a 500MB data limit per day though so it’s really only suitable for private browsing. IPVanish nails all of the basics: good speeds, a large server network, and privacy promises backed up with independent audits. There is no dedicated free version, but the generous 7-day free trial is useful to try out the service or for short term usage needs. Also, the newcomer EventVPN, developed by ExpressVPN for iOS and Android, is a free VPN for mobile users with privacy at it’s core. While we believe that the above VPNs are currently the best and most trustworthy, there are a few other services that deserve attention: Hide.me is a well-rounded service that ticks almost every box and the fantastic array of configurable settings make it a power-user’s dream.
The report highlights that i’m continuously evaluating fresh VPNs and reevaluating services I’ve already tested on a regular basis, so be sure to come back for more recommendations and to see what else we’ve put through their paces.
The report highlights that vPN services are frequently running deals throughout the year, so if you decide to upgrade from a free to premium tier, you should have a few chances to snag your favorite VPN on a steep discount if you can time it right. Here at PCWorld, we are regularly hunting down the best VPN deals to help you get the most bang for your buck.
According to the latest update, it’s best to keep checking our deals article to see what fresh limited-time discounts are on offer each week. Additionally, sales events such as Amazon Prime Day in mid-July and Black Friday at the end of November provide excellent opportunities to find even cheaper VPN deals. While the prices for all VPNs on this list are revised daily, they do not account for special deals or offers.
In a fresh development, for a more detailed guide on our evaluation process, check out PCWorld’s comprehensive guide on how we test VPN services. We judge VPNs on a variety of criteria including server network, connection speeds, privacy protections, ease-of-use, additional functions, and cost.
Industry observers note that we average the connections between different worldwide locations for any given VPN and then compare them to our baseline internet speed to get a good picture of the overall connection speeds. Speed tests are kept as simple as possible.
As part of the ongoing story, experience and ease-of-use are subjective, but we try our best to give an accurate representation of how it feels to work with the VPN. And finally, we compare the value of the service based upon its price and additional functions to the industry average to help you gain an accurate picture of what you’ll get for your money. We thoroughly research and analyze the privacy policies and histories of each VPN and note any outstanding discrepancies or data collection issues.
The report highlights that when he’s not on the hunt for the best computer deals he’s covering VPNs, productivity programs, laptops, and a wide gamut of consumer-grade devices and programs. Sam Singleton is PCWorld’s VPN beat reporter and jack of all trades.
According to the latest update, do you want unlimited bandwidth but a restriction on devices? Or is it preferable to have more devices but deal with a bandwidth limit? Choosing a free VPN is a question of weighing the trade-offs with each service.
As part of the ongoing story, it’s difficult to judge any VPN by just one capability, but a semi-reliable way to tell if a VPN is even worth your time is to look at the server network. While premium services should have 1,000 or more total servers, free VPNs will provide a lot less. Look for something in the range of 8 to 10 total servers, preferably located in different countries around the global stage. One of the first things you should look for in a free VPN is the number of servers and locations.
As part of the ongoing story, this may be tricky to do since you aren’t likely to be able to test connection speeds without paying to use the service. Reading reviews online will give you a general estimate. Look for reviews, like ours, that give you a relative average of connection speeds rather than direct Mbps speed comparisons, for a more accurate picture. Also, be sure to check if the free version comes with any speed restrictions. The next thing to consider is a VPN’s speed.
According to the latest update, does it have a no-logs policy? Has it undergone any independent audits of its servers? Where is the VPN publisher located? All of these will give you an idea of whether or not a VPN is transparent with its data collection policies and if it’s subject to government data sharing requirements. You’ll also want to read up on a VPN’s privacy protections.
The report highlights that ads expose you to tracking by the publisher delivering said ads, which is something you don’t want. Also, stay away from any deal that suggests you can get a VPN by “sharing” your bandwidth like we saw with the Hola VPN scandal back in 2015. You also want to watch out for any VPNs with no name recognition, or that don’t have any official reviews by third-parties. One thing you definitely want to avoid is a VPN that is ad supported.
As part of the ongoing story, with the free version, you’ll get all of the same privacy and security benefits of the premium version, plus no monthly data limits and good speeds. Proton VPN is our pick for best free VPN overall.
Industry observers note that the only major drawback is that you’ll be limited to a few worldwide servers, but there should be enough variety to access what you want.
Industry observers note that figuring out which services are reputable and which you should steer clear of can be challenging. Free VPNs have a bit of a bad rap as some have been used to exploit users with targeted ads and dubious privacy policies.
According to the latest update, when we review VPNs here at PCWorld, we look closely at each service’s privacy policy and do in-depth research to determine if there’ve been any historical data sharing issues associated with the publisher.
In a fresh development, many of these details aren’t widely known, so if you’re unsure about a service’s track record or privacy policy commitments, be sure to check out our detailed reviews, or do a bit of research on your own before using a free VPN. The best free VPNs, such as those listed above, will have strict no-logs policies and back them up with third-party audits.
As part of the ongoing story, sometimes, even with premium VPNs, it can be difficult to find servers that can unblock these types of streaming sites. Netflix has a reputation for strongly combating VPN usage on its site.
In a fresh development, additionally, free VPNs often limit connection speeds or the amount of data for users, meaning streaming isn’t a viable option. Free VPNs in particular can struggle to access streaming services such as Netflix due in part to their limited number of servers—more servers means more potential options to bypass blocks.
According to the latest update, otherwise, you might find it difficult with any free VPN to access streaming content. I recommend that if your main goal with a VPN is to access location-restricted content, then you opt for a premium VPN such as those in our list of best VPNs for Netflix.
As part of the ongoing story, you may run into some performance issues with free VPNs due to their imposed limitations, though. If you’re looking to increase your privacy and security while surfing the web, then the right free VPN can be a perfectly viable solution.
According to the latest update, just make sure that you stick with a reputable provider such as those above, with strong privacy practices. That being said, all of the free VPNs above are more than worth trying out, especially if your VPN needs are basic.
The report highlights that when you connect to a VPN your web traffic is routed through the chosen VPN server to make it appear as though you’re browsing from that server’s location, and not from your actual location. The VPN app will also encrypt your data so that any third parties such as your ISP can’t see your specific online activities. A VPN can be a great response to a variety of concerns, such as online privacy, anonymity, greater security on public Wi-Fi, and, of course, spoofing locations. VPNs create a secure tunnel between your PC and the internet.
As part of the ongoing story, while a trustworthy free VPN will certainly offer you better privacy and security, neither it nor any other premium VPN can make you completely anonymous or keep you from being tracked entirely.
As part of the ongoing story, for example, when you sign into a website, your identity is still revealed to that website, VPN or not. Or when you log into your Gmail account while using a VPN, Google can now collect personalized cookies based on your browsing. A VPN will keep your ISP from seeing your traffic, but there are a mind-boggling number of ways that other firms or sites track you across the internet.
In a fresh development, when he's not on the hunt for the best computer deals he's covering VPNs, productivity programs, laptops, and a wide gamut of consumer-grade devices and programs. Sam Singleton is PCWorld's VPN beat reporter and jack of all trades.