10 Best Free VPN Services in 2023 — Fast, Unlimited & Safe

There are plenty of options when searching for the best free VPN, but finding one that’s really free, safe, and reliable can feel daunting. I’ve seen tons of horror stories about sketchy VPNs not protecting user data as they claim. Sometimes, even selling it directly to advertisers for a profit.

Free VPNs with decent security can limit you in other ways, too — and a VPN with severe data caps and slow speeds is virtually useless.

My team and I tested 100+ free VPNs and listed the best ones that are actually safe to use. While every completely free VPN has its limitations, some are better suited for certain online activities than others. For versatility and reliability, I always recommend a low-cost premium VPN instead.

My top recommendation is ExpressVPN. Admittedly, it’s not 100% free, but it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. I included it in this list because it doesn’t limit you like the free options. You get unlimited data and fast speeds, plus it works seamlessly with the most popular streaming services. Its refund policy is dependable and straightforward, too; I got my money back 3 days after making my claim.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free >>

Best Free VPNs — Full Analysis (Updated 2023)

1. ExpressVPN — Overall Best VPN With Unlimited Data, Fast Speeds, and Strong Privacy Protection

ExpressVPN is equipped with everything you need for a wide range of activities. Not only does it protect you with industry-leading security and privacy features, but it’s also the fastest, most dependable VPN, even compared to other paid VPNs.

While 100% free options limit you, you get uncapped data and speeds with ExpressVPN. Not only that, but it’s the fastest VPN I tested. With a base of 128.31Mbps, I got an average of 120.17Mbps on nearby servers (a drop of 6%). I was pretty impressed that it only dipped to 113.57Mbps when I connected to Toronto, which is thousands of miles from me.

The little bit of speed I lost while connected to Toronto wasn’t even noticeable

These high-speed connections make ExpressVPN ideal for streaming — it gives you hassle-free access to the most popular streaming platforms. Unlike the fully free VPNs, it worked with every platform I tested it with in just a couple of clicks, giving me access to global content within seconds.

ExpressVPN’s entire network of 3,000 servers in 94 countries supports torrenting. Many free VPNs don’t allow P2P traffic. Or, you only get access to a couple of servers for free, leading to congestion and slow downloads. That’s never been the case with ExpressVPN when I’ve used it for large torrent files.

The thing is, completely free VPNs don’t come this feature-packed; you will have to pay upfront to try ExpressVPN, but its 30-day money-back guarantee is one you can count on. I made sure this is the case and used the 24/7 live chat feature and make my claim. The agent just asked why I wanted to cancel. My refund was then issued, and I had the money back in my account within 3 days.

Useful Features

• Steadfast dedication to privacy. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and outside of the 14 Eyes data-sharing alliance. That means it’s not legally obligated to store, record, or hand over user data. Even if it were, there would be nothing to show since it uses RAM-based servers and has an audited no-logs policy.
• Strong security. It comes with leak protection, a kill switch, and military-grade encryption. It also has automatic obfuscation on every server. This allows ExpressVPN to work in countries with strict censorship, like China.
• Speed-optimizing features. ExpressVPN’s own protocol, Lightway, is built to reduce speed loss at no cost of security. You get split tunneling, too — I use this to encrypt traffic coming from select apps (like Netflix), so my speeds aren’t affected in other ones.
• User-friendly and highly compatible. It takes just a few minutes to install on the most popular operating systems and devices. Also, its Smart DNS feature (MediaStreamer) lets you access region-locked streaming apps on devices like game consoles and smart TVs.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free >>

2. CyberGhost — Specialty Servers Easily Access Dozens of Geoblocked Streaming Sites

While this VPN also isn’t 100% free, you can try CyberGhost out for up to 45 days with a money-back guarantee. It’s standout feature is definitely its collection of platform-specific streaming servers. Just type the name of the streamer you want in the search bar. Searching “Netflix”, I was presented with 26+ servers optimized for Netflix libraries from across the world.

CyberGhost routinely maintains these connections to ensure they’re fast and reliable

It also has torrenting-optimized servers listed in one easy-to-find location. These are some of CyberGhost’s fastest, most secure connections to ensure you can download large files comfortably. There are low-latency gaming connections, too, but only for Windows.

Even on its normal connections, CyberGhost offers great speeds. Its nearby servers were the fastest in my tests — I averaged 122.86Mbps on its UK connections. Its Toronto gave me 109.24Mbps, so it was a tad slower than ExpressVPN but still impressive.

Unfortunately, the 45-day money-back guarantee is only available for longer-term plans. Shorter plans are available that cost less upfront, but they offer a 14-day refund guarantee.

I tested the refund policy to be sure it’s trustworthy. Using 24/7 live chat, I made my claim. The agent asked a couple of simple questions before agreeing to process my request. The experience was quick and stress-free, and I had all my money back 4 days later.

Useful Features

• Block Content. With 1 click, you can enable this to prevent ads, malware, and trackers — a feature you won’t find with a completely free VPN.
• Easy for all levels. The simplistic design of CyberGhost’s apps makes it simple to navigate. It has a “Best server location” feature that can pick the fastest connection for you with 1 click. Or, you can expand the view to manually pick a location or activity-specific server.
• Protects user privacy. CyberGhost adheres to an audited no-logs policy and is based in the privacy-friendly country of Romania. Its servers are RAM only, so they wipe user data with each reboot.
• Highly secure. You get military-grade encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch to keep you safe. It also has a couple of protocols to choose from: IKEv2 and WireGuard. WireGuard is the industry standard protocol for speed and security, so I use it the most.

Try CyberGhost Risk-Free >>

3. Proton VPN — Completely Free VPN Without Data Caps for Unlimited and Safe Browsing

While most free VPNs impose caps, Proton VPN is a 100% free VPN that offers unlimited monthly data. This is very beneficial if you require extensive online data usage for activities like browsing, streaming, and downloading.

I never had to worry about getting interrupted or cut off in the middle of my online sessions

Unlimited data may make this free VPN stand out as a top option for safe torrenting, but unfortunately, none of the free servers support P2P traffic. You need to upgrade your account in order to access these servers.

The free plan includes 100+ servers in three countries: the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. At least the free servers are high-speed, ensuring fast and reliable connections for streaming and browsing.

When I tested it, Proton VPN let me access YouTube, Vimeo, and Dailymotion. Although, I was disappointed that the free plan doesn’t work with more popular platforms like Netflix or Hulu. You can temporarily test its premium version with these websites, though, with its 7-day free trial.

You don’t need to provide payment information to use Proton VPN, but you do need to give an email. This also grants you access to a 7-day trial of its premium plan, which worked great for accessing streaming content and torrent downloads.

Useful Features

• Dependable security and privacy. It offers AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch that blocks internet traffic if your VPN connection is lost. Additionally, it protects your data by following a strict no-logs policy.
• Speed Accelerator feature. Proton VPN advertises that it only gives you access to "medium" speeds with the free plan. But with VPN Accelerator enabled, I only lost about 1% of my baseline connection on local UK servers. While testing 2 US servers, I averaged a 15% speed reduction (leaving me with 102.78Mbps) — which is pretty impressive.
• Router support. Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN can be set up on your router. This helps you overcome the free plan’s limitation of 1 device connection.
• Simple interface. Proton VPN's free app is clean and streamlined, with easy navigation and clear descriptions of each feature, making it a great option for anyone who wants a hassle-free VPN experience.

Try Proton VPN Free >>

4. Avira Phantom VPN — Unlimited Connections to Cover Your Household’s Devices for Free

You can protect any amount of devices with Avira Phantom VPN, but I was especially impressed with its free mobile apps for Android and iOS. They offer tons of servers and work with some popular streaming platforms — this is rare for a free VPN.

Unlike Avira’s desktop client, which only lets you connect to a server using the "Nearest Location” feature, Avira’s free mobile apps offer servers in 49+ locations. This also includes a streaming-optimized one. When I tested its US - Streaming server, I could access Netflix US, Hulu, and Disney+ on my iPhone without hassle.

Its "Nearest Location” feature automatically connects you to the fastest server nearby

Its desktop and mobile apps have decent speeds and support torrenting. When I tested out its torrenting capabilities, I had a speed of 86.43Mbps (on a UK server). This let me download a 100MB file from uTorrent in 9 seconds. Just be aware that it lacks a kill switch, so your online activity risks exposure once you run out of data.

That said, you only get 500MB of monthly data (1GB if you sign up with your email), which isn’t sufficient for large downloads or extensive streaming. However, there is a 7-day trial of the premium version (only on mobile), which includes unlimited data.

Useful Features

• Robust security and privacy features. All of its apps protect you with a zero-logs policy, leak protection, and 256-bit encryption. Its mobile version also offers an "auto-connect” feature that automatically connects the VPN if it detects an untrusted Wi-Fi network.
• Malware protection. With 1 click, you can enable a feature on desktop to block malicious sites and content.
• OpenVPN protocol. Avira Phantom VPN's Windows, macOS, and Android apps use this trusted protocol. On iOS, it only offers IPsec, though.

Try Avira Phantom VPN Free >>

5. hide.me — Entirely Free With Customizable Security to Fine-Tune Your VPN Use

Along with military-grade encryption, a kill switch, and leak protection, hide.me's free plan has a ton of advanced security settings. Stealth Guard allows you to bind the VPN to your network (or just certain apps) for top security.

It also comes with an impressive 5 VPN protocols, including WireGuard, OpenVPN, and SoftEther. WireGuard gave me the best speeds — I lost about 26% while connected to New York, which is decent.

To help guide you, hide.me provides descriptions of its features

The VPN has 8 free servers located in the US (East and West), Canada, the UK, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, and Singapore. I accessed Netflix in Canada, the Netherlands, and Germany. In the US, I could only stream Netflix Originals, though.

Its no-logs policy is solid but not flawless. It logs anonymized data like your total amount of data traffic, randomly generated usernames, and assigned IP addresses. However, this data is erased every few hours and can’t be used to identify you.

You can only use hide.me’s free VPN on 1 device at a time — but it is possible to turn your laptop into an encrypted router. You just have to set up hide.me on your laptop, turn on the WiFi hotspot, and connect all your devices to it.

Useful Features

• Free 24/7 live chat. I used this a few times, and the support agents were helpful and friendly, even though I wasn’t a paying customer.
• Torrenting support. With split tunneling, custom port selection, and decent data allowance and speeds, it’s not a bad option for safe torrenting.

Try hide.me Free >>

6. Hotspot Shield — Free Plan With a Proprietary Hydra Protocol for High-Speed Security

Hotspot Shield's free plan stands out with its proprietary Hydra protocol, which optimizes speed, security, and performance compared to other common VPN protocols like OpenVPN and IKEv2. Hydra achieves this by using multiple parallel channels for data transmission, reducing latency, and improving connection speeds. I found Hydra effective during my most recent tests.

The lower your ping rate, the more responsive your connection (for gaming, a low ping is necessary)

Hotspot Shield's free plan offers unlimited data, which is a rarity. The free plan supports P2P traffic, too, so this is a solid choice if you’re looking to protect yourself while torrenting.

Hotspot Shield's no-logs policy is decent. However, as a free user, anonymized data like bandwidth usage, device type, and OS version are collected. This information is aggregated and cannot be used to identify you, though. It only has a kill switch on its Windows app, as well.

I also found the free app a bit annoying to use — it’s ad-supported, so I was faced with annoying popups asking me to upgrade to the paid plan while connected to its free servers. Even though streaming servers show up on the home screen, you can’t use them. Although, I was still able to access Netflix UK, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer with its free servers.

You don’t need an email to use the free plan. However, if you want access to its 7-day free premium trial, then you need to use an email and provide payment information.

Useful Features

• Multiple server locations. You get 4 server locations: 2 in the US, 1 in the UK, and 1 in Singapore.
• Standard security features. You also get access to the standard WireGuard and IKEv2 VPN protocols as well as Hydra. Plus, split tunneling, military-grade encryption, automatic WiFi protection, and leak protection.

Try Hotspot Shield Free >>

7. TunnelBear — Free VPN with a Large Server Network for Reliable Connections

TunnelBear's free VPN plan sets itself apart by granting users access to its entire server network, spanning over 47 countries. This is a notable advantage compared to other free VPNs that often limit server locations. With its wide range of servers, I could access Netflix UK and Canada, but it didn’t work with Netflix US.

You can also select “Fastest Server” to be automatically assigned the best connection

GhostBear (obfuscation) is another unique feature of TunnelBear's free VPN. GhostBear disguises VPN traffic as regular internet traffic to bypass strict censorship and VPN restrictions. This is especially useful in countries with restrictive internet policies. GhostBear is available on all TunnelBear-supported platforms except iOS.

The complimentary package offers a monthly data allocation of 2GB and permits simultaneous usage on as many as five devices, providing flexibility for those desiring a no-cost VPN for use on several gadgets concurrently. However, it's worth noting that despite upgrading, TunnelBear applications can only be installed on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android platforms. Support for routers is unfortunately not provided.

Useful Features

• Fun and intuitive interface. TunnelBear's engaging bear-themed design and user-friendly interface make it an attractive choice if you value simplicity and ease of use. The use of bear puns and cute animations made testing this free VPN (actually) fun.
• Solid for privacy. While it’s located in Canada, a not-so-privacy-friendly country, TunnelBear undergoes annual security audits of its infrastructure and apps and adheres to a strict no-logs policy.

Try TunnelBear Free >>

8. Speedify — Completely Free With Fast Nearby and Long-Distance Connections

Speedify's free VPN offers a unique feature called Bonding Mode. I used this feature to combine my home WiFi and mobile data to boost speed and reliability. This can be a game-changer if you're dealing with slow or unstable connections, as it enhances your overall online experience.

You can choose between 2 kinds of bonding, “Speed” and “Redundant” and have an “enhance streaming” option, too.

This is another free VPN that offers good server coverage — you get server locations in 25 countries. This gives you greater flexibility for optimizing connection speeds compared to other free VPNs with limited server options. I couldn’t get it to unblock any major streaming platforms in my tests, though.

Speedify states that it does temporarily store some of your data (including your IP address, a unique device identifier, and timestamps). But it never logs your online activities or associates them with your IP address or device.

You don’t have to sign up to use the free plan, which provides a 2 GB monthly data allowance. That’s decent for light browsing but pretty limiting for streaming or torrenting. You can access a 7-day free trial once you download the free app, which gives you unlimited speeds and data. Keep in mind that the free plan allows usage on only one device at a time.

Useful Features

• Split Tunneling. The Bypass feature lets you decide which apps or websites use the VPN connection and which go straight to the internet, giving you more control over your connection.
• Strong encryption. With AES-256-GCM encryption, you can trust that your data is secure while using Speedify. You have to upgrade to use the kill switch, which is a shame.

Try Speedify Free >>

9. Kaspersky Secure Connection VPN — User-Friendly Free VPN That’s Great for Beginners

Kaspersky VPN's free plan offers a basic and easy-to-use VPN experience, ideal if you’re new to VPNs or just want minimal protection for casual browsing. Its straightforward interface and automatic server selection make using it hassle-free, and you don’t need any advanced technical knowledge at all.

The only settings you can change are the VPN protocol and to turn on WiFi protection

As a part of the reputable cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, it benefits from extensive expertise in internet security. This company specializes in all kinds of software to protect your data and devices online. However, it’s a shame you need to upgrade your plan to access the kill switch.

That being said, this VPN is Russian-owned, and its privacy policy is questionable. You need to download a different software depending on your location, and there’s a different privacy policy for each version. When I downloaded the EU software, I had to give permission to share my data with third parties. If privacy is a concern, then you should look elsewhere.

Useful Features

• 5 device connections. You can use it on major operating systems but not routers or other devices.
• Offers WireGuard. You can choose between the Hydra and WireGuard protocols with the free app.

Try Kaspersky Secure Connection Free >>

10. Opera VPN — A Free VPN Browser with a Built-In Ad Blocker

Opera VPN's free browser is a convenient all-in-one package for safe browsing, offering not just a built-in VPN but also ad and tracker blocking features. This makes it super easy to enhance your privacy and security while surfing the web without having to juggle multiple tools or browser extensions.

The VPN feature is incredibly basic — it’s just a switch you toggle on or off in the browser’s settings. You can't choose which server location you connect to or change any security settings whatsoever. Despite these limitations, I was pretty surprised that it worked to access region-locked titles on Netflix Netherlands during my tests.

You can also try out Opera’s VPN Pro plan with a 7-day free trial under the browser’s VPN settings

Since it’s a browser, Opera only encrypts browser traffic, leaving other applications and online activities on your device unprotected. So it’s not useful for something like torrenting but can be a good choice for streaming or protected browsing.

Useful Features

• Decent privacy policy. Opera VPN has a fairly trustworthy logging policy, stating that they don't store any information about your browsing activity or originating IP address.
• Unlimited data and speeds. With Opera VPN, you can enjoy unlimited data and speeds, making it a fantastic option for users who don't want to worry about hitting a data cap while browsing.

Try Opera Free >>

Quick Comparison Table: Best Free VPNs

All of the recommended VPNs are safe to use — but they vary quite a bit as far as which online activities they’re most compatible with. Use the following table to compare and contrast each VPN in this list.

When engaging in data-intensive activities like streaming and torrenting, it is advisable to seek a VPN that offers a generous data allowance or, ideally, unlimited data. The availability of server locations can influence the accessibility of certain websites and applications, and having torrenting support is essential for sharing peer-to-peer files.

You may also want to consider how many household members or devices you’ll need to share the VPN with. Also, if you’d rather not provide an email while signing up, there are a few free VPNs that don’t require you to do so.

Tips on How to Choose the Best Free VPN

There are a few main things you need to look out for when choosing a free VPN. During my tests, I used the following criteria to rank these top free VPNs:

• Entirely risk-free — Every forever free VPN on this list has been tested to ensure it won’t suddenly try to charge you, and both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost have been proven to uphold their money-back guarantees.
• Military-grade security — All of the listed VPNs protect you with military-grade 256-bit encryption and IP/DNS leak protection at the very least. Without this, there’s no point in using a VPN in the first place.
• Strict no-logs policy — Some free VPNs will happily log and share your data with advertisers, government agencies, and anyone else who asks. None of the VPNs in this list log or share any of your identifiable information.
• Good speeds with enough data — Free VPNs should provide enough speed and monthly data to actually be useful. The absolute best free VPNs have sufficient speed for streaming HD content with no data caps.
• Large server network — If your free VPN doesn’t have enough servers, you’ll run into constant performance and connection issues due to server overcrowding. Pick a free VPN that offers at least 100+ servers to ensure better reliability.
• Can unblock streaming sites — Many free VPNs do not properly maintain their servers, leading to streaming sites detecting and banning the VPN’s IP addresses. All the VPNs on this list unblock at least a few popular platforms.
• Supports torrenting — Not all free VPNs support P2P file sharing. Choose a VPN that is torrent-friendly. Some, like CyberGhost, even offer torrenting-optimized servers, proxies, and other specialized features.
• User-friendly and responsive app — Many free VPNs bombard you with ads and have an unclear UI, which can be highly frustrating. Choose a VPN that abides by a no-ads policy and offers a simple interface, making it quick and easy to connect to the ideal server.
• Device compatibility — A lot of free VPNs are limited to just a few devices — if you wish to use them with less popular OS, such as Linux, or devices such as Smart TVs, you’re usually out of luck. However, there are a few free VPNs that are more versatile, such as the ones I’ve picked above.
• Helpful customer support — In most cases, only premium VPNs offer 24/7 live chat, which can save you a lot of hassle if a question comes up. If live chat isn’t available, check for other means of getting support, such as email, a contact form, or at the very least, a comprehensive FAQs page on its website.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free >>

Expert Tip: What Free VPN Providers May Not Tell You

All of the free VPNs on this list have been tried and tested, and I've read through their privacy policies to ensure they're trustworthy and safe to use. Although they do have some limitations, there are a lot of other free VPNs that come with real dangers that could cost you in other ways.

Some dangers of using free VPNs are:

• They may collect and sell your data. You should always read any VPN’s privacy policy carefully (especially free ones) to make sure you’re actually being protected. There have been cases of free VPNs selling user data despite their privacy policies promising otherwise. That completely defeats the purpose of using a VPN since you’re using it to protect your privacy and data.
• Free VPNs can leak your info. Many free VPNs lack key security features (like leak protection and a kill switch), so they can’t be trusted to protect your data. IP and DNS leaks are common, which can reveal your location, browsing history, and other personal information.
• Some free VPNs contain viruses and malware. A lot of free VPNs are created as ways to infect your device (not protect it) with viruses and malware packaged into the software. In addition, free VPNs often rely on advertising for revenue. This means that the chance of your device becoming infected by malicious ads is higher with free VPNs.
• Some free VPNs come from shady sources. A decent amount of free VPNs (especially mobile apps) are tied to sketchy VPN parent companies. For instance, Innovative Connecting owns a collection of free VPNs, including Turbo VPN, Hot VPN, Snap VPN, and more. The problem is that this company’s product development team is based in China, which is a massive privacy concern.

Generally speaking, your best bet is to use a trusted, low-cost premium VPN (ExpressVPN is our top pick). Premium VPNs offer strong security features and strict no-logging policies to keep your personal data safe. Plus, plenty of them come with money-back guarantees, so you can test them risk-free for a period of time. If you’re not impressed, you can claim a full refund.

Free VPNs You Should Avoid

You always have to be careful when considering free services — I found some really untrustworthy free VPNs with major security flaws. Unlike the free services on my list, these VPNs are dangerous to use and should be avoided:

• Hola Free VPN — This isn’t a VPN, but an unsafe P2P network where other people use your personal IP address. Your internet traffic is not encrypted. Even worse, if someone uses your IP address and does something illegal, you can get in trouble since it’s traced back to you. Additionally, Hola logs almost everything — your true IP address, name, email address, payment information, and the websites you visit.
• Psiphon — This VPN logs region codes, domain names you’ve visited, connection time stamps, and more. Even more alarming — it keeps these logs for up to 90 days. Psiphon is also full of ads and shares statistics and user data with its commercial partners.
• Touch VPN — While popular, this VPN logs a worrying amount of your data, including timestamped browsing activity, device information, and approximate location. To make things worse, it allows its "Business Partners" to track and collect information on you while you're connected.
• VPN Gate — VPN Gate is volunteer-operated, so anyone could be running your VPN server, meaning they can easily collect and monitor your data. In addition, VPN Gate’s "Anti-Abuse Policy” states that it logs your IP address, browsing activities, and more. It also makes clear that it's happy to share this data with any government agency that asks.
• LinkVPN — LinkVPN’s privacy policy states that it stores your data and that affiliates of the app and government agencies also have full access. It’s also not immediately clear who created the VPN — after some digging, it seems to be a solo developer based in China who has been responsible for other privacy-violating VPNs, like SuperVPN.
• Other free VPNs to avoid — Betternet VPN, SuperVPN, ThunderVPN, AnonyTun, CrossVPN, sFly Network Booster, OKVPN, EasyVPN, Hoxx VPN, Archie VPN, Hat VPN, Private Pipe VPN, Tuxler VPN, GO VPN, Hexatech, Faceless.me, FinchVPN, VPN One Click, Fast Secure Payment, and TurboVPN.

Free vs Paid VPNs: Which Is Best for You?

Here’s a quick overview of the major differences between paid and free VPNs so that you can make an informed decision between the two:

• Cost. Of course, the main benefit of a VPN that’s really free is that it doesn’t cost anything. Alternatively, reputable paid VPNs offer a money-back guarantee, which allows you to claim a full refund if you’re not satisfied. You do need to pay up front to try the service, though.
• Speed. While most VPNs can give you fast nearby connections, long-distance connections are the real test. ExpressVPN never lost more than 35% of my speeds — even while connected across the world. However, the entirely free options averaged between a 40-80% speed loss on faraway servers. Depending on your baseline connection, this could cause severe lag.
• Data allowance. It’s common for free VPNs to limit your data usage. As an example, Avira Phantom VPN’s free version caps you to 500MB of data per month, or 1GB if you sign up with your email address. That’s only good for up to 8 hours of streaming. Paid VPNs generally offer unlimited data, allowing you to torrent and stream as much as you like.
• Servers and unblocking abilities. Most VPNs limit the servers you can use for free. This means you can only access content in the given servers’ region. This can also lead to user overload, which makes these connections easier for sites and apps to discover and block. For reference, ExpressVPN offers 94 server locations, while Avira Phantom offers 49 locations. Although that’s way more locations than any free VPN I tested, you can only access them all via the mobile apps.
• Security and privacy. Premium VPNs offer military-grade encryption, robust DNS/IP protection, and proven no-logs policies to protect your data. While the free VPNs listed here are safe to use, many free VPNs struggle to offer the same level of security and privacy. Some even log your data and sell it to third-party advertisers.
• Torrenting support. Not all VPNs that are really free support P2P connections.  It’s much easier to torrent with a paid VPN, as you’ll have unlimited data and much better speeds. CyberGhost even offers dedicated torrenting servers for safe and fast downloads.
• Customer support. VPN support teams tend to prioritize paying customers rather than those on a free plan. This means you’re likely to get more responsive customer support with a paid VPN — usually via a 24/7 live chat feature.

Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free >>

FAQs About Free VPNs

Are free VPNs actually safe?

Unfortunately, really free VPNs aren’t always 100% safe. However, the VPNs in this list are safe to use — I read all the privacy policies, and none of them store any identifiable information. I performed leak tests to make sure my connection was properly hidden, and they all passed the test.

Many free VPNs can be dangerous for several reasons. Some free VPNs don’t offer proper encryption, while some keep logs and share that data with third parties like advertisers to make money. Unfortunately, that’s not all — I encountered free VPNs that contain malware embedded in the apps.

Is there a free unlimited VPN?

Yes. A couple of the free VPNs in this list offer unlimited monthly data for free, but limit the servers you can use. Others give you access to their entire server network, but limit your data. Free VPNs always have their limitations — that’s how they push users to subscribe to a paid service. Other restrictions may include blocked P2P traffic, weak security features, or poor unblocking abilities.

What's the fastest free VPN?

The first entirely free VPN on my list had the fastest speeds in my tests. When testing its nearby connections, Proton VPN only slowed down my speeds by about 1%. That said, I lost a bit more speed while connected abroad. US connections gave me around 15-17% speed loss, but when I tested servers in Japan, I lost between 30-37%.

How much this will impact your online activities really depends on how fast your baseline speed is. If you plan to connect to servers at long-distances or don’t have the fastest base speeds, it’s usually best to opt for speed-optimized premium VPN like ExpressVPN.

Can I use a free VPN for streaming football?

It may be possible, but which one is best for you depends on a few factors. These include: unblocking abilities, data, and speeds. The free VPN should offer servers where your go-to football-streaming platform is based, and be able to unblock the site or app. Whether it’s ESPN, Bally Sports, or Prime Video. Many free VPNs can’t overcome these geoblocks, so it will likely take a little trial and error.

You’ll also want to make sure that the free VPN provides enough data to cover the game. For instance, for a 3 hour football match in HD, you’ll need about 10GB of data. Plus, fast speeds are important to ensure you won’t encouter buffering at the most pivotal moments of the game. Make sure you have 10Mbps with the VPN connected to stream in HD.

Which free VPN is best for Netflix?

Although most free VPNs can’t bypass Netflix’s geoblocks, I found a couple that can. Of the really free VPN options I tested, Hotspot Shield and hide.me were the best for watching Netflix — but they have their limitations. Hotspot Shield is fast with unlimited data, but it only works with Netflix UK. On the other hand, hide.me works with Netflix in the Netherlands, Canada, and the UK, but it caps you at 10GB of monthly data (about 3 hours of HD streaming).

You’ll usually only find the entire package (reliable unblocking, fast speeds, and unlimited data) in a premium VPN. Taking that into consideration, ExpressVPN is my top pick for Netflix. You can also test it for 30 days since it offers a money-back guarantee.

What is the best free VPN for mobile and desktop?

Any of the free VPNs recommended here are great options for both desktop and mobile. Each of them offers apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android. These apps take just a couple of minutes to install, and their interfaces are sleek with simple navigation.

For the most part, VPN mobile apps are almost the same as the desktop version. But in some cases, they can differ quite a lot. For example, Avira Phantom VPN's free mobile app gives you access to a much larger server network on Android and iOS than it does on the free desktop app.

What is the best free VPN for torrenting?

The best completely free VPN for torrenting is Hotspot Shield, since it has military-grade encryption and unlimited data. However, it only offers free servers in 4 locations, which causes slowdowns due to congestion. So, it's likely you won't have the fastest download speeds.

A better option is ExpressVPN. Its entire network supports torrenting, it's the faster VPN we tested, and it has unlimited data. It’s not technically free, but you have 30 days to get a refund if you're not totally satisfied since it offers a money-back guarantee.

Can I get a premium VPN for free?

Not entirely free, but you can at least try a premium VPN out without losing money. Premium is basically synonymous with “paid” in the VPN world. Most premium VPNs require you to pay for a plan upfront, which is backed by a money-back guarantee. That way, you can test everything it offers — like unlimited data, speeds, unblocking abilities, the full server network, security features, and more. If you’re not happy with it, you can get your money back within that VPN’s refund period.

Entirely free VPNs can’t be considered premium. They limit you on purpose to try to get you to upgrade to a paid plan. That said, the most versatile forever free VPNs I tested are Proton VPN and Avira Phantom VPN. While they do have their limitations, they aren’t quite as severe as with most free VPNs.

Which devices can I install a free VPN on?

Most free VPNs are compatible with laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones — sometimes more. The free VPNs in this list provide apps for the most popular operating systems, like Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. Some are even compatible with routers and Fire devices, while others have free Firefox and Chrome extensions.

ExpressVPN’s MediaStreamer feature makes it more versatile than the 100% free options on this list. It allows you to set it up on devices that normally don’t work with VPNs (like smart TVs and game consoles).

Most free VPNs only let you connect to 1 device at a time, so keep in mind that even if it’s compatible with lots of your devices, you won’t be able to connect them all at once.

Should I use a free VPN with Tor?

It depends on the free VPN — you’ll need one with fast speeds and strong security. Since Tor already takes extra time to send your traffic through its relays. So, it’s critical that the VPN you use has fast enough speeds to actually work with the dark web browser. Free VPNs that limit bandwidth and speed may not work with Tor at all.

Also, keep in mind — the free VPNs in this list are all safe to use, but there are tons of free VPNs that can leave you exposed on Tor. Tor is a hotspot for malware, hacking, and cybercriminals. So it’s best to use a premium VPN that offers strong security features to protect you on the dark web.

Do free VPNs work in China?

A few free VPNs work in China — but they’re not always secure enough to use. Either way, you should always proceed with caution when using a VPN in China since there are laws surrounding VPN use. That said, for a VPN to work in China, it needs advanced security features, like obfuscation. This not only helps the VPN overcome tough firewalls, but also hides your VPN use to protect your privacy.

The thing is, most free VPNs don’t offer these types of features. Not only does this put your privacy at risk, but it also means the VPN won’t work in China, or countries with internet censorship (like Dubai, India, and Russia). Even those that are secure and reliable usually have other limitations, like data caps. Which means you won’t have much time to use it before it cuts you off and leaves you unprotected.

A better option is to get a paid VPN with a money-back guarantee. My top recommendation for China is ExpressVPN. It uses industry-leading security (including automatic obfuscation) and a strict no-logs policy. Although it’s not free, it doesn’t limit you in any way — and you can try it risk-free for 30 days.

Get the Best Free VPN Today

While all of the free VPNs I listed won’t jeopardize your safety, every free VPN has its limits. If you know what features to look for, you can find the right free VPN for you — whether you need it for streaming, torrenting, or online privacy.

My recommendation for a “one-stop shop” is ExpressVPN. I know it’s not free, but it doesn’t limit you like the 100% free options. It’s fast and gives you unlimited data, with an extensive server network that works reliably for streaming and torrenting. You can try it risk-free since it has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Claiming a refund is quick and easy.

To summarize, these are the best VPNs offering a money-back guarantee...