Top 10 REALLY Free VPNs for School in 2023

Protecting all your school devices while accessing the apps you need is important, but premium VPNs aren’t always budget-friendly. I understand the appeal of a free VPN. That’s why I created a list of the top 10 VPNs for school.

Schools often place restrictions on social media sites and chat applications like Skype and Snapchat, making it impossible to use them without a VPN.

But, No “free” VPN is ever really free. Most leave out important security features and place limits on data and bandwidth.

Security like military-grade encryption, no-logs policies, and advanced obfuscation features are standard with premium vendors. That’s why I recommend a premium vendor like ExpressVPN. Aside from incredible security features, it can unblock streaming services in 140+ locations worldwide. You can buy it with confidence and claim a refund within 30 days if you don't like it.

There are some free VPNs that are safe to use. I tested 43 free VPNs to find the best options for school.

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What’s the Catch With Free VPNs?

The free VPNs on this list are safe to use, but many don’t have the advanced security features found in premium VPNs to keep you secure. There are a few areas that free VPNs can fail when it comes to protecting your anonymity and providing the features you need.

Security

To save money, most free VPNs cut corners on important security features. A secure VPN is expensive to build, and costs only increase with updates and security patches. Free VPNs can’t keep up with premium vendors when it comes to advanced security.

A lack of security features means your data could end up on the dark web or leave you vulnerable to malware. Some free VPNs have also been caught knowingly collecting and distributing user data to third parties for marketing purposes.

Premium services offer DNS and IPv6 leak protection, firewalls, and malware blockers as standard services. You won’t have to worry about missing out on essential updates or security patches with a premium VPN, and solid no-logs policies prevent it from collecting data.

Limitations

Most free services don’t have the security features to bypass deep packet inspection (DPI) methods used by companies like Netflix and Hulu. If you do find a free VPN that can bypass geoblocking and censorship, server access is often extremely limited.

Another issue you might face while streaming or torrenting is limitations on data, speed, and bandwidth. Most free VPNs use speed throttling to provide paid subscribers with better speeds, leaving subscribers on the free plan to deal with slow load times and buffering.

Compatibility

Many free VPNs don’t support apps, so you can’t use them on mobile devices and some newer laptop operating systems. Don’t worry, the free VPNs on this list all have compatibility guides, so it’s easy to know if one will work for you.

The Best Free VPNs for School (Updated2023)

Is it possible to find a free VPN that works for school? Yes. But remember, free services always come with some form of limitation, whether it’s speed, server availability, or other restrictions. I’ve done extensive testing to find the best free VPNs for school so you can unblock social media, chat, and calling applications and keep your digital footprint hidden.

1. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN impressed me with its all-round performance in my tests. No matter what you need to use your VPN for, this provider offers a fast, reliable service with excellent security features. It boasts a global server network of 3,000 locations spanning 94 countries, which means that you’ll be able to easily unblock content such as international streaming libraries or news sites from anywhere.

Fast speeds are essential if you want to stream content without being interrupted by frustrating buffering. I tested servers in the UK, US, and Indonesia, and maintained results of around 57 Mbps while I watched shows on popular streaming platforms. You only need 5 Mbps to watch in HD, so you’re sure to enjoy a crystal clear picture with zero lag.

Since ExpressVPN is a torrent-friendly provider, I checked that it comes with all the security features you need for safe P2P file-sharing. Features such as an automatic kill switch, 256-bit AES encryption, and a transparent no-logs policy ensure there are no risks to your data or privacy. It’s compatible with numerous devices, including iOS, Android, Mac, Windows etc, so you’ll have peace of mind regardless of whether you’re using your phone or laptop.

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free and get a full refund if you don’t like it. To check this promise I asked for a refund on day 30. I spoke to a friendly rep via email, and the money was back in my account in under a week.

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2. Windscribe

My top free vendor for school is Windscribe. It offers a substantial 10GB data allowance per month. You can also earn 5 GB more each month by tweeting about the service. Don’t worry if you don’t have Twitter. The original 10GB of data is enough to check email and social media regularly, and watch 3-hours of HD video.

Windscribes Stealth mode allows you to bypass geoblocking and censorship in even the most restrictive parts of the world. Perfect forward secrecy protects your location and data by frequently changing encryption keys. These changes can be as often as every time you refresh a page, or send a message. That way, if a key is compromised, only a tiny piece of your data is also compromised. In the rare case the VPN should fail, Windscribe protects you with features like DNS/IPv6/WebRTC leak protection and a kill switch.

I couldn’t unblock Netflix with the free version of Windscribe. It told me to upgrade and purchase the WindFlix add-on for access to streaming servers..No worries video fans! You can watch all the YouTube videos you want. It supports P2P activity, so you’ll have something to do in your spare time. Windscribe also has lightning-fast speeds that reduce buffering and prevent slow load times.

Windscribe’s chatbot Garry is pretty cool. It answers questions about plans and security features, and if it can’t, it forwards you to a live representative. Windscribe also has useful installation guides and an extensive FAQ section.

Find out how Windscribe stood up to extensive testing by reading my teammates full vendor review.

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3. Proton VPN

Not only can you unblock Netflix and Hulu with Proton VPN free, but it also offers unlimited data and bandwidth. On the downside, you only have access to servers in the Netherlands, US, and Japan. Netflix and Hulu are both US-based, so this is a good option for students looking to access those streaming services.

Proton VPN offers an Always-On feature that connects the VPN the minute your device starts, so you’re never without protection. It also provides both IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN protocols to create secure tunnels for your data, an impressive feature in a free VPN.

You get industry-standard security features like DNS leak protection and a kill switch to help keep your data private if the VPN fails. It also supports the use of a double VPN, so you can double encrypt your data to make it even harder to access. Since Proton VPN already offers AES 256-bit military-grade encryption, your data becomes virtually impenetrable.

It streams YouTube and Netflix seamlessly because you have unlimited data, bandwidth, and speeds. You only get coverage for one device though, so I recommend installing it on the school device you use the most. Proton VPN doesn’t allow torrenting on the free version.

During testing, I noticed it doesn’t have an ad blocker — something to consider if you don’t want to download an additional piece of software. I found an ad blocker that worked well with Proton VPN and its benefits still outweigh its disadvantages, so it’s worthy of the number three spot.

Read more about the advantages and disadvantages of using Proton VPN in our in-depth vendor review.

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4. hide.me

hide.me offers 2GB of free data per month, enough to stream around 200 songs and download and upload assignments regularly. On the downside, you only have access to five servers that are split between Canada and the Netherlands.

DNS leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and a firewall are just the standard security features hide.me offers. It also supports split tunneling and port forwarding. Split tunneling lets you choose which apps can bypass the VPN. This feature saves data by allowing you to directly access the internet with some apps instead of running them all through the VPN. Using port forwarding lets you set preferences for your devices and servers, giving you more control over your settings.

I couldn’t unblock Netflix and Hulu on the free version, but I could stream YouTube programming buffer-free with quick load times. The free version of hide.me only allows you to connect to one device, and with only 2GB of data you can only watch around 4-hours of SD video. hide.me doesn’t throttle connection speeds either, so it works well for torrenting.

A large FAQ section, 24/7 live chat support, and ticketing feature provide help if you’re having trouble accessing or enabling features. The FAQ section provides answers to basic questions about features and plans. That said, setting up hide.me isn’t difficult, and the interface is extremely intuitive.

Want to learn more about what hide.me has to offer? Check out our in-depth vendor review for more information.

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5. Hotspot Shield

Catch up on your important assignments, emails, and enjoy a few videos on Hotspot Shields 500MB free data plan. While it doesn’t have widespread server availability on the free version, it works well for students studying in the US or that need to access US-based sites.

Hotspot Shield uses 256-bit AES encryption and perfect forward secrecy. Its TLS-based Catapult Hydra secure protocol improves overall speed and latency.  It doesn’t log browsing activity but may keep information on the session duration. Hotspot Shield also offers a kill switch for Windows devices.

It won’t unblock Netflix or Hulu. When I tested it, I got a payment wall that encouraged me to purchase a plan to unblock the streaming servers. This isn’t an issue for studies, but it’s something to be aware of if you enjoy streaming. Still, the fast upload and download speeds made it easy to view YouTube videos seamlessly.

Hotspot Shield also supports P2P file sharing activities like torrenting, so you can download your favorite open-source music and videos. The free version is ad-supported, but it doesn't affect speed or usability.

If you're new to VPNs, you'll appreciate the well-organized support page, it has separate getting started guides for each platform Hotspot Shield supports. It also offers a search feature, several help categories, and email or live chat support.

Want to learn more about how Hotspot Shield's security features can keep you protected at school? Discover more of the pros and cons we found during testing in our extensive vendor review.

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6. OperaVPN

OperaVPN is a built-in feature in the Opera browsers, so you can’t use it for applications outside of Opera. It’s worth looking at despite having to download its browser to use because it doesn’t limit data or bandwidth and offers impressive security features. Opera and OperaGX browsers both support the use of OperaVPN.

OperaVPN has an Automatic Update feature that installs the newest security patches and settings for Opera. It also uses AES 256-bit encryption to protect your data as it travels through public networks.

While the service does keep crash reports and device information, it doesn’t log any of your personally identifiable information. I found the privacy policy very understandable and straightforward.

I couldn’t unblock Netflix and other popular streaming services with OperaVPN. That doesn’t mean you can’t relax with some entertainment after a long day of school. You can stream music through Spotify and Pandora, and watch YouTube videos and movies.

Discover more of OperaVPNs features in our in-depth vendor review.

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7. TunnelBear

Don’t let TunnelBear’s cute cartoon bear mascot fool you, the free version of this VPN offers advanced security modes. You get 500MB of free data per month. That’s enough to communicate with teammates, send important emails, and update your social media pages regularly.

GhostBear mode masks VPN traffic as regular traffic, making your already military-grade encrypted data even less detectable by deep packet inspection (DPI) methods. The Closest Tunnel feature automatically connects you to the nearest and best server, and Vigilant mode is TunnelBear’s kill switch. Always-On mode that starts the VPN the moment your device turns on.

During testing I was unable to unblock Netflix or Hulu, but I did access HBO GO. The low data limit is enough to watch an hour of SD streaming, so it’s better for series than movies.

While I’ve covered the basics, TunnelBear has too many great features to fit into this summary. To discover all of its pros and cons check out our vendor review.

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8. Speedify

Research on the internet all day or watch about two hours of SD video with Speedify’s free service. You get 2GB of free data per month and full access to all 100 servers in 35 countries.

While it isn’t as strong as 256-bit AES encryption methods, 128-GCM based AES encryption is strong enough to keep scammers from accessing sensitive data. Speedify also offers DNS leak protection and strict no-logs policy.

Unblock popular streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to watch your favorite original series. Speedify offers channel bonding to increase streaming and torrenting speeds, but I wouldn’t recommend it with the free version. Channel bonding can take almost twice as much data as regular streaming. While Speedify does have dedicated P2P specialty servers, it doesn’t support torrenting.

If you’re still not sure you want to try it, read our vendor review for more information on the advantages and disadvantages of using Speedify.

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9. Betternet

Get 500MB of data per day on Betternet’s free plan. You only have access to one US server. Despite limited server access, it’s still a good VPN provider for US students.

Betternet allows you to choose between two strong encryption levels, 128-bit encryption for trusted networks or military-grade 256-bit encryption for unsecured networks. It also uses Catapult Hydra secure protocol, the same protocol Hotspot Shield uses.

You can’t unblock Netflix, but it does bypass YouTube geoblocking and censorship restrictions. Since your data resets every day, you won’t need to worry about using up all your data on an hour of SD video. The next day, you’ll be able to download documents and recheck emails. Plus Betternet’s US server is lightning-fast, so you can do it all without buffering or slow load times.

If you need more information before you choose Betternet, you can find everything you need in our full vendor review.

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10. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN is the second premium vendor on my list. You can test its full features with unlimited data and bandwidth via a 7-day free trial. A week of free VPN access is plenty to protect mobile devices on a field trip, and for new VPN users to test one out.

OpenVPN, PPTP, IKEv2/IPSec, and L2TP protocols are available to protect the integrity of your data as it travels over network connections. PrivateVPN is located in Sweden and never keeps traffic logs or any personally identifiable information. Your data is also protected by the countries strict privacy logs.

Unblock streaming services like Netflix US and BBC iPlayer with lightning-fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth, for a seamless viewing experience. Plus, you can binge-watch movies for hours because you’ll have unlimited data to work with.

If you want to learn more about how PrivateVPN performed during testing, you can discover all the results in our full vendor review.

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FAQs

Are VPNs Illegal?

Using VPNs is legal in most countries, but a few areas still ban VPNs or place restrictions on use. Iraq, Belarus, and North Korea have made it illegal to use VPNs, while Turkey, China, and Russia only place heavy restrictions on use.

If you’re traveling in one of those areas don’t worry, there have been no documented cases of tourists getting in trouble for using one.

Do I Need A VPN for School?

Having a VPN on your desktop or mobile device is never a bad idea, especially when you participate in file sharing. While you don’t have to use a VPN for school, it adds a layer of protection that anti-virus alone can’t provide.

More people also mean more public hotspots, and if you need to use one you’ll want the peace of mind that a premium vendor like ExpressVPN offers. Perhaps more importantly, it can prevent the school or ISP from tracking your browsing history while you’re connected to the school's network. You can also unblock chat software and sites schools consider distracting, including social media pages or streaming services.

How Do I Choose The Right VPN?

If you’re still undecided about which VPN is right for you after reading this article, check out How To Choose the Best VPN for more information about important points to consider when selecting a VPN. You can also click on the vendor review link at the end of each VPN summary on the list, to learn more about individual vendors.

What’s the best free Windows VPN for school?

The best free VPN for using your Windows device at school is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, secure, and compatible with nearly every version of Windows. That said, these recommended VPNs work well with Windows too.

Want more options? Here are some other great free VPNs for Windows.

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Summary

Although the free VPNs listed here are suitable for school use, it is important to note that many of them impose significant limitations on data, servers, locations, and features. As a result, most free VPNs do not offer adequate security for school file-sharing applications due to the absence of advanced security features.

A premium VPN like ExpressVPN has the advanced security features you’ll need to safely share files with classmates, teachers, and study groups. You also have unlimited data and bandwidth, access to all its servers, and the unblocking power to bypass geoblocking. It's also backed by a money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you're not happy with the service.

To summarize, the best VPNs for school you can try risk-free with their money-back guarantees are...