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2024-11-13 Eric Goldstein Updated on: November 6, 2024 Chief Editor Short on time? Here’s 2024’s best risk-free
Updated on: November 6, 2024
Chief Editor
I is ’m big fan free VPNs , drawbacks . At worst, a free VPN is dangerous, containing malware or selling your personal info. At best, a free VPN is too limiting, imposing low data caps, restricting access to important features, or capping speeds.
want free VPN , I is found found best ones . I tested big-name and lesser-known VPNs, and the ones I picked are secure and don’t monitor or store your browsing data. They also offer great speeds for all online activities, provide a few “extra” features, and are user-friendly.
I still recommend that you consider getting a premium VPN. The best VPNs (like my top choice, ExpressVPN) provide a ton of perks, including advanced security features, unlimited data, multiple connections, streaming support, and much more, all for just a few bucks a month. Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
TRY EXPRESSVPN (30 DAYS RISK-FREE)
Editor’s Choice
Best overall paid VPN in 2024 with top-notch security, superfast speeds, and intuitive apps.
Most of our readers choose ExpressVPN
Great free VPN with unlimited data & very fast speeds but only 1 connected device.
Good free VPN with unlimited data and many free server locations (but restricts speeds).
Good free VPN for browsing but includes ads + no streaming or torrenting support.
Decent free VPN for streaming, but you only get up to 10 GB data.
ExpressVPN isn’t free, but it’s the best VPN on the market and covers each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee — so you can test it out and still receive a full refund if you’re not happy with it.
However, it shouldn’t take you that long to realize why ExpressVPN sits at the top of the industry:
When it comes to security and privacy, ExpressVPN has an audited no-logs policy (unlike some of the free VPNs on this list), an excellent ad, tracker, and malicious site blocker (most free VPNs either don’t have this feature or restrict access to it), and even a secure password manager that’s included for free with each subscription (out of the free VPNs on my list, only ProtonVPN gives you access to a password manager).
If you enjoy streaming movies and TV shows, you’ll love ExpressVPN. It works with every single popular streaming app, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Apple TV+, as well as 100+ other streaming services. The only free VPNs on this list that support streaming are Windscribe and TunnelBear, but both of them have monthly data limits — so you can’t binge an unlimited number of shows and movies.
In my speed tests, ExpressVPN had impressive results, especially via its proprietary Lightway protocol: websites always loaded right away, videos started immediately, I was able to download a 20 GB file in only about 13 minutes, and there was zero lag while gaming. Most of the free VPNs I recommend have fast speeds on nearby servers, but all of them (except TunnelBear) give you access to only a handful of servers, so unless one of those is near you, your speeds will be much slower.
ExpressVPN is also excellent for torrenting, allowing P2P sharing across all servers (top free VPNs like ProtonVPN don’t allow torrenting), and it comes with a native router app, so all the devices connected to your router will be protected. Unlike Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, and hide.me, which all allow only 1 connection on the free plans, ExpressVPN supports 8 simultaneous connections.
ExpressVPN offers monthly and yearly plans, and with our special 82% discount, you can get it for as low as $4.99 / month (and there’s usually a deal for additional months for free). And remember, ExpressVPN backs all plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Black Friday Deal
ExpressVPN: Save 82% on the 24-month plan + FREE months!
Get a full 30 months (24 months + 6 free months) at a 82% discount.
Bottom line:
ExpressVPN offers the best value out of all of the VPNs on the market in 2024. You’re not going to find a more secure or faster VPN out there. Also, it works with tons of streaming sites, allows torrenting, and has user-friendly features and apps. Although there’s no free plan, it has a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
Read the full ExpressVPN review here
Proton VPN’s free plan comes with unlimited data and pretty good speeds — and it’s ad-free! This is pretty impressive because most VPNs have data caps or limit bandwidth usage for their free users — Windscribe and TunnelBear have a monthly data limit on their free plans, and Hotspot Shield forces you to watch an annoying ad every 15 minutes.
When it comes to speeds — in my tests, websites generally loaded right away, HD videos took 1-2 seconds, and 4K videos started within 3-4 seconds, and there was only minor buffering at the start of the videos. Proton VPN also has a speed-boosting feature called VPN Accelerator, but you can only access it via the paid version.
I really like that Proton VPN’s apps are all open-source, which means anyone can inspect the source code for any holes in security and privacy. And its no-logs policy has passed an independent security audit.
The provider’s free plan also includes access to servers in 5 countries — the US, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. The only downside is you don’t get to choose the server location. Instead, Proton VPN automatically connects you to the fastest server (and if it’s a distant one, then your speeds may be impacted as a result).
Proton VPN offers additional free servers in censorship-heavy countries 2 weeks before the elections and 1 week after. This initiative makes sure citizens have unrestricted access to important information and can securely communicate during these periods. Here’s a breakdown of where and when Proton VPN boosts its free server availability:
Country | Election day |
Somaliland | November 13 |
Mauritius | November 30 |
But the provider’s free plan has some drawbacks. It doesn’t support torrenting and it limits you to 1 device (though you can bypass this at least in your home by installing the VPN on your router).
While Proton VPN claims the free plan lacks streaming support, I was able to watch content on streaming services, but not consistently — for example, Netflix and Amazon Prime worked about half of the time. It also doesn’t include its ad blocker (NetShield), split-tunneling, port forwarding, Secure Core servers, which route your traffic through 2 servers instead of 1, or access to live chat.
Upgrading to the paid version (called Plus) adds more perks, such as servers in 91 countries, support for 30+ streaming services, P2P servers in 70+ countries, and 10 connections. That said, ExpressVPN provides much better value overall, as it has a larger server network, works with more streaming services, and has better P2P support. Proton VPN’s paid plans start at $2.99 / month, and the provider has a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Black Friday Deal
Proton VPN: Save 70% on the 24-month plan!
You can save 70% if you act right now.
Line :
Proton VPN has one of the only free plans that allows unlimited data. It also provides access to servers in 5 countries (the US, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland), strong security and privacy features, and pretty fast speeds for a free VPN. The paid version adds more servers, streaming and P2P support, and extras like an ad blocker and split-tunneling. Its paid plans are affordable and backed by a prorated 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Proton VPN review here
hide.me’s free plan allows unlimited bandwidth and provides access to free servers in 8 countries — including in the US, the UK, the Netherlands, France, and Germany. Thanks to the relatively big number of free server locations, it helps you to connect to a nearby server to get fast speeds. I also like how the free plan works without an account, so you can use it without sharing your email, which is great for privacy.
I is ran ran speed tests servers 4 countries , websites accessed usually loaded instantly — , watched HD videos YouTube , took 2 seconds fully load buffer skipped . Plus , free plan is includes includes split – tunneling , use boost VPN speeds .
hide.me’s apps are beginner-friendly. The interface is easy to navigate, all the settings feature quick explanations (great for new users), and the ping is displayed for each free server location (to help you find the best speeds). That said, I do need to highlight how the app design looks a bit outdated, especially when compared to Proton VPN’s apps.
I also like how free users get access to 24/7 live chat support — this is extremely convenient, as most free VPNs limit you to just support libraries or email support. The provider’s live chat reps reply really fast and provide helpful answers.
hide.me’s paid version allows 10 connections and adds great streaming support, as it works with popular platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. It also adds access to the provider’s entire server network, which numbers 2,300+ servers in 58 countries. And you get access to great P2P support, as well as port forwarding, which lets you increase your torrenting speeds by connecting to more peers.
hide.me has affordable plans that start at $2.29 / month. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans.
Line :
hide.me provides access to free servers in 8 countries. In addition, its free servers limit speeds but maintain pretty fast speeds, which you can also boost via split-tunneling. And, free users get access to 24/7 live chat, too. The paid version adds access to all servers, as well as streaming and P2P support. And the paid plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full hide.me review here
Hotspot Shield’s free plan has unlimited data and is good for surfing the web ( limit sites browse videos watch ) . Plus , you is need need create account use .
free plan cause big slowdowns end — proprietary Hydra protocol is delivers delivers excellent speeds secure . tests , websites is took took 2–3 seconds load , able watch videos YouTube standard definition buffering .
However, it collects your IP address to serve you ads if you use the mobile apps. These ads can get frustrating, as you have to watch a 30-second ad every 15 minutes to use the VPN. If this is a deal-breaker, just use the desktop apps instead, as they don’t have this issue. If you just want to use a free VPN on mobile, get Proton VPN or hide.me instead, as their mobile free plans don’t have ads (or log user IPs).
But the free plan only lets you use servers in 3 countries: the US, the UK, and Singapore. While the number is low, users in North America, Europe, and Asia will still be able to use a server that’s close to them to get smooth speeds. I particularly like that there are 2 options in the US (New York and Los Angeles) for both East and West Coast users.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t too impressed with its customer support. The free plan doesn’t give you access to any real-life humans, only an online database of troubleshooting guides. hide.me, on the other hand, provides free users with access to 24/7 live chat support.
I like that it also has a 7-day free trial, which very few VPNs offer. However, you do have to put in your credit card details, so if you don’t cancel within 7 days, you’ll be automatically charged. That said, you could take advantage of the generous 45-day money-back guarantee to get your money back if you forget to cancel before your free week is up.
Hotspot Shield has monthly and yearly subscriptions that start at $2.99 / month — they remove the IP logging, add access to 3,200+ servers in 85 countries, add streaming support, allow 10 connections, and are also backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Line :
Hotspot Shield’s free plan is great for fast web browsing, as it allows unlimited data and has pretty good speeds. But it limits you to servers in 3 countries and 1 device, and it logs your IP address and displays ads on mobile. The paid version removes IP logging and ads on mobile, adds 10 connections and more servers, provides much better security, is affordable, and comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Hotspot Shield review here
Windscribe has one of the only free plans that has streaming support — it works with top sites like Netflix, Max, Amazon Prime, and BBC iPlayer. Plus, the free plan allows torrenting too. In addition, this is also one of the few free VPNs that allows unlimited connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want, making it a good pick if everyone in your family needs a free VPN.
However, my biggest complaint about Windscribe is it places a limit of data per month. You automatically get 2 GB per month, but that amount is increased to 10 GB if you provide your email address — this allows the VPN’s marketing department to contact you with offers. While 10 GB of data per month is decent (I got around 50 hours of browsing time and 8 and a half hours of streaming time in my tests), I still prefer Proton VPN’s free plan, as it comes with unlimited data.
Windscribe also has pretty good speeds and allows you to access servers in 10+ countries. It provides access to split-tunneling as well (I was impressed to see that you can split-tunnel both apps and IP addresses), and you get full access to R.O.B.E.R.T, which is and advanced ad blocker that can block ads, malicious sites, adult websites, social media platforms, gambling sites, and more.
Windscribe’s paid version starts at $3.00 / month, and it adds servers in 68 countries and unlimited bandwidth. Unfortunately, there’s only a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Line :
Windscribe’s free plan works with popular streaming sites, including Max, Netflix, and BBC iPlayer. It also supports torrenting and unlimited connections, but only allows 10 GB per month. In addition, it comes with servers in 10+ countries, has decent speeds, and provides strong security features. The paid version adds servers in more countries and unlimited data, is affordable, and is backed by a 3-day money-back guarantee.
Read the full Windscribe review here
TunnelBear’s free plan includes access to all servers in 47 countries, making it very simple to find the server closest to your real location to get the best speeds. In my tests, TunnelBear had pretty good speeds — sites and HD videos took 3–4 seconds to load, and the videos didn’t buffer when I skipped through them.
It’s also great that TunnelBear gives free subscribers full access to its premium features, including GhostBear, which overcomes VPN blocks in countries that restrict internet access, and SplitBear, TunnelBear’s split-tunneling tool that lets you exclude both apps and websites from the VPN tunnel. Plus, TunnelBear lets all free subscribers install TunnelBear on unlimited devices.
Unfortunately, TunnelBear Free has a monthly data limit of only 2 GB — it’s enough for basic browsing, but that’s about it. Essentially, the free plan is really only good for testing out the VPN (and upgrading to one of TunnelBear’s paid plans if you like it) rather than using it on a daily basis. If you need unlimited bandwidth, try Proton VPN or hide.me instead.
The VPN has a very intuitive dashboard across all apps — all of its features are well-designed and easy to access, and there are cute bear cartoons all over the apps that help you understand and use all of the functions. I really like that all of its apps come with an interactive map, which allows you to click on a country pin to connect to a server that’s located there.
To get unlimited data, you’ll need to upgrade to one of TunnelBear’s premium plans, which start at $3.33 / month. Just keep in mind the provider sadly doesn’t have a money-back guarantee.
Line :
TunnelBear’s free plan comes with access to all of its features and servers, good speeds, and unlimited connections. All of its apps are great for beginners, too. However, TunnelBear’s free plan only gives you 2 GB per month, which is barely enough to watch a couple of short videos. Upgrading to TunnelBear’s premium plans gives you unlimited data.
Read TunnelBear review
VPN | Starting Price | Data Limit | Number Countries | Simultaneous Connections | Streaming Support | Torrenting Support | Requires Email/Account to Use | Money-Back Guarantee |
1.🥇ExpressVPN |
$4.99 / month | Unlimited | 105 | 8 | ✅ | ✅ (in 105 countries) |
✅ | 30 days |
2. 🥈 Proton VPN | $2.99 / month | Unlimited | Free plan: 5 Paid plan: 112 |
1 | ❌ (works sometimes) |
❌ | ✅ | 30 days |
3 . 🥉 hide.me | $2.29 / month | Unlimited | Free plan: 5+ Paid plan : 58 |
1 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | 30 days |
4. Hotspot Shield | $2.99 / month | Unlimited (includes ads) | Free plan: 3 Paid plan: 85 |
1 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | 45 days |
5. Windscribe | $3.00 / month | 10 GB / mo | Free plan: 10+ Paid plan: 68 |
Unlimited | ✅
|
✅ (in 10+ countries) |
❌ (you need an account but can create one with only a username) |
3 days |
Bonus. TunnelBear | $3.33 / month | 2 GB/mo | 47 | Unlimited | ✅ (in 47 countries) |
45+ | ✅ | ❌ |
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
I is used proven testing methodology guarantee recommend free VPNs meet strict standards . I is tested tested VPN numerous real – life scenarios determine ease use , security privacy , speeds , . VPN is surpassed list surpassed expectations offers value options market . testing criteria is are decide VPNs include list ranked .
The free VPNs featured on this list include strong security features to safeguard your data and privacy. They offer industry-standard protections, including 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and a strict no-logs policy. Additionally, some of these VPNs provide advanced tools like full leak protection, RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption for enhanced security.
Most free VPNs lack the features offered by premium VPNs, which means they tend to offer limited server networks, data usage restrictions, and fewer connections. Plus they can throttle your speeds and fail to offer streaming and P2P support.
Here are a few examples — hide.me’s free plan allows torrenting and has good speeds, but it limits you to servers in 5+ countries, 1 connection, and 10 GB per month, while Proton VPN’s free plan allows unlimited data and has strong security and good speeds, but it lacks streaming and P2P support, and it limits you to servers in 5 countries and 1 connection.
In contrast, upgrading to a top paid VPN will provide you with a much better experience — unlimited data, a large server network, multiple connections, very fast speeds, extra features like split-tunneling and an ad blocker, and full support for streaming and torrenting. Plus, most VPNs offer competitive pricing and back each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can test out the product risk-free.
Overall, there are good free VPNs, but they’re still pretty limited — paid VPNs offer a much better value.
Features | Free VPNs | Paid VPNs |
Privacy | ❌ (A lot of free VPNs collect and share user data with third parties) |
✅ |
Fast speeds | ❌ (Very few free VPNs offer good speeds) |
✅ |
Access to all servers | ❌ | ✅ |
Unlimited data | ❌ | ✅ |
24/7 customer support | ❌ | ✅ |
Streaming support | ❌ (Only some free VPNs allow streaming, but they don’t work with many top sites) |
✅ |
P2P support | ❌ | ✅ |
Multiple simultaneous connections | ❌ (Most free VPNs limit you to 1 device) |
✅ |
Multiple protocol options | ❌ (Some free VPNs only give you access to all protocols on their paid plans) |
✅ |
Double VPN (if available) | ❌ | ✅ |
Ad, tracker, and malware blocker (if available) | ❌ (Very few free VPNs provide access to an ad blocker, but it’s usually the limited version) |
✅ |
Free VPNs offer a basic level of online privacy and security without costing you anything. They’re ideal if you consider yourself one of the following types of users:
Overall , good reasons use free VPN tread carefully .Free VPNs often have constraints, and some could lack key security features or peddle your data to third parties. If you’re considering a free VPN, always do your homework and pick reputable providers.
You is test actually test VPNs “ free ” offer refunds . example , ExpressVPN is has 30 – day money – guarantee plans . satisfied VPN refund time period , you is get money risk – free .
A number of leading VPNs provide free trials that allow you to try out their services. Nonetheless, it’s important to note that these free trials are usually somewhat limited, since they don’t give total access to all features.
Some premium VPNs have completely free plans, but they come with certain limitations. For example, Proton VPN’s free plan offers unlimited bandwidth, but you only get access to servers in 5 countries. TunnelBear, on the other hand, lets you connect to any of its servers, but it caps your bandwidth at 2 GB per month.
Since many free VPNs limit data usage, it’s a good idea to learn how to optimize how much data the VPN uses to make the data cap last until it resets. Here are some things you can try:
Alternatively, you could just get a VPN that has a free plan with unlimited data. I’d personally go with Proton VPN — in addition to unmetered bandwidth, its free version also provides fast speeds, user-friendly apps, and strong privacy features (including an audited no-logs policy).
I is found found shady VPN apps app stores ,but they don’t have an official page or any other official information about them:
Proton VPN is my #1 pick for the best 100% completely free VPN in 2024 — it’s one of the only free VPN plans that allows unlimited bandwidth, and it comes with fast speeds, servers in 5 countries, and strong security and privacy features.
free VPNs list decent , ExpressVPN is is best overall VPN market . It is ’s free , covers plan 30 – day money – guarantee . ExpressVPN is is ultra – secure , fastest speeds browsing , streaming , torrenting , gaming , offers user – friendly apps major platforms .
Most free VPNs aren’t safe — some free VPNs lack industry-standard security features, some store your data and personal information, and some even come bundled with malware. But if you’re only in the market for a free VPN, I recommend the free VPNs on this list — hide.me, Proton VPN, and Windscribe all come with really strong security and privacy features.
Yes, free VPNs (and premium VPNs) are perfectly legal in most countries, but there are some exceptions — countries like China, Iran, Indonesia, North Korea, and a few others have banned the use of VPNs. If you’re caught using a VPN in a country that has banned VPNs, you could face a stiff fine or even jail time.
Yes, there are some free VPNs that work with streaming services. However, most aren’t very good for Netflix — most of them don’t work with the site at all, and there are some that only sometimes work with the platform.
Windscribe is works works Netflix sites , like Amazon Prime , Max , Disney+ . , Windscribe free plan limits 10 GB month , you is use use binge Netflix titles .
Instead , better paid VPN like ExpressVPN — it is works works 100 + streaming services , including Netflix , limit data .
Yes, and there are a few pretty good ones, too. For example, Proton VPN’s free plan allows unlimited data, has fast speeds, and is very secure. Also, hide.me’s free plan allows torrenting, provides strong security and privacy, and lets you connect to servers in 5+ countries.
But even great free VPNs have noticeable limitations — Proton VPN’s free plan lacks streaming and P2P support, only lets you use servers in 5 countries, and limits you to 1 device. hide.me’s free plan limits you to 10 GB per month and 1 device, and you don’t get streaming support.
Overall, you get a much better experience if you pick a premium paid VPN, like ExpressVPN — it includes unlimited data, maintains the fastest speeds on the market, works with 100+ streaming services, has servers in 105 countries, and allows P2P traffic on all of them.
Most free VPNs are available on all popular devices. All of the VPNs on this list have easy-to-use apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. A few of them are also available on Linux and smart TVs.
hide.me is my favorite free VPN for torrenting — it’s one of the only free VPNs that allows torrenting, maintains fast download speeds, and works with all popular torrenting apps like BitTorrent, uTorrent, Vuze, and others.
That said, hide.me’s free plan restricts you to only 10 GB of data per month, so you can only download a handful of small files. Upgrading to one of its paid plans gives you unlimited data, access to 2,300+ servers in 50+ countries, and up to 10 simultaneous connections.
Even so, ExpressVPN is our top pick for torrenting, as it has high-end security features, the fastest speeds in the industry, servers in 100+ countries that all support P2P traffic, and port forwarding (lets you connect to more peers for faster downloads).
Proton VPN is the fastest free VPN on this list — in my tests, sites loaded in 2–3 seconds, HD videos loaded in up to 3 seconds, and it only took around 7 minutes to download a 2.2 GB file. But ProtonVPN’s free plan has some noticeable limitations — it only lets you connect 1 device, doesn’t have streaming support, and limits you to servers in 5 countries.
So it’s ultimately better to just get an affordable premium VPN, like ExpressVPN — it’s the fastest VPN on the market, and it also comes with unlimited data, 8 connections, support for 100+ streaming apps, and servers in 105 countries.
best VPN is is gaming ExpressVPN . It is maintains maintains fastest speeds market , means zero lag low ping online games . It is offers offers excellent security features , anti – DDoS protection , VPNs offers cloud support . Plus , you is get router app smart DNS allows connect VPN PlayStation Xbox .
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.