5 Best Free VPN for Linux in 2025 — User-Friendly & Secure

It’s usually best to avoid using a free VPN for Linux. The main issue is that most free providers don’t even have dedicated apps for Linux. And out of the ones that do, many provide a subpar user experience — they have really slow speeds, they lack important security tools (like a kill switch or a no-logs policy), and they don’t work with popular streaming sites. 

You’re honestly better off just getting a premium Linux VPN. Most top providers have dedicated apps for Linux, provide strong security and privacy, maintain fast connection speeds, and are compatible with most popular streaming services. 

However, if you insist on trying a free VPN, check out the rest of this article. I’ve been regularly using VPNs for 10+ years (especially while traveling abroad), and I have plenty of experience with free vendors too. I put my years of experience to good use and listed the best free picks for Linux users in this article. 

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN Service for Linux in 2025 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN isn’t free, but it still has the best Linux app on the market. On top of that, it also provides excellent streaming and P2P support, it’s the fastest VPN in 2025, and it comes with industry-leading security and privacy features. 

Plus, the VPN has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Basically, its refund policy is no-questions-asked — this means you don’t need to meet any requirements to get a refund, so you can test the VPN risk-free. 

Also, I love how user-friendly the VPN is on Linux. Even though its Linux VPN app lacks a GUI, you still get access to one via the browser extensions — basically, you use the extensions to remotely control the Linux app. And the extensions have a really intuitive design that makes it super simple to find and connect to different VPN servers. 

In addition, ExpressVPN offers very good security on Linux. It has an audited strict no-logs policy that has also been proven true in a server seizure. What’s more, the VPN has advanced features, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers that ensure every reset wipes all data, and perfect forward secrecy (offers a different encryption key for each VPN session). Plus, the Linux VPN app comes with Advanced Protection, which blocks ads, ad trackers, malicious sites, and even adult websites. 

I also like how amazing this VPN is for streaming and torrenting. It actually has the best streaming support on the market, as it’s compatible with a whopping 100+ streaming sites (including popular streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video). And it also supports torrenting on all of its servers, which are located in 100+ countries. 

And this is also the fastest VPN out there. This is mostly thanks to its large server network, and the use of its proprietary Lightway protocol (which is designed to provide super-fast speeds). Whenever I use ExpressVPN to surf websites, watch HD and 4K videos, and download large files, I always maintain blazing-fast download speeds on both nearby and distant servers. 

ExpressVPN’s pricing begins at $5.49/month. It’s a bit pricey, sure, but keep in mind this provider offers the best value for Linux users. Also, its longest plan often includes additional months of service for free, and (don’t forget) there’s also a risk-free 30-day refund. 

Read my full ExpressVPN review

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN for Linux Proton VPN

I’m 100% confident in saying that Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Linux users. Its free version allows unlimited bandwidth, which means you can use the free plan to surf the web as much as you want. Plus, you also get access to a GUI Linux app, which is very convenient — plus, all the settings available in the Linux VPN app come with helpful explanations, so you never feel lost while using it. 

I also like how secure this provider’s free plan is. It protects your data with advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption (makes sure all data stored on a VPN server is 100% secure even if the server is compromised). What’s more, Proton VPN has an audited no-logs policy, and its Linux app is open-source, which means anyone can inspect the code for security issues — plus, the app has passed an independent audit too.

What’s more, Proton VPN’s free plan has very good speeds. I ran multiple speed tests, and all the websites I accessed always loaded instantly — plus, when I watched HD videos on YouTube, they loaded instantly and didn’t buffer when I skipped through them. Also, I was able to play online games without experiencing any noticeable lag or high ping. 

However, the free plan has some limitations — you don’t get guaranteed streaming and P2P support, you’re limited to server locations in 5 countries (and can’t manually choose the server you connect to), and can only connect 1 device.

Getting the paid version is worth it, as prices begin at $3.59/month and you also get access to tons of perks — 6000+ servers in 110+ countries, compatibility with 40+ streaming platforms, support for up to 10 connections, and many extras, like Secure Core servers, VPN Accelerator, and NetShield . Also, all plans are backed with a prorated 30-day refund.

Read my full Proton VPN review

🥉 3. hide.me — Very Secure Free VPN for Linux Users hide.me

hide.me’s free VPN plan allows unlimited data and has very strong online security features. For one, the VPN comes with advanced security features, including RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy — and it also has full leak protection (I ran 15 leak tests on 4 servers, and never experienced any leaks). Plus, I also like how the VPN has an audited no-logs policy. 

And hide.me’s Linux VPN app works on tons of popular Linux distros, including Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian. Just keep in mind that this is a CLI app, so it’s definitely a better pick for more advanced users. If you want to use a free Linux VPN with a GUI app, try Proton VPN instead. 

The free plan also comes with 5+ server locations, which is pretty great. This helps you connect to nearby server locations so that you can get the fastest VPN speeds. Speaking of which, hide.me’s free VPN plan always provided me with fast browsing and online gaming speeds in my tests. 

Still, keep in mind the free plan has some drawbacks — it doesn’t work with streaming websites, it doesn’t support torrenting, and you can only use the VPN on 1 device. 

hide.me’s paid plans begin at $2.59/month, and they add access to servers in 50+ countries, up to 10 connections, and good streaming and P2P support. And the provider backs all of its plans with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

4. Hotspot Shield — Fast Free VPN for Linux Users Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield’s free plan has very good speeds, even though it allegedly limits VPN connection speeds to only 2 Mbps. I used it on multiple occasions to surf the web and watch HD videos on YouTube, and both sites and videos loaded instantly. Also, the free plan allows unlimited data. 

The VPN’s Linux app works on tons of distros, including Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, and Fedora. The vendor has a CLI app, so I think it’s mostly a good fit for more technical users. If you’re new to Linux or just want to use a GUI app, get Proton VPN instead (its free plan also allows unlimited data). 

But like any free VPN plan, there are some noticeable limitations — you can only connect to servers in 3 countries (the US, the UK, and Singapore), you can only install and use Hotspot Shield on 1 Linux device, and you don’t get streaming and P2P support. 

Hotspot Shield’s paid version is pretty pricey, as its plans start at $6.66/month. The paid plans provide access to good streaming support, the option to connect up to 10 Linux devices, and access to 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries. Also, all purchases are backed by a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. 

5. Windscribe — Good Free Linux VPN for Streaming Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the only free VPNs that supports streaming. Its free plan is actually compatible with tons of streaming sites, including popular ones like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. 

I also like how the VPN has a GUI app for Linux users. The app is very simple to navigate, and it provides helpful explanations for all settings and features. What’s more, the provider allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which means you can use it on as many Linux devices as you want. 

And the free plan also has servers in 10+ countries, which helps you get very good speeds. I can confirm that Windscribe’s free plan is really fast on my end — I ran a few speed tests, and all the websites I browsed always loaded in less than 2 seconds. Plus, I watched a couple of HD videos on Netflix, and they loaded in around 3 seconds (and didn't buffer). 

But the free version limits you to up to 15 GB per month. When you sign up, you get 2 GB, and you can permanently upgrade to 10 GB per month by confirming your email. Finally, you can get 15 GB in total by tweeting at the company. If this is an issue (and streaming is not that important), try Proton VPN instead, as its free plan allows unlimited data and also comes with a GUI Linux VPN app. 

Windscribe has prices that start at $5.75/month, so it’s pretty affordable. Its paid version adds unlimited data and access to servers in 60+ countries. The VPN has a money-back guarantee, but it only covers 3 days. 

Bonus. CyberGhost VPN — Good VPN for Linux With Free 24-Hour Trial CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN might not be free, but it has a free 24-hour trial. The trial provides access to all of the VPN’s Linux features, and I really like how you don’t need to share any payment details to get the trial. Plus, if you cancel right before the trial is over and get a subscription via the provider’s site, all long-term purchases are covered by a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

This provider’s strong point is its streaming support. That’s because it comes with 100+ streaming servers that are located in 20+ countries — and these servers are optimized to work with 50+ streaming platforms, including top ones like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+. 

And CyberGhost VPN also has a huge server network and fast speeds. It provides access to a whopping 10,000+ server locations in 95+ countries. And while it’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, it still maintains very good browsing, streaming, and torrenting speeds — on average, all sites and HD videos load instantly, it only takes around 3 seconds for 4K videos to load, and a 10 GB file finishes downloading in around 15 minutes.

I also like how affordable CyberGhost VPN is, as its plans start as low as $2.19/month. Plus, its longest plan often includes extra months of service for free, and all long-term plans come with a 45-day refund (the shortest plan has a 14-day refund). 

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Cap	GUI Linux App	No-Logs Policy	Number of Devices	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	Unlimited	(via browser extensions)	(independently audited)	Up to 8	30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited		(independently audited)	1 (10 via paid version)	30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited		(independently audited)
4. Hotspot Shield	$6.66/month	Unlimited			1 (10 via paid version)	45 days
5. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month			Unlimited	3 days
Bonus. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	Unlimited		(independently audited)	7	45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• I only picked free VPNs with a Linux app. I recommend getting a provider that has an app you can download and install on your Linux device. Ideally, the app should have a graphical user interface (GUI), so that it’s easy to use. A command-line interface (CLI) app is okay too, though it’s better suited for advanced users. 
• I only ranked free VPN services that work on multiple Linux distros. The services I recommend in this article all have very good Linux support, as their apps are available on many major Linux distros (like Ubuntu, Fedora, and Debian). 
• I prioritized free services with good security. It’s extremely important to make sure you’re using free VPNs that come with all (or at least most) essential security features. This includes 256-bit AES encryption, a strict no-logs policy, a kill switch, or DNS leak protection. 
• I only added free services with fast speeds to my list. I recommend running a few speed tests on the provider’s free server locations to make sure it meets all of your needs. Check how fast websites load, how long it takes for HD videos to load and if they buffer when you skip through them, and if you experience high ping while playing online games. All the VPNs I recommend in this article are fast, but ExpressVPN was definitely the fastest.
• I prioritized free VPN providers that are easy to use. If the provider has a GUI app, the design should be very intuitive (basically, it shouldn’t take you more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a VPN server). The app should also have a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest VPN server for your location. 
• I made sure the paid plans offer great value. The provider’s paid version should come with great streaming and P2P support, and a large server network (servers in at least 40+ or 50+ countries). And bonus points if the VPN backs its paid plans with a generous money-back guarantee. 

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free Linux VPNs

• Free VPN providers don’t have Linux apps — Many free VPNs don’t come with dedicated apps for Linux. To use the VPN, you might have to perform a manual setup, which is really inconvenient. 
• Free VPNs are not safe to use — A lot of free VPN providers put your personal data at risk. That’s because many of them usually lack essential security features, like a kill switch or strong encryption. Plus, some free services might log your IP address and browsing traffic, and share it with third parties (like data brokers) for a profit. 
• Free VPNs have data caps — A free VPN service will usually restrict how much data you can use each day or month. On average, free Linux VPNs only let you use anywhere between 2 GB and 10 GB per month. Still, there are some exceptions (like Proton VPN and hide.me, for instance) that provide unlimited bandwidth.
• Many free VPNs for Linux have slow speeds — Free VPNs usually provide access to only a few free servers, which makes it hard to connect to nearby server locations to get fast speeds. And some free VPNs don’t support fast VPN protocols, like WireGuard or IKEv2/IPSec. 
• Free VPNs might expose you to ads — To make money, most free Linux VPNs expose their users to in-app ads. For example, you might have to watch a 20 or 30-second ad to be able to use the VPN for 15 minutes. 
• Free VPNs lack streaming support — A free provider usually won’t refresh the IP addresses of its free servers very often. Due to this, streaming platforms will have an easy time detecting and blocking the VPN’s IPs. The only exception to this rule I found so far is Windscribe (however, the drawback is that its free plan limits you to up to 15 GB per month).
• Free VPNs for Linux don’t support torrenting — A free provider usually won’t allow torrenting on its free server locations. Most of the time, if you try to download P2P files on a free service’s servers, your downloads will just stall. 
• Free VPNs don’t have good customer support — A free VPN doesn’t have the financial resources to invest in very good customer support. Usually, you’ll need to settle for an outdated support library or non-responsive email support (paid VPNs usually have 24/7 live chat or email support and in-depth and accurate support guides). 

Free VPNs for Linux That I Recommend Avoiding

• TunnelBear — The provider has really intuitive apps, and it's free plan lets you access all of its servers. However, TunnelBear unfortunately doesn’t have a Linux app. Even if it did, its free version wouldn’t be that good since it only allows 2 GB per month.
• DroidVPN — This VPN lacks a Linux system app. To be honest, even if it did work on Linux distros, I still wouldn’t recommend using it. That’s because the free plan limits you to 300 MB per day, it doesn’t come with a kill switch, and it also suffers DNS leaks (so it lacks DNS leak protection). 
• VPN Gate — While the VPN is completely free to use, it doesn’t have any Linux distro apps. What’s more, it also doesn’t support manual configurations on Linux. To be honest, even if VPN Gate would work on a Linux distro, I still wouldn’t advise using it since it has very slow speeds and it’s missing important security features (like a kill switch, for example). 

Best Free VPNs for Linux in 2025 — Final Thoughts: Final Thoughts