6 Best Free VPNs in 2024 – (updated in October 2024) — Top Picks

I don’t really like using free VPNs. I know they’re convenient, but they have a lot of drawbacks — they limit how much data you can use, they have slow speeds, they don’t have streaming or P2P support, their apps are buggy, and they put your security and privacy at risk.

I always stick to using premium paid VPNs when I travel (and when I’m at home). They simply provide more value, as they usually work with top streaming sites, have fast connection speeds, provide unlimited bandwidth, have really strong security and privacy features, and come with intuitive apps for all major platforms. 

But if you insist on using a free VPN, my list should help you out. I’ve been using VPNs while traveling for the past 10+ years, and I put my experience to good use by coming up with a list of the best free VPN services in 2024 — all of my picks have good security tools, provide good speeds, and are simple to use. But I ultimately still recommend getting a paid premium VPN (like ExpressVPN), as they provide significantly better value than free VPNs.

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN Service in 2024 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free VPN plan, but it still provides the best value on the market — it’s the best VPN for streaming (and for Netflix), it has super fast speeds, and it’s one of the best P2P VPNs out there. In addition, it has affordable plans, and it also comes with a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee. This means you can essentially test the VPN risk-free and get your money back if you’re not 100% satisfied.

This provider offers the best streaming support out there, as it consistently works with 100+ streaming sites (including top ones like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video). Plus, it also has a smart DNS, which lets you enjoy streaming content on devices that don’t work with VPN apps, like gaming consoles for example. 

And ExpressVPN also has servers in 100+ countries, which makes it super easy to use nearby servers to get the fastest speeds. And speaking of speeds, this provider maintains blazing-fast browsing, torrenting, gaming, and streaming speeds across all of its servers. Plus, I really like how the VPN also supports torrenting on all servers. 

In addition, ExpressVPN provides industry-leadaing security and privacy features. It has an audited no-logs policy that has also been proven true in a server seizure. And it also comes with advanced security tools, including full leak protection, RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data), and perfect forward secrecy, which changes the encryption key for each VPN session. 

You also get access to the Advanced Protection feature, which is very useful — it blocks ads, stops ad trackers from spying on your web traffic, and it also blocks connections to shady websites. Plus, it even lets you block adult websites, which lets you enforce limited parental controls. 

And I also like how user-friendly the VPN is, as all of its desktop and mobile apps come with a very intuitive interface. Also, you get access to the Shortcuts feature, which lets you set up 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and sites that show up on your connection screen after you connect to a server — so you can use this tool to get instant connections to Netflix after you secure your connection with ExpressVPN, for example.

ExpressVPN has affordable pricing, and with my special 49% discount you can get it for just $6.67/month. What’s more, the provider also often offers extra months of service for free — and, remember, it comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Best Free VPN Plan on the Market in 2024 Proton VPN

Proton VPN has the best free VPN plan out there in my opinion. My favorite thing is that the provider’s free plan allows unlimited data, as many free VPNs limit how much data you can use each day or month — on average, they limit you to 2–10 GB, which is only enough for a few hours of web browsing or SD streaming. 

I also love how secure the provider’s free version is. It comes with an audited no-logs policy and open-source apps (meaning anyone can inspect the code for security issues) — plus, all of the provider’s apps have been audited. What’s more, the free plan comes with advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption (keeps all data on a server secure even if the server is compromised). 

And Proton VPN’s free version also provides very good speeds. Despite limiting you to servers in 5 countries, I always maintained smooth speeds for browsing, streaming videos on YouTube, online gaming, and downloading files.

And I also like how user-friendly the provider’s apps are. There’s a quick-connect tool that automatically connects you to the fastest server (though, it’s a shame the free version doesn’t let you manually pick server locations). Also, all settings come with helpful explanations, so you never feel lost while using the app.

But the free plan comes with certain limitations — you don’t get streaming and P2P support, you can only connect 1 device, and you don’t get access to the provider’s other extra security tools.

Upgrading to the paid version is worth it, as it provides access to 6000+ servers in 110+ countries, support for 40+ streaming services, P2P support on servers in 20+ countries, and 10 simultaneous connections. Also, the paid plan comes with NetShield (a very good ad blocker) and split-tunneling.

Proton VPN has paid plans that start at $3.59/month, which is pretty affordable. Also, it backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee (just keep in mind it’s prorated).

🥉 3. hide.me — Secure Free VPN With Unlimited Data hide.me

hide.me’s free VPN plan allows unlimited data and provides strong security features, including advanced features like RAM-only servers and perfect forward secrecy. And it also comes with full leak protection — I ran 10+ leak tests while connected to it, and I never experienced any issues. Plus, I also like how the provider’s no-logs policy is audited. 

The provider’s free service comes with servers in 5+ countries, which is pretty good. You get access to server locations in the US, the UK, Germany, France, Singapore, and more. Overall, it’s pretty easy for users in North America and Europe to use nearby servers for fast speeds. 

hide.me’s free VPN plan also comes with pretty good speeds. I usually had decent browsing and streaming speeds while testing it on distant servers — websites loaded in up to 3 seconds, and HD videos took around 4 seconds to fully load. That said, I think Proton VPN’s free service is much faster.

But the free version has some limits — you can only install and use hide.me on 1 device, you can’t access top streaming services, and you can’t download any torrents. 

Upgrading to the paid version gets you access to other perks — servers in 50+ countries, good streaming and P2P support, support for up to 10 simultaneous connections, and access to SmartGuard, which blocks ads, ad trackers, and shady sites. Also, you get access to Bolt, which is a feature that’s meant to increase VPN speeds. This is pretty good, but I should still mention that ExpressVPN’s paid plans provide significantly better value.

hide.me’s pricing starts at $2.59/month. Also, the VPN service backs each purchase with a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

4. Hotspot Shield — Intuitive VPN With Unlimited Data and Good Speeds Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield has a free plan that allows unlimited bandwidth and comes with user-friendly apps. The apps feature an interface that’s very simple to navigate — on average, it won’t take you more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a free VPN server. Plus, I like how there are quick, helpful explanations for most settings and features. 

The provider’s free VPN plan limits speeds to 2 Mbps — still, I maintained pretty fast speeds in my tests anyway. Whenever I used this free VPN service, most sites I visited loaded in 2 seconds, and HD videos took just 3–4 seconds to load (plus, I didn’t experience any buffering while watching them). 

You also get free server locations in 3 countries and strong security features. The free plan comes with servers in Singapore, the US, and the UK, and it also protects you data with perfect forward secrecy and DNS leak protection. 

But I don’t like how the free plan logs your IP address — it does this to serve you ads, so that the provider can financially sustain offering a free VPN service. While I understand that, I’d still like to see Hotspot Shield remove IP logging from its free plan (like other free VPN services do, such as Proton VPN and hide.me).

Getting the provider’s free version adds access to several perks — 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries, unlimited connection speeds, support for 10 connections, and good streaming and torrenting support. Plus, the paid version also removes all ads and IP logging.

Hotspot Shield has prices that begin at $7.99/month. In addition, the VPN service also backs each one of its plans with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. 

5. Windscribe — Decent Free VPN for Streaming Windscibe

Windscribe is one of the only free services that has streaming support. The provider’s free plan is compatible with top streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime Video. 

The free plan also comes with servers in 10+ countries, including locations in the US, the UK, Romania, Germany, the Netherlands, and Hong Kong. Plus, this free VPN maintains pretty good speeds for all online activities on both nearby and distant servers. 

And Windscribe is also really intuitive, as its apps are simple to navigate and provide useful explanations for most settings. In addition, this is also one of the few free VPNs that allow unlimited simultaneous connections, making it a good fit for large families. 

However, the free plan limits you to up to 15 GB per month. You get 2 GB when you sign up, you upgrade to 10 GB if you confirm your account, and you permanently unlock 15 GB if you tweet at the provider. But if 15 GB is not enough for you, try Proton VPN, hide.me, or Hotspot Shield instead, as they all allow unlimited data. 

Windscribe’s paid version starts at $5.75/month, and it adds servers in 60+ countries, P2P support, and full access to the provider’s ad blocker. The VPN has a money-back guarantee, but it only covers 3 days.

6. TunnelBear — Great Free VPN for Beginners TunnelBear

TunnelBear’s free version is a good pick for people who are new to VPNs, as it provides access to apps that are really intuitive and fun to use. The apps feature a digital map that allows you to quickly connect to different server locations. What’s more, when you connect to a server, a cute animated bear digs a tunnel on the map to the server’s location. And the VPN also uses bear-related puns to name its features — for example, its kill switch is called VigilantBear. Plus, the free plan allows unlimited connections as well. 

This free VPN also has the largest server network out there, as it lets you use 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries. So it’s pretty simple to get fast speeds, as you can easily avoid overcrowded servers and connect to a nearby server. 

That said, TunnelBear’s free version limits you to 2 GB per month. This is unfortunately enough only for a few hours of basic web browsing. If this is not enough for you, check out Proton VPN, hide.me, and Hotspot Shield instead, as they all allow unlimited bandwidth.

TunnelBear’s paid version starts at $3.33/month — upgrading to it removes the data cap. Unfortunately, the provider doesn’t come with a money-back guarantee.

Read my full TunnelBear review

Bonus. CyberGhost VPN — Comes With Free 24-Hour Trial + Generous Refund Policy CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN lacks a free VPN plan, but it has a free 24-hour trial. The trial provides access to all of the VPN’s features, so you can fully test the VPN service before you subscribe to it. Best of all, you don’t need to provide any payment details to be eligible for the trial. And if 24 hours are not enough for you, you can also get a free 3-day trial on Android.

What’s more, the provider comes with a 45-day money-back guarantee, which covers all of its long-term plans. You don’t need to meet any requirements to be eligible for the refund, and 45 days is more than enough time to decide whether or not the VPN is right for you. If you only get its shortest plan, your purchase is still covered by a 14-day money-back guarantee.

I think CyberGhost VPN is great for streaming, as it has streaming-optimized servers in 20+ countries that work with 50+ streaming platforms (such as Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and more). In addition, you also get other perks, like 10,000+ servers in 95+ countries, strong security and privacy tools, and user-friendly apps.

CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at $2.03/month. I think this is really affordable — plus, the provider’s longest plan provides very good savings, and also sometimes comes with additional months of service for free.

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Limit	Server Network	Streaming Support	Number of Devices	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$6.67/month	Unlimited	Servers in 100+ countries		Up to 8	30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited	Servers in 5 countries (free version) 6000+ servers in 110+ countries (paid version)		1 (10 via paid version)	30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited	Servers in 5+ countries (free version)  Servers in 50+ countries (paid version)		1 (10 via paid version)	30 days
4. Hotspot Shield	$7.99/month	Unlimited	Servers in 3 countries (free version) 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries (paid version)		1 (10 via paid version)	45 days
5. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month	Servers in 10+ countries (free version) Servers in 60+ countries (paid version)		Unlimited	3 days
6. TunnelBear	$3.33/month	Up to 2 GB per month	5,000+ servers in 45+ countries (free and paid version)		Unlimited
Bonus. CyberGhost VPN	$2.03/month	Unlimited	10,000+ servers in 95+ countries		7	45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• Look for a free VPN plan that’s not limited. Most free VPN plans come with annoying limitations, so I recommend picking one that provides access to servers in several locations around the world, allows enough bandwidth usage (or ideally, unlimited data), or provides multiple simultaneous connections or streaming support.
• Get a free VPN that’s secure. Free VPN services usually lack essential security features, so I only recommend getting one that comes with military-grade encryption, a kill switch (to prevent data leaks), a no-logs policy, or DNS leak protection. 
• Pick a free VPN provider with good speeds. Using a VPN slows down your original internet speeds. And using a free VPN causes even bigger slowdowns, as most free services are pretty slow. But all of the providers I recommend provide very good speeds for online browsing.
• Choose a free VPN that’s easy to use. Free VPNs tend to have apps that are either buggy or confusing to use. So it’s important to pick a provider whose apps are intuitive and make it very simple to connect to different server locations.
• Go for a free VPN whose paid plans offer good value. I only recommend getting a free VPN whose paid version comes with great extras, such as a large server network, good streaming and P2P support, and additional features (such as split-tunneling or an ad blocker). All of the VPNs I recommend provide very good value via their paid plans.

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free VPNs

• Free VPNs have poor security and privacy — Many free VPN providers lack industry-standard security tools, like a kill switch or military-grade encryption. Also, they might log your IP address and browsing traffic, and share that data with third parties.
• Free VPNs might expose you to malware — Some free VPNs have malicious apps that can infect your device with malware when you download, install, and run them.
• Free VPNs limit data usage — Free VPN apps often limit data usage to around 2–10 GB per month, which only allows a few hours of basic web browsing. Still, there are some exceptions that offer unlimited data usage (like Proton VPN, for example).
• Free VPN services have slow speeds — Many free VPNs can’t afford to optimize their services and provide high-speed VPN servers. Plus, their free servers are often overcrowded, which might cause significant slowdowns.
• Free VPNs don’t have streaming support — Most free providers don’t work with top streaming sites because they can’t afford to refresh their VPN server IP addresses very frequently (so their IPs are easily detected and blocked). The only free VPN I found to work with streaming platforms so far is Windscribe.
• Free VPN providers don’t allow torrenting — Free VPNs usually block torrenting on their servers, as P2P support is generally only included in a paid VPN subscription. 
• Free VPN apps are hard to use — Many free providers don’t have intuitive VPN software, which makes it hard to find and connect to servers. What’s more, a lot of free VPNs don’t have apps for the most popular devices (like desktop devices or smartphones).
• Free VPNs provide poor customer support — Free VPNs often can’t afford to invest in top-tier, round-the-clock customer support. More often than not, you have to deal with a poorly-written support library or non-responsive email support. 
• Free VPN services expose you to ads — To make money, a lot of free VPNs display ads within their apps (Hotspot Shield does this on its free plan, for example). 

Free VPNs vs. Paid VPNs

The main difference is that free VPNs offer limited functionality compared to paid VPNs. For example, a lot of free vendors don’t work with streaming sites, don’t allow torrenting on their servers, only provide access to a limited number of VPN servers, and limit how much data you can use. 

To better illustrate the difference, I put together this table: 

How Do Free VPNs Make Money?

• They have premium paid plans — Free VPNs that are legitimate will back their free plan with a paid version, as this is a sustainable business model. Most top free VPNs, such as Proton VPN and hide.me, come with paid versions.
• They display ads to free users — Some free VPN apps might display banner ads, pop-up ads, or sponsored content to their free users. They do this because advertisers pay the providers based on user clicks, impressions, and other performance metrics. For example, Hotspot Shield’s free plan features ads.
• They log and sell user data — Sadly, some free VPNs engage in shady tactics. Basically, they log user data (such as browsing traffic and IP addresses), and they sell it to advertisers, data brokers, or other third parties. 

Who Should Use Free VPNs?

• People who are on a budget — If you don’t want to spend money on a VPN subscription but still want to protect your web traffic, you should definitely use a good free VPN (it will encrypt your traffic and hide your real IP address). I personally recommend Proton VPN, as its free plan allows unlimited data and provides high-end security and privacy.
• People who are new to VPNs — If you have never used a VPN, trying out a free VPN is a good way to get accustomed to how VPNs work without having to pay anything upfront. Just remember that free VPNs come with certain limitations, such as no streaming and P2P support, and limited data usage.
• People who only use VPNs occasionally — If you only need to use a VPN for really quick tasks, a free service should be enough. For example, if you only need to secure your data for quick tasks on public Wi-Fi, like checking your bank account.

How to Test a Premium VPN for Free

A lot of premium VPN services come with generous refund policies, which allow you to fully test the VPN to make sure it’s right for you. For example, ExpressVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee, which means you have 30 days to decide if the VPN meets your needs — if it doesn’t, you can simply ask for your money back, as the provider has a no-questions-asked refund policy. 

And some premium VPN services also come with free trials. Most free trials are limited, but CyberGhost VPN actually has one of the only free trials on the market that provides access to all of the provider’s premium features. CyberGhost VPN has a free 24-hour trial via its site, and you can also get a free 3-day trial on Android — what’s more, its free trial doesn’t require you to share payment information upfront.

And finally, other premium VPN services offer a free plan, which you can use to first test the VPN before upgrading to the paid service. Just keep in mind that free plans are usually pretty limited — for example, Proton VPN has a very good free plan with unlimited data, but it still limits you to servers in 5 countries and 1 connection, and you don’t get streaming and P2P support.

Best Free VPNs in 2024 — Final Thoughts: