6 Fastest Free VPNs in 2025 — Fast Browsing, Streaming, Gaming & More

If speeds are important to you, I normally recommend avoiding free VPNs. With a free VPN service, you can’t usually expect to get smooth browsing, streaming, torrenting, or gaming speeds — that’s because free VPNs usually don’t provide access to enough server locations or fast protocols. Plus, even the free VPNs that have fast speeds come with annoying drawbacks, like restrictive data usage, poor security, and buggy apps. 

You’re much, much better off with a paid VPN instead. Most top VPNs have really fast connection speeds, as they provide access to large server networks, fast protocols, and other speed-boosting features. 

But if you insist on using a free VPN, I can help you out. I’ve been regularly using VPNs for the past 10+ years (especially while traveling abroad), and I’ve often resorted to using free VPNs. So, I’m really familiar with which free services provide good speeds, and which ones don’t. Just keep reading this guide and I'll share with you all of the fastest free VPNs, (and also provide good security and user-friendly apps).

🥇 1. ExpressVPN — Fastest VPN Service in 2025 ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN isn’t free, but it’s still the fastest VPN on the market right now. It came in #1 in all of the speed tests I ran on top vendors. In addition, it also provides excellent value since it has the best streaming support out there, it has very intuitive apps, and it provides excellent security and privacy. 

Plus, ExpressVPN has a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Basically, you don’t need to meet any requirements to be eligible for a refund — so you essentially can test the VPN without any risk for 30 days. 

I always enjoy lightning-fast speeds when I use ExpressVPN, even while traveling abroad. All the websites I access load instantly, and all HD and 4K videos load instantly (and I don’t experience any buffering when I skip through them). Plus, I use this VPN while gaming a lot, and I never experience high ping or lag while connected to distant servers. 

I think ExpressVPN is so fast thanks to Lightway, which is its proprietary VPN protocol. Lightway was designed to be super secure and also maintain very fast connection speeds (since its codebase is extremely lightweight). Also, the VPN has servers in 100+ countries, so it’s very easy to use nearby servers to get the fastest speeds.

Also, I like how you get access to split-tunneling, which allows you to pick the apps that use the VPN connection, and the apps that use your local internet connection. I often use split-tunneling while gaming — I only route traffic from my game through ExpressVPN, and this boosts my VPN speeds by about 15%, which is great. 

And I think ExpressVPN is the best streaming VPN on the market — the provider is compatible with 100+ streaming platforms, including top sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. And it also comes with a smart DNS, which lets you watch streaming content on devices that don’t work with VPN apps (and it also doesn’t provide encryption, so it’s much faster than a VPN connection). 

And this premium VPN is also very secure, as it has an audited no-logs policy and advanced features like full leak protection, RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data), and perfect forward secrecy, which provides a different encryption key for each VPN session. What’s more, ExpressVPN also has Advanced Protection, which blocks ads, ad trackers, and shady sites (by blocking ads, it makes websites load faster). 

ExpressVPN’s prices begin at $5.49/month. It’s a bit pricey, I know, but the money is definitely worth it since this is the best VPN on the market. Plus, its longest plan often includes extra months of service for free. And, don’t forget, the provider’s come with a no-questions-asked 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full ExpressVPN review

🥈 2. Proton VPN — Fastest Free VPN on the Market in 2025 Proton VPN

Proton VPN is the best free VPN in terms of speeds. Its free VPN plan maintains very good connection speeds since it comes with WireGuard, and it also allows unlimited data — this means you can use the VPN to browse the web, watch videos, and download files as much as you want.

In my speed tests, Proton VPN always performed very well. Whenever I use the free version to surf websites, they always load instantly. In addition, HD videos on YouTube load in less than 2 seconds and don’t buffer, and it only takes me around 10 minutes to download a 5 GB file, which is very good. 

I also like how user-friendly the VPN’s apps are. The interface is really intuitive, and I like how there’s a quick-connect feature that automatically picks the fastest server location for you (though, it’s a shame you can’t manually pick servers in the free version). 

Also, the free version provides excellent security and privacy. That’s because the free VPN plan comes with advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and full-disk encryption (this keeps all data on a VPN server safe even if the server is compromised). In addition, Proton VPN’s no-logs policy is independently audited, and also all of the provider’s apps are open-source (anyone can inspect the code for security issues).

That said, the free plan has some drawbacks. First, it limits you to servers in 5 countries. Also, the free version doesn’t have streaming and torrenting support, and only lets you connect 1 device. 

Proton VPN’s paid version starts at $3.59/month. Upgrading to a paid account adds access to 6000+ servers in 110+ countries, compatibility with 40+ streaming sites, support for up to 10 connections, and access to split-tunneling and VPN Accelerator (both tools can boost VPN speeds). Also, all purchases are backed by a prorated 30-day refund.

Read my full Proton VPN review

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

hide.me’s free VPN plan is a good pick for securely surfing the web. It allows unlimited bandwidth and it also comes with advanced security features, including perfect forward secrecy and RAM-only servers. Plus, it also has full leak protection — I actually ran 10 leak tests on its free servers, and I never experienced any leaks. What’s more, the VPN has an audited no-logs policy.

And the free plan comes with free servers in 5+ countries, which means it’s somewhat easy for most users to connect to nearby server locations. Plus, you also get access to split-tunneling to boost your speeds. 

I ran multiple speed tests with this provider’s free VPN plan, and I generally had good results — most websites I visited loaded in less than 2 seconds, and all the HD videos on YouTube I watched loaded in around 3 seconds (and there was no buffering at the start of the videos). 

I also think hide.me is pretty easy to use. True, its design looks a bit outdated, but it’s still easy to navigate the provider’s apps, and I like how all settings and features come with helpful explanations (so you never feel lost when using the provider’s free apps). 

However, the free VPN plan has some noticeable drawbacks. Basically, you don’t get streaming and torrenting support, and you’re only allowed to download and install hide.me on 1 device.

hide.me’s paid plans are affordable, as prices start at $2.59/month. The paid version provides access to servers in 50+ countries, support for up to 10 connections, and good streaming and P2P support. And each plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

4. Windscribe — Good, Fast Free VPN for Streaming Windscribe

Windscribe is one of the only free VPNs that supports streaming. Basically, the provider’s free VPN plan is compatible with tons of popular streaming services, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. 

Plus, the free plan also comes with good speeds — in my tests, most websites loaded instantly, while HD videos only took around 3 seconds to load (and I only experienced very minor buffering at the start). Plus, I like how free users get access to split-tunneling and servers in 10+ countries. 

Also, the VPN’s apps are really intuitive — it’s very easy to navigate the interface to find and connect to your desired server locations. And I really like how free users also get unlimited simultaneous connections, which means they can install and use Windscribe on as many devices as they want. 

That said, the provider’s free VPN plan limits you to up to 15 GB per month. Essentially, you get 2 GB per month when you sign up, and you can permanently upgrade to 10 GB per month by confirming your email. On top of that, you can get 5 more GB per month by tweeting at the company. If this isn’t enough (and you don’t care about streaming), I recommend trying Proton VPN instead since it has unlimited bandwidth.

Windscribe’s paid version begins at $5.75/month, and it adds unlimited bandwidth and access to servers in 60+ countries. The provider also has a money-back guarantee, but it only covers 3 days. 

5. Hotspot Shield — Intuitive and fast free VPN with fast speeds Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield’s free version comes with really user-friendly VPN apps. I like how the app design looks sleek, and how the interface is extremely easy to navigate — on average, it won’t take you more than 4–5 seconds to connect to a server or find certain features or settings. Plus, I like how the free VPN plan provides unlimited data.

The VPN’s free plan limits speeds to 2 Mbps, but is still pretty fast — whenever I use it to browse the web, it doesn’t take more than 2 seconds for websites to load. Plus, HD videos on YouTube usually load in around 3 seconds, and I don’t experience high ping while playing online games. Still, if you’re worried about the speed limit, get Proton VPN instead, as its free plan doesn’t impose any speed limits (and also allows unlimited data).

On the plus side, you get access to split-tunneling, which you can use to boost your VPN speeds. Also, the VPN’s proprietary protocol (called Hydra Catapult) is also designed to maintain very fast speeds. 

Still, the free plan has some limitations — it restricts you to free servers in 3 countries (the US, Singapore, and the UK, it only lets you connect 1 device, and you don’t get streaming or P2P support. 

Hotspot Shield’s paid version is somewhat expensive, as it starts at $6.66/month. Becoming a paid user grants you access to 1,800+ servers in 90+ countries, good streaming support, and the ability to connect up to 10 devices. Also, all purchases are backed by a 45-day refund.

6. TunnelBear — Good free VPN for beginners (with fast speeds) TunnelBear

TunnelBear’s free plan is excellent for beginners, as its apps are very simple and fun to use. There’s a quick-connect feature, and I like how you can use a digital map to connect to different server locations. Plus, all apps are packed with bear-themed puns, which is really cute. And the free VPN plan also allows unlimited simultaneous connections, which is great. 

Plus, the free plan provides access to the entire server network — this amounts to 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries. So, it’s easy to get fast speeds since you can avoid overcrowded servers, and you can use nearby server locations. And speaking of speeds, I always maintained fast load times when browsing websites and watching HD videos with TunnelBear’s free VPN plan. 

However, the free plan limits you to 2 GB per month, which is only enough for a few hours of basic web browsing (or very limited SD streaming). If this is a deal-breaker for you, try Proton VPN instead — it’s just as fast as TunnelBear, but its free VPN plan allows unlimited data.

TunnelBear’s paid version is affordable, with prices starting at $3.33/month. Upgrading to it adds unlimited data. Just keep in mind that the provider lacks a money-back guarantee.

Read my TunnelBear review

Bonus. CyberGhost VPN — Really Fast VPN With Free 24-Hour Trial CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN lacks a free plan, but it has a free 24-hour trial. The free trial provides access to all of the provider’s features, and you also don’t need to share any payment details to be eligible for it. And I think that 24 hours is enough time to run speed tests to see if the VPN is fast enough for you. 

Plus, the provider has a 45-day money-back guarantee that covers all long-term plans. This provides more than enough time to make sure that the VPN meets all of your needs in terms of speed, streaming, ease of use, and more. 

And I can honestly say that this premium VPN has always provided me with fast speeds. It’s not as fast as ExpressVPN, but I still get instant load times when I access websites and load HD videos. 4K videos take around 2–3 seconds to load, but I don’t experience any buffering while skipping through them. 

There are also other things that make this VPN good for fast speeds. It has a huge server network, numbering 10,000+ servers in 95+ countries, so it’s easy to use nearby servers and avoid overcrowded servers. Also, it provides access to split-tunneling, and it uses WireGuard.

CyberGhost VPN is really affordable, with plans starting at only $2.19/month. The longest plan often includes extra months of service for free. And, like I said above, there’s a 45-day refund for all long-term purchases (the shortest plan is backed by a 14-day refund).

Read my full CyberGhost VPN review

Quick Comparison of My Top Picks

	Starting Price	Data Limit	Speed Limits	Split-Tunneling	Number of Devices	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇 1. ExpressVPN	$5.49/month	Unlimited			Up to 8	30 days
🥈 2. Proton VPN	$3.59/month	Unlimited			1 (10 via paid version)	30 days (prorated)
🥉 3. hide.me	$2.59/month	Unlimited			1 (10 via paid version)	30 days
4. Windscribe	$5.75/month	Up to 15 GB per month			Unlimited	3 days
5. Hotspot Shield	$6.66/month	Unlimited	2 Mbps		1 (10 via paid version)	45 days
6. TunnelBear	$3.33/month	2 GB per month			Unlimited
Bonus. CyberGhost VPN	$2.19/month	Unlimited			7	45 days (long-term plans) 14 days (shortest plan)

How I Chose the VPNs on This List

• Get a free VPN that uses fast protocols — A VPN protocol is a set of rules that dictates how a VPN connection is established. And some protocols are much faster than others. I usually recommend getting a free VPN that uses WireGuard, as this is one of the fastest protocols out there (most of the free VPNs I recommend use this protocol). 
• Pick a free VPN with speed-boosting features — I generally recommend getting a VPN whose free version provides access to split-tunneling, as this tool can boost VPN speeds. Pretty much all of the VPNs I recommend have split-tunneling, but Proton VPN also has VPN Accelerator (boosts VPN speeds on distant servers) in addition to it.
• Opt for a free VPN with multiple server locations — The closer the VPN server is to your real location, the faster your speeds will be. Most free VPNs limit you to a few server locations, so make sure you go for one whose free servers are near your location.
• Opt for a free VPN with good data caps — Most free VPNs limit you to anywhere between 2 GB and 10 GB per month. Still, there are some exceptions (like Proton VPN and hide.me) whose free versions allow unlimited data.
• Get a free VPN that’s easy to use — You should only choose a free VPN whose apps are very simple to install and use (it shouldn’t take you more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a VPN server. And, ideally, the VPN’s apps should come with a quick-connect feature, which automatically connects you to the fastest server for your location. 
• Pick a free VPN that’s secure — I only recommend getting a free VPN that secures your web traffic with industry-standard security and privacy features. This includes military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, or DNS leak protection. 
• Get a free VPN whose paid version offers great value — Ideally, the provider’s paid version should come with nice perks, like good streaming and torrenting support, or additional features (like an ad blocker, which could speed up website loading times). Also, bonus points if the provider’s paid plans come with a generous money-back guarantee.

Risks and Drawbacks of Using Free VPNs 

• Free VPNs have slow speeds — Free users often have to put up with slow speeds, as free VPNs don’t provide access to a lot of free server locations. Also, many free VPNs don’t use fast protocols (like WireGuard, for example). Plus, some free VPNs also limit your speeds (for example, Hotspot Shield’s free plan limits you to 2 Mbps, though it still provides good speeds).
• Free VPNs limit data usage — When you use a free service, you often will have to put up with a daily or monthly data cap (anywhere between 2 GB to 10 GB per month, on average). Still, there are some free VPNs that allow unlimited bandwidth (like Proton VPN and hide.me, for example). 
• Free VPN services might expose you to malware — Some free VPNs might have malware-infected apps. Once you install them, they will compromise your device and all of the data on it.
• Free VPN services compromise user privacy — Most free VPNs don’t respect your privacy, as they log your personal data (IP address and web traffic) and share it with third parties, like advertisers and data brokers for a profit.
• Free VPNs don’t work with streaming sites — Free services don’t refresh their server IPs very often (they can’t afford to do it), which means streaming sites will have an easy time detecting and blocking their IPs. It’s always better to just get a paid premium VPN for torrenting (like ExpressVPN).
• Free VPNs don’t have P2P support — You usually won’t be able to download torrents with a free VPN service, as free VPNs usually block P2P downloads on their free server locations. 
• Free VPNs display ads — To make money, some free VPN providers display in-app ads (Hotspot Shield does this on its mobile apps). The ads are unskippable, and you will often have to watch an ad to be able to use the VPN for free for a limited period of time (like 15 minutes, for example).
• Free VPN services have buggy apps — Free VPNs can’t afford to invest a lot of money into app development, so you’ll often have to put up with apps that are hard to use or downright glitchy (various app settings might not work, for instance).
• Free VPN services don’t have good customer support — With a free service, you shouldn’t expect to get round-the-clock customer support via live chat. The best you can usually hope for is a support library (that might contain outdated articles) and email support (which might often be non-responsive).

How to Increase Free VPN Speeds 

• Connect to a nearby server location — The closer the server location is to you, the faster your VPN speed will be (because your data has to travel a shorter path to reach its destination). Unfortunately, this isn’t very easy to do with free VPNs, as they don’t usually provide access to many server locations. 
• Use servers that are not overcrowded — Some free VPNs will display the server load (how many users are connected to a server). Normally, if you use a VPN server with a low load, you’re more likely to get fast speeds. 
• Use a fast VPN protocol — If the free VPN you’re using provides access to a protocol like WireGuard or IKEv2/IPSec, make sure to use it since it’s designed to provide fast speeds. That said, this might not always work, as some free VPNs only come with OpenVPN (it’s secure, but it only has mediocre speeds). 
• Use split-tunneling (if available) — If the free VPN provides access to split-tunneling, use it to only route the data you want to secure through the VPN. For example, if you’re using the VPN to play games on Steam, only route Steam traffic through the VPN. This way, the VPN will have less data to encrypt and decrypt, which will increase your VPN speeds. 
• Use other speed-boosting features (if available) — This doesn’t happen often, but some free VPNs might include access to additional features that help increase speeds. For example, Proton VPN’s free plan has VPN Accelerator, which helps boost speeds on connections to distant server locations.

If none of those tips work, it’s better to just get a paid VPN instead. ExpressVPN, for example, has the fastest speeds on the market — it achieves this via its proprietary Lightway protocol and by having servers in 100+ countries. Plus, it also comes with split-tunneling, user-friendly apps, support for 100+ streaming services, and a risk-free 30-day refund.

Fastest Free VPNs in 2025 — Final Thoughts: Final Thoughts