Riddle me this, what is better than having a cheap VPN? Having the best free VPN. In a world where digital privacy is constantly at risk of getting breached by hackers, VPNs are indispensable tools for internet users. VPNs create an encrypted connection between your device and the server you want to access so in the case of threat of malware, your IP address and virtual info will be protected. In this article we will be going through the best VPNs with free trials you can use to protect yourself and your device from third-party access
| VPN Service | Security & Privacy | Data & Speed Limits | Available Servers | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nord VPN | AES-256, IKEv2/IPsec, NordLynx | N/A | 5700+ servers in 60 countries | RAM-only servers, Split Tunneling, Dark Web Monitor, Ad-blocker, Kill Switch, inbuilt obfuscated servers |
| Surfshark VPN | AES-256, OpenVPN, TCP, UDP, WireGuard | N/A | 3200+ servers in 100 countries | GPS spoofing, DNS Leak Protection, Clean Web Features, No-Log Policy, dynamic multihop |
| Express VPN | Lightway VPN Protocol, AES-256, OpenVPN, TCP, UDP | N/A | 3,000+ servers in 94 countries | Threat Manager, No log policy, Network Lock Kill Switch |
Free online VPN has some juicy perks, some you could guess, and others will be a little surprising. A VPN has the advantage of protecting your financial and personal information from hackers. As if that is not enough, it also allows you to change your IP address to show a location you aren't in, so you can access geo-blocked content without moving a muscle. While these can often only be accessed by paying, free VPNs allow you to enjoy this premium treatment without shelling out a single penny.
Aside from this, a free VPN is another sure way to test a VPN service before making any financial commitment. It's just like taking a car on a test drive, only that you get to keep and use it however you like for a certain number of days. While we can keep giving reasons why you should use a free VPN, the ones we've touched on here are the most common and essential reasons a VPN free trial is instrumental.
While our recommended free VPN apps are not entirely free, we would be lying if we didn't acknowledge that there are some free VPNs out there. Now the million-dollar question is, are they good or even safe? Well, the answer is an emphatic NO! Here are some reasons for our answer.
Ever heard of the saying, "If a product is free, you are the product?" This rings true regarding free VPNs. The cost of running a VPN is huge, not to mention the constant upgrades to better encryption and protocols. So how does a VPN provider make money if it offers all services for free? Well, the answer is you are paying with your data. Our best VPNs freemium all have RAM-only servers that delete all your information and activities when you switch off your VPN. However, these 100% free VPNs keep some of your data and sell it to data brokers to cover up the expenses of it being free.
Now this is scary. According to a report by the Commonwealth Scientific Research Organization (CSIRO), UC Berkley, and the University of South Wales, over 38% of free Android VPNs have malware. In 2019 alone, Kaspersky reported a 60% increase in password-stealing Trojans. The risk of getting your data stolen or, worse, identity theft is higher when using a free VPN, and this ever-increasing risk is a good deterrent from using them.
If you've ever tried a 100% free VPN, you will notice the almost unending ads you get when connecting to a server. Some use pop ads that could impede your browsing experience, and to make matters worse, most of these ads are not even safe to click. So, instead of the VPN protecting you, you might be exposed to even more risk of breach.
When researching for this article, the most significant number of servers we found in 100% free VPNs is 100, which is nowhere close to any of our recommended best VPN providers. With fewer servers to connect to, there will be massive traffic on each server, making a slow VPN slower. We also noticed our internet speed drop by more than 60% when using these free VPNs, which is incredibly crazy.
No one knows how well a VPN works than the users. This is one of the several reasons we gauged users' reviews and brand reputations when compiling our list. The free VPNs have an overwhelmingly positive review from users, adding to your first-hand research.
What good is a free online VPN if it doesn't guarantee your safety and privacy? We only shortlisted those offering strong encryption protocols when researching the best free VPNs. This ensures that your internet activity is guaranteed, and in the unlikely scenario that your device is breached, your information is stored with unreadable encryptions. If there is one thing we netizens love as much as our security, it's our privacy. I mean, who likes their device listening in on us and collecting data based on our activities? All the free VPN services that made our list have used a RAN-LESS SERVER no-logs policy, meaning your activities are neither stored nor sold to data brokers.
Most VPN-free trials have limitations, mainly on internet speed and data usage. Notice how we said "most?" that is because the best free VPN doesn't have such. So, instead of being cautious about using your free data or getting subpar speed, you get to enjoy full access to what the VPN offers at no extra cost. While some have a very reasonable bandwidth, some, like NordVPN, are unlimited, even for free users.
Ever heard of the saying "the more, the merrier?" We held this saying dear to our hearts when searching for the top free VPN service. The server number and location of a VPN go a long way in determining how much geo-restricted content they can access. Besides this, the extensive server coverage also goes a long way in ensuring optimal performance, allowing users to connect to servers closer to where they are.
To be one of the best free VPNs, offering only data protection and cloaking your IP address is needed. The VPNs we've considered above have several add-on features like malware protection, ad-blocking, and a free VPN app on Android, iOS, Mac, Linux, and Windows. Some even take it further by offering free VPN extensions you can add to your browser.
Below are our the best free VPNs on the market.
Express VPN is unarguably one of the best free VPNs on the planet, and here is why. The provider has two types of free trials that users can opt-in for. The first is the 7-day free trial available only to mobile users. So, whether you are using an Android or iOS, you can get a week of free use at one of the highest-performing and most secure VPNs.
The other free trial is somewhat different from the first. Instead of having a standard free period, users who purchase the 24-month bundle get three months for free. In other words, you get a whole 15 months for the price of 12. Also, there is a 30-day money-back guarantee policy on all VPN pricing, so if you subscribe to any, you can cancel before the 30 days and get your money back.
How good is ExpressVPN? You ask. The answer is very! The VPN has over 3,000 servers in more than 90 countries, which means you will find multiple server options to go for regardless of which geo-block content you want to unlock. Also, the provider uses the impregnable AES-256. In addition to having standard protocols like OpenVPN, and IKEv2, its users also have access to the exclusive Lightway VPN protocol, one of the fastest we've ever seen in the market. With ExpressVPN, you don't have to worry about your data being stolen, as they are all deleted when you log off the server.
ExpressVPN is also one of the best in terms of accessibility as you can download the app to any device you can think of - iOS, Android, Linux, Windows, and Mac, you name it. Moreover, you can also use it on your router to protect devices that cannot download the free VPN app. That way, your smart TV, smart home assists, and game consoles are covered. You can also get the free VPN extension running on your browser for better ease.
Surfshark VPN is the king when it comes to accessible and broader global coverage, but it's also an impressive free VPN option for those starting out. In fact, of all the best free VPN providers on our list, Surfshark offers the best value.
Unlike most free and even premium VPNs, Surfshark has an unlimited simultaneous connection. This means during the 7-day free trial, you get to connect the VPN to as many devices as possible and guess what? You won't see any significant drop in your internet speed. You will also get a 30-day money-back guarantee which is more than enough time to know if it's a good free VPN.
Regarding connections, there are over 3,200 servers owned by this provider in 100 countries, many of which are obfuscated servers. This means they can hide the fact that you are using a VPN to bypass VPN-blocking firewalls.
Aside from this, Surfshark is packed with excellent features, and thanks to its newest Nexus network, users now have an added layer of security through its Dynamic MultiHop, IP Randomizer, and IP Rotator features. Surfshark uses OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, and WireGuard protocol which makes the AES-256 encryption faster than most competitors with the same protocol.
We've already established that Surfshark is a great VPN with a free trial, but its anti-virus is another unique product. Although you wouldn't have access to it during the free trial, you can always get it as an add-on if you decide to purchase a monthly bundle.
In case you have yet to notice in our previous articles on the best VPN provider, we are big fans of NordVPN, and who wouldn't be? From having one of the highest numbers of servers capped at 5,700 and in 60 countries as of the time of writing this, to having a 100% no-log policy. This means that even using the free trial; you don't have to worry about leaked data. Still, on servers unlike its counterparts which have earmarked obfuscated servers, all NordVPN servers have in-built camouflage. This way, you don't have to bother switching servers when visiting heavily censored websites.
Nord is a good free VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. This policy is also not limited to any bundle, so you don't have to make more financial commitments than you already want to enjoy the money-back rules.
Although NordVPN allows up to 6 simultaneous connections, the unlimited bandwidth allows all devices to use its services seamlessly without lagging. Besides being a VPN, Nord offers cross-platform password manager services, cloud storage, a data breach scanner, malware protection, and next-gen file encryption.
If you are wondering how to get a free VPN, wonder no more. If any of the ones we've touched on piqued your interest, you can download them to your device on their website. If you want on-the-go access, head to the App or Google Play Store, type in your preferred free VPN provider and download from there.
Nothing is as good as trying out some of the best VPNs for free. In today’s digital landscape where hackers are relentless, VPNs have become essential. With the few recommended ones, you are up to a good start in using free VPNs without any added cost. If you ever upgrade to a paid subscription, always know you have 30-days money back guarantee to fall back on anytime.
Yes, there are several VPNs that are cost-free. However, you can read this article to find out why using free VPNs might not be a great idea.
The best free VPN depends on your preference. You can read our mini reviews above to see which one is best suited for you.
This depends mainly on VPN providers. While some offer router compatibility, some don’t. Read this article to find out which routers work with a free VPN.
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