The best free VPN in 2024 (2024)

A free VPN is a great way to protect your devices if you can't afford a premium service. However, just because a VPN is free doesn't make it safe. Most free apps on the market offer sub-par protection and harvest your data to sell to marketing agencies.

There are hundreds of apps to choose from – and almost all of them claim to be totally unlimited, but even the best free services come with limitations designed to offer a taste of the real thing and convince you to upgrade.

That's where TechRadar's VPN team comes in. We've thoroughly reviewed each of the VPNs you'll find in this shortlist, so keep reading to see who comes out on top, and why only a handful of services like PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, and Windscribe offer free VPNs that you can actually trust.

Why I don't always recommend a free VPN

Not all VPNs are created equal, and this is especially true when it comes to free services. Even the best free VPNs come with restrictions, after all, and they're ultimately designed to give you a glimpse of the full service so you'll consider upgrading to benefit from its full functionality.

Because of this, these services often lock features behind paywalls and massively reduce the number of locations you can access with a free plan. On top of that, most services won't invest in rotating IP addresses for free servers, making them (usually) useless if you want to unblock content online.

In short, most free VPNs just can't do what a premium VPN can – but they're not supposed to. Premium VPNs give you far more than most free services (despite their claims), while a free VPN is designed to give you the most basic level of protection – everything else is a bonus.

The three best premium VPNs in 2024

Paid VPNs offer so much more than their free counterparts. If you want to get the best experience but don't want to risk your cash, take advantage of money-back guarantees and see how they compare with the top free options. If you use the guarantees on my top three premium picks, you can get a month of coverage from each without losing a penny.

VPN reviews

Let's deep-dive into my top free VPN picks for today.

The best free VPN overall

PrivadoVPN Free has been nipping at Proton VPN's heels for a long time, and with recent updates, it's finally de-throned the long-standing Swiss champion. With a dedicated geoblocking team, it's one of few VPNs that can reliably unblock popular streaming services – which is something that some of today's premium providers struggle with.

Features

Most services, free or otherwise, lock features behind a paywall – meaning you'll need to part with some cash to enjoy the biggest and best benefits. PrivadoVPN bucks this trend. Its free option includes an always-on tool that ensures your identifiable details are protected at all times, and the kill switch will cut your internet connection to prevent leaks if the VPN drops out.

The free platform even offers split-tunneling, so you can access local services while streaming your favorite shows abroad, and the ability to switch up your VPN protocol depending on whether you're prioritizing speed or security.

Expert Verdict: PrivadoVPN Free

See Also

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Expert Verdict: PrivadoVPN Free

Andreas Theodorou

PrivadoVPN's free service is fantastic. You get a generous data allowance, a larger-than-usual server network, customizable protocols, and access to streaming platforms. So, while you may need to budget your bandwidth if you're an avid streamer, the free plan has everything you need to shore up your digital security without parting with a penny – though I'll be even more impressed if PrivadoVPN undergoes an independent audit. ★★★★★

Read more: PrivadoVPN Free review

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The best secure free VPN

Proton VPN Free used to top my free VPN charts, thanks to its mix of features, power, and app quality. While it may have been pipped to the post by PrivadoVPN, it's still a remarkable service that doesn't enforce limits and restrictions to push you into upgrading. This is a free service you could use long-term.

Features

Proton VPN impresses right off the bat with a truly unlimited free plan. This means that you can use the service for as long as you want without worrying about data limits and monthly caps – and it's a big plus in a market where almost all other free plans might allow you 500 MB to 10 GB a month at most.

This translates into better privacy, too, as you won't have to choose when and where you use the VPN if your data starts running low. It's also worth noting that Proton VPN's free plan won't clutter your sessions with ads.

Expert Verdict: Proton VPN Free

Expert Verdict: Proton VPN Free

Andreas Theodorou

Proton VPN is a privacy-first service – and so is its free plan. Its unblocking power is lacking and there's no chance to choose your server, but none of this prevents Proton VPN Free from protecting your personal data. In fact, it does it better than most of the competition. Its well-engineered, open-source, and audited apps are easy to use, but also stuffed with useful features, tools, and technologies. ★★★★½

Read more: Proton VPN Free review

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The best multi-device free VPN

Windscribe is a handy, lightweight service with an impressive mix of features, based in Canada. Plus, with support for all devices, easy-to-use apps, and encryption you can count on, it's more than earned its spot in the top three.

Features

I like that Windscribe offers the same buffet of features for both its free and paid users – so you're not missing out if you're not signed up to a premium plan. There's a handy ad-blocker that'll get rid of those annoying pop-ups and banners, a double hop tool that routes your traffic through two servers for an extra boost of security, and servers right where you need them (to unblock content and get around geo-restrictions).

Windscribe's data allowance is a comfortable 10 GB a month. That's slightly less than PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN, but enough to cover a lot of browsing. You can nab an extra 5 GB of monthly data by posting on X, too, which is a nice bonus. Plus, while most free plans restrict you to one connection, Windscribe has no limits. This means you can install and use the software on as many devices simultaneously as you need.

Expert Verdict: Windscribe Free VPN

Expert Verdict: Windscribe Free VPN

Andreas Theodorou

Put it all together, and while Windscribe Free VPN can't quite match Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN, it gets very close, and the service could be exactly what you need from a free plan. However, when you consider that all of these services are free, why would you pick anything other than the best? ★★★★½

Read more: Windscribe review

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The best free torrenting VPN

Hide.me Free VPN is a solid mid-range service that excels as a torrenting VPN. Plus, you'll get access to an impressive selection of security tools without parting with a wad of cash – which is a great start for any free service.

Features

Hide.me's apps boast more features and customizability than you might expect from a free service – and more than some of its closest competition. I like the auto-connect feature, which ensures that your data is always covered by the VPN's encryption, and split tunneling is another handy tool for folks who want to unblock international streaming content in one window and go about their usual browsing in another.

When you install Hide.me, you'll get 10 GB of data per month, which matches Windscribe's offering. You'll also get access to 5 P2P-friendly locations: east and west coast USA, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands. As a result, you'll be able to connect to a server near your home country (or as close as possible, anyway), to maximize your torrenting performance.

Expert Verdict: Hide.me Free

Expert Verdict: Hide.me Free

Andreas Theodorou

Hide.me ticks all the basic boxes when it comes to a free service; solid encryption, apps for all devices, and a decent monthly data cap. However, a lackluster performance and no streaming support mean that you can get more (for nothing) elsewhere. ★★★★

Read more: Hide.me Free review

The best unlimited free VPN

Hotspot Shield Basic is a popular free VPN plan with one major plus – the unlimited data available across all platforms. Add user-friendly apps and solid speeds into the mix, and you have a decent free service that could be handy in a pinch.

Features

Right away, Hotspot Shield Basic has a leg up on the competition with a truly unlimited free plan – and that's great news for folks who need more than the usual 10 GB monthly allowance offered by other providers. So, with this generosity in mind, you might wonder why Hotspot Shield Basic didn't land a higher position in my rankings.

Ultimately, it boils down to a lack of key features. The lack of live chat and email support is particularly egregious. New users struggling to get set up will be left to troubleshoot for themselves – and more experienced users won't be able to reach out to report bugs or vulnerabilities as easily as they should.

Expert Verdict: Hotspot Shield Basic

Expert Verdict: Hotspot Shield Basic

Andreas Theodorou

Hotspot Shield Basic is a speedy free service with an unlimited plan, but the downsides are pretty major. The lack of features and customer support makes it hard to recommend - but it'll still be useful for basic tasks or as an emergency service to have in your back pocket. ★★★

Read more: Hotspot Shield Basic review

What is a VPN?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a cybersecurity tool that protects your device from hackers, cybercriminals, and snoopers. It encrypts your data and routes it through a secure server elsewhere in the world. This lets you pretend to be in another part of the world by changing your IP address (a number that identifies your device and location).

When you put all of this together, you get a service that shields your digital privacy, and lets you unblock censored or restricted content – no matter where you are.

How I test free VPNs - VPN review methodology

The first step of my review process begins with a visit to the VPN provider's site. I'll check out what claims it makes about its features, comb through the privacy policy (and make note of any independent audits – and their results), and check out the support page and forums, if available. This establishes a baseline for the review and helps me figure out what the VPN is promising.

VPNs differ massively depending on what platform you're using them on. So, I make sure to test services on a variety of different devices – Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS included. It's a great chance for me to compare offerings, evaluate the UI, and ensure that all of a VPN's tools are working as they should.

Then, I get into the technical nitty-gritty by digging into the Windows app. I'll take a closer look at the files the VPN uses, how its settings are configured, and whether it has been optimized, right out of the box, to shore up a user's digital security.

Speed is a big deal in the world of VPNs – nobody wants to sacrifice performance for privacy, after all. All of our tests are performed via a UK cloud PC with a 1 Gbps connection. It's reliable, quick, and gives every VPN service a fair shot when it comes to recording results. We'll then run more than 120 speed tests, per testing round, per provider, and check out the data after it's evaluated by our automated speed testing tools. This includes all results and a combined average – and you can see our most recent PrivadoVPN results below.

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Next up, I investigate the VPN's kill switch. A lot of providers offer them, which is great, but some simply don't work correctly. I'll use a variety of techniques to force the VPN connection to close – then, I monitor each provider to ensure that it's handling the situation correctly.

The limited data on most free VPN plans means they're not ideal for unblocking streaming sites. However, it's still worth noting which providers actually deliver on the unblocking front and which just can't. To find out, I check whether each provider can access exclusive regional content on (depending on the available locations) US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer.

To find out more, check out our VPN testing methodology.

Tested by

Meet the experts behind our free VPN guide:

Andreas Theodorou

A privacy purist at heart, Andreas is a VPN expert who believes the best VPN doesn't have to be the most expensive—it's about what's right for you.

Mike Williams

Mike regularly reviews our top picks, and loves looking behind the curtains to see how a VPN works in the background. If there's a skeleton in the closet, he'll find it.

Our free VPN testing ethics

With so many free VPNs to choose from, and with all of them claiming to be the best and most "unlimited" of them all, I take a very strict approach to choosing which ones make it on the list. I test VPNs every single day, and I've lived and breathed them for the past three years (nearly four).

A VPN is only included in one of my pages if it meets all of the following criteria:

• It's a VPN I have actually tested: I wouldn't recommend something I've never had my hands on. How can I verify it works if I've never used it? I'm always testing VPNs, and always happy to consider new entries for the list, but I won't recommend a service that doesn't deserve to be here.
• It's a reliable service: you can trust it to keep you and your loved ones safe online. This means no invasive privacy policies, no stealing your IP address, and a genuine no-logs policy is vital. Many services claim they have a no-logs policy, but their third-party partners do the tracking instead.
• It's actually worth using: what's the point of a free VPN if you can't really use it? If it doesn't work, it's not going on the list. Likewise, if the privacy policy isn't up to scratch, or the encryption isn't good enough, or the servers are too slow, then what's the point when there are some excellent services out there offering free plans?
• It's genuinely free: if you have to pay up-front for the service, then it's not a free VPN. VPN free trials are a whole other kettle of fish, and worth taking advantage of, but it's not right for this list.
• It doesn't have a shady privacy policy: so many free services make their money by harvesting your data and selling it. To make this list, a VPN service must have a robust no-logs policy. That means no one will be tracking what you do online, not the VPN, nor any third party they associate with – yes I've turned providers down in the past for this.

Countless services have reached out to me in the past looking to get on this page, and they have been thoroughly ticked off when I've explained why they don't meet my standards.

In short, it comes down to this: if I wouldn't feel comfortable with my friends and family using it, how could I ask you to use it?

Should you use a free VPN?

Honestly, there isn't one easy answer to this question. It depends on what you want to use your free VPN for. If it's just about having a bit more security on your laptop or mobile when using public Wi-Fi, they can be just the ticket. Jump on the service, turn on an encrypted server connection, and crack on with your online activities safe in the knowledge that no prying eyes will be able to see your private information.

But if your main purpose is to have a streaming VPN say, or want to use it while downloading terabytes of torrent files, a free VPN just isn't going to do the trick. For starters, most of them limit you to a daily or monthly data allowance that you'll rinse through in no time at all. Most don't have the kind of easy access support or server range required to make those activities easy with a virtual private network.

Note: price doesn't always equal quality, and some of the best services cost as little as $2/£2 per month. The best cheap VPNs will give you much better performance and protection—without breaking the bank.

How to choose a free VPN

The last couple of years have witnessed the rise of global threats to individual privacy, with long-maintained rights to anonymity and net neutrality being undermined with a cloak of legitimacy.

While virtual private networks are not the panacea to being safe, secure and private on the internet, it is an essential component of the arsenal for individuals inclined to seek these liberties.

If you don’t have one yet, you can grab one for free, without having to pay a single penny for one. Just be careful though as not all free VPN providers are created equal and some might even compromise your security.

Here are five questions you need to ask yourself before you download and install one.

1. What is its business model? Providers are in for the money and running such a business does cost a lot, especially if it is a popular one. Some will use their free version, just like Dropbox, as a marketing tool to entice potential customers to move to a paid version once they are happy with the free one. Most, however, will sell user data or provide logging and usage information to a third party that will, again, compromise your privacy.
2. How does it protect my device? Most providers usually use a desktop application that runs in the background, encrypting your data while you surf the web. However, that only solves part of the problem. Your laptop can still be fingerprinted because of the permissiveness of tracking solutions found on almost all websites online. A few, including Windscribe, have a more holistic approach by integrating the equivalent of a super ad-blocker
3. What do I lose by going free? Usually, one can expect a free product to have some corners cut, and that is indeed the case for all providers – this even holds true when it comes to things like free antivirus. Some offer more free bandwidth than others, major locations, and even ad blocking, P2P, and firewall with an easy paid-for upgrade path that unlocks unlimited bandwidth with more locations and OpenVPN Configs.
4. Does the VPN provider log anything? Make sure that your provider doesn’t store users’ internet activity. You can usually check that on the terms and conditions page or the end-user license agreement, commonly known as EULA. Sadly, plenty of providers prefer to frustrate end users with long T&Cs or privacy statements that often hide significant details about how they operate. On the other end of the spectrum are providers that will erase everything after your session closes and don’t keep logs.
5. Can I sign up anonymously? Having a provider that you can subscribe to without an email address and one that accepts Bitcoin payments, for maximum privacy, is mostly the best you can expect online. Some providers also offer double hopping, where you can obfuscate your traffic further by essentially doubling down on privacy.

Are free VPNs safe?

Unfortunately, most free VPNs are more akin to a scam than a genuine privacy and security tool. They're more likely to give you a false sense of security and a generally underwhelming experience. What's worse, some free VPNs have even been found to sell your data for marketing purposes. Ultimately, this defeats the point of having a VPN in the first place: privacy.

As the adage goes: if the product is free, then you are the product.

The core purpose of a VPN is to secure your internet traffic and ensure your digital privacy remains intact. This is totally undermined if the VPN provider is the one doing the snooping instead.

In the most extreme instances, some VPN services are a front for malware, injecting viruses and spyware onto your device the second you download them from the app store/website. That's why it's so important to use the right VPN, especially if it's a free one.

How to get a premium VPN for free

If you're debating choosing a free or paid VPN provider, there could be a much simpler compromise than you think. Most of the best providers now offer ways to try their services absolutely free, whether that be with one of the best VPN free trials, or by methods such as a money-back guarantee.

These trials and guarantees aren't limited to smaller providers either. In our lists, you'll find the likes of NordVPN, our top VPN provider, as well as numerous other top providers.

While you normally will still have to pay a small fee upfront to access some of these services, VPN providers ensure an easy process is in place for you to claim your money back quickly should you choose not to stick to your plan.

Free VPN FAQs