Best Free VPN Services (In-Depth Analysis and Research)

It is hard to find free VPN services that satisfy your daily needs and, at the same time, keep your connection safe and secure.

There are so many free VPN providers and services that respect your anonymity by hiding your IP address and protecting your WiFi hotspot from prying eyes.

This article makes you learn about free VPN providers, their advantages, disadvantages, and limitations.

Things to Know About Free VPN

Most free VPN services depend on your needs but in terms of unlimited data and speed, ProtonVPN stands out, followed by Atlas VPN.

But, if you are streaming videos, then Atlas VPN would be a good choice.

For torrenting and P2P services, Windscribe and Hide Me VPN services would give good competition to other free VPN.

For simple browsing, any below listed free VPN will work great.

You should also be aware that unlimited data and speed add frequent ads, which could be annoying for most users.

Windscribe would be the better option for ads-free VPN service, followed by other VPN like Hide Me and TunnelBear.

The speed limitations would be one of the factors with free VPN because of poor infrastructure. Also, the limitation of available servers in different countries would be another crucial factor to avoid free VPN services.

Streaming and torrenting don’t work great with free VPN services. For that, you need to switch to paid VPN services like NordVPN, Express VPN, and SurfShark.

When it comes to privacy, free VPN services should be outside of the Fourteen Eyes alliance and data retention laws. It should also follow a strict no-log policy.

At last, customer support is the prime concern for most free VPN services. Some free VPNs provide 24/7 live chat and email services, but you can’t expect a quick response from the support team.

Moreover, if you are looking for a limited time period with full functionality, security, and no limitation, NordVPN would be the best VPN that you can use for free for 30 days.

Free VPN Quick Analysis and Comparison

Best Free VPN Overall

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is an easy-to-use VPN service with an intuitive user interface and is supported by multiple devices.

You can quickly connect with one of the fastest servers. Currently, ProtonVPN free version supports only three countries and limited server.

Is ProtonVPN really free?

ProtonVPN free plan is very satisfactory, which includes unlimited data and no caps on the speed limit.

Meanwhile, they have also not compromised in security features. The ProtonVPN free version has strong security features that include military-grade encryption and a reliable kill switch feature.

The other important security features are standard split tunneling support and DNS leak protection.

However, the strong security features like Tor over VPN and Secure Core multi-hop is not supported by ProtonVPN free version.

Is ProtonVPN trustworthy?

ProtonVPN has a very straightforward privacy policy, in which they have mentioned very clearly zero-logging policy.

So, if someone requests your data, then they have no data to hand over.

Is ProtonVPN good for Netflix?

The free version of ProtonVPN does not support Netflix completely, which means that you can stream only limited TV shows and movies.

Moreover, ProtonVPN is not optimized for streaming content. So, you may receive poor video quality.

Moreover, Netflix Exclusive content is geo-restricted, which cannot be accessed with ProtonVPN free version.

However, Netflix Exclusive content and some of the content restricted in the free version are accessible with the ProtonVPN Plus server.

ProtonVPN Plus server comes with a premium plan of ProtonVPN.

If you are looking for the paid version of ProtonVPN, it is better to go for NordVPN, which provides more than 4,000 servers in 62 countries.

NordVPN has a better pricing structure, tight security, and have good promotional offers compare to ProtonVPN.

What can you expect more from free ProtonVPN?

The advantage of free ProtonVPN is that it is supported by most of the devices and operating systems like Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android.

Additionally, it works with YouTube, Spotify, and Kodi. Moreover, you can get better privacy in the free version and also protect you from anonymity.

Currently, the free plan of ProtonVPN supports servers in three locations, such as the U.S, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Although you can expect slow speed when the servers are overloaded because most of the people are accessing the server simultaneously.

Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN is one of the best free VPN services and a good alternative to ProtonVPN and Windscribe. It protects your anonymity by changing your IP address and encrypt your connection.

Is Atlas VPN good?

Atlas VPN doesn’t bombard you with annoying and intrusive ads like others. They provide you with free VPN proxy servers without any hidden fees.

They also ensure that they would be available for email and chat support 24/7.

Moreover, Atlas VPN servers are configured to provide the highest speed standard and maintain a stable, unlimited, and fast online connection.

Atlas VPN doesn’t have any data limitation, so that you can stream your favorite TV shows, movies, and game without any restriction.

Is Atlas VPN safe?

If security and privacy is the prime concern, then Atlas VPN won’t disappoint you.

Your connection would be safe with military-grade protection like AES-256 encryption and IKEv2 tunneling protocol.

Moreover, if you are carrying portable devices like mobile or tablet and using a public hotspot, your IP address will no longer get exposed because you are safe behind Atlas VPN privacy shield.

Additionally, a free Atlas VPN ensures that your identity won’t get stolen when you are in public wifi using the IP changer feature.

IP changer will replace your real IP address and encrypt your connection without compromising on speed.

Does Atlas VPN sell your data?

Atlas VPN believes in private browsing and respects the privacy of the user. It also believes that everyone should go online anonymously.

So, the free version of Atlas VPN has a guaranteed strict no-log policy, so your connection detail and true IP address won’t get collected.

What else can you get from Atlas VPN?

Atlas VPN is considered safe for torrenting, and the speed is also good when streaming high definition videos.

But, they lack features like SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding. Moreover, some features like 4K streaming is reserved for premium users.

Windscribe VPN

To unblock geo-restricted content and to have private access to blocked content, torrent sites, entertainment, and news sites, Windscribe is one of the best free VPN.

They have simple to use user interface, well-designed, and support almost all devices.

Is Windscribe really free?

Windscribe is free forever as long as we want. If you have registered and confirmed your email address, you will get 10GB/month of data.

You can also create unlimited connection and have free access to over 10 countries’ servers.

Is Windscribe VPN good?

Windscribe VPN has some unique free features that make them different from other free VPN. It has an ad and malware blocker that is pretty rare to find in other VPN.

Windscribe comes with a firewall feature that blocks all traffic outside of the VPN’s secure tunnel. As a result, it prevents unexpected leaks.

Does Windscribe hide your IP?

Windscribe is a great way to hide your IP address and let you surf the internet anonymously.

Additionally, they have privacy features like AdBlocker and stop tracking malware ads and social media widgets.

Moreover, they have other good security features like kill switch, secure hotspot, DNS/IPv6/WebRTC leak protection, multi-hop, STunnel (Stealth mode), and timezone spoofing. These security features are a great addition to the free version of Windscribe.

Does Windscribe sell your data?

Windscribe has an astringent and detailed privacy policy, which clearly explains that they don’t store data by any means.

Also, they have a strict no-log policy that shows they care about privacy. However, they have received more than 30 enforcement data requests, but they have nothing to give them.

Does Windscribe work with Netflix?

The free version of Windscribe does not support Netflix. After connecting Windscribe, you can access Netflix sites but cannot stream videos as it will keep displaying an error.

The error message indicates that Netflix has identified that you are using a VPN or proxy.

If you would like to access Netflix through Windscribe, you have to go for the premium version of Windscribe.

The premium version of Windscribe has “Windflix” servers in the U.S, U.K, Japan, and Canada. But, these “Windflix” servers are still not satisfactory to access Netflix Exclusive Orginal content.

NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark would be the better option than Windscribe to access Netflix without any restriction.

Is Windscribe good for torrenting?

Windscribe is not that good for torrenting because the average speed keeps dropping while downloading. You won’t be able to download much because they offer only a 10 GB/month limit.

Moreover, torrenting with Windscribe is very safe because they use SOCKS5 proxy along with other privacy features.

Overall, a free Windscribe VPN is good for normal browsing, and occasionally you use it for downloading and torrenting.

The good part is that they provide an extra layer of security if you would like to access sensitive data through unsecured wifi hotspots.

Moreover, Windscribe supports major platforms like Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS.

They have also added support for devices like Amazon Fire TV, Kodi, and Nvidia Shield so that you can stream your favorite TV shows and movies on the big screen.

Hide Me

Hide me is a Malaysia based free VPN service provider. It has more than 1600 servers and is spread across 55 countries.

Hide me VPN service is easy to use service that prioritizes safety and security.

It currently supports major platforms and devices like Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, Amazon Fire TV, and routers.

However, the free version of the Hide Me VPN service only supports one simultaneous connection at a time. At the same time, the premium user can get ten simultaneous connections.

How good is Hide Me VPN?

Hide Me free VPN service is good to unblock content in your workplace or school, bypassing tough government censorship.

Hide Me free server is also available in major locations like US East, US West, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Moreover, Hide Me gives you 10 GB per month of data without any restriction on speed.

Is hide me safely to use

Hide Me service is safe with top industry-standard features like AES 256-bit encryption that provide you with military-grade protection.

Further, they are loaded with top-notch protocols, which include OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2.

Hide Me believes in a no-log policy and secure enough from any IP and DNS leaks.

If you are using the Hide Me VPN service for Chrome and Firefox extensions, you can block WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication).

Hide Me also protects you from unsecured public WiFi networks. Further, it optimizes and secures your public network from prying eyes.

Is hide me good for torrenting?

Hide Me is good and safe for torrenting because of fast speeds and other additional features like SOCKS5 proxy and split tunneling.

But, a monthly limit of 10 GB/month won’t let you use P2P service too much.

Does Hide Me work with Netflix?

Unfortunately, the Hide Me free version doesn’t work with Netflix. But, a premium version of the Hide Me would be helpful.

Moreover, Hide Me free VPN service is not recommended for streaming services.

Overall, the Hide Me free VPN service is great for browsing and other activities. It won’t help torrenting large files and not good for Netflix and other streaming services.

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield provides free VPN service for a long time and does not compromise on essential features.

It is simple to use, fast, and protect your personal information.

Hotspot Shield works on five different devices with a single account and one simultaneous connection allowed. It currently supports Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS operating systems.

Moreover, it was observed that connection with VPN services is speedy and impressive; it almost takes 5 seconds to connect with the VPN tunnel.

Is Hotspot Shield VPN free?

Hotspot Shield VPN is both a free and subscription-based product.

The free version of Hotspot Shield provides you with 500 MB of data per day at 2Mbps speed. So, you would be getting 15GB per month of data.

But, this would be too little for downloading large files when you are using P2P services.

However, Hotspot Shield free services work great with YouTube and Spotify.

Is Hotspot Shield any good?

Hotspot Shield generates revenue by injecting ads, but recently they have changed their policy. Now, Hotspot Shield place ads only on mobile apps, which is good news for the desktop user.

Also, they show ads only when connecting with devices and when you disconnect from devices.

Though ads’ display won’t give you a pleasant feeling but this type of freemium services where you are getting a good amount of monthly data, a small interval of ads won’t hurt you.

Does Hotspot Shield Hide your IP?

Hotspot Shield hides your IP address, protect your anonymity, and doesn’t log browsing activities.

Although they keep some of your logging details like the bandwidth, OS, and the time you spend.

But, Hotspot Shield assures you that some of these logging details will not disclose user identity.

Moreover, as a US-based company, Hotspot Shield is obliged to hand over user data if there is a requirement from the FBI, which is not fair.

It is also a member of the Five Eyes alliance, and its free server is based on the US only, which is a downside of Hotspot Shield.

Is free Hotspot Shield safe?

Hotspot Shield offers you a reliable and safe connection, which is protected with military-grade encryption.

Moreover, it doesn’t reveal any DNS leaks and effectively masks your IP address from online privacy.

It is also safe for P2P services both for free and premium users.

Does Hotspot Shield work with Netflix?

The free Hotspot Shield is not good for any type of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime.

Overall, Hotspot Shield is great for normal and private browsing. It unblocks restricted content, provides a good amount of monthly data.

Also, Hotspot Shield comes with excellent speed, which is very rare in free VPN services.

TunnelBear

McAfee currently acquires TunnelBear before it was in partnership with LinusTechTips.

They provide free access to high-speed servers in more than 20 countries.

Activating TunnelBear free services is quick and easy. You need to create an account and opt for free service.

You will receive a network warning for the first time you start the service, accept it, and start the service.

TunnelBear app supports multiple operating systems like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It is also available as a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

When you are successfully connected with devices, the map will show green color, and the bear is sitting happily in your chosen tunnel.

Is TunnelBear VPN free?

TunnelBear is one of the few providers that offers truly free VPN services. Additionally, they don’t have a server network restriction.

The only drawback is that they have a restricted free data limit of 500 MB per month.

With 500 MB data, you can have 7 hours of high-quality music and watch HD video for approximately 30 min or less.

But, there is a possibility of increasing the data limit to 1GB per month by tweeting about the company.

Is TunnelBear trustworthy?

TunnelBear free VPN service is safe to use, protected with strong encryption and a strict no-log policy.

It currently uses AES-256 military-grade data encryption, SHA256 for data authentication, and Diffie-Hellman exchange (2048-, 3072- or 4096-bit) handshake encryption.

Other security protocols include solid tunneling protocols, the Kill Switch feature, and Obfuscation (Stealth VPN).

Furthermore, TunnelBear does not keep any users’ logs, which means that they don’t collect any users’ information. It also protects you from dark web malware.

So, you can browse safely and privately with TunnelBear free VPN.

Does TunnelBear hide your IP address?

TunnelBear, like most other free VPN services, protects your identity and privacy.

It will hide your real IP address and bypass internet censorship to experience the internet fully.

Moreover, TunnelBear does not offer you a static IP address; instead, it comes with a dynamic IP address, which keeps changing after some time and again reconnect or change tunnels.

With TunnelBear, you are protected in public WiFi and can unblock any web content.

Does TunnelBear work for Netflix?

Like most other free VPN services, TunnelBear doesn’t work with Netflix and other streaming sites like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and more.

The quick solution for streaming services is to opt for NordVPN or ExpressVPN, which unblock Netflix and offer super-fast streaming service.

Overall, TunnelBear is very strict in its policy and won’t allow any mischievous activities.

If you are using any software or services, then it should be properly licensed to use it.

Also, the overall speed of the TunnelBear free plan is not great enough. It is also a member of the Five Eyes surveillance alliance, which is not good news.

Betternet

Betternet is one of the good VPN services that attract users because of its simplistic design and elementary approach in terms of usability.

To start to use a free Betternet VPN, you don’t require any sign-up process.

Moreover, when you start the service, it will automatically detect the nearest server and keep your connection fast and secure compared to other VPN providers.

Is Betternet VPN free?

Betternet is a free VPN service that supports operating systems like Windows, iOS, Android, and recently it supports the Mac operating system.

Also, it supports browser like Chrome and Firefox, which is mostly used browser.

Moreover, during the sign-up process, you don’t need to provide any personal information, and you can use the software unlimited period of time for free.

The user interface of Betternet is an on/off toggle and the list of the available servers to choose from.

As part of a free VPN service, you will have only nine available server locations located in the US.

Moreover, there are no data limits like other free VPN providers, and it is considered best for casual browsing and unblocking blocked websites.

You may face frequent ads, which is considered a primary source of income.

Is Betternet VPN safe?

Betternet VPN service is considered safe because it uses a secure AES 256-bit encryption protocol.

Further, the Betternet uses Catapult Hydra protocol for all platforms because it is considered more secure.

Catapult Hydra protocol is high in popularity because of its speed and performance.

Moreover, you can surf the web anonymously; Betternet will assign your device with a new IP address by hiding your real IP address.

Betternet doesn’t have features like a kill switch and doesn’t protect your traffic when VPN fails.

It is a good option for an unsecured public WiFi network, protecting your anonymity and spying eyes.

Does Betternet work for Netflix?

Betternet VPN doesn’t unblock Netflix, nor is it suitable for P2P services.

So, for any streaming services, Betternet VPN is not a good option.

Does Betternet sell your data?

Betternet works more like a proxy than a VPN, but it works differently from other VPN providers.

Also, it ensures to protect your privacy and security better than other free VPN providers.

Although it collects some other users’ information for better privacy and may also share with third-party service providers.

Sometimes you may face a slow connection with Betternet because it tries to randomly connect with the nearest server.

If the Betternet server is far from the current location, this would also be one factor of slow connection.

However, Betternet is not a VPN service you generally require for safe and secure browsing.

Betternet VPN is for users who don’t want to involve in any technicality and don’t care about details and functionality.

Speedify

Speedify, as the name suggests, it is based on a VPN protocol that improves your connection speed and performance.

It has more than 1000 servers spread over 50 countries.

You can enjoy a fully secure VPN connection without compromising in speed and performance, which stay the same throughout your connection time.

Speedify smart technology lets you use both WiFi and mobile data for uninterrupted connection and top speed.

Is Speedify free to use?

You can enjoy the free services of Speedify with full functionality and a data limit of 2 GB per month.

Moreover, with the free Speedify service, you can use only one device and has minimal server access.

It currently supports all major platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

How is Speedify different from other free VPN?

Speedify has one profound feature called Channel Bonding. Channel Bonding technology allows you to use multiple internet connections at once.

The technology combines multiple internet connections, intelligently distributes your web traffic, and reduces traffic congestion for faster speed.

If you are in the middle of your video calls or file transfer and one of your internet connection fails, it will switch to another internet connection.

Its seamless failover feature gives improved performance and connectivity.

Is Speedify safe and legit?

Speedify is secure and safe from any DNS leaks. It effectively masks your IP address, protects your privacy, and gives access to censored and geo-restricted content.

They protect your anonymity with Speedify’s ChaCha encryption cipher and strict no-log policy.

Speedify is very useful for simple browsing, checking emails, and surfing social media feeds.

It is not suitable for streaming videos, calls, torrenting, and data transfer because of 2 GB of data limitation.

The advantage of using Speedify is that it is an ad-free VPN and gives more importance to connection speed and security.

So, your data would be secure and safe from third-party advertisers or Google ads. But it encourages you to subscribe to the premium version for more features and bonuses.

VPNBook

VPNBook is another addition to the free VPN service that offers free data.

It provides you free access to OpenVPN and PPTP VPN (Point-unlimited o-Point Tunneling Protocol) that doesn’t require registration or sign-up procedure.

VPNBook offers free servers in the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Poland.

Moreover, VPNBook is supported by ads that you may face during the connection time.

Does VPNBook work with Netflix and Torrenting?

VPNBook doesn’t work with Netflix and Hulu. It also doesn’t support torrenting and P2P services to bypass censorship.

Is VPNBook secure and safe?

VPNBook is operated from Romania and considered privacy-friendly, and doesn’t collect logs. But, it may retain some of the logs other than personal activity for a week.

They are based on secure AES encryption, servers with the latest technology, and more advanced cryptographic technology to keep you safe and secure from prying eyes.

They are built with a secure and encrypted tunnel that can bypass government censorship, ISP, and corporate surveillance for your internet traffic.

The drawback of VPNBook is that it doesn’t offer any dedicated apps for VPN like other VPN providers.

Its implication may look complicated to some users, but they have dedicated step-by-step installation and configuration guides.

It does support an operating system like Windows 10, Windows7, Windows XP, Mac OS X, Ubuntu, iOS/iPad, and Android.

Free VPN with Antivirus Software

Kaspersky VPN

Kaspersky, a leading antivirus and internet security provider, comes with a free VPN plan that allows only 200 MB of data per day.

It will automatically connect you to the closest virtual location and protect your data from hackers and malicious exploits.

Kaspersky free VPN service won’t be useful for long term browsing and streaming video. But, it would be beneficial for those who require quick private communication in an encrypted network.

Apart from this, they restrict access to the server, don’t have a Kill Switch feature that prevents data leaks, and cannot have multiple connections.

Kaspersky premium VPN comes free with a Kaspersky antivirus package, so no need to buy a separate VPN.

The Kaspersky Premium VPN gives you unlimited data, VPN servers in 25+ locations, simultaneous connection to 5 devices, and the Kill Switch feature to prevent data leaks.

The Kaspersky Premium VPN supports streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and more.

Moreover, both Kaspersky free and premium VPN gives you a 256-bit AES encrypted connection and keeps no internet activity log.

Avira Phantom VPN

Avira offers a free VPN service known as Avira Phantom VPN. However, the free VPN service from Avira has minimal data, with 500 MB per month.

Avira Phantom VPN’s good part is that there is no server limitation, and you can have servers from many countries.

Another advantage of having a free Avira Phantom VPN is that they have a strict no-log policy and prevent DNS leaks, which works for IPv4 and IPv6 protocols.

Moreover, Avira Phantom VPN’s free plan supports tight security except for the Kill Switch feature, which would be concerning for some users.

The Kill Switch feature would be best for those who are concern about sensitive data transfer.

In case of disconnection from VPN, the Kill Switch feature will automatically halt the internet activity until it is restored.

However, if you are looking for premium antivirus, it is better to purchase Avira Prime, which comes with antivirus, VPN, etc.

Avira Prime comes with Avira Phantom Pro, which has no limitation on data. Also, Avira Phantom Pro comes with a Kill Switch feature and good customer support.

Free VPN with Browser

Opera VPN

Opera VPN is a free VPN that comes with an Opera browser. It has an in-built VPN that protects your browsing activity and hide your identity.

You need to activate it from the browser setting separately. But Opera VPN won’t protect your traffic generated from other browsers and apps.

Also, Opera VPN is not recommended for sensitive information.

Moreover, Opera VPN is not a good choice for streaming videos and cannot unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming services.

Along with VPN, the Opera browser is also having a built-in ad blocker and malware protection.

OperaVPN is very useful in protecting your anonymity when you are browsing in a public WiFi network.

Additionally, Opera VPN also blocks cookies that track your online activity.

Why is a premium VPN better than a free VPN?

Is free VPN worth it? Most users have sudden doubts while using a free VPN.

A paid VPN is always a better option than a free VPN in security, privacy, and speed. Additionally, a paid VPN doesn’t put any type of limitation like a free VPN.

Free VPN is good for casual browsing and hiding your IP address. But, if browsing involves sensitive data, then a free VPN is not recommended.

Having said that, some factors are worth considering when you are looking for a paid or premium VPN.

Streaming content

Streaming facilities are not supported by most free VPN, and also, the free VPN cannot unblock Netflix.

If you are looking for a VPN for streaming sites, it is better to go for a paid VPN like NordVPN and ExpressVPN.

Although some exceptions like Atlas VPN do support streaming sites and successful in unblocking Netflix US and  Netherlands, it only supports Android and iOS.

Zero logs and no ads

The biggest problem with free VPN is that they log your internet activity and sell your data to third parties.

If they promise that they are not selling your data, then they will inject annoying ads all the time.

If the free VPN doesn’t fall in those two categories, they will restrict your data per month.

With a paid VPN, you won’t face any of these issues. Additionally, premium VPN is very strict in logging policy, and there is no limit on data usage.

Torrenting

Full fledge torrenting is not possible with a free VPN service. Although free VPN like Atlas VPN tried to fill the gap, it still doesn’t come close to paid VPN.

Atlas VPN provides unlimited bandwidth and support to P2P but lacks safety features like SOCKS5 proxy and port forwarding.

The other free VPN service either restrict monthly traffic or don’t support P2P service.

If torrenting is the main criteria to choose a free VPN, then you would get disappointed.

It is always better to go for a premium VPN like NordVPN and ExpressVPN for torrenting, and if you are low on budget, then SurfShark would be the better option.

Customer service

You won’t get good customer service with a free VPN. Some free VPN claim to have 24/7 customer support like live chat and email support, but the response time will be disappointing.

If you really require good customer service, then the premium VPN would be the only solution.

Privacy and security

The level of privacy and security you can get with a premium VPN is unmatched.

The premium VPN has an option to create an anonymous account, and you can even buy an account anonymously.

Moreover, premium VPN registered under privacy-friendly jurisdictions and followed no-log policies, which may be court-proven or independently audited.

Also, they offer physical servers and have additional security features like multi-hop and Tor over VPN.

Overall, a paid VPN would be the better option for those who spend most of the time online and need privacy and security to complete the task.

How to Choose Right Free VPN?

The VPN selection criteria depend on what you want and how much you want to use a free VPN.

So, you need to evaluate certain criteria before picking a free VPN and understand the possible risks related to a particular VPN.

Understanding free VPN Business model

You may find a different business model for different free VPN providers. Most of the free VPN doesn’t expect anything in return while providing free services like Hola VPN.

This type of free VPN business model is based on selling user data or consuming user bandwidth, or installing software or script to understand user behavior patterns.

You need to aware of this type of risk factor before picking up such free VPN providers.

Also, most of the free VPN inject ads while using the free VPN service. In this way, they are selling your information by understanding your interest and browsing activity.

If they promise not to sell your personal information, they may log some of the information related to internet activity.

Moreover, if they put some of the limitations like data limit or speed limit, then these free versions would be the best option to choose a free VPN.

Tracking reputation of free VPN providers

Reputation matters if you are looking for a free VPN. Generally, all free VPN claim most of the things, and very few stand to their points.

Customer experience and user reviews decide whether they are claiming rightly or falsely.

For example, Hola VPN was found to be using user bandwidth to run their network. Later on, they have accepted the facts.

You can search for free VPN’s reputation on different platforms like Reddit, Twitter, and separate VPN forums.

Don’t go only with the Google Play Store reviews. Some of the free VPN having good reviews in the Google Play Store was found to have malware.

Understanding limitation (Speed cap, Data cap, Servers limitation)

Most free VPN that doesn’t have paid subscription limit speed, available servers, and countries.

And, the freemium VPN who is offering free VPN as well as paid VPN, put limitations on data and server availability. They offer premium servers to their paid customer, and also, there would be no bar on bandwidth.

But, premium VPN like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and SurfShark works differently. They offer a free trial without any limitations. It means you will experience a premium facility in their trial period.

NordVPN has a trial period of 30 days, which you can experience for free if you like to use a VPN for a short time.

Understanding the security and privacy of free VPN

Security and privacy would be the prime concern of free VPN. Most free VPN claim to have a no-log policy.

They put an effort by putting the report of independent audits and getting tested with law enforcement.

But, in most countries where torrenting is illegal, you need to make sure that a free VPN won’t log your activity.

In terms of security, you need to look into what free VPN is offering. Most free VPN offer military-grade security encryption of 256-bit AES, and don’t go for free VPN below this security level.

Moreover, don’t go with a free VPN using tunneling protocols like L2TP/IPSec or PPTP because they have security issues. Also, NSA has decrypted these supposedly “secure” connections.

Most Frequent Asked Question for Free VPN

Is there a 100% free VPN?

It is impossible to have a 100% free VPN which doesn’t impose any type of limitation.

Most of the VPN business model is based on selling user’s data, showing ads, or both.

They provide free VPN by imposing limitations on the free version to sell a premium plan.

The limitation would be on bandwidth, speed, server availability, and the number of connections at a time.

The best example in this category would be Hotspot Shield and Windscribe.

Moreover, they also offer incentives when using the free version to upgrade to a premium plan.

It is good to have a free VPN that has a paid option. In such cases, they don’t compromise on your data, nor they inject ads.

Free VPN without compromising on the speed

In VPN, speed generally drops because of encryption, and it is expected to have at least 50% of the original speed.

Some other factors count on the slow speed of VPN, such as location, device, and ISP.

It is hard to find a free VPN that doesn’t comprise speed. Luckily, there are free VPNs like Hide Me VPN, TunnelBear, AtlasVPN, Speedify, Windscribe, which has no speed limit.

Free VPN with no data limit

There are so many free VPN that impose data limitations so that they can sell the premium plan.

Also, it is one of the most common limitations that any free VPN can impose.

Usually, most free VPN can give you an average of 10 GB/month and go low to 200 MB/month.

This type of data limitation won’t be useful for streaming sites, P2P services, and file transfer.

There is still some free VPN with no data cap, like ProtonVPN and Atlas VPN. Additionally, Atlas VPN does support and unblock Netflix US from anywhere.

Free VPNs that support multiple devices and unlimited connection

The free VPN doesn’t put a limitation on supporting devices. So, you can use a free VPN on any device you have.

Most free VPN services support operating systems like Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, and some may also support Linux.

But, free VPN does have restrictions on the number of connections at a time per account.

Most of the topmost free VPN allows only one simultaneous connection per account.

This could be a problem for users who like to use multiple devices like smartphones, laptops, smart TV, and game console.

In such cases, it is better to switch to a premium plan or any other best-paid VPN like NordVPN.

Free VPN with unlimited server locations

Most free VPN providers put limitations on the access of their servers.

They generally offer 10 servers located in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, and other parts of Europe.

But, there are some exceptions in free VPN like TunnelBear that offers all server locations.

It may be because they don’t have much server location and impose a 500 MB/month data limitation. Also, TunnelBear doesn’t offer streaming and P2P services.