Best free VPN services in 2025
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Best free VPNs without a subscription
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Visit siteThe best free-trial VPN – NordVPN -
Visit siteThe best free VPN service with unlimited data – Proton VPN
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Visit siteOffers great security features - Hotspot Shield
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Learn moreTrustworthy free VPN with strong privacy policies – Hide.me
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Learn moreBest free VPN app for beginners – TunnelBear
When you lack the funds but still want to have some online privacy or simply access streaming service libraries, a free VPN is better than no VPN at all. In an era of your online activities being traded like currency, a virtual private network is a way to experience the internet without predatory trackers.
In this article, I explain the benefits of having a VPN, give examples of free services to avoid, and review the safest free VPNs to use. I also present some premium VPNs to highlight options with more features in case you want to expand your VPN use.
Is it safe to use a free VPN?
There are free VPNs that are completely safe to use. Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, and Hide.me are just some of the examples of completely free VPNs that do not compromise privacy and security. But how can you recognize if the provider is safe? There are a few tell-signs.
A free VPN that does not share your internet activity or personal data with third parties is a trustworthy one. Also, if it has an app available on a trusted platform (with mostly good user reviews) and overall does not keep logs of your online activities, you can confidently download it. Check for a no-logs policy and user reviews before choosing your free VPN provider.
Of course, it’s also worth checking what negative reviews say. If the complaints are mainly focused on the lack of features, like few supported devices and busy server traffic, that’s nothing to be alarmed about. Many free VPNs simply don’t have as many advanced features as their premium versions.
Is there a good free VPN?
There definitely are good and reliable free VPN services available. Usually, these free VPNs have a premium version that covers the expenses of the free version and is more feature-rich. Those free VPNs that do not compromise on privacy and security are rare but worth finding. Free providers can be safe to use and protect your identity, but not all.
Of course, even the best free VPNs are not as good as premium VPNs. While free providers can offer the same level of online security, there are limitations to using a free VPN service. For example, premium services usually have faster speeds and more servers. Also, not all free VPNs have the same access to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. Premium VPNs are usually much better at unblocking streaming libraries, but some free VPNs are not bad at unblocking either.
Best free trial VPNs
To understand the difference in quality between free and premium VPNs, it’s worth trying out premium services with a free trial. This way, you’re not losing any money, but you can still test the service to see what better suits your needs. Here’s a quick list of the best free trial VPNs in 2025:
- NordVPN – the overall best VPN, this service offers excellent speeds, the ability to unblock pretty much all streaming services, and multiple features to ensure complete online privacy. You can also try it out for free by taking advantage of its 30-day money-back guarantee. And if you’re an Android user, you can also get a 7-day free trial.
- Surfshark – an excellent premium VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections. You can try Surfshark out using its 7-day free trial or its 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Norton VPN – a great VPN for online privacy and security, Norton offers a 7-day free trial and an impressive 60-day money-back guarantee.
Best free VPNs – detailed list
If you have used a premium VPN before, and especially if you haven’t, it can be a bit of a shock to discover the limitations of free VPNs. To showcase the best that a VPN can offer, I added a brief comparison of all free providers on this list vs NordVPN.
NordVPN – the best free-trial VPN of 2025
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Security and privacy
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Speed and data
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Servers
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Use cases
NordVPN is the leading VPN service provider. With a constantly rising global server count, excellent speeds, and strong privacy and online security features, it offers top-notch service in the VPN market. But to truly highlight the difference between a free service and a premium VPN, like NordVPN, let’s compare them all.
Security and privacy
In terms of online privacy and security, NordVPN offers market-leading AES-256 data encryption and a strict no-logs policy. In fact, third-party audits have confirmed this VPN's no-logs claims for the fifth time. Compared to free VPNs, NordVPN offers strong privacy and security features such as Double VPN, Threat Protection Pro, and Onion over VPN.
| VPN | AES-256 data encryption | Independent auditing | Double VPN | CyberSec protection | Onion over VPN |
| NordVPN | Yes | Yes (5 times) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Proton VPN | Yes | Yes (once) | No | No | No |
| Hotspot Shield | No (AES-128) | Yes (at least once) | No | Yes | No |
| Hide.me | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| TunnelBear | Yes | Yes (7 times) | No | No | No |
Note: CyberSec protection in the table refers to protection from at least one type of malware
Bandwidth and connection speeds
NordVPN has unlimited bandwidth, no speed limits, and no data caps, so you can use it unrestricted for as long as you want. This VPN also offers excellent speeds across multiple server locations. Optimized servers make NordVPN much faster than its free competitors.
| VPN | Bandwidth limitations | Speed retention rate (all tested locations) | Speed limitations | Data caps |
| NordVPN | No | 90% | No | No |
| Proton VPN | No | 85% | No | No |
| Hotspot Shield | No | 74% | Yes | Yes (500 MB/day) |
| Hide.me | No | 80% | Yes | Yes (10GB/month) |
| TunnelBear | Yes | 37% | No | Yes (2GB/month) |
Server availability
NordVPN offers 7400+ servers in 118 countries. Not even premium versions of the free VPNs on this list can compete with that. A greater number of servers also means there are more chances to unblock geo-restricted content. Of course, free VPNs naturally have fewer servers, both to entice users to upgrade to premium and to save on resources.
| VPN | Server count | Server countries/locations | Premium version servers/locations |
| NordVPN | 7400+ | 118 | Same |
| Proton VPN | N/A | 5 | 11800+ servers in 117 countries |
| Hotspot Shield | N/A | 1 | 3200+ servers in 85 countries |
| Hide.me | N/A | 8 | 2000+ servers in 91 countries |
| TunnelBear | N/A | 45 | 8000+ servers in 45 countries |
Use cases
For as long as I have used NordVPN for streaming, I have never encountered any issues. I have tested it on nearly every streaming platform, from Netflix and Disney+ to lesser-known ones like WOW Presents Plus. During this recent testing, NordVPN unblocked Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer in multiple locations without a problem. It’s also suitable for gaming and torrenting, as it exhibited low latency and high speeds.
Device compatibility and multiple device usage
NordVPN supports up to 10 simultaneous connections. It might be slightly less than some premium VPNs can offer, but it beats any free VPN on this list. Besides, our testing revealed that NordVPN works with pretty much any device and all major operating systems. Even premium VPNs hardly support Linux, but NordVPN does.
Premium features
NordVPN offers a wide range of features for well-rounded privacy and security support. Main features are a functional kill switch to protect your identity in case a VPN fails and a full DNS leak protection (confirmed by our IP and DNS leak test). Additionally, there’s a dedicated IP, and ad-blocking anti-malware Threat Protection Pro, to name a few that NordVPN users can expect to find in their app. None of the free VPNs have such a feature suite.
Conclusion
Overall, having a premium VPN like NordVPN completely beats every free version. Even if you can find a free service that offers similar features, you will likely pay for it with your activity logs or other data. So, if you ever lose interest in a free VPN, NordVPN proves you can upgrade to a much better service.
NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android users and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Subscription costs start at $3.09/month for a 2-year plan, but special promotions and seasonal deals are offered regularly, so you can hunt for a cheaper deal as well.
Of course, if you’re determined to get a free service, you might as well get a reliable one. That’s why I prepared a list of the best free VPNs below.
Proton VPN – the best free VPN in 2025
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Security and privacy
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Speed and data
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Servers
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Use cases
Proton VPN is the best completely free VPN because it has no bandwidth or speed limit and no data caps. While it doesn’t have many server locations, one could argue that this contributes to Proton VPN’s comparatively faster speeds.
More information can be found in our Proton VPN review.
Bandwidth and connection speeds
The reason Proton VPN is so great is that it has only a few limitations of a free VPN that are common among its competitors. Just like in Proton VPN’s premium version, the bandwidth and speed are unlimited. Its speed test confirms it, placing Proton VPN just behind NordVPN with 40% average speed retained in the UK server. There are no data caps either, so you can use your free Proton VPN as much as you want.
Privacy
In terms of online privacy, Proton VPN is a safe choice. Its privacy policy clearly states that even the free version keeps no logs of your activity – a fact confirmed by independent audits. DNS leak protection, which prevents your IP address from leaking, and a functional kill switch also contribute to your online security. In this regard, free Proton VPN is barely behind premium VPN services.
Server availability
Proton free VPN offers 5 server locations: the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, and the US. That’s significantly less than the premium version can offer, so if you want access to servers in other locations, you need to upgrade to a paid version. However, I still had no issue accessing geo-restricted content in those available areas, and the servers themselves didn’t seem too crowded, as the speed remained stable.
Use cases
I had no issue accessing major streaming services with Proton VPN. While the loading time when skipping episodes was a bit longer than with NordVPN, my VPN use was not detected. As for gaming, the US server location is the most suitable option, as I experienced lag when connected to other servers.
User reviews
In general, Proton VPN has positive reviews on both the App Store and Google Play. Strong privacy features and user-friendliness were the main positives noted by users, while limited locations and a push to upgrade to premium were noted as areas of improvement. Streaming compatibility received mixed reviews, with some users praising Proton VPN’s ability to bypass geo-blocking while others complained about lag.
Device compatibility and multiple device usage
Like most free VPNs, Proton VPN supports just one device. It means that you cannot have multiple simultaneous connections with the same free subscription. On a positive note, you can use Proton VPN on pretty much any device, as it’s compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
Premium features and services
A premium Proton VPN subscription is much more feature-rich, and the provider is sure to remind you of that by showcasing those features in-app. However, to access them, you need to upgrade to a paid version. One notably missing feature in the free version is NetShield – an ad blocker with basic malware protection.
Personal experience
I found Proton free VPN very easy to use and well-functioning. Its privacy and security features were sufficient to make me feel safe browsing the net. I was surprised I could access streaming service libraries in other locations, as that used to be an issue for Proton VPN’s free version. However, mixing in premium features with free ones felt like a pressure to upgrade.
Hotspot Shield – reliable and secure free VPN
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Security and privacy
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Speed and data
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Servers
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Use cases
Hotspot Shield impresses users with strong encryption and even basic malware protection – a rare feature among free VPNs. Its connection stability is also worthy of mention.
For a deep dive into this provider, read the detailed Hotspot Shield review.
Bandwidth and connection speeds
Hotspot Shield offers unlimited bandwidth, but there are other restrictions. The speed is more limited, at least compared to its premium version, and there’s a 500MB/day data cap. However, as Hotspot Shield shows ads, by watching them you can increase that limit. Also, with 16% baseline speed retained in the UK server, it’s not the worst-performing VPNs on this list.
Privacy
Hotspot Shield can provide users with everything they need to secure their internet activities. While its AES-128 data encryption is not as strong as AES-256, it still gets the job done. Besides, Hotspot Shield has a strict no-logs policy, so despite showing ads to its free users, your activity cannot be used against you.
Server availability
Hotspot Shield only has free servers in the US. While it doesn’t disclose how many servers are in this location, I doubt that number is very high. Also, having just one server location does not impact the security or privacy of a VPN, but it will severely limit access to global streaming libraries.
Use cases
If you were to adhere to the 500MB/day limit, you probably wouldn’t be able to stream much. However, if you watch ads, then you might increase the limit slightly. However, that might still not be enough for binge-watching or gaming. I encountered some initial issues when connecting to major streaming services on the US server, but after a few tries, I was able to access the content.
User reviews
Despite its flaws, Hotspot Shield seems to be liked by users. The majority of positive comments focused on stable connectivity and user-friendly interface. The negative comments, unsurprisingly, were about data caps and access to servers. However, the overall tone seemed more positive than negative.
Device compatibility and multiple device usage
Just like Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield also supports just one simultaneous connection. That’s unsurprising, just like the fact that Hotspot Shield supports all operating systems except for Linux. Even premium VPNs sometimes don’t support Linux. So, you can download it on any Windows, macOS, iOS, or Android device.
Premium features and services
With Hotspot Shield, the difference between a free and paid version is very noticeable. Not only does the free version have significantly fewer server locations, but it also has data caps and speed limitations. Meanwhile, the paid version has more extensive malware protection, and streaming-optimized servers. If you want access to these features, you need to subscribe, which costs from $2.99/month.
Personal experience
While my review may seem harsh, overall, I wasn’t unhappy with Hotspot Shield. Naturally, it lacked some features that Proton VPN had, plus it runs ads. But you don’t have to watch them; you can simply stick to the existing data cap. Besides, as I’m not in the US, technically, I gained another server location to watch streaming content. Even though Hotspot Shield is not up to everyone’s taste, I’d say it’s a pretty reliable and secure free VPN.
Hide.me – private and reliable free VPN
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Security and privacy
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Speed and data
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Servers
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Use cases
Hide.me stands out by offering its users some of the best security and privacy guarantees a free VPN can offer. Besides, with more server locations than some of its free competitors, Hide.me is certainly an appealing choice.
You can learn more about it in our Hide.me review.
Bandwidth and connection speeds
Hide.me no longer limits users’ bandwidth and, officially, does not limit speed. However, I noticed an occasional significant lag across all Hide.me servers. Also, while there are claims that the previous 10GB/month data cap has been removed for free users, Hide.me’s own FAQ section still states that the cap exists.
Overall, Hide.me is the kind of VPN that either shows great speed retention (80% or more) or absolutely terrible (9.6Mbps download and 1Mbps upload speeds). Which speed you will get seems to depend entirely on chance, as servers and the time of day show different results, too. In the image below you’ll find our speed test results based on the 76Mbps download and 30Mbps upload baseline speed.
Privacy
On top of a privacy-oriented jurisdiction in Malaysia (outside of the Eyes alliance), Hide.me also offers its users strong data encryption, a built-in kill switch, IP leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. Unlike Hotspot Shield, Hide.me does not show ads, so there’s no risk of any of your information reaching third parties.
Server availability
Hide.me offers its free version servers in 8 locations: the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Singapore. That’s significantly less than with the premium version but sufficient to access geo-restricted content globally. However, more server locations than Proton VPN or Hotspot Shield did not result in better content unblocking.
Use cases
Streaming, gaming, or torrenting did not go well with Hide.me. This free VPN struggled to unblock streaming services, so I only managed to unblock Netflix after a number of attempts. Overall, the noticeable lag dampened the whole experience and made gaming and torrenting, at the very least, very frustrating.
User reviews
Perhaps because it’s free, users seem generally positive about Hide.me, even naming its downsides. For example, users mention lag, bugs that appear later on, and slow speeds but generally give a pretty good rating of 3-4 stars. Overall, it doesn’t seem that Hide.me’s bads outweigh its good.
Device compatibility and multiple device usage
Hide.me supports just 1 simultaneous connection. However, it works with all operating systems – macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and Linux. Connecting to Hide.me from any device is also very straightforward.
Premium features and services
Hide.me’s premium version is much more feature-rich than the free one. Premium users can get such features as split tunneling, unlimited data, and access to all 2000+ global servers. However, the free version still has a few decent security and privacy features and doesn’t require you to create an account.
Personal experience – good
I loved the simplicity of Hide.me’s app, as well as strong security and privacy features. Not having to create an account is a strong advantage, too. However, as most people tend to use a VPN for streaming, Hide.me struggling to unblock streaming services in all of its 8 free server locations was certainly a disappointment.
TunnelBear – free VPN with the most user-friendly interface
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Security and privacy
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Speed and data
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Servers
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Use cases
TunnelBear entices users with its fun, easily manageable interface and no server limits for its free version. It means that, just like premium subscribers, free version users get servers in 45 countries.
If you’d like to learn more, read our TunnelBear review.
Bandwidth and connection speeds
TunnelBear limits both bandwidth and data, placing a cap at 2GB/month. And while there aren’t any official speed caps, TunnelBear performance was mediocre in our speed tests. It’s a bit strange, considering that it has significantly more server locations than other free VPNs on this list.
Privacy
TunnelBear has the same privacy and security features in its free plan as it does in the paid one. So, users can take advantage of a kill switch (called VigilantBear), obfuscation (GhostBear), split tunneling (SplitBear), AES-256 data encryption, and a strict no-logs policy. While those are still fewer features than NordVPN can offer, there’s plenty to keep your device secure.
Server availability
TunnelBear does not limit the number of servers or their locations free version users can access. It means that all 8000+ servers in 45 countries are accessible to all. Some of those locations include popular areas like the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, and Singapore.
Use cases
The good thing about TunnelBear is that its lack of server limitations allows users to access foreign streaming service libraries across the globe. The bad thing is that TunnelBear, in general, struggles to unblock streaming services. Some platforms work better than others, while some are inaccessible. Practical use of TunnelBear is also more limited for free version users because torrenting is unavailable for free, and the data cap makes it nearly impossible to game or binge watch.
User reviews
TunnelBear has a very high rating of 4.7/5 on the App Store and a slightly lower score of 4/5 on the Google Play Store. As with most free VPNs, users tend to be more lenient on the free services. However, many did complain about bugs and lag when using this service.
Device compatibility and multiple device usage
TunnelBear, like other VPNs mentioned, supports multiple operating systems and browsers. Namely Chrome, Firefox, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux. And like most free VPNs, it supports just one device with its free version.
Premium features and services
TunnelBear limits fewer features for its free version, compared to Proton VPN or Hotspot Shield, but there are limitations. Most notably, the 2GB/month data cap which hinders streaming and gaming. Speed also tends to be better with a premium version, though officially, there are no speed caps on the free plan. TunnelBear’s paid plan also includes access to city-level servers and multiple simultaneous connections.
Personal experience
I’d like to say that I enjoyed using TunnelBear as much as I love its interface design, but that wouldn’t be true. If I had to pick a free VPN for my personal use, I would prioritize the one that could help me access streaming libraries, and TunnelBear is unfortunately not the best at this. However, for personal data protection, especially for beginner users, this is one of the best free VPNs out there.
How we tested free VPN services
Free VPNs to avoid
There are free VPNs that are unreliable. As with all things, if the free provider seems too good to be free, it likely makes money by keeping and selling logs of your online activity. Reliable free VPNs have a clear source of income. For example, Proton VPN has a premium version and, in its limited free version, promotes paid features to encourage users to upgrade. However, free VPNs, particularly unverified ones, with many great features without a known source of income, are likely to use your data to earn money.
Just to give you some examples of untrustworthy free VPNs:
| Free VPN | Why you shouldn’t trust it |
| Hola VPN | Establishes a peer network, meaning that others can use your internet connection. In 2015 Hola VPN was exposed for selling users’ bandwidth to a botnet. |
| SuperVPN | Privacy policy establishes user data logging and lacks data encryption, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities. |
| Turbo VPN | History of privacy violations, like selling user data to third parties. |
| Betternet | Had a version with malware and trackers. |
When downloading a free VPN from an unverified source, you risk encountering providers that keep and sell logs of your online activity, IP address, or even devices you use. Additionally, you might be exposed to malicious agents that pretend to be a VPN but are actually disguised malware.
That’s why a tried-and-tested free VPN, even if it has fewer features than some other alternatives, is a much better option.
Video review
If you prefer an audio-visual format, you can check out this year’s best free VPNs in our video review:
Conclusion
Even if the free VPN has limited data and speed, it’s better than an unverified free service with an array of features or no VPN at all. A reliable free VPN can secure your device and identity while browsing and, in some cases, also unblock geo-restricted content.
Nowadays, your internet activity and IP address can be used against you, with websites selling this data to advertisers, who then target you to encourage purchases. But even a basic, no-logs free VPN can trick trackers and protect your identity. For example, Proton VPN’s extensive security and privacy features can keep your IP address private even from the service provider itself.
Of course, if you want the full suite of handy features and the ability to unblock streaming content libraries, you’ll need a premium VPN. NordVPN, for example, has multiple online privacy and security features that can completely hide your activity from prying eyes. Besides, NordVPN’s faster speeds and global server locations make it perfect for streaming, gaming, and torrenting.
FAQ
Do free VPNs actually work?
Yes, many free VPNs work just as well as any other VPN but might impose some feature limitations to encourage users to upgrade to the paid plan. But when it comes to privacy and security, a reliable free VPN can do the job just as well as a premium one would.
What are the best free VPNs without ads?
Proton VPN and Hide.me do not show ads to their free version users. Both of these providers have multiple privacy and security features.
Which free VPNs do not require registration?
Proton VPN and Hide.me are reliable free VPNs that do not require registering an account. Instead, you can start using the service without providing sensitive personal information.
What is the fastest free VPN available?
Proton VPN is the fastest free VPN this year. Its speed across all free server locations barely differs from the premium version’s speeds. Plus, it has a very high speed retention rate compared to other free VPNs.
Can I use a free VPN to stream Netflix or Hulu?
Free VPNs usually struggle to unblock streaming services, particularly the ones with advanced VPN-use tracking, like Netflix or Hulu. I managed to unblock both of these streaming services with Proton VPN, but it might take a few tries.
Can I use a free VPN for torrenting safely?
Proton VPN allows users to torrent safely. However, you may encounter some issues. Due to data caps, speed limitations, or general lack of P2P support, hardly any free VPNs support torrenting. While Proton VPN does not have data caps, you should still expect lag.
Are there any truly free VPNs without data limits?
Yes, Proton VPN offers a free plan with no data restrictions. While it does have fewer servers than its paid version, it’s one of the very few free VPNs that does not limit speed, bandwidth, or data.
Do free VPNs keep logs of my online activity?
Some do, some don’t. If you want a free service that does not track your online activity, it’s important to pick a reliable free VPN with a confirmed no-logs policy. Examples of free VPNs with a no-logs policy include Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, Hide.me, and TunnelBear.
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