Best Free VPN Services, Reviews and Comparison

Forking out more hard-earned dough in a cost-of-living crisis is a big ask. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay safe online. 

While far from perfect, a free VPN provides a basic layer of protection with zero investment. In this post, we’ll discuss the key VPN benefits and criteria to consider, and then review the best free versions available in 2024.

What Is a VPN and Why Use One?

A virtual private network (VPN) is a special cyber security tool that safeguards your device from hackers and other bad actors. The program encrypts data passing through your network and routes it to a secure offshore server, thus changing your IP address and hiding your location.

Some people use a VPN for online privacy or to circumvent censorship. Others like encrypting data to make web browsing (including online banking) safer and protect against cyber-attacks. VPNs can also allow access to region-blocked services like websites, streaming providers, sports matches, and location-based sales.

On the downside, VPNs slow your internet connection, and some shady providers may compromise your privacy.

Limitations of Free VPNs

VPN developers offer a free version to give users a taste of their application while hiding its most desirable features behind a paywall. A free VPN solely exists to tempt users to invest in the full version.

Almost all free VPNs have a monthly data cap, typically between 1GB and 10 GB—forget about streaming your favourite TV series from a geo-blocked service. Many also limit simultaneous device connections or only allow limited server locations.

Pro tip: a sneaky way to get around data caps is signing up for multiple free VPNs.

Some VPNs spam the user with ads, including annoying pop-ups from shady online agencies. Worse, the less secure free VPNs actively harvest your data and sell it to marketers, hackers, and other nefarious cybercriminals.

Given these risks and limitations, plenty of privacy-conscious folks prefer to pony up for a premium VPN. But an ongoing monthly subscription mightn’t offer value for you. Give a free VPN a go first and see whether it suits your needs.

Criteria for Choosing a Free VPN

Keep the following criteria in mind when wading through the world of free VPNs.

• Data limits: Most free VPNs have strict data limits (Proton is a notable exception). 
• Free or trial: Some “free” VPNs prompt you to pay after the trial period lapses (we’re not reviewing these in this post).
• Speed: Some free VPNs slow your internet connection significantly more than others.  
• Advertisements: A free VPN may come with ads, some of which are highly intrusive.
• No-log policies: The top free VPNs have a no-log policy, meaning they promise not to keep usage records. 
• Reputation: Well-established, long-standing VPN providers are a safer bet than little-known newcomers.
• Third-party audits: Reputable VPNs accept third-party audits, thus lending legitimacy to their privacy claims.

Top Free VPN Services in 2024

We’ve whipped up a list of handy free VPN reviews. All of our recommendations have a solid reputation and offer plenty of inclusions in their free version.   

ProtonVPN

Proton VPN is our all-time favourite freebie for its ultra-generous unlimited data allowance. If streaming vast swaths of regionally-blocked content is your main aim, you won’t find a better free VPN than this. On the downside, the free version limits you to one connection and three server countries.

• Unlimited data
• Third-party audits and no-log policy
• 3 server locations
• 1 simultaneous connection

Windscribe

Another high-value offer, Windscribe provides all its premium features in the free version; the only limitation is a 10GB monthly allowance. Excellent transparency, unlimited simultaneous devices, and a user-friendly ad blocker and firewall sweeten the deal. Windscribe is a no-brainer if 10GB is enough monthly data for you.

• 10GB cap
• Full-service VPN for free
• Anonymous sign-up with 2GB cap
• Ad-blocker and firewall included
• Great privacy reputation
• Unlimited simultaneous devices
• 11 server country locations

TunnelBear

Loveable cartoon bears bore tunnels around the world to numerous global server locations in this fun, easy-to-use VPN app. A solid privacy policy with third-party audits and unlimited device connections add to the appeal. But with a miniscule 500MB monthly allowance, it just doesn’t offer enough data for many of us.  

• Easy to use
• Fun tunnel-boring bears
• 500MB data cap
• Unlimited server locations and connections
• Strong privacy policy

Hide.me

A sizeable 10GB monthly allowance, five server locations, and a respectable privacy policy with third-party audits make Hide.me a viable option to hide online for free. The only real drawback here is the one simultaneous connection. Therefore, it’s a top choice for single-person households.  

• 10GB of free data per month
• No-log policy
• 5 server countries
• Third-party audit
• 1 simultaneous connection

Hotspot Shield

While you get a generous 500MB daily allowance, the free version of Hotspot Shield throttles speeds to a sluggish 2Mbps. The exact offer depends on your OS: macOS users get unlimited data, while Android users have to put up with ads. Everyone can connect just one simultaneous device and only access US-based servers.

• 500MB of free data per day
• US-based servers only
• 2Mbps speed
• 1 simultaneous device
• 1 server country

This table provides a VPN comparison of our recommendations.

VPN Service	Data Limit	No-Log Policy	Ads	Speed	Server Locations	Simultaneous Connections
ProtonVPN	Unlimited	No-logs	No	Moderate	3 countries	1
Windscribe	10 GB/month	No-logs	Yes	Fast	11 countries	Unlimited
TunnelBear	500MB/month	No-logs, independently audited	No	Moderate	45+ countries	Unlimited
Hide.me	10 GB/month	No-logs	No	Fast	5 countries	1
Hotspot Shield	500 MB/day (~15 GB/month)	No-logs	Yes	Very Fast	1 country (US)	1

The Best Free VPNs

You don’t have to cough up for a monthly subscription fee to protect your privacy online. The best free VPNs provide solid protection, albeit with limitations. Compare our recommendations to pinpoint the perfect option for you.

Need help with network security issues or configuring a VPN? Contact Geeks2U today. Our highly qualified Geeks can deliver personalised IT support directly to your door at breakneck speed.  

FAQ

• What is a free VPN service?

  A free VPN provides limited functionality without a trial period of any fees.

• Are free VPNs safe to use?

  Reputable free VPNs from well-established providers are safe to use. Lesser-known operators entail some risk.

• What are the limitations of free VPN services?

  Free VPNs can limit data, server locations, simultaneous users, and speed.

• How do I choose the best free VPN for my needs?

  Review our recommendations to find the most suitable free VPN for you.

• Can I upgrade from a free VPN to a paid plan?

  You can upgrade a free VPN to a premium version at any time. 

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