The Best Free VPNs for 2024

PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.

If you want all the features of the best VPN services, you usually have to pay for them. Fortunately, several free options cover the basics and improve your online privacy. Don't worry; you don't have to dig through all the sales pitches, plan details, restrictions, and fine print to find the best no-cost VPN. In addition to our usual testing, which we've been conducting for more than 10 years, we've done the research to give you a list of the best free VPNs. Proton VPN is our top choice for free and paid VPNs, so you can't go wrong, no matter which version you choose. But it isn't your only good choice. Read on for our top picks, followed by what to look for when choosing a free VPN.

Is There a 100% Free VPN?

Few VPNs offer a genuinely free option, while others offer free trials. The most common iterations we've seen are three- or seven-day free access periods.

However, the VPN apps listed in the table above offer fully free subscription levels. They aren't the only ones, but they are the best we've reviewed so far.

That said, every VPN listed does put some restrictions on its free version. Some services limit the bandwidth you can use in a given period. Some keep the number of simultaneous connections low, generally limiting them to one. Some restrict you to certain servers, meaning you can't jump to a different server to try and increase performance or easily spoof your location—more on this below.

Paying for a VPN subscription typically unlocks all these features and often adds additional sweeteners unavailable at the free level. You get all the servers in all the locations, and the service supports more simultaneous connections.

Do Free VPNs Work With Netflix?

VPNs can bypass oppressive censorship by tunneling out to a VPN server beyond the control of despots. Still, that same ability can also be used to access streaming content unavailable in your country. Overseas, Netflix subscribers see shows and films that don't appear in the US because Netflix has specific deals to distribute this content in different areas.

Netflix isn't the only service that can be tricked. MLB and the BBC have different streaming arrangements for different regions. There are numerous other examples, and many of them—especially Netflix—try to block VPN use to enforce those regional streaming deals.

Regional blocking is particularly tricky for free VPN users. Most free VPNs limit the servers you can use, meaning you have fewer options (if any) to spoof your location. Free users also have a harder time jumping to a different server, looking for unblocked access or better speeds. One option to get around a Netflix blockade is to purchase a static IP address, which typically requires a paid VPN subscription in addition to the cost of the static IP.

In short, watching a streaming service like Netflix with a VPN is hard, and doing it with a free VPN is even harder.

Are Free VPNs Safe?

Free VPNs have some historical baggage since not all VPN providers have always been the best actors. Some VPNs may have unseemly, if not outright malicious, practices. Figuring out who is and is not on the level is especially difficult with VPNs, as much of their operation isn't visible to the outside world.

When we review VPNs, we review each service's privacy policy. This is a good way to find out what information the service collects, if any. Ideally, a VPN company should say it does not collect any logs on user activity. We highly recommend reading the review for a free VPN before committing.

These documents can sometimes be difficult to read, perhaps intentionally so. As part of our testing process, we send questionnaires to each VPN service, seeking to put companies on the record about specific privacy issues. We rely on companies to act in good faith when we ask them questions and for third-party researchers to ferret out the companies that don't.

Most of the best free VPNs have undergone extensive third-party audits to prove their trustworthiness. Having an audit isn't a guarantee that a company is doing good work since they often set the parameters of the audit. A meaningful audit is a good sign, though. TunnelBear VPN, for instance, has committed to releasing third-party audits each year and has made good on that promise.

Are Free VPNs Any Good?

Because free VPNs can sometimes be limited, you'll likely experience some performance issues. For example, servers can be too crowded to provide reasonable speeds, the VPN provider may not allow free users to access servers where you are, or the data limit will be too low for the service to be usable.

Free VPNs also tend to lack the security features we like to see among the best VPNs. You won't find multi-hop connections or VPN access to the Tor network—those generally require a paid subscription.

But some free VPNs are worth trying! Proton VPN is notable as the only VPN we've yet reviewed that does not place a limit on user bandwidth. It's a good long-term choice. TunnelBear VPN limits free users to just 500MB (with an additional 1GB available) per month but does allow free users to access all its servers and connect an unlimited number of devices. This service is good for occasionally spoofing your location or limited use while traveling. Windscribe VPN is also a strong choice for free plans because it has all the same features as the regular client, save for a 10GB per month data limit if you use an email to sign up or 2GB without.

Importantly, all three of these services have released the results of third-party audits. If a product has not gone through a public third-party audit, that doesn't mean it's hiding something or is nefarious. For all VPN products we've reviewed, we've spoken to their representatives and found their privacy policies at least acceptable upon examination. Audits show that a company is publicly staking its money and reputation.

What Is the Best Free VPN?

Every free VPN service has some catch, though Proton VPN gives you the most flexibility. There is plenty of variation among free VPN services, so it's a good idea to try a few and figure out which one you like best. A great VPN service should be easy to use and understand and shouldn't throw up too many barriers, even when using a free subscription.

However, VPNs alone won't protect you against every danger prowling the web. We also strongly recommend using a password manager to create unique and complex passwords for each site and service we use, enabling multi-factor authentication wherever it's available, and using antivirus software. Not all of these options have free versions, but you can mix and match to find the most affordable combination.

Max Eddy contributed to this article.