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- Best vpn software for pc free
There's no doubt that downloading a VPN for free is tempting. VPNs can often be expensive, and it's always good to test the waters before diving in, right? Virtual Private Networks are a great way to stay safe and more anonymous online, while also providing extra perks like getting around blocked apps, seeing censored websites and streaming TV, movies and sports that you wouldn't ordinarily be able to where you are.
But when things sound too good to be true, they often are. There are hundreds of free VPNs out there on the web and in your app store, and the truth is that most simply aren't very good.
Some dodgier free apps bombard you with unwanted ads and may even sell your data. And moreover, if you were hoping to use yours to stream and torrent, you're likely to be out of luck. In this guide, we explain more about the dangers of free VPNs and how to make sure you avoid the potentially dodgy ones. If your main reason for having a VPN is just about having a bit more security on your laptop or mobile when using public Wi-Fi occasionally, the best free VPNs can do a decent job.
Free VPN services may cost nothing but there is usually a good reason for that — it means the provider will be turning a profit in some other way, usually with invasive advertising or by selling your browsing data to third-parties rather defeating the whole drive for privacy in the first place.
Plus, free services tend to limit the amount of data you can use and the speed you can use it at, rendering them practically useless for streaming video, torrenting or as an extra layer of reliable security in your day-to-day online life.
And don't expect the kind of easy-access support or server range that you get with the paid services, either. Given the risks of using free VPNs, we think the price is absolutely worthwhile — plus, it comes with a no-questions-asked 30 day money back guarantee , too.
It advertises on TV, sponsors sports teams and has been a leader in the market for a decade. Then look no further than Surfshark opens in new tab. It offers most of the same features as the other top services, just for less money. Partly that's for its nicely-judged mix of features, power and app quality. But it's also because the service doesn't pile on the limits and restrictions to try and persuade you to upgrade.
This is a free VPN you could use long-term. There are no data limits with Proton, for instance. That's convenient, but it's also a big privacy plus, because you don't have to pick and choose where you use the VPN when data's running low.
If you feel there's a risk, or you're unsure, then just get connected: Proton VPN Free is always available. Proton hasn't punished free users by leaving out key features, either. Some free providers drop the kill switch, WireGuard, maybe even support, but Proton VPN Free has all the core privacy features you need to stay safe online.
There are still significant limits. Although you can install Proton VPN on as many devices as you like, you can only connect one at a time. There's no access to Proton VPN's specialist streaming servers, no P2P support, or bonus extras such as ad and malware-blocking — to use them, you'll have to upgrade to a premium plan opens in new tab. None of this prevents Proton VPN Free from doing its central job, though, and much better than most of the competition.
Its well-engineered, open-source and audited apps are easy to use, but also stuffed with useful tweaks, tools and technologies. The service topped our free VPN speed charts at Mbps, too — so fast that it beats some paid services. Proton VPN Free may not be quite right for everyone.
If you absolutely must have a location in the UK, for instance, or some other country not on Proton's very short list, then PrivadoVPN and Windscribe below each have around 10 countries to choose from.
But for most users, Proton VPN Free delivers just about everywhere: it's fast, secure, and has powerful features, yet it's also very easy to use. If you need a free VPN, try this one first. PrivadoVPN Free may not quite have made our top spot, but keep reading: the service has some unique and very worthwhile features which just might make it your preferred provider.
The company can't match Proton VPN's unlimited data scheme, for instance, but its 10GB monthly allowance is enough for many. And even if the data tap runs dry, you then get unlimited data via an 'emergency server. That first 10GB of data is better than many, too. Even most paid VPNs can't say the same. The service has some issues and limits. PrivadoVPN Free only supports one connection; if you install it on your laptop and your phone, you can only use one at a time.
The apps are solid and reliable, but can't match Proton for features. And the company hasn't verified its privacy credentials with an independent audit.
Overall, though, PrivadoVPN Free is an excellent service which scores in all the most important areas. Its streaming results are a standout feature, and even if you're currently using a paid VPN for unblocking, it may be worth installing PrivadoVPN Free as a backup. Windscribe Free VPN is a quality Canadian service whose appealing mix of features more than justifies its top three place. That's enough to protect a lot of online activity, though, and Windscribe Free VPN has its own plus point as compensation.
Most free plans restrict you to only one connection, but Windscribe has no limits: you can install and use it on as many devices simultaneously as you need. The network is another highlight, with Windscribe Free VPN users able to choose from 14 locations across 11 countries.
Speeds are around Mbps in our most recent tests. That's two thirds what we saw with Proton VPN Free, but it's likely to be good enough for most situations. The apps are more about power than simplicity, and if you're new to VPNs, they might seem confusing in some areas.
But they're not difficult to operate at a basic level, more experienced users get all kinds of tools and features to play with, and our tests show they're also reliable and deliver on their promises. There are some surprising plus points, too. Atlas VPN Free first caught our eye with its impressive data allowance. The service isn't as generous with its locations.
You're able to connect a couple of devices simultaneously, though our top two free VPNs only allow one , and our speed tests found Atlas VPN Free reached an above-average Mbps.
Factor in the P2P support, and Atlas could be a smart torrenting choice. We aren't quite as convinced by the apps. They cover the basics, and what you get works well the kill switch passed all our tests, for instance.
But they're a little short on features, with a few small usability hassles, and can't match the likes of Proton VPN. The service does have an independent audit, and that's a step above many competitors. But it's also relatively limited, covering the iOS app only. It doesn't support unblocking any streaming sites, for instance, but we found the service got us into Disney Plus, and maybe you'll have luck with other sites.
Overall, while Atlas VPN Free has some issues, we found it generally did a good job of protecting us online, and Mac users in particular will love the 2GB a day data allowance. Not the best around, but enough to get by for most users — and useful as a torrenting VPN.
There's some bad news with features, as Hide. We expect free VPNs to leave out some of the more advanced extras, but not something this fundamental. Auto-connect on accessing untrusted Wi-Fi, custom DNS, split tunneling, a powerful kill switch, advanced protocol tweaks, capable browser extensions: they're all here. Great news for experts, although others might feel this makes for a more complex and intimidating interface.
Performance is more of a concern. Its paid service is one of the fastest VPN services around, but we found Hide. That's enough speed for browsing, streaming and most other tasks, though, and if you'll use Hide. Hotspot Shield Basic is a popular free VPN plan with a very major plus: in June , Hotspot Shield began upgrading the service to offer unlimited data across all platforms.
In a world where most free VPNs restrict you to 10GB a month or even less, being able to use the service as much as you like is a huge advantage. So, you might be wondering, why is Hotspot Shield Basic not higher up our Best list? One major catch with the service is it only allows connecting to a single US location. Usability issues and irritations include mobile apps which regularly display video ads when you connect. The Mac app has no ads, but does open pages at the Hotspot Shield website every time you connect and disconnect.
One big privacy problem is that Hotspot Shield Basic doesn't include a kill switch. If the VPN connection drops, your traffic may be unprotected. Oh, and if you have any problems with any of this, there's no live chat or email support. You're left to browse the Hotspot Shield website and figure out a solution yourself. This makes it difficult to recommend Hotspot Shield Basic above the competition, even with its unlimited data. But it may still be useful for simple tasks, or as an emergency backup for another provider, and it's worth checking out the service for yourself.
While most VPNs sell themselves on their lengthy lists of advanced technical features, TunnelBear Free VPN is all about creating a simple service which is easy for anyone to use. And it takes this to a surprising extreme. Most VPNs boast around all the protocols they support, for example, and give you stacks of settings in their apps: great if you understand VPN protocols, but what if you don't?
TunnelBear Free VPN simplifies this by not even mentioning protocols in its website feature lists, support pages or most of its apps. It just handles them itself, rather than exposing users to the low-level details. The apps have other advanced features, although TunnelBear tries to soften these with less technical language.
There's a kill switch called VigilantBear, for instance, and split tunneling called SplitBear. The end result is a service with some positives. It's easy to use, with a huge choice of 48 locations across 46 countries. Speeds are good at Mbps, and TunnelBear's annual VPN audits — the most in-depth in the business — give a huge amount of reassurance that your privacy is protected.
There's also a real problem, though, in TunnelBear's miserly data allowance of just MB a month. This might be enough if you only need to securely check your email very occasionally, or unblock a single website. But it's far behind the free 10GB you'll typically get elsewhere. Our VPN reviews begin with a detailed look at the provider's website.
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