If you don’t have a VPN in 2024, you’re missing out on a whole host of advantages that they can bring to the table. The benefits of VPN are so numerous that we’d be here all day if we tried to list them out, but suffice it to say that they include privacy, access to content from other countries, circumventing unfair restrictions placed on the internet by authoritarian governments, and a whole lot more!
Now, one reason why a lot of people might be hesitant to try out VPNs is that they expect them to be expensive. But what if we told you that there are quite a few amazing VPNs that are available to you completely free of charge? As surprising as that might sound, it’s a hard fact, but you might still have a few questions weighing on your mind.
For starters, are these free VPNs safe to use?
We wish we could provide a straightforward answer, but it’s unfortunately a little more complicated than that. The honest truth is that a few free VPNs just aren’t safe at all, and their privacy policies are underwhelming to say the very least.
Hence, you need to be a little discerning about the free VPNs that you end up using. That’s why we’ve compiled this list on your behalf, so without further ado, let’s check out 6 of the best options that are at your disposal!
#1) Proton VPN
Pros:
- Unlimited data with zero restrictions
- Ultra fast speeds
- Top notch desktop app
- Best privacy features
Cons:
- Bad for streaming and torrents
- Limited server count
There’s a reason why ProtonVPN is considered by many to be the quintessential VPN. The Swiss provider has made a name for itself as being the best of the best, and that’s largely due to the limitless data that it allows you to download. Practically any other VPN out there that offers its services for free will require you to pay for unlimited data, but ProtonVPN offers you genuinely limitless downloads without throttling your speeds in any way, shape or form.
Its open source applications have a reputation for providing unparalleled privacy and security, and the speeds are yet another advantage that can’t be argued against. With maximum speeds of up to 380 Mb/s, you can download massive files in an instant through a connection that protects you and your privacy with no exceptions whatsoever.
The Linux compatibility also sweetens the deal somewhat, since Linux users often have a hard time finding any kind of software that has been optimized for their operating system of choice. It’s compatible with Windows and MacOS as well, of course, but the fact that it offers a decent experience for Linux users is important to note.
The desktop app ensures a user experience that is seamless and intuitive, which is not something you’d expect from a service that doesn’t require you to pay. Combined with the other benefits we’ve mentioned up above, it’s easy to see why ProtonVPN deserves the top ranking without a shadow of a doubt.
There are a few disadvantages that you should learn a thing or two about, though, starting with the lack of servers. Only three free servers are available here, and subsequent VPNs that we’ll mention down below offer a much more comprehensive experience on that front.
Also, it’s unfortunate that streaming and torrenting is blocked on ProtonVPN. That tends to be a major component of why people need VPNs in the first place, so the fact that these services aren’t available may very well end up being a deal breaker for some.
#2) Privado VPN
Pros
- Great for streaming
- Excellent speeds
- Unlimited data
- Kill switch
Cons
- Lackluster mobile app
- Single device limit
- Speed throttling after 10GB
PrivadoVPN is a bit of a newbie in the world of VPNs, but in spite of the fact that this is the case, it has managed to carve out a place for itself in an extremely competitive industry. Many people might be familiar with the paid version of this VPN, but the free version brings quite a few benefits that you would do well to keep in mind.
For example, if the connection were to suddenly get interrupted, PrivadoVPN comes with a kill switch that can prevent any traffic from trickling through. On top of all of that, it uses the industry standard AES-256 encryption, so on the off chance that some traffic ends up passing through it will be thoroughly encrypted and therefore unreadable.
Perhaps the single best thing about this VPN is that it manages to provide superior performance for streaming. This is highly advantageous, since it enables you to unlock content libraries from around the world.
Streaming services are notorious for walling off certain pieces of content and only making it accessible to the citizens of a particular nation, but with Privado VPN the whole world will be your oyster! The speeds are also pretty impressive for a free service, so you should be able to watch any and all content that your heart desires without having to contend with lagging or anything else of that sort.
Another major benefit is that you have 13 server locations across 10 countries at your disposal, so if your speeds start to slow down in one location, you can switch over to another one without any obstacles in your path. This would’ve been enough to allow it to surpass ProtonVPN and get the top spot, but of course, there are going to be a few downsides here that you would do well to remain cognizant of.
While the browser version of this VPN is extremely capable of providing you with the privacy and protection you might need, the mobile app leaves much to be desired. What's more is that you can only use one device per plan, so you might need to fork over the cash for a premium subscription if you want to use this VPN on more than one device.
As for the data limit, PrivadoVPN allows you to download 10GB of data before throttling your speeds. You will still be able to stream content and make downloads, but the speeds will be greatly diminished. ProtonVPN is the winner because it doesn’t place this restriction, which just goes to show that the cream of the crop deserves the top spot for a very good reason.
#3) Windscribe
Pros:
- Ample server locations
- Some streaming benefits
- Great browser extension
Cons:
- Lackluster speeds
- Clunky app design
Winsdcribe’s unique marketing strategies have made it the talk of the down, but it would be a mistake to assume that this free VPN is all about gimmicks. It actually provides robust support that far exceeds what would seem possible for a service that doesn’t charge you a cent, with one of the most profound advantages being the sheer number of servers that it provides.
You’ll have the opportunity to choose between 14 servers spread across 11 countries, which is even better than what Privado offers! Also, while it might not provide the unlimited data that you’d get from ProtonVPN, it still provides a respectable 10GB. That’s enough to tide you over unless you’re planning to do a ton of downloading.
However, it bears mentioning that you won’t be able to exceed the data limit to any extent whatsoever. Unlike PrivadoVPN which lets you browse at reduced speeds in cases of emergencies, Windscribe completely stops working once the 10GB threshold has been reached.
With all of that having been said and now out of the way, it is important to note that there are a few other things holding this app back. The speeds are extremely slow, which is to be expected from a free VPN. But in this case, the speeds are even slower than you might have expected, which would be an enormous drawback if you’re planning to do some streaming.
The streaming advantages are there, with UK Netflix and the BBC iPlayer accessible through this free VPN. At the same time, it’s hard to enjoy whatever it is that you are watching when the content keeps pausing to buffer. Laggy viewing is perhaps even worse than not being able to watch the content at all, so we weren’t able to give this VPN a higher ranking.
Also, the app design is rather lackluster to say the least. The features seem so closely packed together that they become a bit of an eyesore, and as if that wasn't enough, a recent revamping of the design didn’t do much to bring it into the 21st century. Use it if you don’t mind poor design, but don’t expect any positive changes anytime soon.
#4) Hide.me
Pros:
- Solid data limit
- Reasonable number of servers
- Feature configuration
Cons:
- Lack of Wireguard protocol
- Low speeds
This Malaysian VPN is a respectable choice for people that want to try out their first free service. Hide.me’s free version has a solid data limit of 10GB, and they’ve made some improvements that make it so that their VPN can rank relatively highly. You’ll get all of the safety and security bells and whistles that you’ll be on the lookout for, and split tunneling is something a lot of people would most certainly come to appreciate.
The presence of 5 servers is useful because of the fact that this is the sort of thing that could potentially end up allowing you to switch things up from time to time. These five servers are spread across four locations, and while that might not be quite as good as some of the other VPNs that were ranked higher up on this list, it’s an admirable quantity at the end of the day.
Unfortunately, there are some negative aspects to using this VPN that some might find to be too much to bear. The download speeds that you can take advantage of here are capped at 25 Mb/s, which is a fraction of what services like ProtonVPN are providing at this current point in time.
There’s also the rather glaring omission of WireGuard that you would have to contend with. While people that are willing to pay for the premium version would get to use WireGuard, users that are making do with the free service will have to without. This absence is something that holds the VPN back from its true potential, since it provides a decent suite of security features overall.
The presence of this many features might actually make this service a tad too complicated for some users. You should proceed with caution if you are still new to VPNs, since there is a pretty good chance that you might end up feeling overwhelmed by them. There are better options out there, but this service is definitely worthy of your consideration at the very least.
#5) Hotspot Shield
Pros:
- Unlimited data
- User friendly
Cons:
- Lacks a kill switch
- Too many ads
- Single location
Hotspot Shield offers something that any free VPN user would love to take advantage of, namely unlimited data. Apart from ProtonVPN, it’s the only service that managed to provide this amazing feature which can turn your browsing experience into a dream come true. The thing is, there are a few aspects of this VPN that are so detrimental to browsing and regular use that the unlimited data benefit feels somewhat watered down.
There was a time not all that long ago when Hotspot Shield was at the top of the industry, so it’s rather unfortunate that it has fallen so dramatically. The lack of a kill switch is something that can be a huge problem for users if their connection is spotty. That’s actually a rather common occurrence in places where restrictions have been placed on internet access, and the fact of the matter is that these locations usually need VPNs more than might have been the case otherwise.
The overabundance of ads and pop ups is also something that drags this VPN down. Free services need ad revenue in order to become and remain viable, but there’s a limit to how many pop ups users would be willing to click away from before they get downright frustrated. The fact that these pop ups can interrupt the user experience is a massive demerit that inhibits an otherwise solid VPN.
There is a lot that you might appreciate with Hotspot Shield Basic, such as its intuitive, user friendly interface. It can be great for beginners for that specific reason, but the cons might outweigh the pros this time around.
A final gripe that we had with Hotspot Shield Basic is that it only offers a single location. That’s the worst out of any VPNs on this list, and the failure to fulfill such a basic requirement when so many competitors are offering it free of charge isn’t the best look.
#6) Cloudflare WARP
Pros:
- Easy set up
Cons:
- Low speeds
- Little streaming compatibility
- Subpar security
- Bad customer service
Cloudflare WARP is a VPN that seemed like it might have had a bit of potential at the outset, but it quickly turned into a disappointing addition to the industry. Apart from an admittedly straightforward set up process, there really isn’t much that we can say about this free VPN that would be the least bit positive.
A major drawback of this VPN is that it’s not compatible with all that many streaming services. While this isn’t always going to be a dealbreaker, VPNs need to offer something to compensate for that. As it current stands, this VPN will allow you to bypass basic firewalls put in by your government, but apart from that it won’t really unlock a significant amount of new content that you can view. It works with Netflix and HBO Max, but that’s about it. Every other streaming service out there will be outside of your grasp, and that’s going to be a major problem for the vast majority of users.
Furthermore, your browsing speeds will be extremely low if you end up using this service. With download speeds of under 40 Mb/s, this VPN offer some of the slowest speeds on our list, and this is only compounded by the other downsides we have already mentioned. However, it is a good option if you want to bypass censorship of social media platforms in your region.
Now, if the security was top notch, we’d have been willing to give this free VPN a pass. Unfortunately, this VPN lacks basic security features that are required to mask your identity and IP address online. The lack of these features is a glaring omission that further bumps the score down and makes it worthy of the bottom place on our list. The encryption level it uses isn’t great, and it also lacks a kill switch on top of everything else.
If you are using this service and face some kind of an issue, you’re going to have a really hard time getting through to customer support. This added demerit further shows that Cloudflare WARP just isn’t the VPN that many thought it might be, so it would be better to give this one a pass and opt for some of the other VPNs that we have included in our list.
In the end, this VPN is one of the worst that we have reviewed, and it might even create more problems than it ends up solving. That’s an inexcusable level of performance in our book. Perhaps some updates might make it more worth your while, but for now it’s a “no” from us.
Other than pure VPN products, you might want to try browsers that come with built-in VPNs such as Opera and Microsoft Edge.
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