The best VPN services offer the highest quality data protection - but what about free VPN services? These premium providers have become household names in internet privacy and for very good reason. Something you might not know is that you can experience the benefits of a top-tier VPN, without paying a penny in subscription costs. The best free VPN services in 2023 can deliver on all your internet security needs and are ideal for those not willing to pay the fixed fee charged by premium brands.
Before you choose a free VPN, there are a number of important things to note. Most free VPNs provide the same service as the premium plan, but with a few big cutbacks. These cutbacks are typically the additional extras you get on a paid service, these free VPNs are still as good at keeping your devices safe as some of the most secure providers.
The best free VPN services at a glance:
• The best free VPN overall: ProtonVPN Free - View on Proton VPN
• The best free VPN for speeds: Privado VPN Free - View on Privado VPN
• The best free VPN for privacy: Atlas VPN - View on Atlas VPN
Like any product, these free VPNs act as a taster for the real thing. We’d recommend most of them to users new to Virtual Private Networks or internet users with specific usage goals.
The best free VPNs
We’ve taken a dive into the most popular free providers that are available and compiled the definitive list of the best free VPN services for 2023. Take a look at our results below.
The best free VPN overall
protonvpn.com
The free plan for Proton VPN is enough to make anyone take a second glance. It's got the specs of a paid, premium VPN but it doesn't cost a penny.
You've got access to servers in three countries; Netherlands, US, and Japan. Proton has also been received as one of the most secure providers out there, with a reputable no-logs policy behind them.
We wish Proton had better customer support, but this is a small price to pay for such a sublime free Virtual Private Network experience.
Pros
- No data caps or speed limits
- Access to powerful features
- No ads
Cons
- No 24/7 live support
The best free VPN for all operating systems
www.hotspotshield.com
If you’re after a free VPN that covers as many bases as possible, we’d highly recommend Hotspot Shield. Most of the free VPNs on this list excel in a certain feature or have a unique selling point. Hotspot Shield works as the best all-rounder we could get our hands on.
Something that can make free VPNs a bit tricky is that they may only work with certain operating systems. Your common operating systems are Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Luckily, Hotspot Shield functions on all these operating systems, not favouring one or another. This means that users can expect the best free service on whichever device they use.
Despite being generous for some online activities, 500 MB will likely not be sufficient for users wanting to stream or download. Users can extend this, but only if they submit to sitting through ads (yuck). Unfortunately, this doesn't pair well with the fact that it’s only the US-based servers that are for free users. But that’ll certainly do if you’re trying to keep your connection private while doing some online personal admin, like internet banking, for example.
Pros
- Accessible and performs well on all operating systems
- 500 MB allowance daily is generous for everyday activities
Cons
- Not enough data for heavy streaming/downloading
The best free VPN for speeds
privadovpn.com
PrivadoVPN Free is the first Virtual Private Network provider on the list that picks a feature and really outshines its competition. As a service, Privado is extremely performance-centric, and they are very proud of the super-fast speeds they’ve been able to achieve.
The free version of PrivadoVPN is so impressive that users might forget it’s free, it can even rival some of the best VPNs for speed. Even though this version of the service is totally free of charge, users will still experience the same super-fast speeds as users of the premium version. All of this, and the service is available in a whopping 12 locations. These superior speeds are a treat for anyone wishing to stream smooth, crystal-clear content and keep their data protected. Like most free VPNs, there is a data usage allowance of 10 GB. Users should be mindful of their streaming screen time as it won’t take long to rinse that allowance.
The speeds you'll find with PrivadoVPN make it a great Netflix VPN that can even stand up to the big premium brands on a good day. Of course, that 10GB means you will have to use it sparingly.
A free plan with Privado has recently included an unlimited simultaneous connection limit, which is almost unheard of among free VPNs. If you do choose PrivadoVPN Free as your Virtual Private Network, it’s important to note that it doesn’t support split tunnelling. So, when you’re taking advantage of that super-fast speed to stream something on Netflix US, you should be mindful that anything else you open will not be protected.
Pros
- Unlimited devices
- 12 free server locations
- Seamless streaming
Cons
- No split tunnelling
The best free VPN for privacy
atlasvpn.com
Virtual Private Networks are acclaimed for their pursuit of privacy. A VPN service that’s no stranger to this mission is Atlas VPN, and it just so happens they have a free plan. Atlas VPN Free ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to what you might look for, even in a premium VPN.
Excelling in privacy, Atlas’ Free plan offers the same data protection benefits as its premium version. With some specialised features, it offers superior privacy to any of the competitors. Atlas Free offers Tracker Blocker, which is a tool that automatically blocks trackers that can latch onto your device when you visit a website. The service also provides an effective breach monitor, so Atlas can find out if your email address has ever been part of a data breach. All from a free service, we think that’s spot on.
Able to support streaming on unlimited devices, Atlas VPN Free can run surprisingly quick for a provider that achieves as much as it does. We should point out though, Atlas Free does appear somewhat bias towards Mac and iOS users in a few ways. While the service does run independent audits, they only apply to the iOS app. In terms of data limits, Atlas Free only offers 10 GB per month for any device that isn’t a Mac. Lucky Mac users get a massive 2 GB per day to play with.
Pros
- Tracker blocker and data monitor
- 10 GB monthly data limit, 2 GB a day for Mac
- No speed limits
- Unlimited connections
Cons
- Only audits iOS
- Only three server locations
The best free VPN for beginners
www.tunnelbear.com
Despite their infamy within the world of data protection, VPNs are still fairly new to a lot of internet users. This is why a lot of modern VPNs can come across as overwhelming, from tricky user interfaces to an abundance of complex techie jargon. TunnelBear is the best VPN for beginners by a long shot. The service prioritises accessibility and ease of use for a more pleasant user experience.
Functioning on all major operating systems, TunnelBear has created a user interface perfect for Virtual Private Network newbies. It’s simple, a doddle to use and you still get premium-level data protection. In fact, TunnelBear’s annual audits are the most in-depth in the business, better than some of the most premium VPN brands out there.
Surprisingly from a free VPN, TunnelBear allows users to connect countless devices simultaneously. Users can connect up to five different devices, all on different operating systems. Saying that, you might not want to go out handing your VPN access out to anyone because TunnelBear Free does only offer a 500 MB monthly data allowance. Take it from us, 500 MB can seem very stingy compared to the more common 10 GB that most free VPNs offer.
TunnelBear mostly knocks it out the park when it comes to being the best free VPN for beginners, but it doesn’t actually have live support for its users. In order to get support, users have to fill out a website form and wait up to 48 hours for a response to their query.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Connect up to five devices simultaneously
- More in-depth audits than any other provider
Cons
- Only 500 MB monthly data allowance
- No live support
Glossary
• VPN - Virtual Private Network
• Simultaneous devices - Number of devices that can connect to the VPN at once
• Server locations - Places in the world where the VPN can be connected
• Data limit - Online usage capacity
• Audit- Independent third-party privacy assessment
What to look out for
Data limits are extremely common for free VPNs, most tend to clock you in at around 10 GB monthly but there can be exceptions. Choosing a VPN with a less-than-generous data allowance will have you burning through your protected data before the month is up, especially if streaming is on the agenda.
Even the best free VPNs aren’t perfect, or else they wouldn’t be free. Some are more selective with locations than others, so make sure to find out that they’re accessible to you from wherever you plan to use it.
Another feature to look out for when signing up for a free VPN is how many connections it’ll allow and if it allows them simultaneously. We didn’t find there to be any real pattern here among the free VPNs, some offer unlimited connections but limited simultaneous, whereas others offer both unlimited connections and simultaneous. Despite some free VPNs allowing unlimited simultaneous connections, we wouldn’t recommend a free VPN to a household with high internet usage. Bearing in mind even the best ones offer a limited data allowance, you’ll find that limit diminishes far quicker the more devices you have connected at once.
While you can begin your VPN journey with a free provider, it's worth knowing that most premium providers do offer trial periods that are free of charge. The best VPN free trials are the try before you buy - Virtual Private Network edition.
Are free VPNs safe?
Free VPNs are equally as safe as their premium counterparts. Most free VPNs are just dialled-back versions of the popular provider. Some free VPNs may be considered safer to use than others, this can be down to a few reasons.
Research if and how your free VPN conducts audits, this is essentially an investigation into the provider to make sure they are running an honest practice. Certain free VPNs may contain special features for privacy that others don’t, these free VPNs would definitely be considered safer as they actively do more to keep your information hidden.
What free VPN works with Netflix?
Maybe to your surprise, most free VPNs fo support streaming through services including Netflix. All the best free VPNs from the list above support Netflix streaming depending on your location. They might not be anywhere close to the premium streaming VPNs, but they put up a good fight.
The problem that users of free VPNs might face when it comes to streaming is the limited data allowance that most providers offer. If Netflix streaming is your primary internet use, then a free VPN may not be suitable for your needs.
Is there a free VPN for iPhones?
Absolutely, pretty much all the best free VPNs are available across all smartphones, including iPhones. Users can simply search for their chosen free VPN on the app store, install it to the phone and sign up for the free plan. iOS users ae practically spoilt for choice when it comes to free VPNs.
What is the best free VPN for Firestick?
There are some solid VPNs for Firestick out there. Windscirbe Free is likely the best free option though. The provider unblocks six Netflix regions as well as BBC iPlayer. Not only does Windscribe Free offer a wide range of available locations for streaming, but you can do so with total confidence of user privacy. We found Windscribe Free to be one of the most secure free VPNs with the most geographical scope.
Jack Barrell is the Commercial Content Writer for VPNs. He's hands-on when it comes to producing best-of articles, how-to guides, and product reviews for Virtual Private Networks. On his off-days, Jack can be found in the gym, at the movies, or flicking through a car mag.
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