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Best free VPN: How to choose the right one

Want to keep your internet connection secure without paying anything? We'll tell you which is the best free VPN forever.

Finding a way to keep our connection secure is important, otherwise, our data could be exposed to people with bad intentions. We already talked about it in our guide on the best VPNs for travel. But what if you’d rather spend your budget on other things? You don’t have to give up your privacy, there are options: Forever free VPNs.

These tools will also allow you to access location-blocked content or bypass censorship when travelling to certain countries. While it’s true that free VPNs have certain limitations compared to paid ones, they can still be a very useful solution, depending on your needs and how you plan to use them. To help you find the ideal option, we’ll tell you which are the best choices and also how they are funded.

In this article

How are free VPNs funded?

It might seem suspicious to be able to access such an important tool for data security without paying anything. Keeping servers, offering support, and ensuring security must have considerable costs. So, how are they funded? There are several models that allow companies to keep their service free, though sometimes with certain sacrifices for the user experience.

How free VPNs are funded @Unsplash

Advertising: Many free VPNs include ads within the app or on the pages you visit. This can generate enough income to maintain the service infrastructure. However, the downside is that you’ll see constant pop-ups, which can be annoying and slow down browsing.
Limitations in the free version: Some VPNs use a “freemium” model, where they offer a free version with limitations on servers, speed, or data usage. The goal is to encourage users to buy a subscription to unlock the full service. This is the case, for example, with ProtonVPN, which offers an option with unlimited data but with restrictions on available servers.
Data selling: While this is less common in reputable VPNs, some free services fund their operations by selling user data to third parties. This can be dangerous from a privacy standpoint, as it compromises the main reason people use a VPN: Protecting their data. It’s essential to choose reliable services with clear and transparent privacy policies.

When choosing a free VPN, it’s essential to consider these aspects to ensure the funding model doesn’t negatively affect your privacy and user experience.

On the other hand, there’s another very interesting option for accessing these tools for free: VPNs that offer free trials. Services like ExpressVPN aren’t free forever, but they offer trials of up to 30 days. Although access to all their features is limited in time, this approach is interesting if you need complete protection and premium service for a short period. By combining them with your Holafly eSIM, you can have a secure connection while traveling and access blocked content in countries with internet censorship.

What is a freemium VPN?

A freemium VPN is a business model that offers a free version of the service with limited features, while the full version is reserved for those who purchase a paid subscription. This strategy allows people to try the service before committing financially, but it includes restrictions that can affect the user experience. The most common limitations you’ll find when choosing a freemium VPN include:

Limit on the number of servers: Often, you’ll only have access to a few free servers, which can cause congestion and affect browsing speed. A good example of this is Windscribe, which offers access to just 10 servers in the free version.
Speed limitations: Another common restriction is the connection speed, which may be reduced compared to the premium versions. This means that although the VPN protects you, the streaming or browsing experience might not be optimal.
Data limit: Some freemium VPNs restrict the amount of data you can use each month. This is ideal if you only use the VPN occasionally, but insufficient if you need it for tasks like streaming HD videos or downloading files. For example, TunnelBear offers 500 MB per month in its free version, a limit that can run out quickly.
Payment method required: In some cases, even if you won’t be paying anything, they require you to register a credit card or PayPal account.
Ads within the app: Some freemium VPNs include ads as a funding method, which can interfere with the user experience, as it’s common to encounter pop-ups or in-app ads.

The freemium model is an excellent choice if you’re not very demanding with speed or don’t need too much coverage. That said, if you decide to stick with the free option, make sure you’re aware of its limitations to avoid surprises.

Best forever free VPNs

Now that we know exactly what these forever free VPNs are, which ones are the best? There are many free VPNs, but only a few are truly reliable and offer a good level of security without an expiry date. When choosing one, it’s key to consider the number of servers, how many countries they operate in, connection speed and privacy policies. The best zerocost VPNs can offer solid protection without spending money, but remember they often have limits on performance or advanced features. Based on studies and reviews from people who’ve used these free VPNs before, we’d say these are the top five:

The five best forever free VPNs @Unsplash

1. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is one of the standout choices when it comes to free VPNs. Based in Switzerland, this service is known for prioritising user privacy and security. Unlike many other free VPNs, ProtonVPN offers unlimited data in its free tier, which is rare for this kind of service. However, the free version does have some server limitations.

Features:

Servers: Access to servers in 10 countries (randomly selected).
Data: Unlimited, which is an advantage over other VPNs that impose monthly limits.
Security: Militarygrade encryption (AES256) with strict nologs policies.
Compatibility: Available to Windows, macOS, Android, iOS and routers.
Funding model: ProtonVPN follows a freemium model; the free version offers limited servers and lower speeds. To unlock more server locations and faster speeds, users can choose a paid subscription.

Limitations:

Only 10 servers in the free version.
Speed can be affected due to high demand on free servers.

2. Windscribe

Windscribe is another excellent choice for those wanting a free VPN with a good balance of speed and security. In its free tier, it offers up to 10 GB of data per month, which is more than enough for moderate, occasional use. In addition, Windscribe lets you connect to servers in 10 countries, which gives you more flexibility compared with other free VPNs.

Features:

Data: 10 GB per month, ideal for moderate browsing and some streaming sessions.
Servers: Access to servers in 10 countries (randomly selected), including the USA, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Hong Kong.
Extra features: Builtin ad and tracker blocker.

Funding model: Windscribe also follows the freemium model; users can opt for a paid plan to get unlimited data, access to more servers and advanced features such as the WireGuard protocol for enhanced security.

Limitations:

10 GB monthly limit in the free version.
Speed may be affected on busier servers.

Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 170 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍

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3. Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is a very popular VPN, known for its fast performance. The free version offers 500 MB of data per day, which amounts to around 15 GB per month, enough for browsing the web and doing basic activities. However, one of its main disadvantages is that you can only connect to a server in the US, limiting access to content in other regions.

Features:

Data: 500 MB daily, approximately 15 GB per month.
Speed: Uses the Catapult Hydra protocol, ensuring fast speeds even on the free version.
Compatibility: Works on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS.

Funding model: Hotspot Shield follows the freemium model. The paid version offers unlimited data, access to over 80 server locations, and a faster and more stable connection.

Limitations:

Only one server in the free version (located in the US).
The 500 MB daily limit may not be enough for those needing a constant connection or more intensive tasks, like streaming in HD.

4. TunnelBear

TunnelBear is a VPN that stands out for its intuitive design and ease of use, making it a great option for beginners. The free version offers 2 GB of data per month, which is quite limited if you need to use the VPN frequently. However, one of its major advantages is that it provides access to servers in over 20 countries, which is surprising for a free VPN.

Features:

Servers: Access to servers in over 20 countries in the free version.
Ease of use: User-friendly design, very easy to set up.
Security: Good level of encryption and protection against DNS leaks.

Funding model: TunnelBear follows a freemium model, allowing users to upgrade to a paid plan to get unlimited data and access to more servers.

Limitations:

Advanced features are restricted to the paid version.

5. Hide.me

Hide.me is a VPN known for its strong focus on privacy. The free version offers unlimited data and access to servers in eight countries. Additionally, it has no ads and doesn’t sell user data, which sets it apart from other free VPNs.

Features:

Data: Unlimited
Servers: Available in 8 countries.
Privacy policy: Strict nologs policy.

Funding model: Hide.me operates under the freemium model. The paid version includes unlimited data, access to more than 91 servers, and higher speeds.

Disadvantages:

Speed on free servers may be lower due to high demand.

Which is the best free VPN?

It’s hard to choose just one. After analysing the best available options, we can say that there isn’t a perfect free VPN for everyone. The right choice depends on how you want to use it and the limitations you’re willing to accept. That said, some free VPNs stand out more than others in terms of features, speed, number of servers and privacy policies.

If what matters most to you is having unlimited data and a secure connection without worrying about monthly restrictions, ProtonVPN is an excellent option. It offers servers in 10 countries, its privacy policy is very solid, it doesn’t log your activity, and it’s based in Switzerland, which adds extra protection for your data. Speed may be affected by the server limitations, but if privacy is your priority, this VPN is the best choice.

As you can see, if you don’t want to spend money on keeping your data safe or accessing geo-restricted content while travelling, there are always alternatives. Choose one of these options or sign up for a free trial of a paid VPN, like ProtonVPN. To learn more about these, check out our guides on the best VPNs for digital nomads. We also have special guides to choose the best VPN for Cuba, the best VPN for Japan, and for many other countries. Keep your data safe wherever you are!