The best VPNs with free trials in 2026
Several top VPN services come with options to try before you commit.
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Nearly all the best VPNs
offer some sort of test-drive, whether it's a limited free trial, a forever-free plan or a guaranteed refund up to a month after subscribing. You can take advantage of these features to see if you like a VPN enough to use it long-term.
Here, I'm focusing on the best VPNs with free trials. Then I'll cover VPNs with forever free plans, and finally how you can reliably use a refund guarantee as a free trial period.
In this story
TL;DR: The best VPNs with free trials
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ExpressVPNis the best VPN with a free trial, letting all mobile users try it for seven days at no cost.
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Other VPNs with great free trials include Surfshark, NordVPN, CyberGhostand Private Internet Access.
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The best VPN forever-free plan comes from hide.me,though Windscribeand Proton VPNare close runners-up.
Best VPNs with free trials: Specs comparison chart
| VPN |
Free trial |
Monthly price |
Best price |
| ExpressVPN |
7 days on mobile |
$12.95 |
$2.79/month for 28 months |
| Surfshark |
7 days on all platforms |
$15.45 |
$1.78/month for 27 months |
| NordVPN |
3 days on Android |
$12.99 |
$3.09/month for 27 months |
| CyberGhost |
24 hours on Windows and macOS, 3 days on Android, 7 days on iOS |
$12.99 |
$1.75/month for 26 months |
| Private Internet Access |
7 days on mobile |
$11.95 |
$1.59/month for 39 months |
| hide.me |
Forever free plan |
$11.99 |
$2.69/month for 26 months |
| Windscribe |
Forever free plan |
$9.00 |
$5.75/month for 12 months |
| Proton VPN |
Forever free plan |
$9.99 |
$2.99/month for 24 months |
The best VPNs with free trials for 2026
Free trial:7 days on mobile; 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
Monthly price:$12.95
Best deal:$2.79 per month for 28 months
Read our full ExpressVPN review .
ExpressVPN is the best VPN that includes a free trial of its full plan. If you compare just the free trials on this list, CyberGhost would probably come out ahead — but I prefer ExpressVPN as an overall service, so I'm ranking it higher.
In fact, ExpressVPN makes a strong case for being the best VPN overall, especially for users new to the VPN world. For starters, its interface almost literally couldn't be simpler. By the end of the seven-day free trial on iOS and Android, you'll probably have already figured out every aspect of ExpressVPN that matters to you. The company's apps on macOS and Windows are also excellent, though ExpressVPN doesn't offer its free trial on desktop platforms.
Take some time during the trial period to test ExpressVPN's speeds and location changing powers. All its servers run quickly across the world, no matter how far from your real location. When I last tested it on Netflix, it successfully unblocked foreign streaming libraries 14 out of 15 times.
- Fast download speeds
- Great unblocking record
- Good app design
- Not many features outside VPN
Free trial:7 days, plus 30-day refund guarantee
Monthly price:$15.45
Best deal:$1.78 per month for 27 months
Read our full Surfshark review .
I frequently call Surfshark the fastest VPN, but VPN speeds are highly subjective. They don't just depend on the VPN's own infrastructure, but on your internet connection and operating system, plus random fluctuations across the entire web.
That's why Surfshark's universal, seven-day free trial is so great. Not only is it available at the same duration on all platforms, but it also lets you experience Surfshark's speed for yourself. Though it's always been fast in my tests, there's always the chance that you'll be the one of the few it doesn't work for. If you're looking for a fast VPN, the free trial tells you right away whether Surfshark is the one.
Other excellent points of Surfshark are its CleanWeb ad blockers, its wide range of server locations and its option for double-hop connections. One thing to note: the free trial starts from Surfshark.com, not from within its apps. Also, you'll need to provide a payment method.
- Very fast speeds
- Split tunneling on all apps
- Everlink automatically reconnects if VPN connection drops
- Single-month pricing is excessive
- Lots of popups on desktop
- NoBorders Mode useful but can turn on needlessly
Free trial:3 days on Android; 30 day refund on all plans
Monthly price:$12.99
Best deal:$3.09 per month for 27 months
Read our full NordVPN review .
NordVPN doesn't have a very good free trial, but it's a good enough VPN that I'm putting it on the list anyway. The free trial is only for Android users, only lasts three days and only includes NordVPN itself.
You'll miss out on many of its most interesting features, like the Threat Protection malware blocker and the Dark Web Monitor that looks for your information in data breaches. However, you will get three days of access to NordVPN's entire server network, with locations in 117 countries — the largest list I'm currently aware of.
It also includes specialized servers, like double-hop VPN paths and Onion over VPN servers that run your connection through the hyper-private Tor network. If three days is not enough time, all NordVPN plans come with a 30-day refund promise you can use for further testing.
- Very fast speeds
- Wide server selection
- Hard to get best pricing deals
- Apps have some annoyances
Free trial:24 hours on Windows and macOS, 3 days on Android, 7 days on iOS; 30 day refund on all plans
Monthly price:$12.99
Best deal:$1.75 per month for 26 months
Read our full CyberGhost review .
There are better VPNs on the list, but CyberGhost easily has the best free trial. To start with, it doesn't require a payment method to initiate, so you don't have to worry about getting charged if you forget to cancel.
It's also available on four different operating systems: iOS (for seven days), Android (for three days) and macOS and Windows (for one day). The free trial is a complete version of the VPN, so you'll get to try out everything that makes CyberGhost unique.
That includes the deep Smart Rules automation system, targeted streaming servers and relatively good speeds. Streaming is CyberGhost's best point; it got a perfect score in my last unblocking test.
- Automation features
- Servers for specific streaming platforms
- No payment method required for free trial
- Drops speeds about 25 percent worldwide
- Connections sometimes lag
Free trial:7 days on iOS and Android; 30 day refund on all plans
Monthly price:$11.95
Best deal:$1.59 per month for 39 months
Read our full Private Internet Access review .
Although I'm not wholly positive about Private Internet Access as a VPN, largely due to inconsistent speeds and some performance issues in the app, I can't complain about its seven-day free trial on Android and iOS. This does require a payment method, but it's easy to set up, as all you have to do is download the app from the system-appropriate app store.
My complaints about Private Internet Access mainly have to do with speed and convenience. I've got no qualms about its core security, and it's also quite nice that it comes with split tunneling for every type of device.
If you like the free trial, you can get an extremely cheap three-year subscription for around a dollar-fifty per month. This includes all its features, including the effective PIA MACE ad-blocker.
- Split tunneling on all apps
- Very affordable
- Inconsistent speeds
- Can't always change streaming location
- Excessive use of virtual servers
Near misses: VPNs with free plans, not free trials
The VPNs in this section don't have free trials, but they're still services that rank highly in my tests. Instead of a limited free period, these VPNs have indefinitely free plans with restricted features, supplemented by paid plans that include money-back guarantees,
Free trial:Fully free plan; 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
Monthly price:$11.99
Best deal:$2.69 per month for 26 months
The first of our VPN picks that have forever free plans instead of free trials, hide.me is the free VPN service that gives you the most. It's not flashy, with few exciting features to boast of, but it works well and can be used indefinitely with no data caps. All you have to do is download the app and start using it — no payment method needed here. The free plan gives you access to seven server locations in Europe and the U.S.
- Fully free with no data limits
- Fast apps with great interfaces
- Free IPv6 support
- Free plan has limited locations
- Claims to cap speeds after you use 10GB in a month
Free trial:Fully free plan; 7-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
Monthly price:$9.00
Best deal:$5.75 per month for 12 months
If you find yourself turned off by the marketing and app design of most VPNs, Windscribe may be for you. It backs up its counterculture attitude with a solidly built app and worthwhile features — for example, its R.O.B.E.R.T. is one of the most customizable content blockers on any VPN. It also includes the second-best free plan on the market, with 10GB of data per month and 10 server locations available. You can also tweet about Windscribe to get an extra 5GB added to your monthly data cap.
- Fast and private
- All features at least partly available for free
- Build your own paid plan
- Awkward app design
- Limited ability to use some features
- Monthly data caps
Free trial:Fully free plan; 30-day money-back guarantee on paid plans
Monthly price:$9.99
Best deal:$2.99 per month for 24 months
Read our full Proton VPN review .
Proton VPN is the best overall VPN service, and its free plan is simultaneously one of the best and worst things about it — best because you can use it in perpetuity with no data caps, and worst because you can't choose your own server location. Although nearly useless for streaming, Proton's free plan is ideal for basic security, and for determining if you like the VPN enough to pay for it.
- Excellent download speeds
- Perfect unblocking score
- Relatively cheap monthly price
- Can't choose server on free plan
- Expensive long-term plans
How we test VPNs with free trials
We put every VPN through a rigorous testing process designed to see how well it works in all areas: speed, streaming, extra features, security, privacy and more. You can find the full process in our how we test VPNs article.
You can run these tests yourself at home. You don't even have to fork over any money for good, given how many VPNs come with no-strings-attached refund guarantees — it's practically expected that you'll use them as free trials. The steps are simple:
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Download a VPN and pay for one month of service.
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Turn off automatic renewal so you aren't charged at the end of the month.
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Use the VPN and decide whether you want to continue.
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If you don't like it, cancel your subscription and contact customer support to get your money back.
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If you do like it, wait until the end of your month, then subscribe again.
Just make sure you know exactly when the refund period ends, as it's not always 30 days. Windscribe, for example, only gives you seven.
VPN free trial FAQs
Which VPNs have a 7-day trial without a credit card?
Several VPNs offer seven-day free trials without requiring a payment method, including Surfshark (on all OSes), ExpressVPN and Private Internet Access (on mobile devices) and CyberGhost (seven days on iOS only, shorter on other platforms).
Which VPNs have a 30-day free trial?
No VPN offers a free 30-day trial unless you provide a payment method first. However, many VPNs have 30-day money-back guarantees you can request with no justification needed. These include Proton VPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, NordVPN, hide.me and Private Internet Access.
What is the best 100% free VPN?
The best free VPN plan is hide.me. It includes several useful server locations, doesn't impose hard data usage caps and never makes you look at ads. Proton VPN is a better service overall, but its free plan isn't quite as good.
What to consider when looking for a VPN with a free trial
The presence of a free trial is a good sign that a VPN is properly focused on its customers, but it's not enough by itself to recommend a service. When comparing several providers based on your free trial experience, keep the classic VPN buying advice in mind.
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Wait for the holidays.VPNs love to cut prices around holidays, from Christmas and New Years to less-expected events like Valentine's Day. If you're having trouble fitting a VPN into your budget, waiting for a holiday sale can save your life.
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Test speeds.Use a speed testing tool to see how fast the VPN runs in the locations where you want to use it. Remember that download speed is important for browsing and streaming, upload speed for posting and torrenting, and low latency for gaming and chatting.
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Don't believe the hype.Every VPN claims to be the fastest, the cheapest and the most secure. Generally, the support pages on a VPN's website tell the truth much more often than the front pages do.
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Beware of renewal price hikes.Lots of VPNs give you an incredibly sweet deal on your first multi-year plan, only to jack up the price on all future plans. Make sure the increased price fits your budget (or just create a new account and start again).
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Unblocking Netflix isn't as easy as you think.Changing your location to check out international streaming is a popular use for VPNs. While streaming sites regularly block access from VPN servers, the best VPNs work to stay ahead of those bans. If you like a VPN but it's not getting into your favorite site right now, wait a few days (or even just a few minutes) and try again.
Wrap up
VPN free trials are an excellent tool for determining which VPN subscription will get you the most benefit. They're mostly offered on mobile platforms, so if you expect to mainly use your VPN on a phone or tablet, you'll have plenty of good trials to choose from. If you'd rather go with an expert opinion instead of doing your own shopping, ExpressVPN is the best VPN with a true free trial, while Proton VPN, our top pick for the best VPN overall, has a permanent free plan.
Given how many VPNs come with no-strings-attached refund guarantees, it's practically expected that you'll use them as free trials. The steps are simple — just make sure you know exactly when the refund period ends, as it's not always 30 days. Windscribe, for example, only gives you seven.
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Download a VPN and pay for one month of service.
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Turn off automatic renewal so you aren't charged at the end of the month.
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Use the VPN and decide whether you want to continue.
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If you don't like it, cancel your subscription and contact customer support to get your money back.
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If you do like it, wait until the end of your month, then subscribe again.
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