The Best Free VPNs for 2025

Wed, July 2, 2025 at 2:32 PM UTC

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There's no getting around the fact that you need to pay to get the and features. That said, there are still several free options that cover the basics. Don't worry; you don't have to dig through all the fine print to find the best no-cost VPN. In addition to our usual VPN testing, which we've been conducting for , we've done the research to bring you this list of the best free VPNs that don't compromise your data or security. Proton VPN is our top choice for free and paid VPNs, so you really can't go wrong with it. Still, it isn't your only option. Read on for all of our top picks, followed by what to look for when choosing a free VPN.

Is There a 100% Free VPN?

Few VPNs offer a genuinely free option, while others offer free trials. The services that claim to offer completely free, unrestricted versions are . Running a VPN requires a monetary investment, so it should raise a red flag when a company offers a product and asks for nothing in return. The reality is that these lesser-known free services often log and sell the data of users who connect to the network. Spyware, malware, and other forms of malicious software are sometimes packaged alongside the freeware as well.

It's better to try a trusted service's free version or trial. The most common iterations we've seen are three-, five-, or seven-day free trials, after which a subscription automatically kicks in or your access becomes restricted. However, some VPNs offer an entry-level free tier that doesn't require you to sign up for a premium subscription.

We cataloged those completely free VPN apps and tested them to see which ones offer the most premium experience without the price tag. These aren't the only free services out there, but they are the best we've reviewed so far.

That said, every VPN listed does put some restrictions on its free version. Some services limit the bandwidth you can use in a given period. Some keep the number of simultaneous connections low, generally limiting them to one. Some restrict you to certain servers, meaning you can't jump to a different server to try and increase performance or easily —more on this below.

Paying for a VPN subscription typically unlocks all these features and often adds additional sweeteners unavailable at the free level. You tend to get access to the entire server network, unlock advanced features and settings, remove bandwidth restrictions, and can connect to the service with more than one device.

Do Free VPNs Work With Netflix?

Rarely. VPNs can bypass oppressive censorship by tunneling out to a VPN server beyond the control of despots. This practice is called location spoofing. That same feature can also be used to unavailable in your country. Overseas, Netflix subscribers see shows and films that don't appear in the US because Netflix has specific deals to distribute this content in different areas.

Connecting to a specific region will allow you to access that country's content catalog on any streaming service or site. Spoofing works on a wide variety of services like MLB, BBC, NHK, and even social media sites. The looming has people looking for VPNs in nearby countries to circumvent the ban. There are numerous other examples, and many of them—especially Netflix—try to block VPN use to enforce those regional streaming deals.

Paid VPNs have become adept at accessing regional content. Thanks to vast server networks, these services can ensure access to Netflix. It's not feasible for a streaming service to blocklist or block every single IP address, especially since a VPN can change configurations on the fly and replace the compromised address.

With a free VPN, you're often restricted to a handful of servers. It's easier for a streaming company to block those, so you'll often find that you can't use a free VPN to reliably access regional content. Even if you manage to get access, you may find your bandwidth too limited to stream content. One option to get around a Netflix blockade is to purchase a static IP address, which typically requires a paid subscription in addition to the cost of the static IP.

In short, is hard, and doing it with a free VPN is even harder.

Are Free VPNs Safe?

The services we tested are safe, but free VPNs have some historical since not all providers have always been the best actors. Some VPNs may have unseemly, if not outright malicious, practices. Figuring out who is and is not on the level is especially difficult with VPNs, as much of their operation isn't visible to the outside world.

When we review VPNs, we review each service's privacy policy. This is a good way to find out what information the service collects, if any. Ideally, a company should say it does not collect any logs on user activity. We highly recommend reading the privacy policy and terms of service for every VPN, particularly free ones, before committing.

These documents can sometimes be challenging to read, perhaps intentionally so. As part of , we send questionnaires to each VPN service to put companies on the record about specific privacy issues. We rely on companies to act in good faith when we ask them questions and for third-party researchers to ferret out the companies that don't.

The best free VPNs have undergone extensive to prove their trustworthiness. Having an audit isn't a guarantee that a company is doing good work, since they often set the parameters of the audit. A meaningful audit is a good sign, though. TunnelBear VPN, for instance, has committed to releasing third-party audits each year and has made good on that promise.

Are Free VPNs Any Good?

Yes, if you can accept the service's limitations. Regardless of which free VPN you pick, it's not going to be as streamlined or easy to use as the premium version. For one, you'll likely experience performance issues. Servers can be too crowded to provide reasonable speeds, the VPN provider may not allow free users to access servers where you are, or the data limit will be too low for the service to be usable. Free VPNs also lack the security features we like to see among the best VPNs. You won't find advanced features like multi-hop connections, and you likely won't have access to the full breadth of security protocols.

If you understand the caveats, then there are some free VPNs worth trying. Proton VPN is notable as the only VPN we've yet reviewed that does not place a limit on user bandwidth. It's a good long-term choice. TunnelBear VPN limits free users to just 2GB per month, but does allow free users to access all its servers and connect an unlimited number of devices. Windscribe VPN is a strong choice for free plans because it has all the same features as the regular client, save for a 10GB per month data limit if you use an email to sign up or 2GB without.

Importantly, all three of these services have released the results of third-party audits. Audits show that a company is publicly staking its money and reputation. For all VPN products we've reviewed, we've spoken to their representatives and found their privacy policies at least acceptable upon examination.

What Is the Best Free VPN?

Every free VPN service has some catch, though Proton VPN gives you the most flexibility. There is plenty of variation among free VPN services, so it's a good idea to try a few and figure out which one you like best. A great VPN service should be easy to use and understand and shouldn't throw up too many barriers, even when using a free subscription.However, VPNs alone won't protect you against every danger prowling the web. We also strongly recommend using a to create unique and complex passwords for each site and service we use, enabling wherever it's available, and using . Not all these options have free versions, but you can mix and match to find the most affordable combination.

Chris Stobing contributed to this article.

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