Hide your web traffic from Internet Service Providers (ISPs).Protect sensitive data transfers on public WiFi networks.However, if you plan on using your VPN for streaming, torrenting, or handling sensitive data, it’s absolutely worth paying for a premium VPN subscription. In short: a handful of free VPNs are safe to use in limited circumstances. This is impressive for a free app, but the paid version of Windscribe offers more than ten times as many servers and unblocks 32 Netflix regions. Out of all the free VPNs we’ve tested, only Windscribe Free consistently streams multiple Netflix regions at reasonably fast speeds. However, you’ll be limited to a small monthly data allowance, and you’ll be restricted when it comes to speed, streaming, and torrenting. The very best free VPNs securely encrypt your data transfers and hide your IP address, which can be enough if you only need a VPN for very casual use. However, not all free VPN services are bad. If you plan to use a VPN regularly, it’s worth paying for a high-quality premium VPN service. Premium VPNs are almost always faster, more secure, and have more servers than their free equivalents.Īdditionally, paid-for VPNs unblock more streaming services, offer unlimited data usage, and have a range of extra privacy and security features.īy contrast, many popular free VPNs are ineffective or limited at the very least. Many of the most-downloaded free VPN apps on the Google Play Store even have suspicious links to Chinese companies. We’ve discovered dozens of popular free VPNs that are essentially proxy services: they reroute your web traffic, but they don’t encrypt your data. Sources: 1 Global Mobile VPN Report, 2 Free VPN Ownership Investigation, 3 Free VPN Risk Index: Android Apps The chart below illustrates some of the key findings of our free VPN investigations: Since 2016, we’ve tested more than 150 free VPNs and found that 77% had privacy and security risks. It’s also very rare for a 100% free VPN to unblock popular streaming services. They often use weak encryption, have slow speeds, and leak your IP or DNS data. They generate income by running invasive advertisements or – in the worst cases – logging and selling user data to third parties.Īside from their privacy and security risks, most 100% free VPNs are simply less effective, too. The worst VPN services are usually completely free to use. You’ll typically get a limited number of servers and a monthly data cap of 10GB or less.Īs a result, these free VPNs also tend to have slower speeds and unblock fewer streaming services. ‘Freemium’ VPNs usually offer a restricted version of the premium service.įreemium VPNs often use the infrastructure of a premium VPN, but with major restrictions on its functionality. When you use the free version of these apps, your VPN use is essentially subsidized by premium subscribers, so the company doesn’t have to monetize the free VPN directly. The safest free VPNs are limited versions of paid-for services like Windscribe, TunnelBear, and Proton VPN. It costs money to support a server network and run a secure VPN service, which is why free VPNs are usually very limited or offer inadequate privacy and security.ĭue to the extensive resources required, it simply isn’t possible to match the best VPN services completely for free. However, they are almost always inferior products compared to their paid equivalents. Just like paid VPN services, free VPNs come in a wide spectrum of quality. Some are 100% free, while others are limited ‘freemium’ versions of premium services. You can also find free VPN services advertised online and in app stores, which can be a tempting alternative. Most of the VPNs we recommend in this list are premium services, which means you’ll have to pay a subscription fee in order to use them properly. But, you can reduce the monthly price by paying an upfront yearly/multi-year subscription fee. The downside is the much higher cost over time. Paying each month lets you switch VPNs easily, with a smaller financial loss if your VPN is no longer satisfactory. If this is your budget, you’ll have to decide whether you can afford the expensive initial cost of a better VPN.Įxpensive: Generally, the very best VPNs cost $12.00 or more per month. For this price, you can either get a top VPN on a long-term plan, or a mediocre VPN on a short-term plan. Mid-Range: The majority of VPNs cost around $6.00 a month. While we do recommend some budget VPNs, many cheap VPNs come with fewer features and under perform in several testing areas. The main drawback is that if the product gets worse over time, you won’t be able to get your money back. The cost of a VPN varies by quality and subscription length, but you can expect to spend between $2.00 to $13.00 per month for a paid-for VPN service.Ĭheap: To get a good VPN for roughly $2.00 a month, you’ll have to pay for at least two years upfront.
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