Best Free VPN Trials 2026
We have tried and tested the best free VPNs for our readers and present the most popular VPN services in a user-friendly list, based on speed, security and reliability. Unfortunately, there are no free lunches, instead we recommend that you will take advantage of the best free VPN trials and money back guarantees.
Remember: If You're Not Paying For It, You Become The Product!
Editor's Choice 2026Save 85%
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78% of our users choose Private Internet Access$11.67From $1.79Visit WebsiteSave 85%
$13.27From $1.99Visit WebsiteSave 70%3
$9.97From $2.99Visit WebsiteSave 80%
$14.95From $2.99Visit WebsiteSave 75%
$13.96From $3.49Visit WebsiteSave 85%
$10.60From $1.59Visit WebsiteSave 84%
$18.69From $2.99Visit Website
1- Try it with a 30-day money-back guarantee
- Voted Best VPN 2026
- High-speed servers
- Ad-blocker feature
- Simple installation and easy to use
78% of our users choose Private Internet Access$11.67From $1.79Visit WebsiteSave 85%- 7 simultaneous VPN connections allowed with each plan
- Extreme speeds
- No-logs policy
- 45-day money-back guarantee
$13.27From $1.99Visit WebsiteSave 70%3- The Premium VPN: Swiss Quality and Privacy
- User-friendly apps for all major operating systems
- Comes from the brains behind the super-secure ProtonMail
- Open source, which means the source code is publicly available and anyone can verify its security
$9.97From $2.99Visit WebsiteSave 80%- Save 75% & Get 4 months FREE!
- Ultra-fast servers in 105 countries
- Comes with easy-to-use apps for every device under the sun
- Decent customer support via chat 24/7
$14.95From $2.99Visit WebsiteSave 75%- Built-in ad and malware blocking
- 6400+ servers in 111 countries
- Ultra fast with absolutely no logs policy
- Secure AES 256-bit encryption
$13.96From $3.49Visit WebsiteSave 85%- Encrypt your connection & leave no digital footprints
- OpenVPN and IKEv2 protocols available
- Interruption-free connections on any device
- Real-time protection from malware & online threats
$10.60From $1.59Visit WebsiteSave 84%- One plan for an unlimited number of devices
- Great value for money
- CleanWeb Ad-blocker
- 30-day money-back guarantee
$18.69From $2.99Visit WebsiteSome Important Notes About Free VPNs
More employees are working from home than ever before. Add to that increasing Internet privacy issues and personal data breaches, and it is obvious why more and more people are looking for a way to stay safe online.
The best solution? A VPN service that can give you better online privacy and security.
Not all VPNs are created equal, however, especially if you’re looking to take advantage of a free service. So what exactly should you look out for in a VPN service?
Whether for work or entertainment, we usually test 4 essential features:
• Solid security
• Multiple VPN protocols
• An extensive list of server locations
• High bandwidth for efficient connections and blazing fast speeds
Robust Security and Multiple VPN Protocols
Needless to say, you need your VPN provider to offer robust encryption and security protocols. Most free VPN services provide a PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunnelling Protocol) which is the easiest to set up and has much lower transmission, hardware, and administrative overhead costs. It is not the best option though, as it is now considered outdated and has been racked with security issues in the past. On the other hand, most paid services such as Private Internet Access and CyberGhost utilize a myriad of VPN protocols such as L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) and IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) which are considered way more secure than PPTP. Only a VPN with a strict no-logs policy can guarantee that none of your data is stored or sold.
Greater Bandwidth and Extensive Server Locations
Another important factor is the number of server bandwidth per user, which directly impacts your connection speed. Let’s say for example that there are 50 people sharing a 500mbps server, this means each person only gets 10mbps! This is why paid VPNs are so much faster because they have the funds necessary to invest in infrastructure and offer more server bandwidth per user. Free services cannot afford the same investment, resulting in a less secure and way slower connection.
Speaking of funds and infrastructure, paid VPN services also have a more extensive list of server locations. The number of server locations is crucial, because the closer you are to a server, the faster your connection will be. Only the best paid VPNs can give you speeds that are comparable to your normal connection.
Almost every free VPN comes with a big catch
These companies cannot offer a completely free service that compares to that of their paid for competitors. Mostly, so-called "free VPNs" will limit your bandwidth, which will result in slow connection speeds with a very limited number of available server locations.
In addition, Users even reported that free VPN services stole their personal information and sold it to third parties. Even without these dark practices, due to the fact that completely free VPN services have outdated infrastructure in place, they could endanger your privacy, thereby completely missing the whole point of using a VPN in the first place.
So how do free VPNs make money? As with any free service, you have to pay for it in some way. Their business model includes a combination of annoying ads coupled with a very limited service (which means disrupted, slow connections) to bully users into upgrading to their paid service.
Free VPNs are quite limited. Here is what you should do...
Do this if you want to use a VPN for free without compromising on speed and security:
1. Visit the Private Internet Access or CyberGhost website. Both of these are our most recommended VPNs.
2. Download their software and make use of the money-back guarantee. You can use these premium VPN services for an entire month risk-free. We tested the guarantee our self – there’s no catch.
This is your best bet if you only need a VPN for a short period while traveling without having to spend any money. Private Internet Access’s security is tough to beat. Unlike most free VPNs that will slow down your internet speed, Private Internet Access allows you to surf freely without any interruptions or lags. PIA also uses the most stringent security protocols and has a zero-log policy so your private data is 100% secure.
Of course, neither Private Internet Access nor CyberGhost are free forever, but there’s a lot you can do with them in 30 days. And if you decide it's worth a few bucks a month, these companies offer the most generous discounts on monthly plans you can find anywhere.
The Bottom Line On Free VPNs
While there are some OK free VPNs that don't risk your privacy, even the safest free services can’t compete with even the cheapest premium VPNs. Paid for VPNs offer totally superior data protection, download speeds and are the only option if you want to experience normal connections without buffering and hassle.
Our recommended premium VPNs all offer free trials and money-back guarantees, so you can trial them without risking a cent.
Check out our list of the best premium VPNs, where you can find the best offers for ridiculously low prices!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are free VPNs really free?
No. You will end up paying in one way or another. In this case, you could be paying with your personal data - Many so-called "free" VPNs turn out to be data farms that track, collect, and sell your information to third parties. Free VPN services also limit your bandwidth to "force" you into upgrading your plan. And what if you need help? Don't expect 24/7 customer assistance, or any support, for that matter.
Are free VPNs safe?
Many of these "free" companies insert tracking cookies into your device and track your browsing activities which defeats the whole point of having a VPN in the first place. As if that's not worrying enough, free VPNs have also been known to sell your bandwidth. This means that thousands of internet users can do whatever they want using your bandwidth, and if that includes illegal things, you risk getting yourself implicated. So no, using free VPNs is not always safe.
Is it okay to leave my VPN on at all times?
Of course, but it also really depends on the circumstances. It doesn't make sense to keep it on 24/7 if you're only using your VPN to log into your bank account. However, if you're worried about hackers and snoopers getting their hands on sensitive information, it would be best to leave your VPN switched on all the time.