Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs — Which to Choose in 2024 and Why?

Reading time: 9 min

  • Osama Zahid

    Written by Osama Zahid Cybersecurity Specialist

  • Justyn Newman

    Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Lead Cybersecurity Editor

Why should you pay for a premium VPN when there are so many free options? There are actually many downsides to using a free VPN, while getting a paid VPN provides various advantages that make it worth the cost.

In this article, I’ll highlight the key differences between free and paid VPNs to help you decide which option is better. I’ll cover how well they perform at streaming, which option is more secure, which provides faster connection speeds, and more to ensure you can make an informed decision. Editor’s Note: We value our relationship with our readers, and we strive to earn your trust through transparency and integrity. We are in the same ownership group as some of the industry-leading products reviewed on this site: ExpressVPN, Cyberghost, Private Internet Access, and Intego. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.

Quick Summary: Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs

The following table demonstrates the main differences you’ll experience when using free PVNs compared to free VPNs:

Free Paid
Security and Privacy Have weaker encryption standards and don’t have no-logs policies, meaning your activity won’t be private Enforce strict no-logs policies and safeguard online activity using impenetrable industry-leading encryption standards
Servers Limited server variety, leading to frequent overcrowding Many server options, ensuring you can always find an uncrowded server
Streaming Rarely work with any popular streaming platforms Reliably maintain lag-free streams on major streaming platforms like Netflix, Max, and more
Connection Speeds Significantly slower connection speeds than baseline values Connection speeds are nearly as fast as baseline values
Customer Support Slow customer support that’s often limited to email or online knowledge bases Highly responsive support via 24/7 live chat and multiple other channels

Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs: Complete Breakdown of Differences

Security and Privacy

Securing online activity and staying anonymous are key reasons people use VPNs, but you should note that it isn’t always possible with a free VPN. Although some ‘freemium’ versions of free apps maintain the same levels of protection as their paid counterparts, most free VPNs don’t prioritize your security.

Free VPNs either use weak encryption or don’t encrypt your traffic, exposing your activity to anyone trying to spy on what you’re doing. Additionally, most free VPNs don’t have no-logs policies, meaning they will likely log what you’re doing online, thus compromising your privacy.

In contrast, the top paid VPNs always provide impenetrable security. They use industry-leading encryption standards, like AES 256-bit, to safeguard your traffic and ensure no one can see your online activity. Plus, all worthwhile paid VPNs enforce strict no-logs policies, meaning your activity never gets logged.

Screenshot showing how ExpressVPN doesn't keep any logs

None of your information gets logged when using a reliable paid VPN

Some of the top VPNs even go a step further. For instance, I found during tests that ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology makes it impossible for the service to keep logs of your activity. The servers are RAM-based and are rebooted regularly, meaning they’re incapable of storing any data for long.

Server Variety

Server variety is among the biggest compromises of a free VPN. Free apps usually provide very limited server networks. For instance, Proton VPN’s free plan provides you with the same security features as its paid plan. However, it only lets you connect to limited servers in the US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. You also can’t choose a location manually and must always rely on the Quick Connection feature.

Screenshot showing how you can't manually choose a server when using Proton VPN's free plan

You must rely on the Quick Connect button if you have Proton VPN’s free plan

The small server variety means a free VPN’s servers are often overcrowded, causing issues while connecting and significantly reducing connection speeds. Also, the limited options make it hard to find a nearby location, meaning your connection may be even slower if you’re connecting from a faraway location.

In contrast, premium VPNs always provide massive server networks. For instance, Private Internet Access (PIA) has a network of 35,000+ servers in 91 countries. It’s also one of the cheapest VPNs available, making this a great value. This enormous server variety ensures you never experience crowding and always get a fast and stable nearby connection.

Streaming Capability

Streaming capability is vastly different between free and paid VPNs. Most free VPNs don’t work with popular streaming platforms like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and others. This is likely because streaming platforms quickly detect and block the limited servers they provide.

Streaming isn’t even guaranteed when using ‘freemium’ versions of paid VPNs. For example, while Proton VPN guarantees that paid subscriptions will work with Netflix US and other major streaming platforms, there’s no guarantee that the free servers will.

Screenshot showing that Proton VPN free isn't guaranteed to work with streaming services

Online streaming is difficult with free VPNs

On the other hand, the top paid VPNs reliably work with a majority of streaming platforms. Apps like CyberGhost even have specialized servers that are optimized to ensure lag-free streams on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and other streaming websites. You can easily find them in the VPN app with a few taps or clicks.

CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers deliver buffer-free UHD streams

CyberGhost’s streaming-optimized servers deliver buffer-free UHD streams

Connection Speeds

Connection speeds vary significantly when comparing free and paid VPNs. With top premium VPNs like ExpressVPN, you’ll get speeds close to baseline values. During tests, I connected to ExpressVPN servers in multiple countries, including the US, UK, Germany, and Australia. The average speed drop was only 15% compared to my baseline connection speed.

Speeds remain consistently fast on all ExpressVPN servers

Other premium VPNs perform similarly well, meaning you can expect lag-free streaming, fast downloads, and smooth web browsing while using any of the top VPNs.

Unfortunately, speeds are much slower on a free VPN due to various reasons. Among the key reasons is that VPN providers often intentionally limit speeds on their free servers to entice people into buying the premium version of their VPN.

Crowding is another reason why free VPNs are usually much slower than paid ones. Since so many people connect to the same server, it becomes really congested, leading to a much slower connection.

With this in mind, it’s best to consider a premium VPN for playing games like Call of Duty: Warzone, watching shows online, making video calls, and doing anything else that requires a fast and stable connection.

Customer Support

Having responsive customer support for a VPN is critical, as you may have questions or run into issues while using the apps. Unfortunately, most free VPNs offer poor support. You can contact support via slow email support, and sometimes, you are limited to using the knowledge base to figure out a solution to your problem.

‘Freemium’ options like hide.me’s free plan include live chat support, making them good choices if having responsive support is a priority for you and you want a free VPN.

hide.me free users can contact live chat support

hide.me free users can contact live chat support

Thankfully, every top premium VPN comes with multiple responsive support channels. These include 24/7 live chat, faster email support, and highly detailed knowledge bases. This variety of support options ensures you quickly get help whenever needed. While testing CyberGhosts live chat support, I got a helpful answer to my question within minutes.

CyberGhost’s live chat always provides useful responses

CyberGhost’s live chat always provides useful responses

How Does a Free VPN Make Money?

Free VPN services sound attractive because they offer basic privacy and security at no cost. However, many free VPN providers profit from their users by selling data, serving targeting ads, or upselling them into premium upgrades. While these methods help sustain the service, some might compromise user privacy and security.

Selling Data

One of the biggest risks of using a free VPN is that it may sell your data. Since most free VPNs don’t have no-logs policies, they’re free to store your data and activity. They later sell this data to data brokering companies, exposing your online activity, habits, and various other personal details.

Ads

Free VPNs often bombard users with ads. Even if the VPN is safe and has servers where you need them, they may constantly disrupt the experience by requiring you to watch an ad. Some don’t even let you connect until you’ve watched a bunch of ads to increase your bandwidth allowance.

Upselling

Most free VPNs constantly attempt to upsell their users. You’ll get a pop-up asking you to subscribe whenever you connect, change a server, or adjust the settings. This quickly becomes annoying, as you often have to close many upsell pop-ups before you can even connect to the VPN.

What VPN Should You Choose?

All things considered, picking a paid VPN is the best overall choice. Choosing a premium option ensures you get unbreakable security, superfast connection speeds, and a massive server network. Plus, the best premium VPNs include useful extra features like obfuscation and multi-hop to add more layers of protection to your online activity.

However, if you’re set on using a free option, choose a reliable ‘freemium’ VPN, which offers the same protection as its paid counterpart. Of course, some features will be restricted on the free plan, but ‘freemium’ VPNs are much better than the strictly free apps, as they deliver better performance and won’t sell your data to third parties.

FAQs on Free vs Paid VPNs

Are free VPNs safe?

The majority of free VPNs aren’t safe because they sell your data and don’t protect your online activity. If safety is important, ensuring you get a top premium VPN with unbreakable encryption and a strict no-logs policy is always best.

Is there a good free VPN?

Some ‘freemium’ VPNs offered by paid VPN providers are decent. They restrict some features, but you’ll still get similar security as the paid option, decent connection speeds, and some useful extra features.

Is it worth paying for a VPN?

Yes, getting a paid VPN is worth it. Paid VPNs provide impenetrable security, superfast connection speeds that are nearly as fast as baseline speeds, responsive customer support, and many other benefits that make them worthwhile.

What is the best overall VPN?

While there are many worthwhile paid VPNs, I consider ExpressVPN the best overall choice. It delivers top-grade protection, has a strict no-logs policy, maintains lightning-fast connection speeds, and has a massive network of 3,000+ servers in 105 countries.

Free vs Paid VPNs: Know the Differences and Make the Right Choice

In conclusion, getting a paid VPN is always the better choice. For a reasonable price, you’ll get airtight security, much faster connection speeds, more servers to choose from, and responsive support that’s available whenever you need help.

If a paid subscription is an option, consider a ‘freemium’ VPN offered by paid VPN providers. They may restrict some in-app features and have slower speeds, but they ensure your online security is equally good as it would be with a paid VPN.

We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research, and also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Osama Zahid
Written By Osama Zahid
Osama Zahid is a Writer at WizCase. His forte is antivirus software, and he has written numerous reviews, comparisons, and guides on various cybersecurity products during his time at WizCase. Always on top of the latest software developments, he frequently runs tests to ensure that the information he presents is accurate and up-to-date. Prior to joining WizCase, Osama spent close to a decade writing about a wide range of topics, including AI, cybersecurity, computer hardware, and more. When he isn't sharing his expertise through his writing, he likes to polish his coding skills, head out for late night runs, or immerse himself in his favorite games.
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