The Best Really Free VPNs in 2024: Fast and Fully Safe to Use
Reading time: 17 min
Updated on December 09, 2024
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Fact-Checked by Justyn Newman Lead Cybersecurity Editor
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Reader's Comments 1
Did you know most free VPNs track your activity and can expose you to malware? While a few free VPNs are safe, they usually have slow connection speeds and limited bandwidth. This makes it really difficult to find a free VPN that provides strong security and good performance.
After extensively testing many free services, I’ve picked the best free VPNs you can get. They offer reliable security and ensure you remain anonymous. However, they’re a bit slower than premium competitors, have limited server options, and some impose data caps.
Premium VPNs are much better options for an unrestricted experience. They offer superfast speeds, global server networks, and airtight safety. Of the top premium VPNs, ExpressVPN is the best overall choice. It has a 7-day free trial on mobile and a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you get a full refund if unsatisfied. Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Quick Guide: The Best Free VPNs You Can Trust in 2024
- ExpressVPN — Offers unbreakable security, superfast speeds, and a vast network of 3,000+ servers across 105 countries.
- Proton VPN — Provides unlimited data with the free plan, but it doesn’t let you manually choose servers.
- hide.me — Has a free plan with 7 different server locations, but its connection speeds are slower than the rest.
- Hotspot Shield — Maintains fast speeds with the Catapult Hydra protocol, but its free plan only offers servers in 3 countries.
- Windscribe — Allows torrenting in the free plan but has a bandwidth cap of 10GB/month (2GB/month without an account).
The Best Free VPNs (Tested in 2024)
1. ExpressVPN — The #1 Overall VPN With Lightning-Fast Speeds and a Massive Server Network
Key Features:
- Offers unlimited data and bandwidth for streaming, gaming, and torrenting
- Comes with a global network of 3,000+ servers in 105 countries
- Ensures security through AES-256-bit encryption, a strict no-logs policy, obfuscation, Network Lock, and Advanced Protection
- Protects online activity on up to 8 devices simultaneously
- Has 24/7 support with live chat, email, FAQs, and video tutorials
- Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
ExpressVPN is the best VPN available in 2024, offering a vast network of 3,000+ servers across 105 countries. I tried various servers in the US, UK, Germany, and Australia, and ExpressVPN maintained superfast speeds in every test. My connection speed only slowed down by 15% compared to baseline values, even on long-distance connections.
The app’s fast connection speeds mean ExpressVPN is the perfect choice for gaming, torrenting, or streaming. During tests on popular streaming services, ExpressVPN successfully accessed Netflix US, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and other platforms.
ExpressVPN’s security is the best you can get with a VPN. It uses AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard traffic and has a strict no-logs policy, meaning no user activity or information gets logged. Plus, it has the following to add extra layers of protection:
- Advanced Protection — blocks malicious websites, tracks, and annoying ads.
- Network-wide obfuscation — masks your VPN traffic as regular traffic to bypass detection, making it the top VPN to use in China.
- Network Lock kill switch — blocks all traffic if the VPN disconnects, ensuring you remain anonymous.
- TrustedServer technology — RAM-based servers that are wiped clean with every reboot, ensuring no user data gets stored.
The only downside is that ExpressVPN doesn’t have a free plan, but you can try it on Android and iOS with its 7-day trial. The activation code you get for this trial also lets you activate ExpressVPN on other platforms, like Windows and macOS, for the trial duration.
ExpressVPN’s paid subscription can cost as low as /month if you get the 2-year + 4 months free plan. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee with each plan, letting you ask for a full refund if you’re unsatisfied with ExpressVPN.
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
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2. Proton VPN — A Reliable Free VPN for Safety and Privacy
Key Features:
- Works with various popular streaming platforms, like Netflix
- Offers unlimited data with the free plan
- Has free servers in 5 countries — Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the US
- Uses AES 256-bit encryption, leak protection, and a kill switch to ensure safety
- Compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, and more
- Provides email support for free users
Proton VPN is among the top free VPNs for safety. It comes from Proton, a company renowned for creating privacy-focused tools like Proton Mail and Proton Pass. Plus, it has a strict no-logs policy and is based in Switzerland, where there are no data retention laws. It also has the following to ensure security:
- AES 256-bit encryption — masks your online activity to ensure prying eyes can’t see what you’re doing.
- Kill switch — stops your internet if the VPN disconnects, ensuring you stay anonymous.
- Leak protection — keeps you from leaking identifying information like your IP address online.
Proton VPN’s free plan is an excellent choice for streaming if you’re close to a desired server — but unlike with ExpressVPN, you can’t select a server manually. It has servers in the US, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and Romania, which work well with local streaming platforms. During tests, there were no issues using the Netherlands server to access local Netflix and stream various shows.
In speed tests, Proton VPN’s free servers maintained a consistently fast connection. Connection speeds dropped by 20% on nearby servers, but this increased to up to 30% on long-distance connections like the US and Japan. The fast speeds and unlimited data make Proton VPN’s free plan a great choice for lag-free UHD streaming and uninterrupted browsing.
One downside is that the free plan only allows 1 device connection, but you can configure Proton VPN on your router to secure all devices. It’s one of the best ways to set up a VPN on your smart TV or game console.
You can easily use Proton VPN’s free plan after signing up for an account, and you can upgrade to a paid subscription for as low as $2.99/month to access all features. Plus, all plans are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you try Proton VPN risk-free.
3. hide.me — Offers Unlimited Data With the Free Plan
Key Features:
- Offers unlimited data with its free plan
- Provides free servers in Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and the US
- Ensures safety using AES 256-bit encryption, StealthGuard, and a no-logs policy
- Allows 1 device connection for free users
- Works with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and more
- Provides 24/7 live chat, even for free users
hide.me offers unlimited data with the free plan, letting you enjoy uninterrupted browsing, downloads, and streaming. The free plan lets you connect to 7 locations, including the US, UK, Netherlands, Switzerland, Finland, France, and Germany. However, you can’t manually choose a server and must rely on auto-connect if the servers are crowded or if you’ve used over 10GB.
Various features are restricted on the free plan, but hide.me still ensures safety using AES 256-bit encryption and the following:
- StealthGuard — binds specific apps to hide.me, so they won’t work unless the VPN is connected.
- Auto Connection — protects your device automatically when using unfamiliar or unsecured WiFi networks.
- Kill switch — stops all connectivity if the VPN drops, ensuring anonymity.
Note that speeds on hide.me’s free plan are slower than most competitors. Connection speeds get up to 60% slower than baseline values on long-distance servers. Thankfully, you can manually pick a nearby server to get faster connection speeds.
Many VPNs limit free users to email support, but I was pleased to see that hide.me provides live chat support to free users. I connected to an agent within a few minutes whenever I contacted support through this channel, and I always got helpful answers to my questions.
hide.me lets you use the free plan without signing up for an account, and you can get a paid subscription for as low as /month with the 2-year + 3 months plan. Plus, each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you try hide.me risk-free.
4. Hotspot Shield — Provides Some of the Fastest Speeds With the Catapult Hydra Protocol
Key Features:
- Maintains superfast speeds with its proprietary Catapult Hydra protocol
- Offers free servers in the US, UK, and Singapore
- Uses AES-256-bit encryption, no-log policy, and leak protection for security
- Allows 1 device connection on the free plan
- Works with Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Chrome
- Has email support and online guides for free users
Hotspot Shield’s Catapult Hydra protocol ensures fast speeds, even on the free plan. I tested its free US, UK, and Singapore servers, and the average speed drop was 30% compared to baseline values. The connection stayed fast enough for gaming and playing high-quality YouTube videos without any lag.
For security, Hotspot Shield uses AES 256-bit encryption to safeguard your traffic. Plus, it has the following extra features:
- Auto-protect — connects the VPN automatically when your device is on an unsecured WiFi network.
- Zero-log privacy policy — ensures no identifying information or browsing logs are stored on Hotspot Shield servers.
- Split tunneling (Smart VPN) — lets you choose which apps use the VPN tunnel.
One downside is that Hotspot Shield’s free plan is ad-supported, so you’ll have to watch pop-up ads to get more data. Thankfully, there’s no limit to how many ads you can watch, meaning you can have potentially unlimited data on Hotspot Shield’s free plan if you keep watching ads.
Besides the free plan, Hotspot Shield has a 7-day free trial of the premium version. Plus, you can get Hotspot Shield for $2.99/month with the 3-year plan if you decide to upgrade. Each paid plan has a 45-day money-back guarantee, letting you get a full refund if you’re unsatisfied.
5. Windscribe — Great Free VPN for Torrenting
Key Features:
- Provides 10GB of monthly data with an account (2GB without)
- Offers free servers in 10 different countries
- Maintains security using AES 256-bit encryption, a no-logs policy, and malware blocking
- Allows unlimited simultaneous device connections
- Works on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Fire Stick, and more
- Comes with email support and online guides for free users
Windscribe is among the few free VPNs that support P2P traffic, meaning you can use it to download torrents safely. I also found that it maintains decent connection speeds, with a 35% drop on nearby connections, increasing to up to 45% on long-distance servers. Nonetheless, it maintained a fast enough connection for lag-free streaming and fast downloads during tests.
You get a generous variety of 10 server locations with Windscribe’s free plan, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. Also, the app’s servers work well with streaming platforms — the free server in the UK can access Netflix UK, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer without issues.
Windscribe has many security features for a free VPN. Alongside the standard AES 256-bit encryption and no-logs policy, you’ll get R.O.B.E.R.T ad and malware blocking, a kill switch, leak protection, and an “Always on VPN” option.
One issue is that Windscribe’s free plan doesn’t offer unlimited data. You get 2GB/month without an account, but signing up lets you get 10GB/month of Windscribe data.
You can lift all data limits and server restrictions if you upgrade to any of Windscribe’s paid plans. While it’s not the cheapest monthly VPN available, it delivers decent value for money. Also, you can ask for a refund within 7 days of your purchase, as long as you’ve used less than 10GB of data.
Comparison Table: The Best Free & Paid VPNs in 2024
| 100% Free | Monthly Data | Speeds | Account Required | Server Countries | Device Connections | |
| ExpressVPN | ✘ | 7-day free trial for Android and iOS | Unlimited | Very Fast | 105 countries | 8 |
| Proton VPN | ✔ | Unlimited | Fast | Yes | 5 countries | 1 |
| hide.me | ✔ | Unlimited | Slow | Yes | 8 countries | 1 |
| Hotspot Shield | ✔ | Unlimited (ad-supported) | Fast | No | 3 countries | 1 |
| Windscribe | ✔ | 10GB (2GB without account) | Good | No | 10 countries | Unlimited |
Editor’s Note: Transparency is one of our core values at WizCase, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as ExpressVPN. However, this does not affect our review process, as we adhere to a strict testing methodology.
Free vs Freemium vs Paid VPNs: What’s the Difference?
Free vs Paid
While free VPNs are available without payment, they can have many issues. They’re often slow, have limited server networks, and offer poor security features. Additionally, many free VPNs are known to contain malware or tracking libraries. They may log your data and sell it to third parties.
In contrast, premium VPNs are much safer. They have strict no-logs policies and reliable security features to keep you safe and anonymous. You must pay for a subscription to use them, but this is often worthwhile, as you’ll get faster connection speeds, more servers, and airtight security.
The free VPNs listed above are “freemium” versions of premium VPNs that are much safer than most competitors.
Freemium
“Freemium” VPNs are free samples of premium VPNs built to promote the paid plans. Most of the top VPNs in 2024 provide them, and they’re worth getting if you aren’t sure about committing to a paid subscription. They restrict some features but are much safer than free alternatives that may compromise your privacy.
3 Free VPNs to Avoid and Why
Many highly rated VPNs on the Google Play or Apple App Stores aren’t fully trustworthy. Even if a VPN has many downloads and positive reviews, it’s still possible it has malware or steals your information. A study conducted by research agency CSIRO revealed that 75% of free VPNs have tracking libraries. With this in mind, you should avoid the following VPNs:
- Cross VPN — According to alerts from multiple antivirus services, Cross VPN could have malware like trojans.
- Betternet VPN — It’s marketed as a privacy-focused option, but Betternet was found to have multiple tracking libraries that log location data, device information, and more.
- SuperVPN — This is a popular VPN for Android, but SuperVPN is reported to have had millions of users’ data stolen, including credit card details, login credentials, location data, and more.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best Free VPNs in 2024
Many free VPNs promote themselves with positive reviews, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe. I extensively tested each VPN against strict standards and ranked them using the following criteria:
- Trustworthiness — I picked free VPNs from trustworthy companies that won’t log and sell your data for profit.
- Reasonable limitations — I chose free VPNs with reasonable data caps, server variety, and connection speeds, ensuring they don’t limit your experience too much.
- Security and privacy — I selected VPNs with AES 256-bit encryption, strict no-logs policies, and other safety features that’ll keep you safe and anonymous.
- Device compatibility — I found VPNs that work on all major platforms, with some even allowing router configuration.
- Customer support — I chose VPNs that offer support to free users via email or other channels.
FAQs About Free VPNs
Are free VPNs safe and legal?
Do you get unlimited data with free VPNs?
What’s the best free VPN for iPhone, PC, Android, Fire Stick, and other devices?
Do free VPNs work in China?
Maybe, but it’s not guaranteed. Hotspot Shield is known to work in China sometimes, but it’s best to use a premium alternative like ExpressVPN in China. Its network-wide obfuscation ensures it’ll work in China without any issues, and the app also provides unbreakable security and superfast speeds.
There are some good free VPNs that work in China, but they restrict some key features and have slower speeds. So, using a premium option is always the best choice.
Should I use a free VPN for torrenting?
What’s the best free VPN for gaming? (PUBG, Minecraft, Roblox, and more)
It depends. Consider trying all the top free VPNs to learn which one has servers near you to ensure the lowest possible ping. If you want to use a VPN for competitive games like Call of Duty: Warzone, you should get a premium alternative with worldwide server coverage and superfast speeds.
What’s the best free VPN for Netflix?
Is there a 100% free VPN?
Choose A VPN That Won’t Compromise Your Safety
There are many free VPNs on the market, so it’s critical to ensure you get one that doesn’t compromise your safety or privacy. Thankfully, there are several secure VPNs, but they have restrictions like slower speeds, limited servers, and data caps. Thankfully, Proton VPN’s free plan offers unlimited data and is a good 100% free option.
While some free VPNs are decent, you’ll only get airtight protection and fast connection speeds with a reliable premium VPN. I consider ExpressVPN the best overall choice, as it offers a vast server network, lightning-fast speeds, and impenetrable security. Plus, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free, as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Summary — Other Top VPNs in 2024 (With Money-Back Guarantees)
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.
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