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The Best Free VPN Providers for 2023 [100% Completely Free]

Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a technology that allows users to establish a secure connection over the internet, enabling them to protect their online privacy and access content that may be restricted in their region/location. While paid VPNs are generally considered superior due to their robust security measures and faster speeds, free VPNs can also be a good option for those who want to try out the service or need a temporary solution.

This article contains a compilation of the best 100% free VPN providers for 2023. It is understood that not everyone is willing to spend money on a VPN, and that is why the free options have been carefully selected to offer a good balance of security and functionality. These VPNs may not be as fast or feature-packed as paid ones, but they are reliable and secure enough for everyday use. This article covers the best free VPN options available for those looking for a VPN for streaming, browsing, or just to secure their internet connection.

Best Free VPN

Here is the list of the best free VPN Providers for 2023

  1. Proton VPN
  2. Hotspot Shield VPN
  3. Privado VPN
  4. Tunnel Bear
  5. Hide.me VPN
  6. Windscribe VPN
  7. Atlas VPN
  8. Zoog VPN
  9. VPN Gate

9 Best Free VPNs. No Trial, 100% Free

All the VPNs on this list are 100% free, meaning they can be used for as long as users like with no trial periods. Users will not also be required to enter payment information before they can use their service. Some even have extra security measures such as military grade encryption and IP cloaking so users’ online activity is kept completely anonymous.

1. ProtonVPN

Owner:Proton Technologies AG
HQ Jurisdiction:Switzerland(outside 14 eyes)
Simultaneous Connections:Up to 10 devices
Data Limit:Unlimited
Servers:Over 3000 servers in 60+ countries
Log Policy:Strict No-Logs policy
An image featuring the ProtonVPN logo

Features: ProtonVPN offers unlimited bandwidth, fast speeds, secure core servers, Tor over VPN, P2P support, strong encryption protocols (AES-256), kill switch and split tunneling.

Compatibility: ProtonVPN is compatible with Windows, MacOSX, Linux operating systems as well as iOS and Android mobile devices.

UX: The user experience of the service is simple and intuitive which makes it easy to use for all types of users. It also has a wide range of features that can be customized according to individual preferences.

Privacy: ProtonVPN provides military grade security with its AES-256 encryption protocol and strict no logs policy. It also includes DNS leak protection which ensures that the user’s IP address is not exposed.

Speed: ProtonVPN offers fast speeds with its global server network, allowing users to stream and download content without any lags or buffering.

An image featuring the homepage of ProtonVPN

Advantages: Offers a reliable service with strong encryption, secure core servers and no logs policy. It also has an easy to use user interface as well as fast speeds for streaming and downloading content.

Disadvantages: Has limited features compared to some other VPN services such as the lack of an ad-blocker or dedicated IP options. Additionally, the free version only allows access to three countries which may limit the amount of content that can be accessed by users outside these regions.

You can read the complete ProtonVPN Review here.

Price

Basic PlanFree
1-Month Plan$9.99
1-Year Plan$5.99 monthly
2-Year Plan$4.99 monthly

2. Hotspot Shield VPN

Owner:Anchorfree
HQ Jurisdiction:United States
Simultaneous Connections:1
Data Limit:Unlimited
Servers:2500+
Log Policy:No logs
An image featuring the official Hotspot Shield VPN logo

Features: Ad blocking, Encryption, Split tunneling

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

UX: Easy to use

Privacy: No logs policy

Speed: Fast speed

An image featuring Hotspot Shield VPN official website

Advantages: Easy to use, Fast speed, No logs policy

Disadvantages: Based in the US (Five Eyes jurisdiction), Free version is supported by ads

You can read the complete Hotspot Shield Review here.

Price

BasicFree
Premium$7.99/month billed yearly, $12.99 billed monthly
Premium Family$11.99/month billed yearly, $19.99 billed monthly

3. PrivadoVPN

Owner:Privado Networks AG
HQ Jurisdiction:Switzerland
Simultaneous Connections:Up to 10 connections (1 on free accounts)
Data Limit:10 gig per month
Servers:12 servers in 9 countries
Log Policy:Strict no-log policy
An image featuring the official PrivadoVPN logo

Features: Privado VPN offers 10 gigs of data every month, do not keep no records of users activity with its Zero Log Policy have fast connections and excellent torrenting support

Compatibility: iPhone, Android,, Windows,, Linux, Amazon Fire Stick, Mac, Android TV, and routers

UX: User friendly

Privacy: PrivadoVPN doesn’t keep logs and offers military-grade encryption.

Speed: Good speeds

Advantages: Fast speeds on local servers; torrenting support; User-friendly apps, strong security features, Strict no-logs policy.

Disadvantages: No advanced safety measures; Not always able to watch Netflix or Disney+; Distant servers have noticeable buffering.

You can read the complete PrivadoVPN Review here.

Price

Basic planFree
1 Month Plan$10.99
12-Month Plan$2.50 monthly
24-Month Plan$1.90 monthly

4. TunnelBear

Owner:McAfee
HQ Jurisdiction:Canada
Simultaneous Connections:5 devices
Data Limit:500MB free, unlimited for paid plans
Servers:Over 20 countries
Log Policy:No logs at all stored by the company.
An image featuring the official TunnelBear logo

Features: AES-256 encryption, kill switch, secure public Wi-Fi hotspots and more.

Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, iOS & Android

UX: User friendly and intuitive interface with a bear mascot to guide you through the app.

Privacy: Strict no-logs policy that ensures your browsing activity remains private.

Speed: Moderate speed with some slowdowns during peak hours

An image featuring TunnelBear VPN homepage

Advantages: Easy to use, good security and privacy features, free plan, Friendly and intuitive user interface, Strict no-logging policy.

Disadvantages: Monthly data limit of 500 MB, which may not be enough for heavy users; Limited number of servers available, which may affect the speed and reliability of the service; Does not offer the same level of security and privacy as the paid version; No technical support; Based in Five Eyes Country.

You can read the full TunnelBear review here.

Price

BasicFree
Unlimited Plan$3.33 monthly
Teams Plan$5.75/user per month

5. Hide.me VPN

Owner:eVenture Ltd
HQ Jurisdiction:Malaysia
Simultaneous Connections:5(1 for free users)
Data Limit:2GB/month
Servers:1100+ servers in 30 countries(3 for free)
Log Policy:Strict No Logging policy
An image featuring the official Hide Me VPN logo

Features: Unblock websites, encryption, unlimited bandwidth and speed, secure Wi-Fi connections, IP address masking.

Compatibility: Windows, MacOSX, iOS, Android & Linux.

UX: Intuitive user interface with one-click connect option and easy-to-use mobile apps.

Privacy: 256-bit AES encryption for data protection and no logging of your online activities or data usage.

Speed: High speeds are offered by the servers.

An image featuring the Hide.me VPN website homepage screenshot

Advantages: Free plan available, no credit card required, 5 simultaneous connections allowed, intuitive user interface and easy to use mobile apps.

Disadvantages: Limited data allowance with free plan (2GB/month), 3 server locations for free users.

You can read the full Hide.me VPN review here.

Price

BasicFree
1-Month Plan$9.95monthly
12-Month Plan$6.66 per month
24-Month Plan$3.84 per month

6. Windscribe VPN

Owner:Windscribe Limited
HQ Jurisdiction:Canada
Simultaneous Connections:10
Data Limit:Unlimited data with the paid version (2GB/month for free users)
Servers:400+ servers in over 60 countries
Log Policy:No logging of traffic or connection metadata.
An image featuring the Windscribe VPN logo

Features: Ad-blocking, Split Tunneling and Malware protection.

Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, iOS & Android devices as well as Linux devices such as Raspberry Pi & Chromebooks.

UX: Simple to use user interface that is easy to navigate and provides plenty of options for customizing your VPN experience.

Privacy: Uses military grade encryption protocols to protect users data from any third-party snooping.

Speed: Offers fast connection speeds and is capable of streaming in HD quality with minimal buffering.

Advantages: No-logging policy, User-friendly interface, offers a variety of security features, such as a kill switch, firewall, and ad and tracker blocking and malware protection, free version includes 10 GB of data per month and access to servers in 10 countries

Disadvantages: 2GB/month data limit and server locations for free users, may have some limitations on streaming and other activities, depending on the server location users choose.
No live chat support, so if you have any issues with the service, you may have to rely on email or online resources for help. Based in 5 Eyes Country.

Read the full Windscribe VPN review here.

Price Plan

BasicFree
Monthly$9/month
Yearly Plan$69/year ($5.75 per month)

7. Atlas VPN

Owner:Atlas VPN Inc.
HQ Jurisdiction:United States
Simultaneous Connections:Unlimited
Data Limit:No limit
Servers:Over 20 servers in 10 countries worldwide
Log Policy:No logs kept
An image featuring the AtlasVPN logo

Features: User-friendly interface, unlimited bandwidth and data, military grade encryption, fast speeds, no ads or trackers

Compatibility: Android & iOS devices; Windows & macOS computers; Chrome & Firefox browsers

UX: Intuitive user interface and one-click connect feature for easy setup of the app.

Privacy: 256-bit AES encryption with OpenVPN protocol to ensure users’ online activities stay private from third parties. There is also a strict no-logs policy.

Speed: Atlas VPN offers fast connection speeds for streaming and gaming.

An image featuring the AtlasVPN website homepage screenshot

Advantages: Free, secure, user-friendly interface, unlimited data/bandwidth, no logs kept

Disadvantages: Data limit of 1 GB per month, which may not be enough for heavy users, No technical support, May have some limitations on streaming and other activities, depending on the server location being used. Based in 5 Eyes Country.

Price

BasicFree
Monthly$10.99
3-Year Subscription$71.49

8. ZoogVPN

Owner:ZoogVPN Ltd.
HQ Jurisdiction:Greece(outside four eyes)
Simultaneous Connections:1 device for free
Data Limit:Unlimited data usage
Servers:Over 50 servers in 38 countries worldwide
Log Policy:No logs/no tracking policy; no IP or timestamp logging
An image featuring the ZoogVPN logo

Features: AES-256 encryption, secure tunneling protocols (OpenVPN and IKEv2), DNS Leak Protection, Kill Switch

Compatibility: Windows 7+, Mac OS X 10.12+ iOS 8+ Android 5.0+ Linus

UX: Easy to use interface with one-click connection options, Privacy – Strict no log policy; military grade encryption Speed – High speed connections with unlimited bandwidth.

An image featuring the ZoogVPN website homepage screenshot

Advantages: No logs policy; cross-platform compatibility; allows torrenting, unlimited data usage and bandwidth; 5 simultaneous connections.

Disadvantages: Only three locations available for free version, can not unblock Netflix, only free for 7 days.

Price

BasicFree
1-Month Plan$9.99
6-Month Plan3.99 per month, $23.99 for 6 months
1-Year Plan$2.99 per month, $35.99 for 12 months
2-Year Plan$1.87, $44.99 for 24 months

9. VPN Gate

Owner:University of Tsukuba, Japan
HQ Jurisdiction:Japan
Simultaneous Connections:Unlimited
Data Limit:None (free)
Servers:Over 1,700 servers in 50+ countries
Log Policy:No logs kept

Features: Ad-blocker; DNS leak protection; Split tunneling; Kill switch; OpenVPN encryption protocol.

Compatibility: Windows, MacOS, iOS and Android devices.

UX/UI Design: Easy to use interface with no registration required.

Privacy: High level of privacy is ensured due to the strict no-logs policy and OpenVPN encryption protocol.

Speed: Connection speeds are usually fast enough for streaming and other activities.

An image featuring the official VPN Gate website homepage screenshot

Advantages: Free to use; No registration required; High level of privacy and security; Fast connection speeds.

Disadvantages: It may not be as fast as commercial VPN services because the servers are not optimized for high-speed use. It may not have as strong of a focus on privacy as some commercial VPN services, as it is run by volunteers rather than a company with a professional team dedicated to security and privacy. Maybe more vulnerable to attacks or abuse by malicious actors.

Price plan: It is 100% FREE.


Note:

Prices may differ from the ones shown as new plans and deals are launched on a regular basis. Please be sure to check the most current price on the official website.

How to Choose The Best Free VPN?

There are various types of free VPNs out there and it is important to consider the following before choosing a free VPN.

An image featuring a person choosing a VPN while the other one is suggesting a VPN concept
  • Data allowance: How much data you are allowed to use per month or per day. A VPN with a low data allowance may not be sufficient for heavy users, while a VPN with a high data allowance may be more suitable.
  • Speed: The speed of the free VPN connection can be important, especially if you are streaming video or using the VPN for gaming. A slower VPN connection may cause buffering or other performance issues.
  • Compatibility: Make sure the VPN is compatible with the device(s) and operating system(s).
  • User experience (UX): Consider the user interface and overall ease of use of the VPN. A VPN with a confusing or difficult-to-use interface may be frustrating to use.
  • Features: Consider the features offered by the free VPN, such as the number of servers available, the ability to bypass geoblocks, and support for split tunneling.
  • Privacy: Make sure the VPN has a strong focus on privacy and takes measures to protect your data, such as using strong encryption and not logging your activity.

Is it Safe to Use a Free VPN?

Yes, but not all free VPNs are safe and many free VPNs also often lack features like encryption, which is important for keeping users’ online activity private. Furthermore, some free services might collect or sell users’ data without their knowledge. For these reasons, it is best to use a paid VPN service that offers strong security protocols and additional features such as unlimited bandwidth.

An image featuring dices with free VPN text on them concept

What are the Benefits of a Free VPN?

VPNs offer many benefits, below are the significant benefits of VPN

  • Increased security: A Free VPN adds an extra layer of encryption to users’ data, helping protect it from hackers and other malicious actors.
  • Access restricted websites: By using a Free VPN, users can bypass geo-restrictions and access content blocked in certain countries.
  • Privacy protection: With a Free VPN, users’ IP address is hidden which helps in keeping online activities private.
  • Anonymity: One can remain anonymous while browsing the web with a free VPN because it masks the real IP address.
  • Cost savings: By using a free version of the service users are able to save money on subscription fees since these services are free.

Are Free VPNs Safe to Use?

No. Not all free VPNs are safe to use.

Here is why.

  • Free VPNs often have weak security protocols, which can leave users’ data vulnerable to attack.
  • They may be slow, unreliable and difficult to use.
  • Many free VPNs are actually malware in disguise, designed to steal users data or install malicious software on your device.
  • They may log and sell users data for profit.

Pro Tip:

It is recommended to use a premium VPN service for optimal security and performance. Premium VPNs typically offer better encryption, faster speeds, more reliable connections, support for multiple devices, and no advertising or tracking of users’ activity.

What are the Best Paid VPNs?

There are many paid VPNs out there, however, and the best VPN will depend on the user’s specific needs and budget. When selecting a paid VPN, it is important to consider its features; such as the number of servers and location, the connection speed, the bandwidth, privacy, customer support, user interface, platform compatibility and a host of others.

The VPN services listed below have been carefully selected while considering the factors above. Anyone using any of the VPNs below is rest assured that they have chosen among the best VPNs available.

The three best paid VPNs that made it to this list are:

NordVPN: Why NordVPN? Firstly, Nord VPN operates in Panama (outside the 5 eyes country). It offers a large network of servers in 60 countries around the world specifically optimized for streaming, has strong security measures in place such as AES with 256-bit keys and a strict no-logs policy, and allows up to 6 simultaneous connections on a single subscription.

CyberGhost VPN is another VPN that made it to the list of the best paid VPN. Like NordVPN, it also operates outside the 5 eyes country. It has its jurisdiction in Romania. It has a user-friendly interface, 6000 servers in 88 countries around the globe and the ability to unblock a wide range of streaming services. It also has robust security features including 256-bit AES encryption and a no-logs policy, and allows up to 7 simultaneous connections with one subscription.

IPVanish, the last VPN on this list made it here because it has a large network of servers of about 2000+ in over 75 locations around the globe, optimized for fast streaming, offers strong security measures such as 256-bit AES encryption and a no-logs policy, and allows for unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. Additionally, it has a reputation for consistently good speeds and reliable performance.

Damien Mather Damien is a cybersecurity professional and online privacy advocate with a bachelor of Computer Science. He has been in the industry for 20+ years and has seen the space evolve far bigger than he ever thought. When he is not buried in his research or going through code, he is probably out Surfing or Camping and enjoying the great outdoors. 
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