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There are a lot of free VPNs out there.
We’ve spent over 11 years testing them at TechRadar.
Many will play fast and loose with your data and maybe your identity too.
Read it carefully and see to it you understand what you’re getting.
If that’s what you want, then take a look at thebest VPN servicesinstead.
What is the best free VPN in 2025?
PrivadoVPN Free is the best free VPN in 2025.
It has a good choice of servers and it’s very fast.
That makes it good for streaming and torrenting, although with limited usage.
Proton VPN is the best free VPN for security and privacy features.
The very best VPN of all, though, is NordVPN.
Free VPNs are good for very occasional use but we’d always recommend a paid VPN for regular use.
With a 10 GB monthly data limit, you just can’t put enough traffic through it.
Instead, try the best VPN for all-round use, NordVPN.
Try it out whileNordVPN has its Spring Sale on, for the lowest price so far this year.
Get afull refund within 30 daysif you don’t like it.
There’s also unlimited monthly usage, of course.
It’s alsothe fastest VPNaround making it a great choice for torrenting.
It also has a30-day money-back guarantee.
Installation and setup are a breeze and you’ll be up and streaming before you know it.
you’re able to get yourmoney back within 30 days for a full refundif you’re unhappy.
Well worth a look.
That’s why it’s our top choice as the best free VPN.
It’s the only free VPN that offers some streaming functionality, if only in a limited way.
READ MORE ABOUT PRIVADOVPN FREE
What do you get for free?
Plus there’s the ability to switch up yourVPN protocoldepending on whether you’re prioritizing speed or security.
Not bad at all.
What don’t you get with PrivadoVPN Free?
Peace of mind is the biggest absentee from PrivadoVPN Free.
And, of course, the streaming functionality is pretty limited.
What’s the better alternative?
We rateNordVPNas thebest streaming VPNavailable.
We also rate it as thebest VPN serviceoverall.
What’s more, it can handle 10 simultaneous connections, i.e.
you could use a NordVPN app on 10 different devices at the same time.
Take a look at theNordVPN website for the latest deals.
Proton VPN Free
Unlimited data and top-notch privacy protection.
There’s very little that’s been stripped away when it comes to features for protecting your personal data.
You still get akill switch,WireGuardsupport, andlive chat customer servicetoo.
What don’t you get with Proton VPN Free?
That means thatstreaming shows abroadisn’t an option.
It’s never going to be thebest Netflix VPN.
There’s noP2P supporteither.
So, you could forget about torrenting too.
Upgrade to Proton VPN Plus for 10 simultaneous connections.
Speaking of which…
Proton VPN Plus!
Fall in love with the free version and treat yourself to some premium.
You’re worth it.
Take a look at the latestdeals on the Proton VPN website.
Windscribe Free
A strong choice for global browsing.
READ MORE ABOUT WINDSCRIBE
Windscribe comes with as many simultaneous connections as you like on a single account!
That’s the biggest differential for Windscribe users.
One free Windscribe account has you covered.
You get some excellent ad, pop-up, and tracker-blocking through the R.O.B.E.R.T.
What don’t you get for free with Windscribe Free?
Windscribe’s free plan offers almost the same bundle of features as the paid version.
It’s not much and not enough for regular streaming and torrenting.
The other frustration is that Windscribe hasn’t had a third-party audit of its no-logs policy.
So, it’s not thebest VPN for privacy.
Here are allthe differences between Windscribe and Windscribe Free.
There’s also unlimited data use, giving you as much streaming and torrenting as your heart desires.
Go and take a look attoday’s Surfshark prices.
Windscribe Free
Surfshark
100 countries
Unlimited
4.
Hide.me Free VPN
A great choice for torrenting with expert-level privacy protection.
You don’t even need to give away your personal details when you sign up.
Just an email address will do.
Be warned, though: Hide.me apps are quite complex.
Newbies might want to opt for something a little more beginner-friendly.
We had good experiences torrenting files using the USA server.
VPN veterans will love the depth of customization available.
What don’t you get for free with Hide.me Free?
Too good to be true?
Like most free VPNs, Hide.me has limits.
That’s a long way there and back for your torrents to travel.
Don’t expect the bestspeeds or performance.
Compare that to the likes of PrivadoVPN and Proton VPN above.
The other unfavorable comparison is that you only get one connection at a time with a Hide.me free account.
Another downside to consider is that Hide.me is pretty intimidating for beginners.
The interface is not super straightforward and all those options can confuse.
The streaming crowd should also look elsewhere.Hide.me Free VPNstruggled to unblock major streaming services in our tests.
We didn’t get very far trying to unlock Netflix,AmazonPrime, and Disney+ libraries in different locations.
It’s not the best news for the privacy-conscious either.
We rate it as the top torrenting choice whether you’re an experienced user or a total P2P newbie.
So, the chances ofExpressVPNgetting successfully subpoenaed to hand over your user information are very, very small.
How’s that for file sharing with confidence?
Take a look at thelatest prices on the ExpressVPN website.
Hide.me Free
ExpressVPN
7 countries
105 countries
8 devices
25 Mbps
898 Mbps
5.
Hotspot Shield Basic VPN
Absolutely no data limits, but look out for ads.
Its free Basic plan allows unlimited usage, very respectable speeds, and comes with very user-friendly apps.
Free users only get access to a single server.
They also have to put up with adverts.
Lots and lots of adverts.
READ MORE ABOUT HOTSPOT SHIELD BASIC
Hotspot Shield Basic is unlimited!
Proton VPN is the only other of our recommendations that can match that.
Speeds aren’t too shabby either.
What don’t you get for free with Hotspot Shield Basic?
One-server to use isn’t particularly compelling for a VPN.
And how about those ads?
Tech support is also seriously limited.
There’s no live chat or email contact.
So, you’ll have to do any troubleshooting on your own.
That’s because PIA has servers in every single State in America.
That’s why we rate PIA as thebest USA VPN.
Take a look atthe latest prices on the Private Internet Access website.
Do use a free VPN but hey, hey be careful about your choice.
Using one of the free VPNs on this page is an excellent way of making sure it’s safe.
If all you want isbasic VPN functionalityfor safe browsing andpublic Wi-Fi use, then go for a free one.
Choose one from the list above and you’ll have everything you need for free.
They just don’t offer those in any serious way.
Pick a free VPN that’s safe and it won’t cost a thing.
What is the best free VPN?
Are free VPNs safe?
Some free VPNs are safe, and some are not.
you could rest assured that any we’ve mentioned here are safe to use.
you could read we test VPNs.
(Sadly, even seemingly legitimate VPN services can do this too, now, asGoogle has warned.)
What you’re looking for is that it’s got ano-logs policy.
Is there any mention in the marketing of whether its privacy policy has been audited by a third party?
A VPN’s commitment to its customers' privacy should not be variable.
Most free VPN services are, at the very least, trying to get their foot in the door.
Take a look at our full explanation ofthe real cost of a free VPN.
What dont you get with a free VPN?
This often means unblocking streaming services worldwide isn’t an option.
Those looking for thebest VPN for torrentingwill also find a free VPN frustrating.
Many don’t offer dedicated servers optimized for P2P usage and some don’t include the handyport forwardingfeature either.
You should also expect slower speeds with free VPNs compared to paid services.
The main exception here is Proton VPN which offers excellent speeds to its free and paid customers.
Finally, a third-party audit is something that’s not always on offer with free VPN providers.
Sure, the VPN service might say it’s got a no-logs policy but has anyone checked it?
Audits cost money and you’re not paying.
From the moment you download them until you finish using them, you don’t pay a penny.
But there are also some opportunities to get paid VPNs for free too.
We have a list of thebest VPN free trialsif that sounds appealing to you.
In that list, we’ve included VPNs that offermoney-back guarantees, such asNordVPN,ExpressVPNandSurfshark.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services.
Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
