Best Totally Free VPNs in 2024

The best free VPN providers are an easy and cheap way to increase your internet privacy and security without investing in a premium VPN. But since most free VPNs have several security loopholes and glitches, finding the best free VPN provider that reliably ensures robust security is tricky. 

Any random free VPN provider can expose your identity and activities to the real world. These VPNs often have hidden spyware, poor encryption standards, and shady log policies. Moreover, they don’t have a vast server network, which means frustratingly slow speeds. However, not all hope is lost! A handful of free VPNs offer relatively good online privacy and security with minimum drawbacks, such as the 11 best free VPN providers in this article.

Best free VPNs in 2024

Finding a free VPN provider is a real challenge as you come across several options claiming to be the best. However, these VPNs put your privacy at risk if you use them.

You must know the VPN’s features, encryption standard, benefits, logging policy, and compatibility to choose a VPN. Thus, let’s dive deep into the detailed review of these VPN providers.

1. Proton VPN

• Website URL: protonvpn.com
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Belongs to the safe jurisdiction of Switzerland
• Three servers locations
• Dedicated apps for all popular devices and operating systems
• Unblocks websites
• No streaming and torrenting

Proton VPN is the best free VPN provider with unlimited bandwidth and speed limits. It offers the fastest speeds when connected to Japan, the Netherlands, and the US servers. The VPN offers 24 servers in these three countries, so you can experience slow speeds when connected to remote servers.

The VPN is safe and protects your data, even using the free version, from all prying eyes. It uses military-grade AES-256-bit encryption, the latest advanced WireGuard protocol, and the OpenVPN protocol to protect your data from ISPs and other threat actors. Moreover, it also protects from IP and DNS leaks and boosts your online security.

Furthermore, Proton VPN is a private and trusted VPN to use. It belongs to the privacy-friendly jurisdiction of Switzerland that is neither a part of the five eyes, nine eyes, and 14 Eyes alliance nor has any data collection laws. Also, the VPN follows a strict zero-logging policy that clearly states that it doesn’t store or share your IP address, browsing history, and connection timestamp. Thus, you can use Proton VPN without worrying about your data privacy.

Proton VPN free version allows the users to access the basic core privacy features like:

• Ad-blocker
• Kill switch
• VPN accelerator

You can even use Proton VPN to unblock YouTube, Wikipedia, or other social media sites. But it doesn’t support streaming or torrenting in the free plan. You can upgrade your plan to unblock the streaming content, download torrents, or access advanced features for $8/m. It offers a dedicated and easy-to-use app for Android, iOS, MacOS, Linux, and Windows but allows only a single device connection.

2. Atlas VPN

• Website URL: atlasvpn.com
• 10GB of data per month
• Best-in-class encryption
• No speed limit
• Three server locations
• Unlimited device compatibility
• No SafeSwap or streaming ability

Atlas VPN ranks among the best free VPN providers you can download directly and start using. It won’t ask you for credit card information like other VPN providers. The VPN provider comes with a monthly data limit of 10GB, while it imposes no speed limits on the users. It means that users can enjoy stable internet speed but face a limited server network. Though it has over 700 global server networks in 35 countries, you can access only three servers in the free version the Netherlands, Norway, and the US.

The VPN makes no mistake in ensuring maximum online protection on the web. It uses uncrackable AES-256-bit encryption and WireGuard and IKEv2 protocols for data protection. Also, when tested, the VPN wasn’t leaking your IP address or DNS requests at any stage. It has private DNS servers instead of public servers, thus further strengthening your online security.

The VPN follows a no-log policy but logs only anonymous server usage data, which won’t risk your privacy. It belongs to a risky jurisdiction of the US- a leading member of the Five Eyes Alliance that shares users’ data with international agencies. Therefore, it is subject to several data privacy concerns. No records show Atlas VPN has been involved in data leaks, so you can somewhat rely on it.

One impressive feature of Atlas VPN is that it supports P2P file-sharing activities, even in the free version. But, it doesn’t help unblock the geo-blocked streaming content or benefit from advanced features like safe swap. You can upgrade to a premium plan for $2.05/m for two years.

3. Hotspot Shield

• Website URL: hotspotshield.com
• 500MB data per day
• Military-grade encryption
• Undisclosed server network
• Supports torrenting
• Can’t unblock content from streaming platforms
• No access to advanced features

Another free VPN that offers an essential user experience is Hotspot Shield VPN. It comes with limited bandwidth, and you can use 500MB of data per data cap, which is sometimes insufficient. The speeds the VPN offers vary from average to below average, causing frequent connection lags and hindering your browsing experience. Moreover, the server network is undisclosed and limited, thus resulting in unreliable connections.

While Hotspot Shield VPN does have speed and privacy issues, it promises superb security features. It uses the industry’s highest AES-256-bit encryption and secure tunneling protocols to safeguard your data from all prying eyes. What makes Hotspot Shield stand out is the proprietary protocol, Catapult Hydra protocol, which uses strong encryption ciphers to provide users with a top-notch level of security.

The VPN provider’s security flaw in 2018 made users doubt its credibility. It has its headquarters in the USA and does keep some data logs despite claiming to be a no-log VPN and issuing transparency reports. It ensures a basic and average user experience; you won’t find any security and privacy-centric features.

Hotspot Shield VPN allows users to download torrents, but it isn’t a good choice due to the limited server network. Also, it won’t enable users to stream their favorite content on Netflix or other streaming channels.

It offers multiple device compatibility, but if you want to enjoy an ad-free experience and connect to up to five devices, you should switch to the pro version, which will cost you $2.99/m.

4. Hide.me

• Website URL: hide.me
• 10GB data limit per month
• Allows streaming and torrenting
• Belongs to Malaysia
• Access to essential features like kill switch and split tunneling
• Five server locations
• Connect one device with a single subscription account

Hide.me is among the best free VPN providers with a 10GB monthly data limit. You can connect to servers at five different locations and enjoy a stable internet connection without any disconnections. It is a reliable and safe VPN provider that helps retain maximum security and anonymity on the web. Also, it uses secure AES-256-bit encryption and OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols to shield your data from ISP surveillance. 

The most preferred choice of the users because it allows them to use all the privacy and security-focused features that are available in the premium version, like:

• Kill switch
• Split tunneling
• Custom DNS

Furthermore, Hide.me is a private and secure VPN because of its zero-logging policy and safe jurisdiction. It belongs to Malaysia, which isn’t a member of the global surveillance alliance and respects users’ privacy. The VPN ensures an anonymous browsing experience that doesn’t target you with intrusive pop-up ads nor track and record your data.

It is among the few free VPN providers that support torrenting and streaming. When tested, Hide.me was working fine with Netflix. Also, you can download torrents safely because it has torrent-centric features, i.e., split tunneling, that further improve your security and even speed up the downloading process.

However, because of the 10GB monthly data limit, avid torrent downloaders can have issues regarding limited bandwidth and server networks. Since the VPN offers a premium version, anyone can use it for $3.84 monthly.  Hide.me is an excellent option on all your devices and operating systems.

5. TunnelBear

• Website URL: tunnelbear.com
• 500MB of monthly data limit
• Undisclosed servers in 41 countries
• Belongs from Canada
• Fails to unblock US Netflix
• Allows torrenting
• Connect up to five simultaneous devices

TunnelBear is another free VPN provider that allows you to browse the web anonymously. The VPN offers average downloading speed and has a decent server network spread in 41 countries, but the exact number of server access granted is unknown.

The VPN provider maintains a top-notch level of security and allows you to surf the web without any fear of being watched. It uses the world-class AES-256 bit encryption SHA-256 hash function for authentication and secures tunneling protocols for safeguarding the data. However, the website has no information regarding the advanced security features.

TunnelBear belongs to five eyes jurisdictions in Canada. Still, since it follows a strict zero-logging policy and no previous shady records, it seems reliable.

Moreover, the VPN allows torrenting on its servers. But since it lacks a split tunneling feature with an unknown server network, you won’t have an ideal downloading experience. If you want to use TunnelBear to stream your favorite TV show or movies on US Netflix, it isn’t possible in the free version. The free version doesn’t unblock Netflix, but you can subscribe to a premium plan of $3.33/m to test its streaming abilities. The VPN promises a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can always ask for a refund within the initial 30 days of purchase.

It offers multiple device compatibility features and allows up to five simultaneous connections. But many users complain about the monthly 500MB data limit and, thus, don’t use it.

6. Windscribe

• Website URL: windscribe.com
• 10GB of monthly data limit
• Robust encryption
• Access to advanced features
• Connect to ten servers 
• Canadian-based VPN provider
• Unlimited device connections

Windscribe also ranks as the best free VPN provider, with an initial 2GB data limit and a 10GB monthly data limit when you subscribe by your email address. Also, you can connect to ten international servers in Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the US and enjoy stable internet speed without significant buffering and connection lags.

The VPN provider is safe and secure to use and uses strong AES-256-bit encryption, 4096-bit RSA key, and SHA-512 authentication key to protect your data traffic from all snooping eyes. Moreover, it offers various advanced security-enhancing features like:

• Kill switch
• SOCKS5 proxy
• Multihop

Windscribe VPN follows a strict no-log policy that doesn’t collect your IP address, browsing data, and VPN sessions but records the minimum amount of data.

• It records the connection timestamp of your last activity 
• The total amount of data bytes transferred within the last 30 days. 

It also prevents IP leaks and further increases your online security. The VPN also allows secure streaming. You can stream US Netflix easily with Windscribe VPN and even download torrents on unlimited devices. The only concerning thing about Windscribe VPN is its jurisdiction. It belongs to Canada and records and shares users’ data with various surveillance agencies.

7. Speedify

• Website URL: speedify.com
• Offers 2GB of data
• Uses Chacha-256 bit encryption
• Multiple device compatibility
• It belongs to the Five Eyes jurisdiction.
• Connect to only one device
• Undisclosed server network 

Speedify is among the best free VPN providers that offer 2GB monthly data, enough to carry out routine activities. The VPN has a global server network in more than 30 countries, but the information about the number of servers in the free version is unknown. However, when testing the VPN, many users found that the speeds were average, meaning the server network wasn’t extensive.

The VPN provider offers a top-notch level of online security by using ChaCha-256-bit encryption and secure tunneling protocols. Another impressive feature of Speedify VPN is that every user can access all its features, whether free or premium.

Moreover, it allows streaming and torrenting, but the results were not very effective when tested. Speedify belongs to US jurisdiction and even logs your data, making users hesitant.

However, if you want to get around all these issues, you can upgrade your plan and get the VPN for $4.99 monthly with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

8. PrivadoVPN

• Website URL: privadovpn.com
• 10GB monthly data limit
• Belongs to Switzerland
• Access 12 servers in 9 countries
• Connects to one device
• Torrenting allowed
• Can’t unblock US Netflix

PrivadoVPN is another of the best free VPNs that ensures an excellent user experience with impressive features and robust security. The VPN has a 10GB monthly data limit, allowing users to connect to 12 servers in 9 countries. The speed offered by the VPN is above average and ensures an essential user experience.

It provides maximum online protection and thus uses AES-256-bit encryption and secure protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. By default, it protects from IP leaks and uses an impressive kill switch feature that ensures no IP address leakage during connection drops. Privado wasn’t leaking your IP address during VPN leak tests.

Moreover, the VPN provider is private and reliable to use. It follows a zero-logging policy and belongs to Switzerland, protecting the users’ data under strict Swiss laws. However, the VPN collects a small amount of information, but it’s unidentifiable and won’t put your privacy at risk.

Privado offers an advanced split tunneling feature that helps download torrents safely. You can even download it on Android, iOS, MacOS, and Windows devices. But on the free version, only a single user can use it. Also, you won’t be able to unblock Netflix. If you want to stream on Netflix, you can buy a premium plan for $2.50 monthly and enjoy unlimited device connections.

9. ZoogVPN

• Website URL: zoogvpn.com
• Belongs from Greece
• Follows no-log policy
• 10GB of monthly data
• Dedicated apps for various devices
• Limited server access
• Allows Netflix and torrenting 

If you’re looking for a free VPN provider that offers an intuitive interface and is easy to use and download, you can try Zoog VPN. It also ranks in the list of the best free VPNs that, like other VPN providers, offer 10GB of monthly data. It has a vast global server network, but you can only access three servers in the free VPN and thus face consistent speed issues.

You can strengthen your online security with IP leak protection and an active kill switch. The VPN uses AES-128-bit encryption in the free version and standard protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2, and PPTP. However, it doesn’t support the latest and advanced WireGuard protocol in the free or pro versions.

The VPN has its parent company in Greece, part of the European Union, and is subject to data retention laws. But it follows a no-log policy and thus doesn’t record or share your IP address, browsing data, or connection timestamp with anyone.

It does allow torrenting and streaming the blocked content on Netflix. However, since the VPN has a limited server network, bandwidth, and features, it won’t ensure an experience like the best top-rated VPN. Moreover, it can function on all popular devices and platforms, but you can’t enjoy too many simultaneous device connections. If you want to access Netflix or the full features that Zoog offers, you can buy it for $1.87 per month.

10. VPNBook

• Website URL: vpnbook.com
• 15 Mbps of daily data
• Belongs from Switzerland
• Shady logging policy
• Undisclosed server locations
• Restricted torrenting
• Fails to unblock Netflix

Another best free VPN that you can use is VPNBook. It comes with 15Mbps of daily data, which isn’t enough for a hassle-free browsing experience.  Moreover, there’s no information about the number of servers you can access in five countries; thus, the speeds are unreliable and make browsing difficult.

The VPN uses military-grade AES-256-bit encryption and secure tunneling protocols to maintain the integrity of your data. Besides this, VPNBook belongs to a safe jurisdiction in Switzerland that doesn’t have any data collection. But it has a shady logging policy that makes it unreliable to use.

Moreover, although the VPN provider supports torrenting, you can’t download torrents due to an unknown server network and poor speeds. Also, it doesn’t allow you to stream geo-blocked content from Netflix or other popular streaming channels.

You must upgrade your plan to avail yourself of all the features VPNBook offers.

11. Betternet

• Website URL: betternet.co
• 500MB monthly data limit
• Uses strong encryption
• Belongs to the Five Eyes jurisdiction
• Logs data
• Server access in only one country
• No streaming or torrenting

Betternet is also a free VPN that offers an average user experience. It provides 500MB of monthly data, which isn’t enough for streaming and downloading, making browsing problematic. It has a single server in the US, so the speeds are not ideal.

However, the VPN uses advanced AES-128-bit and AES-256-bit encryption for data encryption. Unlike other free VPNs, it doesn’t offer essential features like a kill switch and IP Leak Protection.

It’s not trustworthy because of its jurisdiction and logging policy. It belongs from the US and even logs your data, like bandwidth consumed per session, IP address, and connection logs. Moreover, it also serves ads to the users and can be a source for infecting your device with malware. You can’t use it for streaming and torrenting, either.

Are there any Cons to using free VPNs?

The primary purpose of using a VPN is to boost your internet security and privacy. But in most cases, a free VPN fails to do so. Besides this, it keeps you from availing of a premium VPN’s other perks. To shed more light on it, here are some significant drawbacks associated with a free VPN provider:

• Limited Server Network– A free VPN allows users to access a few limited server networks that sometimes doesn’t ensure fast connections.
• Slow Speeds– A free VPN provides slow and sluggish internet speed because of limited bandwidth and server network.
• Poor Encryption– They fail to encrypt your data correctly, exposing it to hackers and other prying eyes.
• Logging Policy– Most free VPN providers don’t follow a zero-logging policy and record and share your data.
• Lack of Features– They come with limited or no security and privacy-focused features, impacting the overall user experience.
• Torrenting/Streaming– A free VPN provider doesn’t offer compatibility with streaming and torrenting, and even if they do so, the experience isn’t very effective.
• Serves Ads– After collecting your browsing data, these VPN providers sell it to third parties to earn revenue, and the companies, in turn, target you with ads.
• Torrenting/Streaming– A free VPN provider doesn’t offer compatibility with streaming and torrenting, and even if they do so, the experience isn’t very practical.

Considering all these issues, it’s vital that if you use a free VPN, it will be free from all such problems. Also, instead of using a free VPN, you can try using the best free trial VPNs.

Conclusion

A free VPN provider lets users use them without investing in a premium plan. It’s even an inexpensive way to freely use the web while maintaining digital security and privacy. However, since you’ll find numerous free VPNs online, trusting them for your internet security and privacy is strict.

Most free VPN providers keep logs and share your data with the government or third parties. Also, the sluggish internet connection and poor encryption standards make things worse for you. Hence, if you want to use a free VPN, make sure it’s the best free VPN like those mentioned above.

The best free VPNs are the ones that use robust encryption and basic security features that follow a no-log policy with safe jurisdiction. So, do consider using these VPNs and enjoy your browsing experience. 

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About the Author

Zehra Ali

Zehra Ali is a Tech Reporter and Journalist. She has done her Masters in Mass Communication. Topics related to cybersecurity, IoT, AI, Big Data and other privacy matters are extensively covered by her on various platforms. You can follow her on twitter.

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