Best Free VPN 2026: In-Depth Comparison (Updated August)

Free VPNs sound great until you actually use one. Slow speeds, data caps, sketchy privacy policies: the list of catches is long, and most VPNs don’t advertise them upfront. At 01net, we’ve tested dozens of free VPN services to see which ones are worth installing. Some hold up surprisingly well for basic browsing. Others log your data, throttle your connection, or disappear the moment you need them most. This guide breaks down our top picks for 2026, plus the real limits behind “free” so you know what you’re signing up for before you install anything.

Best Free VPN Services 2026 Reviewed and Compared

I split this list into two: Free VPN trials and really free VPN services. There are differences, and free trials are considerably better. They offer streaming, torrenting, unlimited data, way more servers, simultaneous connections, etc. Free VPNs are limited in all these aspects, plus you’re unlikely to find ones with advanced security features, so they’re less safe and secure. That’s why I’m starting this top 8 Free VPN list with four excellent free trials. By the way, I’ve updated it in August, so I switched places between ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, as the latter is now better, faster, and with more features.

	Free Acces	Data Cap	Locations	Devices	Streaming & P2P	Speeds
NordVPN	30-day refund, 3-day trial	Unlimited	149	10	Full access ✅	Fastest
Proton VPN	30-day refund, forever free	Unlimited	148 (10 in free)	10 (1 in free)	Full access in paid, no access in free	Very fast in paid, throttled in free
ExpressVPN	30-day refund, 3-day trial	Unlimited	113	10-14	Full access ✅	Very fast
CyberGhost	30-day refund, 1-day trial	Unlimited	100	7	Full access + dedicated servers ✅	Fast
Hide.me	Forever free	Unlimited	8	1	Blocked ⛔	Throttled
TunnelBear	Forever free	2 GB	47	1	Blocked ⛔	Throttled
Hotspot Shield	Forever free	500 MB/day, Unlimited on mobile	1 (USA)	1	Blocked ⛔	Throttled
Windscribe	Forever free	10 GB/month	11	1	Limited	Good

1. NordVPN: Free VPN With a 30-Day Guarantee

NordVPN is the best VPN overall, and there’s no two-way about it. Servers in 149 countries, fast speeds with NordLynx, and unlimited data. You can use it for streaming, torrenting, Tor over VPN connections, bypassing censorship, or simple, secure browsing. We like NordVPN because it’s pretty much limitless. Whether it’s unblocking Netflix or playing online games (like Black Ops 7 in bot lobbies), NordVPN really pulls no punches. What makes it stand out is its level of security and privacy, actually.

While even the best free VPN services lack Double VPN, NordVPN offers it. NordVPN will also block trackers, ads, malware, and viruses with Threat Protection; not a single free VPN does it. It also works on 10 devices at a time, while a typical free VPN works only on one. NordVPN works well in China, while most free VPNs fail. The VPN is widely compatible with all devices, and people even install it on streaming devices, like Fire TV Sticks and an Apple TV. Customer support is available 24/7 via live chat.

Overall, NordVPN really has no compromises when it comes to its use cases. While its price is higher than most other VPNs, it’s very well worth it. Besides, if you decide to make it a free VPN, you have a 30-day money-back guarantee, or actually, a handy 3-day free trial on NordVPN if you sign up on Android. Your choice.

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2. Proton VPN: 30-Day Guarantee + Really FREE VPN Tier

Here’s a versatile, free VPN you can test. A premium version has a 30-day refund policy, so you can get everything it offers for a month and lose nothing. Want to go completely free? You’ll get a VPN with unlimited data, strong security, and a no-log policy. My honest advice: Pick the premium version with a guarantee. You’ll unlock torrenting, streaming (it works on Netflix), Secure Core servers (Double Hop encryption), NetShield to block trackers and ads, and port forwarding, very useful for torrenters.

Free or paid, Proton VPN keeps zero logs and has an audited no-logging policy. It’s backed by strict Swiss privacy laws, open-source apps, and full-disk encryption, making it one of the most transparent and trusted free VPNs. The fully free version of Proton VPN isn’t so impressive. This free VPN can’t download torrents, it won’t work with streaming services, and it’ll limit you to 1 device at a time; the paid version protects 10 devices. I also noticed that the free version can be way slower due to server congestion.

While Proton VPN’s paid version excels at speed with WireGuard, the free version, which still actually has it, is the polar opposite. But at least Proton lets you pick your tier based on how much and if you can spend anything at all. To learn more, read my Proton VPN review and see how it’s improved recently.

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3. ExpressVPN: 30-Day Guarantee for Fast and Secure VPN

I always keep coming back to ExpressVPN whenever I need a free VPN with solid ease of use and fast speeds. Granted, you get up to 30 days, but that’s enough if you temporarily need the VPN. For a simple VPN app, ExpressVPN is surprisingly beefy. You get over 3,000 servers, its fast Lightway Turbo protocol with multiple tunnels, and P2P optimization. Even better, ExpressVPN is ready for streaming across all of its servers. Personally, I tested it on Netflix UK from the USA, and I could unblock it effortlessly.

ExpressVPN’s kill switch managed data leaks, while its Advanced Protection blocked trackers and ads across all sites. ExpressVPN is also useful for privacy, with RAM-based servers, forward secrecy, and a no-logs policy audited by KPMG in 2025 and before. While it lacks Double VPN and robust malware protection, it compensates with sheer performance, simple UI, and up to 14 simultaneous connections.

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4. CyberGhost: 45-Day Guarantee Free VPN for Streaming

Here’s a jack of all trades for a fairly low price: CyberGhost. 2-year and 6-month plans now have a massive 45-day money-back guarantee, so it’s really the best free VPN if you need one for more than a month. Even better, you can use its VPN free on macOS and Windows for 24 hours simply by registering and downloading the app. CyberGhost is fast; it uses WireGuard and doesn’t restrict bandwidth or data. Its standout feature: Dedicated streaming servers. My favorites for Netflix and iPlayer.

On Windows, CyberGhost even throws in dedicated P2P and gaming servers, both offering low latency and speed-first connections. NoSpy servers, owned by CyberGhost, are for privacy, and its audited no-log policy with transparency reports makes it highly trustworthy. While it lacks some advanced features, like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost offers over 12,000 servers in 100 countries, SmartDNS support, and robust mobile and desktop apps with an ad blocker that works well for the price (~$2.2/mo).

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5. Hide.me: Free, With Unlimited Data and Strong Security

Want a free VPN to change location and keep your privacy? Hide.me checks all the boxes if you really have no money to spend. It’s a 100% free VPN with unlimited data, solid speeds with WireGuard, and 8 strategically placed server locations. I tested it in all conditions, and frankly, I could just browse, but that was unlimited, which was good. Hide.me was easy to set up, and I could install it on all my devices.

With SoftEther, I could also bypass censorship on my trip to the UAE last month. As a free VPN, Hide.me has serious limitations, and the one I hate the most is a P2P block. Forget about any torrenting with it. I also couldn’t unblock streaming services with it, and while I had it installed on my devices, I could use the VPN only on one at a time. Hide.me’s premium version ramps up the server count, unlocks advanced features (like MultiHop), and has streaming servers, so it may be worth considering in 2026.

6. TunnelBear: Totally Free VPN With 8,000+ Servers

TunnelBear is a VPN from Canada known for beautiful apps, a huge server network usable in its free VPN, and solid performance. I tested this VPN on my Windows 11 PC and Galaxy S26, and honestly, it feels premium. Speeds are almost on par with CyberGhost, and the security features I got were basic, but they did the job. I liked GhostBear, which masked my VPN connection to let me bypass strict firewalls. For some users, this free VPN worked in China with this tool, but I haven’t tested it, so I can’t confirm.

TunnelBear has several flaws I must point out. First, it’s limited to 2 GB of data, and second, while it has 8,000+ servers, NONE work for streaming and torrenting. I really appreciate that it doesn’t store logs, and actually has more audits than CyberGhost, but again, I can’t protect more than one device, and its customer support is virtually non-existent. That’s your best free VPN, or one of, at least. Still subpar.

7. Hotspot Shield: Best Free VPN for US Servers

Hotspot Shield is the best free VPN in 2026 if you really need fast and secure US servers. It’s the best free VPN for the USA for those wanting security, fast speeds, and unblocking abilities that extend mostly to US-based platforms. I tested Hotspot Shield for speeds, and using Hydra, its in-house protocol, I was very close to what I got from premium VPNs. I tested this free VPN on Windows and Android, but noticed two things. On Windows, I had a small 500 MB per day data cap. On Android, I did not.

However, the free VPN app on Android displayed ads which I had to watch to extend my use by 15 minutes. It was annoying, especially since I only got the US servers, speeds weren’t as good as on Windows, and Hotspot Shield used targeted ads, which meant it was tracking all my online activities. Hotspot Shield’s premium version addresses these problems, but then, I really wanted a good and reliable free VPN service to unblock online bookies, stream, or simply browse smoothly. I got only the latter (sort of).

8. Windscribe: Customizable Free VPN

I reviewed Windscribe and was blown away by how customizable it was. Its apps are still a mess, but the speed, reliability, and even unblocking capabilities are otherwordly for a free VPN. It’s not the best free VPN because it limits your data to 10 GB per month, which then dooms you to shorter streaming or torrenting sessions. You also have one connection at a time, and there’s a limited server selection, not ideal for bypassing geo-blocks reliably. But does it work with Netflix? I’m shocked, but yes, it does.

It also allows torrenting, which even the best VPN services don’t. Windscribe is very fast, and I tested it with WireGuard many times, losing no more than 20% of the speed even on distant VPN servers. The app is customizable, so you can adjust the protocol, use proxies, and make it work the way you want. Privacy is intact, as Windscribe keeps zero logs and doesn’t profit off your data as most free VPN providers do. All in all, it’s really good, but the data limit holds it back from being excellent in 2026.

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Best Free VPN Alternatives: Why Free VPN Services Fail

What are the best free VPN alternatives? In my experience, that’s a free VPN trial, and here is precisely why. While a free VPN is a cut-down version of the VPN, a free trial VPN is a paid, fully-featured VPN that you can use for a limited period. Free trials typically go from a few days to a few weeks, though it depends on what kind of trial you want. If it’s a free trial without a credit card, you get 3-7 days.

I recently discussed the best VPNs for Windows, stating that CyberGhost lets you use it for free for 24 hours on that platform; its premium version, to be precise. People always prefer premium VPNs, but only go for the free ones because they can’t afford paid VPNs. If you’re one of them, you can get a reliable free VPN, but still, you’ll face limitations, and based on my tests, it boils down to these few factors:

• Limited performance. By that, I refer to limited data, bandwidth, or speed. Almost EVERY free VPN does this. Proton VPN’s free version isn’t as fast, while TunnelBear caps your data to only 2 GB per month. A small fee unlocks everything.
• Limited security. The best free VPN will have the basics covered, but things like Double VPN, ad-blocking, malware protection, and obfuscation are locked behind the paywall. While free VPNs that don’t keep logs exist, they’ll ultimately be less safe than a paid VPN that does the same and supplies modern features.
• Limited usability. Free VPNs rarely work for streaming and torrenting, so you’re locked only to basic browsing and watching HD videos on YouTube. That’s if you’re not restricted by data limitations.
• Limited privacy. Some VPNs store logs to stay afloat. They collect your information and sell it to the highest bidder. It’s expected, as offering something for free never got anyone wealthy.

100% VPN Providers to Avoid in 2026

I explicitly explained that not every provider is the best free VPN, despite claiming otherwise. You don’t want to trust just any free VPN out there, and from my experience, these are really the best (or worst) examples.

Hola: 100% Free VPN That Stores Logs

Hola VPN seems like the absolute greatest free VPN. It offers no bandwidth caps, works with geo-blocked websites, and promises to keep your privacy intact. Hola is not a real VPN mainly because of the way it works. As you know, this service lets you connect to a remote VPN server, change your IP address, and encrypt your connection. Hola VPN doesn’t have ANY servers. It uses P2P technology. Users in the Hola network share their idle resources, so they can hijack each other’s IP addresses and use them.

That’s why Hola VPN has so many locations in so many countries. Nonetheless, this is extremely dangerous, as someone can use your IP address to perform illegal online activities and you’ll be the one to take the blame. Apart from that, the company behind Hola VPN is untrustworthy. They had major incidents in the past, one with the botnet (most notably), and their privacy policy is all but private.  As a result, Hola VPN stores every bit of user information and sells it to third parties to earn revenue.

Sure, the company is transparent about this. However, being transparent doesn’t make a VPN safer. Don’t trust this free VPN. It’s deceptive, its business practices are despicable, and it doesn’t care about your privacy.

Betternet VPN: Really Free VPN With Weak Privacy

Betternet is also almost at the very top of this list. Apart from having malware in its applications, this VPN is known for many other scandals. Since it’s a subsidiary of AURA, the same as Hotspot Shield, you can expect the same logging in the background. Storing a lot of user information, Betternet is also going to sell it to third-party corporations to earn money, should you go for its free plan. Moreover, users have reported severe IP and DNS leaks while using it, which is another waving red flag.

Needless to say, standard issues like slow speeds, unstable performance, and a small server network still plague this VPN. These are great reasons to avoid it in favor of a premium provider like NordVPN or Proton VPN.

Urban VPN: Heavy Logging, No Features

Urban VPN is a very disappointing VPN. It’s a really free service, with unlimited data, along with 80+ server locations. It sounds like a match made in heaven, but in reality, this free VPN conceals its true nature, which can be found out by reading the privacy policy. It stores all kinds of information about users, even including their IP addresses, browsing activities, geolocations, and other compromising information. To make money, Urban VPN sells data to third parties, which stomps all over your privacy.

Urban VPN, on top of that, is very slow, and despite unlimited data, it’s not torrenting-friendly, nor does it allow streaming. It has no security features, and it’s even questionable if the VPN can encrypt your connection. We recommend avoiding it at ALL costs since it virtually has no advantages over the best free VPN services.

Free Mobile VPNs on Apple and Google Store

If you see a free VPN on Google or Apple Store, just keep scrolling and pretend that you didn’t see anything. We tested more than a few dozen free VPN providers for iOS and Android. The results were shocking, as nearly every provider stored even the most privacy-infringing logs. Furthermore, they display annoying ads every few minutes, which often use your browsing habits to target you as a customer. Those in need of a great mobile VPN should still go for a premium VPN and avoid 100% free VPNs.

What is the Best Free VPN: Conclusion for 2026

It’s the one that does everything you need it to. If you can’t afford one, settle for Proton VPN’s free tier. You’ll have to be content with its limitations, but at least you’ll spend nothing and still be safe and private online. Need a VPN temporarily? In that case, the choices widen, and you can get NordVPN, Proton VPN, ExpressVPN, or CyberGhost, with their 30-45 day refund policies. It’s not a forever-free solution, I know.

However, it’s much safer and actually works for torrenting, streaming, gaming, and reliable VPN connections, which people are always after. In the end, you know what fits your checklist. Is it a strictly free VPN, or are you looking for quality first? Based on your answer, you should be able to make an informed decision.

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