Best Free VPNs 2024

Jo Thornhill
Editor

Updated: May 1, 2024, 10:31am

Laura Howard
Editor

Edited By

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VPNs or Virtual Private Networks help you to stay safe online by making your browsing anonymous (data traffic is encrypted) and protecting your data and your identity from fraudsters.

Many experts agree it is usually worth paying for a good quality VPN service. But there are a range of free VPNs available which might suit those who just want temporary access to a secure connection, such as when using public WiFi, for example.

Fully free VPNs are available from some providers, although it is usually a limited service. You can find out more about this in our, ‘What are the drawbacks of a free VPN?’ section, below.

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  • Market-wide survey of leading VPN providers
  • Rigorous assessment of VPN features and costs
  • Thorough analysis of pros and cons

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Best free VPNs of 2024

We analysed some of the ‘lifetime’ free VPN services on offer (not just free trials), looking at aspects such as data limits, number of connections and server locations, reputation of the provider as well as the other services and support on offer. We’ve listed the providers in alphabetical order. For full details, see our methodology below.

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BEST FOR ENHANCED ANONYMITY

Proton VPN

Proton VPN

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

One

Data Limit

No limit

Proton VPN
Learn More

On Proton VPN's Secure Website

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

One

Data Limit

No limit

Why We Picked It

Proton VPN provides several security measures, including Stealth for bypassing heavy firewalls, Secure Core for protected internet use and NetShield for blocking ads. Its security protocols, WireGuard and OpenVPN, enhance internet performance while protecting your internet activities. You can also stream unblocked content and maintain your speed levels with Proton VPN’s Accelerator, which boosts internet speed by 400%.

Proton VPN operates a strict privacy law, and third-party professionals have audited its no-logs policy, so this best Android VPN assures users of enhanced anonymity when using the VPN. Proton also boasts of an ad-free free plan that offers unlimited data bandwidth. But note that that won’t get you advanced security features such as DNS leak protection and Proton’s ad-blocker, or offer peer-to-peer (P2P) support or maximum speeds. It won’t even allow you to stream unblocked content or use more than one device at a time.

So your best bet to exploring the VPN to find out if it’s best for you is subscribing to a paid plan for $9.99 per month and relying on Proton VPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee. You can cancel your subscription and get a full refund, no questions asked. Well, except if you pay by cash or bank transfers, which are nonrefundable.

Who should use it:

Proton VPN is good for anyone who doesn’t want to sacrifice speed for enhanced security and privacy.

Pros & Cons
  • Transparent privacy policy
  • Unlimited bandwidth on all plans
  • Consistent speed levels
  • Risk-free money-back guarantee
  • No dedicated IP server add-on
  • No 24/7 live support
  • Doesn’t bypass restrictions in censor-heavy countries
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BEST FOR LEAK PROTECTION

hide.me

hide.me

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

One

Data Limit

10 GB per month

hide.me

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

One

Data Limit

10 GB per month

Why We Picked It

hide.me offers many privacy features to free and premium users. And that includes the kill switch, split tunneling and auto-connect feature, which activates whenever you connect to an untrusted Wi-Fi. hide.me packs a host of protocols, including WireGuard, IKEv2 IPsec, OpenVPN, SoftEther and SSTP. And this best VPN for Mac is available for desktops and mobile devices, with desktop clients, apps, browser extensions and routers, providing coverage for your network of devices.

The VPN also has 2,100 servers in 79 locations, so you can be sure to find a nearby server. When we tested hide.me, we enjoyed consistent connection speeds across several servers, only with little lags during server switches. The VPN costs as low as $2.22 per month, depending on your subscription type. It also offers a free version with P2P support, access to eight servers and a data bandwidth of 10GB.

hide.me’s free plan limits users to one device per time, and there’s no WireGuard support, limiting your speed. So for optimum speed and advanced security and privacy offerings, we recommend its paid service. You can then seek a refund within 30 days if you’re dissatisfied with how it works.

Who should use it:

hide.me VPN is a good option for those who need a VPN that supports P2P torrenting or uses the latest encryption protocols you can rely upon for protection against hacking or government surveillance.

Pros & Cons
  • Strong encryption and privacy features
  • No registration required for free plan
  • 24/7 live chat
  • User interface can be complex
  • No annual subscription
  • Kill switch malfunctions when you switch servers
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BEST FOR UNLIMITED DEVICE CONNECTION

Windscribe

Windscribe

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

Unlimited

Data Limit

10 GB per month

Windscribe

Pricing

Forever free

Number of Connections

Unlimited

Data Limit

10 GB per month

Why We Picked It

Windscribe is flexible, and it has plenty of privacy and security features. The VPN combines AES-256 encryption, 4096-bit RSA key and SHA512 authentication with strong encryption protocols, IKEv2, OpenVPN and superfast WireGuard to enhance your security. Windscribe also blocks ads and trackers that slow down internet speed, so you won’t sacrifice speed for security.

Windscribe VPN also offers servers in more than 69 countries and 112 cities, allowing you to spoof your location to access the internet without monitoring or restriction. Windscribe is also generous with its free options. It’s ad-free, gives users access to as many as 14 locations over 11 countries, offers 10GB of data per month and unblocks popular streaming sites including Netflix and BBC iPlayer on as many devices as you want.

But for optimum security and speed, try out any of its paid versions for as low as $5.75 per month on annual payments. And for an extra $2, you can get Windscribe’s static IP address. But note that Windscribe is a Canadian-based company, so it’s subject to international intelligence-sharing pacts that require it to turn over your data if prompted by the government. That might be a turnoff, especially since Windscribe logs your activity time stamps and data usage for maintenance purposes.

Also, Windscribe’s refund policy is quite restrictive. It gives you only three days to request a refund, and you won’t get one if you’ve used beyond 10GB of data. Plus, the refund process may take up to 30 days.

Who should use it:

Windscribe VPN is good for anyone who is looking for a VPN with unlimited simultaneous connections and wants to choose their dedicated IP addresses.

Pros & Cons
  • Static IP address available
  • Unlimited device connections even on its free plan
  • It bypasses China’s great firewall
  • Based in Canada, a Five Eyes alliance member
  • Logs time stamps and data usage for maintenance purposes
  • Unreliable bot live-chat support

Methodology

With a broad range of free VPNs to choose from it can be difficult to narrow down your choice. When awarding our Forbes star rating, we stuck to reputable VPN brands with a track record for security and customer service, backed up with a highly regarded fee-paying VPN service.

We used the VPN provider’s own websites to check details around data limits, the number of connections allowed (simultaneous active devices) and server locations as well as if the free VPN offers unblocking of streaming services and any additional features.

What is a VPN?

A VPN allows you to use the internet by way of secure and encrypted ‘tunnels’, effectively creating a private internet connection so you – and your internet browsing – can’t be tracked. It’s a way to protect your data and your identity online, keeping them safe from fraudsters, for example.

A VPN can also be used to unblock online content or stream TV programmes and films from other geographical regions which otherwise you couldn’t access. But be aware that with this, although unblocking is not illegal, it may break the contract terms of the streaming service.

How does free VPN work?

Many VPN providers offer a free service alongside their premium or paid-for VPN and the free service will be more limited, with data caps, slow speeds and limited connections, for example. Typically the paid-for VPN will subsidise the free service.

While free VPN may suit some users, for example those trying out different VPN services or people who just want a temporary VPN while they are using public WiFi in a library or coffee shop, for example, generally free VPN will be too limited for most users.

Be aware that with some free VPN services you’ll get ads and your data might be sold to other companies. If you want to avoid this check the terms and conditions of the free VPN provider or ask if they sell your data.

Are free VPNs safe to use?

There have been issues with some free VPN services and consumers would be wise to tread with caution if they don’t want to pay for VPN. Past research has shown that some free VPNs have contained malware and spyware without users being aware.

Do your research and ensure you’re comfortable with the company you’re using and its track record on security before you sign up.

Many free VPN services will monitor your usage, which feels like it defeats the purpose of using a VPN to some degree. This data could then be sold by the VPN company to other third party companies to then target advertising to you.

What are the drawbacks of free VPN?

With free VPN you won’t get the range of services you’d get with paid VPNs. You’re likely to be limited to one or two servers, slower speeds and there is usually a cap on data usage, typically around 10GB a month. For this reason free VPN probably won’t suit those who want to stream or for gaming.

It is also important to be aware that with free VPN your internet activity may be monitored by the provider, you could experience pop-up ads while you’re online and your data could be sold to third party companies.

Service quality and experience can vary markedly between different free VPNs so using a bit of trial and error and testing different services out can help until you find the best one that suits your needs, or before opting for a paid VPN service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why use a VPN?

There are lots of good reasons to use a VPN, including:

  1. To watch content in foreign Netflix libraries. Since Netflix and other streaming services offer different films and shows to customers in different countries, you can use a VPN to pretend you’re watching from a different country and maximise your subscription
  2. To stream sporting events. Other countries may have streams of sporting events you can’t access from the UK. With a VPN you can access those streams.
  3. For stronger security. A VPN encrypts your data, making it much harder for cyber criminals to target you – especially if you’re using a public access point like Wi-Fi in an airport or coffee shop
  4. For privacy. When you use a VPN, your online activity is encrypted and invisible to anyone but yourself. Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) won’t even be able to see where you’ve been online
  5. To circumvent censorship. Some countries prohibit citizens from accessing certain material online. A VPN can help you to access blocked content.

Are VPNs legal?

Yes, it’s 100% legal to use a VPN in the UK. The only places in the world where VPNs are illegal are the likes of China and North Korea. VPNs are a legitimate way to protect your privacy online and bypass geo-restrictions on certain websites.

Crimes committed while using a VPN are still crimes. Illegally downloading media could still land you in trouble, and you shouldn’t expect a VPN to shield you from prosecution.

How do you set up a VPN?

Setting up a VPN is simple. Once you’ve chosen a VPN provider, you set up an account, pay for your subscription – unless you’re opting for a free VPN – and download the app. Once downloaded, you log into the app using the account details you provided and you’re ready to begin.

How much does VPN cost?

If you want a good quality VPN with unlimited data and a bigger number of servers, compared to free VPN, the costs will vary from supplier to supplier.

You can pay for a month’s access at a time, a year’s access or more. Longer subscriptions tend to be more cost effective, but payment is taken up front, which means then initial outlay tends to be higher.

In our list of the best VPNs for 2023, the average price for a 12-month subscription tends to fall in the £40-£60 region.

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Jo Thornhill Editor

I am passionate about personal finance issues and helping consumers navigate the world of insurance, credit, savings and pensions. I have been a money journalist for almost two decades, including ten years on the award-winning personal finance desk at the Mail on Sunday.