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Title: The best free VPNs in 2025

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:00:32 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/be...

A good VPN is worth paying for. Almost every service I'll recommend as one of
the best VPNs is either subscription-only or supported by paid plans. Free
VPNs do have their place, though, as not everybody can afford yet another
subscription in the software-as-a-service hellscape we live in. Since
everyone deserves privacy and flexibility online, I wanted to put together a
definitive list of the best free VPNs.

Now, some will say that free VPNs are, by definition, security risks that are
to be avoided by default. That reputation exists because free VPNs often
really are a risk. As proliferating age verification laws have created a need
for VPNs, some free services have stepped up to answer the call, while others
have taken advantage of it to spread malware. Free VPNs are easy for scammers
to set up and hard for app stores to catch. I never recommend using one
without doing thorough research.

To that end, the three providers on this list are exceptions to the risk of
free VPNs. While they all have tradeoffs, they're also upfront about what
they do and don't do. Each one comes with reliable security, a clean record
of handling user data and apps that never force you to upgrade just so
they'll work properly. They aren't the only good free VPNs, but they're the
top three by far.

Editor's note: This list represents our ranking as of October 2025. We intend
to revisit the list every three months at a minimum, at which time our picks
may be adjusted based on changes in features, testing results and other
factors.

Best free VPNs for 2025

Other free VPNs we tested

The first three no-cost VPNs mentioned here are worthy of recommendation in
their own ways, but didn't quite make the cut for our top picks. I've left
notes on them here in case one of them turns out to be perfect for you, and
because they're on my list for induction into the free VPN pantheon if they
improve.

None of the above applies to Hotspot Shield, which you should not use. It's
on here as a warning. You can find more details in that section below.

PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN is a strong enough contender that I seriously considered adding it
to the list as my fourth official recommendation. It's technically unlimited,
though once you use 10GB of data, it sharply handicaps your speed for the
rest of the month. Free users can choose between 13 server locations on four
continents. It even performs well on worldwide latency tests, though download
speeds swing pretty heavily.

That uncertain speed stat kept Privado out of the winner's circle, as did one
other concern: although it has a clear and extensive privacy policy, it's
never gone through a third-party audit. Additionally, it's a newer service,
having only launched in 2019 ΓÇö so it's harder to make claims about its
business practices.

Finally, while hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN all retain their excellence
on the paid plan, PrivadoVPN isn't as worth paying for. Outside the free
plan, it's a decent VPN with no reason to pick it over Proton or ExpressVPN.
That said, if it passes an audit ΓÇö or faces a real-world test of its no-
logs policy, like a server seizure ΓÇö look for Privado to join the big
leagues soon.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear does free VPN service well ΓÇö it just doesn't do enough. Trust
me, I donΓÇÖt take pleasure in criticizing its adorable, hole-digging bear
mascot, which goes a long way toward making the app welcoming to beginners. I
like that its free plan offers access to the entire server network, the only
VPN that does so.

But the hard fact is that 2GB of data per month is not enough to do much of
anything. With such a low data limit, TunnelBear's free plan is an enticement
to upgrade to its paid service, not a viable VPN solution in its own right.
That really is a good bear, though.

EventVPN

EventVPN, developed by the ExpressVPN team, was launched a month ago and
could one day become an outstanding free VPN. However, given its bizarre
decision to run ads in the app, I can't endorse it right now.

Were EventVPN not associated with ExpressVPN or Kape Technologies, I might
defend its decision to show ads by pointing out that all ad tracking data is
anonymized ΓÇö there isn't even a backend in which to store it. That might be
a decent way to fund a full-featured free VPN. But EventVPN is openly part of
a lucrative VPN portfolio, and has its own paid tier, so there's no excuse
for the 30-second video ads.

Hotspot Shield: Tested and not recommended

Hotspot Shield was once the poster child for free VPNs; today, it's become
one of the clearest illustrations of why they're dangerous. You get 500MB of
browsing data per day, which is reasonable, on par with Windscribe's best
offer. However, not only does the free version cap speeds at 2 Mbps, but it
also restricts you to one location, the United States.

Worse, it shows you ads. Unlike EventVPN, which at least limits itself to ads
from a single service, Hotspot Shield lists no fewer than eight ad
coordinators in its privacy policy. One of them is Meta, which you should
never, ever trust with any sensitive data. I can't name a better textbook
example of "if the product is free, you're the product."

What to look for in a free VPN

Selecting a VPN is hard enough with all the competition out there, but with a
free VPN, the stakes are even higher. Free VPNs are all over the place, and
app stores don't vet them effectively. You're left on your own to determine
whether a free VPN is mediocre, exploitative or even a straight-up malware
vector.

My top three recommendations ΓÇö hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN ΓÇö are
clean. If you choose to use another one, here are the red flags to consider.

Security: First, make absolutely certain the free VPN isn't a threat to your
security. Research it to see if any experts have warned against it, and check
to make sure it uses known and approved encryption protocols (OpenVPN,
WireGuard, IKEv2 or an equivalent). If you have an antivirus program,
download the VPN in sandbox mode so you can scan it while it's quarantined.

Privacy: Read the free VPN's privacy policy in detail to see if it claims any
liberties with your personal data. As a rule, never use an "ad-supported"
free VPN, since almost all ad services track users for targeted campaigns.
Other free services, like Hola VPN, make money by selling user IP addresses
as residential proxies. Be alert for any indication that the VPN will profit
off your personal data.

Usage requirements: If you've determined a free VPN is safe and secure, your
next step is to make sure you'll be able to use it for the tasks you have in
mind. Most reputable free VPNs are limited in some way. Match the
restrictions to what you need; for example, if you want a free VPN for
streaming, pick one without data caps that lets you choose your own server
location.

Speed: Even if it meets the minimum requirements of safety and privacy, a
free VPN still needs to meet the same criteria as any paid service. Mainly,
it's got to be fast. With the free VPN active, run speed tests using Ookla in
several locations. On average, it shouldn't reduce your unprotected download
speed by more than 25 percent.

Customer service: Some otherwise full-featured free VPNs skimp on customer
service, restricting live help to paid users. Even Proton VPN is guilty of
this. If you're a beginner or think you're going to need extra help, make
sure to pick a free VPN with a well-written knowledgebase and available tech
support.

Free VPN FAQs

Let's finish up with some of the free VPN questions we get most often. Leave
a comment if you'd like me to answer one I haven't gotten to yet.

What is a free VPN?

A free VPN is a virtual private network that's available to individual users
at no cost. They generally take the form of desktop and mobile apps
downloaded through websites or app stores. You can use them to filter your
internet connection through another server, changing your virtual location
and hiding what you do online.

Most people use free VPNs to make it appear that they're getting online from
somewhere else. This gets around restrictions on internet usage in certain
jurisdictions, like China's "Great Firewall" or the UK's age verification
laws. It can also be used to stream TV shows and events that aren't available
in the user's home region.

Are free VPNs safe?

While free VPNs aren't inherently dangerous, the use case and underlying
business model makes them an easy vector for unscrupulous companies to take
advantage of vulnerable users. It's easy for a malicious actor to set one up
quickly and get it hosted on an app store. Likewise, the people who download
free VPNs tend to need them urgently and may not look too closely at what
they're putting on their phones or computers.

As a rule of thumb, you should approach a free VPN with extreme caution. If
it's not on our recommended list above, we'd suggest avoiding it. In general,
it's almost always safer to seek out VPNs that support their free versions
with paid subscriptions, since they don't need to make money under the table.
But any VPN ΓÇô or other digital service ΓÇô that's put forward as totally
free puts us in mind of the old adage about gambling: If you can't spot the
sucker at the table, it's probably you.

What is the best free VPN?

I've rated hide.me as the best free VPN. Its free service gives you a lot to
work with ΓÇö seven free locations and a data cap that doesn't really apply
in practice. It's also just as secure and trustworthy as its paid version,
without skimping on anything important.

Can you get a free VPN on your phone?

Yes ΓÇö in fact, there are more free VPNs on mobile app stores than almost
anywhere else. All three of my top picks (hide.me, Windscribe and Proton VPN)
have apps for both iOS and Android, and nearly every other free VPN works on
at least one mobile platform.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/be...
120032818.html?src=rss

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