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VPNchek

Updated April 2026

Best VPN for Free VPN (2026)

The only free VPNs worth using — and why most free VPNs are dangerous We tested 4 VPNs. Rankings based on measured data.

Our top pick:ProtonVPN9.1/10

What matters for free vpn — how we scored each VPN

Primary criteria: Data limit, speed cap, server restrictions, and privacy policy. Most free VPNs are dangerous — only 4 in our database are worth using.. Beyond this core requirement, we weighted overall score, privacy, and price.

1
ProtonVPN

Built by the team behind ProtonMail. Privacy is the product.

Best for Privacy
9.1/10
Excellent

ProtonVPN is the strongest privacy-first choice if you distrust VPN marketing claims. The no-logs policy has been court-tested, the apps are fully open source, and the Swiss jurisdiction is the most legally favorable for privacy in Europe.

87%

Speed kept

91

Countries

$3.99

/mo 2-yr plan

  • Strongest verifiable privacy: open-source apps, court-tested no-logs policy
  • Swiss jurisdiction — outside EU and US data retention laws
  • Secure Core routes traffic through hardened servers in Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland
  • Speeds slower than NordVPN or ExpressVPN — 87% retention
See ProtonVPN dealFull review →

30-day money-back guarantee

2
Windscribe

The only free VPN worth recommending.

Best Free Option
8.0/10
Very Good

Windscribe's free tier gives you 10 servers, 10 GB/month, and a firewall — more than any free VPN competitor. The paid tier is under $3/month. Build-Your-Own-Plan pricing is unique in the category.

77%

Speed kept

69

Countries

$2.70

/mo annual

  • Best free tier in the category: 10 GB/month, 10 server locations, no device limit
  • Under $3/month on annual plan
  • ROBERT (custom blocklist) is the most configurable ad/tracker blocker we've tested
  • Free tier speed is throttled and server options are limited
See Windscribe dealFull review →

3-day money-back guarantee

3
TunnelBear

Annual security audits since 2016. The most consistently transparent VPN.

Most Transparent Audit Record
7.9/10
Good

TunnelBear has published the results of its annual third-party security audit every year since 2016 — a transparency record unmatched in the industry. Speeds are modest, server count is limited, but the auditing commitment is genuinely differentiated.

76%

Speed kept

47

Countries

$4.99

/mo annual

  • Annual full security audit by Cure53 since 2016 — longest audit history in the category
  • Published audit results publicly including vulnerability disclosures — nothing hidden
  • Free tier: 2 GB/month with access to all 47 server locations
  • Canadian jurisdiction (5 Eyes member) — acquired by McAfee (now Gen Digital) in 2018
See TunnelBear dealFull review →
4
Hide.me

Malaysian jurisdiction. 10 GB free. No-logs since 2012.

Best Free Tier + Privacy Jurisdiction
8.1/10
Very Good

Hide.me is the best combination of free tier and privacy jurisdiction we've tested. Malaysian incorporation keeps it outside US, UK, and EU legal frameworks. The 10 GB/month free tier with 5 server locations is the most generous free offering among privacy-focused VPNs.

82%

Speed kept

91

Countries

$4.99

/mo annual

  • Malaysia jurisdiction — outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention directives
  • 10 GB/month free tier with access to 5 server locations — no payment info required
  • No-logs policy since 2012 — one of the longest uninterrupted records in the category
  • Smaller server network (2,300+) compared to NordVPN or CyberGhost
See Hide.me dealFull review →

30-day money-back guarantee

Free VPN VPN comparison table

Feature
ProtonVPN9.1/10
Windscribe8/10
TunnelBear7.9/10
Hide.me8.1/10
Our Score9.187.98.1
Monthly Price$3.99/mo$2.70/mo$4.99/mo$4.99/mo
Servers2,900+480+5,000+2,300+
Countries91694791
Simultaneous Devices10Unlimited510
Speed (tested)665 Mbps (87%)590 Mbps (77%)580 Mbps (76%)625 Mbps (82%)
No-Logs Policy
Independently Audited
Kill Switch
Ad Blocker
Streaming
Torrenting / P2P
Port Forwarding
Obfuscation
Double VPN
RAM-Only Servers
JurisdictionSwitzerland (outside EU/US jurisdiction)Canada (5 Eyes member)Canada (5 Eyes member)Malaysia (outside 5/9/14 Eyes and EU data retention)
Money-Back Guarantee30 days3 daysNone30 days

Data verified April 2026. Prices reflect lowest available plan per month (billed upfront).

Frequently asked questions

What makes a VPN good for free vpn?

. Beyond this core requirement, you need reliable speeds (so your activity isn't degraded by the VPN), a verified no-logs policy, and support for the platforms you use.

How often do you update these rankings?

Speed data is tested weekly from 8 server locations. Streaming reliability is checked monthly. Pricing is verified monthly at checkout. This page was last verified in April 2026.

Do you earn commissions on these recommendations?

Yes. We earn affiliate commissions on some links. Our rankings are set by test data collected independently. Commission rates do not affect ranking position. Commission rates for each recommendation are published in individual reviews.

Related guides

Explainers

Free VPN vs Paid VPN: The Real Differences →What Is a No-Logs VPN Policy? (And Why It Matters) →

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