If you cannot afford a premium service, a free VPN is an excellent way to secure your devices. However, a VPN is not necessarily safe just because it is free. The majority of free apps available on the market collect data for marketing agencies and provide shoddy protection.
There are hundreds of apps available, and nearly all of them claim to be limitless. However, even the best free services have restrictions to entice you to upgrade by giving you a taste of the real deal.
Here are the top 10 free VPNs to use in 2025, offering a balance of security, speed, and usability:
1. ProtonVPN:
One of the best options with unlimited data on the free plan, limited to servers in five countries. It also has good speeds, strong security, and no ads.
2. Windscribe:
Offers 10GB of free data monthly and access to servers in 10 countries. Great for torrenting and unblocking some streaming services like BBC iPlayer, but with limited Netflix access.
3. PrivadoVPN:
Known for streaming, this VPN offers 10GB of free data and access to servers in 11 countries. It works with platforms like Netflix and HBO Max.
4. Hotspot Shield
With a daily 500MB data limit, it offers solid speeds and security. It only connects to U.S. servers, but the browser extension offers more locations.
5. Hide. me:
Offers 10GB of free data with fast speeds and seven server locations. It’s a good choice for security and privacy.
6. TunnelBear:
Provides 500MB of free data monthly with an easy-to-use interface. While the data limit is small, it’s a secure option for light browsing.
7. AtlasVPN:
Features unlimited data on its free plan and decent speeds for everyday use, though it has a smaller number of servers.
8. OperaVPN:
Built directly into the Opera browser, it offers unlimited data but is limited to browser use only, without additional apps.
9. ZoogVPN:
Includes 10GB of free data with access to five server locations. It also supports P2P file sharing on select servers.
10. Speedify:
Multiple internet connections for faster speeds and offers 2GB of free data per month, suitable for secure browsing.
These VPNs are popular for their balance of features in their free versions, though most come with limitations like data caps or fewer server locations. For full functionality like streaming and unlimited data, their premium versions may be worth considering.