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Does a free VPN keep you safe in the same way?
Well, it depends on which free VPN you choose.
While free VPNs may seem enticing, they often come with inherent risks.
Fake free VPNs have been caught spreading malware on mobile app stores.
Plus, if streaming’s your thing, NordVPN is able to unblock Netflix content from around the world.
you’re able to even try it risk-free thanks to its30-day money-back guarantee.
Not only this, Surfshark’s plan comes withunlimited simultaneous connections.
Try it risk-free with a30-day money-back guarantee.
These VPN providers will track your online activities, including websites visited, search queries, and browsing habits.
Thats in the best case.
Limited security features:Compared to premium VPN services, free VPNs typically offer limited security features.
Presence of malware:Some free VPNs (especially those in mobile app stores!)
Obviously, this is going to decrease your internet speeds.
Whats worse is the potential exposure to legal issues if illegal activities are conducted through your connection.
You might not even be aware this is going on!
For the most part, Id steer clear of an entirely ad-based VPN.
A lot of VPN providers keep their best features locked behind a paywall.
Often, the free version will just come with the absolute basics.
Im glad to report that Privado VPN is an exception.
Out of Privados 64 locations in 47 countries, the free version offers access to 10 locations.
That said, 10GB a month might not be enough for you.
Before you do, you should definitely try out Privados free VPN for yourself.
Youre concerned about your privacy.ProtonVPN has been fully audited multiple times to demonstrate a real no-logs policy.
In fact, ProtonVPN has been built from the ground up to preserve your privacy.
ProtonVPN is another fantastic free VPN.
ProtonVPN has a similarly spotless record, having passed several third-party audits to confirm their no-log status.
This, of course, extends to ProtonVPNs free VPN offering as well.
The first thing that stands out to me about ProtonVPNs free version is that theres no bandwidth limits.
Thats right, none.
Free really means free when you use ProtonVPN.
Of course, youd expect some limits compared to the paid version.
Try ProtonVPN for a truly free VPN, forever.
You might get lucky with a few streaming services, but ProtonVPN makes no guarantees on their free version.
In fact, its possible to block a lot of regular sites if you dont know what youre doing.
You need the fastest free VPN.Windscribes speeds are pretty good, but it could be better.
ProtonVPN and PrivadoVPN still blow it out of the water.
Windscribe offers something no other provider on this list can: unlimited devices on a single subscription.
Windscribe delivers an interesting mix of free features and opportunities to increase your free VPN bandwidth allowance.
However, youre only allotted 2GB of monthly bandwidth.
Unfortunately, Windscribe doesnt work nearly as well as unblocking geo-blocked streaming services like Netflix.
At least, not on the free version.
This makes Privado a clear winner when it comes to streaming.
Try Windscribe and choose from 14 different free locations
Where Windscribe really stands out is its choice of locations.
You might chew through your bandwidth quickly, but its better than nothing.
Finally, theres AtlasVPN.
Theres nothing particularly wrong with AtlasVPN, but its not really outstanding in any particular area either.
The free version does offer several key features, such as a Kill Switch and WireGuard support.
Its also possible to use P2P clients on AtlasVPN, even over the free version.
Give AtlasVPN a shot and take their P2P servers for a spin.
Youll probably end up hitting the bandwidth cap pretty quickly if youre torrenting, however.
AtlasVPN offers a bandwidth cap of 10GB a month.
For MacOSX, this limit is bumped up to 2GB a day.
Proton and Hotspot both offer unlimited bandwidth instead, but neither has P2P optimized servers on the free plan.
any other VPN provider Ive mentioned so far.
You need a free VPN thats easy to use.The Hotspot Shield Basic app couldnt be more simple to use.
You just click connect and youre online.
Theres no additional options.
Your experience differs slightly depending on which client youre using.
Try Hotspot Shield for unlimited bandwidth.
Firstly, ensure that the provider you choose adheres to a strict “no-logs” policy.
However, you cant just blindly trust any claims a VPN provider makes.
The most reliable way for VPN providers to demonstrate their no-logs policy is through third-party audits.
Essentially, theyre looking at what data is stored and who has access to it.
Another key indicator that youve picked a quality free VPN is its ability to effectively bypass geo-blocked content.
A VPN provider that can reliably unblock these streams is demonstrating consistent investment in high-quality servers.
How we test free VPNs
Using a VPN isnt a small decision.
When you use one, youre handing all of the trust over your browsing data to a third party.
Each one is scrutinized as heavily as the Windows client to ensure it operates as promised by the provider.
Of course, you might end up completely disagreeing with our judgment, and thats fine!
Its also vital that we conduct streaming tests.
Is a free VPN better than no VPN?
Free iPhone VPN FAQs
Can you trust free VPNs?
However, I would advise caution when considering a VPN that is entirely free.
How can I tell if my free VPN is safe?
Do free VPNs track you?
Some free VPNs have been found to track your data and sell it to marketing companies and data brokers.
Additionally, they can create vulnerabilities that hackers exploit to intercept your internet browsing traffic and steal your passwords.
What is the safest VPN?
Examples includeExpressVPN,NordVPN, and Mullvad VPN.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses.
We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services.
Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
