The majority of free things come with a catch. This is especially true for VPNs, which usually limit the amount of data used and speed in order to lure users to paid plans. Some of these providers have even been known to extract bandwidth from their users, essentially selling it, mercenary-style to whomever wants it.
A reliable VPN should offer reliable encryption, speedy performance and many advanced features that aren’t accessible in the free tier. It should also be easy to use and not have any major limitations that can interfere with your normal internet activities such as streaming, downloading and video conferencing.
The top free vpn providers will have a track record of success with flawless privacy practices and be located outside of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance. It is ideal that they be backed up by a generous refund guarantee.
The most well-reviewed and widely used free VPN services include Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear. Proton VPN is one of the few providers offering an unpaid plan that doesn’t add restrictions and limits to force you into upgrading. It has decent speeds, three locations, and powerful ad- and malware blocking. P2P and streaming are as well.
Windscribe is a completely free VPN that offers 10GB per month of data outstanding performance, as well as plenty of advanced options. Its apps have been designed with a lot of useful tools, tweaks and technologies. They also topped my free VPN tests, beating a number of fee-based competitors.