There are plenty of free VPNs for PC, but only a few can be trusted. Because you're not paying out of pocket, many of these free options will include bandwidth throttling, insufficient encryption, and data logging – which are all things to avoid. Through extensive testing of dozens of VPN services, I’ve identified the best free safe and secure VPNs for PC, all of which avoid these common free VPN pitfalls.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Free VPNs for PC
- Proton VPN - Best overall
- Hide.me - Best no signup required option
- PrivadoVPN - Best for privacy
- Windscribe - Best for extra features
- TunnelBear - Best for unblocking
A VPN, or virtual private network, is a service that takes your internet traffic and routes it through an encrypted tunnel to a server in your preferred location. You’re provided with a different IP address which allows you to browse the web anonymously. The ability to effectively change virtual locations also makes VPNs a great choice if you want to bypass geo-blocks on streaming sites like Netflix.
1. Proton VPN
Best free VPN for PC
Proton VPN is the best free VPN for PC and it’s not close, thanks to an unlimited data and speed allowance that separates it from the rest and makes it one of the best overall VPNs. While you won’t have access to as many servers as the paid plan, there’s still five countries available: The US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. However, you won’t be able to select which country you connect to, and will instead be automatically connected to the fastest available server.
The speed of Proton VPN’s free servers is impressive and better than most free VPNs, which often cut on speed to convince you to fork over some cash. Plus, the free tier benefits from a high level of encryption and protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks. Unlike many rival VPNs, Proton VPN operates a true, independently audited no-logs policy. Just keep in mind that with this free tier, you’ll only be able to use it on one device at a time.
2. Hide.me
Best free VPN with no signup required
Hide.me has a free plan with a lot to like. What makes it unique is that you don’t have to sign up for an account to use it. You’ll even have unlimited data which is unusual for a free VPN. There’s no caveats to this either, be it ads or speed throttling. At the time of writing, there are seven different server locations available: Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK, and the US.
Not all free VPN apps are easy to use but Hide.me has a clean and simple interface. Users on Hide.me’s free tier have the same protection as paid users: 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. What’s even more impressive is that free users have access to split tunneling, allowing you to choose which apps use the VPN and which can bypass it.
3. PrivadoVPN
Best free VPN for privacy
PrivadoVPN is a solid all-rounder with free servers in 10 countries including the US, UK, and Canada. You can order these options by latency, making it easier to find a fast server. Signup with an email address is required but once you’ve done this, you’ll have 10GB a month to play with. Unlike many free VPN providers, PrivadoVPN doesn’t throttle the connections of users.
As with most free VPNs, you can only use the free tier of PrivadoVPN on one device. However, that device benefits from a strong security offering of 256-bit AES encryption and a kill switch which, should the VPN connection drop, cuts your traffic and prevents data exposure. PrivadoVPN is a no-logs VPN operating out of Switzerland, a country with strong privacy laws.
4. Windscribe
Best free VPN for extra features
Windscribe provides more free server locations than most free VPNs (11 countries including the US, Canada, Germany, and Hong Kong). What’s particularly interesting about Windscribe is that you don’t need to provide an email address to use its free plan. However, this is worth doing because it increases your monthly data allowance from 2GB to 10GB.
There’s no limit to the number of devices on which you can use the free version of Windscribe. Another benefit is that the free tier includes all of the same features as the paid version. As such, you’ll have access to its ad blocker and split tunneling. Windscribe doesn’t keep any identifying logs of users and data is secured with 256-bit AES or ChaCha20 encryption.
5. TunnelBear
Best free VPN for unblocking
TunnelBear stands out for allowing free users to access its entire server network. This is made up of over 5,000 servers in 45 countries. The main downside however is that you’ll only have 2GB of data each month. Fortunately, there’s no limit when it comes to server speeds and you can use TunnelBear on as many devices as you like simultaneously.
When you connect to TunnelBear, your internet traffic is routed through a secure, 256-bit AES encrypted tunnel. Although TunnelBear is headquartered in Canada, a Five Eyes member, it operates a no-logs policy and subjects itself to annual security audits, the results of which are published online for all to see. The Windows version includes a kill switch and split tunneling.
How to pick the best free VPN for PC
The fact is that most free VPNs have a number of issues, some of which are too significant to overlook. This may be heavy bandwidth throttling or expensive logging of user data. Below, we go over some of the key things to look for in a quality free VPN for PC.
Unlimited data
Very few VPNs offer unlimited data to free users. This means that in most cases, you’ll only have between 2 and 10 gigabytes of data which is extremely limiting, particularly if you want to use your VPN for streaming. Fortunately, we’ve found two rare exceptions in Proton VPN and Hide.me.
No speed limits
Bandwidth throttling is common with free VPNs. Often, this can make even basic browsing a challenge. This is not the case with the best free VPNs for PC, all of which offer unlimited speed. You’ll still likely find them to be slower than their paid counterparts though, due to the heavier user load on each free VPN server.
No ads
Download a free VPN for your PC and there’s a chance you’ll be bombarded with ads. Of course, this is a way in which a free service is able to remain free. However, it’s not the only way (and it’s downright annoying!). For this reason, none of the free VPNs in this post include ads.
Strong security
Some free VPNs may put your security at greater risk than not using a VPN at all. Weak encryption and outdated software can result in vulnerabilities and lead to hackers breaching data. What’s more, some free VPNs even install adware or malware on your device. We only recommend VPNs with a high level of encryption, typically 256-bit AES.
Strict no-logs policy
Most people don’t read privacy policies and, as a result, don’t realize that some free VPNs keep extensive logs of their data. This may include their actual IP address and the websites they visit. Such data can easily identify a user, compromising privacy. It’s important to stick with VPNs that have no-logs policies with absolutely no logging of identifying data.
Multiple server locations
The greater the number of locations a free VPN offers, the more likely it is that there’ll be one close to your location for a faster connection. It also provides more flexibility when it comes to bypassing geographic restrictions on online content. TunnelBear lets its free users access its entire server network (across 45 countries) while our other selections offer multiple locations.
No signup required
Most VPNs, free or paid, require you to sign up for an account and provide an email address to access their services. One notable exception is Hide.me which lets you access its servers anonymously.
How to use the best free VPN for PC
Regardless of the free VPN you choose, the process for getting set up and connected to a server is much the same:
- Visit the website of the provider in question and select the free plan. In most cases, you’ll need to sign up for a free account.
- Download and install the appropriate app for your desktop device by following the on-screen instructions provided.
- Open the VPN app and log in (or create an account if you haven’t already).
- You can now connect to a server in your preferred location.
- That’s it! Your connection is now secured.
Best free VPN for PC: FAQs
Are free VPNs safe to use?
Many free VPNs aren’t safe to use. Genuine risks including malware or a lack of adequate encryption. We’ve tested the best free VPNs for PCs, performing leak tests and studying their privacy policies, so you can use them with peace of mind.
What are the differences between free VPNs and paid VPNs?
Free VPNs tend to be far more limited than paid VPNs. Data, speed, and connection limits are all common. In most cases, you’ll have access to far fewer servers and features. Some free VPNs are adequate for basic browsing but for anything else (streaming or online gaming), you’ll want a less restrictive, paid VPN subscription.
Can I use a free VPN for streaming?
You can’t use most free VPNs for streaming, at least not without contending with performance issues. Although we’ve identified free VPNs for PCs that don’t throttle speeds, the free VPN servers aren’t optimized for streaming. Free VPNs attract plenty of users which means servers tend to experience too much load for seamless streaming.
How do free VPNs make money?
The answer to this question is really what separates quality free VPNs from the rest. Most free VPNs make money by spamming you with ads or even by logging and selling your data. The difference is that the best free PC VPNs have quality paid services that help support the free tier. Of course, these plans are more limited, encouraging you to potentially upgrade in future.
Mark Gill is a freelance VPN writer for IGN, bringing over five years of dedicated experience from Comparitech, where he delves deep into the intricacies of VPNs. A journalism graduate with a passion for safeguarding digital freedoms, Mark has strengthened his expertise with a Google Cybersecurity Certificate and is now studying for the CompTIA Security+ certification. When he’s not testing VPNs, Mark is an avid gamer with a soft spot for the Sega Mega Drive, reliving the classics for a dose of nostalgia. He also enjoys mountain biking and watching football (go Lions!), and working on his dark comedy screenplays. You won’t find Mark on social media because he already wastes far too much time managing his fantasy football teams with the hope of this year being “the year.” Hint: it never is.
