Best Free VPNs in 2025: Expert Picks & Free Trial Options
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Best Free VPN in 2025: Top Free & Free Trial VPNs Reviewed
When people search for the best free VPN, they’re usually looking for a way to protect their privacy or access restricted content without spending money. But here’s the truth: while free VPNs can be useful in some cases, they often come with serious limitations compared to premium services.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- A quick answer for the best free VPN
- Pros & cons of using free VPNs
- Top 3 free VPNs (with reviews and pros/cons)
- Top 3 VPNs with free trials
- FAQs to help you make the right choice
Short Answer
If you just want the best free VPN available today, our top recommendation is ProtonVPN Free. Unlike most free VPNs, it offers unlimited data, strong privacy protections, and access to reliable servers. However, speeds can be limited during peak times, and streaming is not guaranteed.
👉 For the best experience overall, it’s worth considering a premium VPN with a free trial like NordVPN or Surfshark, since they give you full performance and features without long-term commitment.
Free VPNs – Pros & Cons
Before diving into the top picks, let’s break down the advantages and disadvantages of using a free VPN:
Pros
- No cost – perfect for occasional or casual use
- Can provide basic privacy and encryption
- Useful for bypassing light censorship or blocked websites
- Some trustworthy free VPNs (like ProtonVPN) are backed by premium services
Cons
👉 In short: free VPNs are okay for light browsing, but for streaming, gaming, or heavy use, a premium VPN with a free trial is a much better choice.
Top 3 Free VPNs in 2025
Here are the best truly free VPNs you can use today.
1. ProtonVPN Free
Overview:
ProtonVPN is the best free VPN overall thanks to its unlimited data policy. It’s developed by the same team behind ProtonMail, and it focuses on strong privacy with a strict no-logs policy.
ProtonVPN
Servers
3,000
Countries
70
Streaming
8/10
Speed
up to 800 Mbps
Free trial
Yes
Money-back
30 days
Best deal
$4.99/mo
Apps & platforms
Pros
- Unlimited data (rare for a free VPN)
- Strong focus on privacy and transparency
- Open-source apps
- Backed by a trusted company
Cons
2. Windscribe Free
Overview:
Windscribe Free is another excellent free VPN that offers a generous monthly data allowance and good security features.
- Data Limit: 10GB/month (with email confirmation)
- Servers: 10+ locations
- Streaming: Limited but sometimes works with Netflix
- Security: AES-256 encryption, firewall & ad blocker
Pros
- Generous 10GB data cap
- Built-in ad and malware blocker
- Multiple server locations available
- Transparent privacy policy
Cons
3. Hide.me Free
Overview:
Hide.me Free is a simple, no-logs VPN with a limited free plan. It offers decent performance for browsing and some streaming.
- Data Limit: 10GB/month
- Servers: 5 free server locations
- Streaming: Occasionally works with Netflix US
- Security: AES-256 encryption, no-logs policy
Pros
- Strong privacy and no-logs policy
- Good speeds for a free VPN
- User-friendly apps across devices
Cons
Top 3 VPNs with Free Trials
If you want the full VPN experience without limits, the best option is to choose a premium VPN that offers a free trial or a 30-day money-back guarantee.
1. NordVPN (Best Overall Free Trial)
NordVPN
Monthly: $12.99
Servers
7,400
Countries
118
Streaming
9.6/10
Speed
Up to ~950 Mbps
Free trial
Yes
Money-back
30 days
Best deal
$3.09/mo
Apps & platforms
2. Surfshark (Best Budget Choice)
Surfshark
Monthly: $12.95
Servers
3,200
Countries
100
Streaming
9/10
Speed
up to 900 Mbps
Free trial
Yes
Money-back
30 days
Best deal
$2.49/mo
Apps & platforms
3. CyberGhost (Best for Beginners)
CyberGhost
Monthly: $12.99
Servers
11,500
Countries
100
Streaming
9/10
Speed
up to 850 Mbps
Free trial
Yes
Money-back
45 days
Best deal
$2.19/mo
Apps & platforms
FAQs about the Best Free VPN
Q1: Is it safe to use a free VPN?
Yes, but only if you choose a trusted free VPN (like ProtonVPN, Windscribe, or Hide.me). Many shady free VPNs log and sell your data.
Q2: Can I use a free VPN for Netflix?
Most free VPNs don’t work with Netflix or streaming platforms. For reliable streaming, use a premium VPN with a free trial like NordVPN or Surfshark.
Q3: Do free VPNs have data caps?
Yes. Most free VPNs limit you to 500MB–10GB per month, except ProtonVPN, which offers unlimited data.
Q4: What is the best completely free VPN?
ProtonVPN Free is the best option since it provides unlimited data and strong privacy protections.
Q5: What’s the difference between a free VPN and a free trial VPN?
- Free VPN: Always free, but with limitations (data caps, slow speeds).
- Free trial VPN: Premium VPNs that let you test the full service for free (or risk-free with money-back guarantees).
Q6: Which VPN should I choose in 2025?
If you want a completely free option, choose ProtonVPN. But if you want fast streaming and full features, go for NordVPN or Surfshark with their risk-free trial periods.
Q1: Is it safe to use a free VPN?
Yes, but only if you choose a trusted free VPN (like ProtonVPN, Windscribe, or Hide.me). Many shady free VPNs log and sell your data.
Q2: Can I use a free VPN for Netflix?
Most free VPNs don’t work with Netflix or streaming platforms. For reliable streaming, use a premium VPN with a free trial like NordVPN or Surfshark.
Q3: Do free VPNs have data caps?
Yes. Most free VPNs limit you to 500MB–10GB per month, except ProtonVPN, which offers unlimited data.
Q4: What is the best completely free VPN?
ProtonVPN Free is the best option since it provides unlimited data and strong privacy protections.
Q5: What’s the difference between a free VPN and a free trial VPN?
- Free VPN: Always free, but with limitations (data caps, slow speeds).
- Free trial VPN: Premium VPNs that let you test the full service for free (or risk-free with money-back guarantees).
Q6: Which VPN should I choose in 2025?
If you want a completely free option, choose ProtonVPN. But if you want fast streaming and full features, go for NordVPN or Surfshark with their risk-free trial periods.
Final Thoughts
The best free VPN can be useful for casual browsing or light use, but they can’t match the performance of premium VPNs. If you just need basic protection, ProtonVPN Free is your best bet.
For streaming, gaming, and unlimited secure browsing, a premium VPN with a free trial—like NordVPN or Surfshark, or CyberGhost**—is the smarter choice in 2025.