⚠️ The Hard Truth About Free VPNs
Running VPN servers costs money—lots of it. If a VPN is "free," they're making money some other way: selling your data, injecting ads, or worse. Studies have found malware in 38% of free VPN apps.
Free vs Paid: Side-by-Side
| Feature | Free VPN | Paid VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Slow, overcrowded | Fast, many servers |
| Data Limit | 500MB-10GB/month | Unlimited |
| Server Locations | 1-5 countries | 60+ countries |
| Streaming | âś— Blocked | âś“ Works |
| Torrenting | âś— Blocked | âś“ Allowed |
| Privacy | Often logs/sells data | Audited no-logs |
| Security | 38% have malware | Secure encryption |
| Ads | Constant ads | None |
| Support | None | 24/7 live chat |
How Free VPNs Make Money
đź“Š Selling Your Data
Many free VPNs log your browsing activity and sell it to advertisers and data brokers. The very privacy you're seeking is what they monetize.
📢 Injecting Ads
Some free VPNs inject ads into your browsing, modify web pages, or redirect your searches to earn affiliate revenue.
🔋 Using Your Bandwidth
Hola VPN was caught selling users' bandwidth as a botnet. Your connection was being used for DDoS attacks without your knowledge.
🦠Bundling Malware
A CSIRO study found 38% of free Android VPNs contained malware. Some install crypto miners or steal credentials.
The Only Free VPNs We'd Consider
These are freemium versions from reputable paid VPNs—they upsell you rather than sell your data:
- • ProtonVPN Free: No data limit, but only 3 countries and slower speeds
- • Windscribe Free: 10GB/month, limited locations
- • hide.me Free: 10GB/month, 5 locations
But honestly: For ~$3/month, paid VPNs offer unlimited data, all features, and verified privacy. The "savings" of free VPNs aren't worth the limitations and risks.
Best Affordable Paid VPNs
NordVPN
~$3.49/month (2-year plan)
- • Audited no-logs policy (4 times)
- • 6,400+ servers in 111 countries
- • Streaming, torrenting, all features
- • 30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark
~$2.29/month (2-year plan)
- • Unlimited device connections
- • Audited no-logs policy
- • All features included
- • 30-day money-back guarantee
FAQ
Are free VPNs ever worth it?
Only for very occasional, non-sensitive use. For anything important—banking, work, streaming—pay for a real VPN.
What if I can't afford a paid VPN?
Try ProtonVPN's free tier—it's the only truly trustworthy free option. Or wait for a sale: NordVPN and Surfshark often have 80%+ discounts.
Is a free VPN better than no VPN?
Not necessarily. A malicious free VPN is worse than no VPN—you're giving your data to an untrustworthy third party instead of just your ISP.
Get Real Protection
For less than a coffee per month, get actual privacy with no compromises. 30-day money-back guarantee means zero risk.