Best Free VPN Services That Actually Work in 2026

Finding a free VPN that doesn’t compromise your privacy is harder than it sounds. Most free VPNs either bombard you with ads, sell your data, or throttle speeds so badly that you can barely load a webpage.

I’ve tested dozens of free VPNs over the years. The good news? A few genuinely protect your privacy without hidden catches. The bad news? Most aren’t worth your time.

This list includes only free VPNs that are backed by reputable companies, don’t log your activity, and provide enough functionality to be actually useful. No shady services that make money by selling your browsing history.

Best Free VPNs in 2026

1. Proton VPN Free

The only truly unlimited free VPN worth using.

Proton VPN stands alone in the free VPN space. Unlimited data. No ads. No logs. No catch.

The company behind Proton VPN also created ProtonMail, the encrypted email service used by journalists and activists worldwide. They’re headquartered in Switzerland, which has some of the strongest privacy laws on the planet. This isn’t a startup trying to monetize your data. It’s a privacy-focused company subsidizing free accounts through paid subscribers.

Free users get access to servers in 10 countries: the US, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, Poland, Singapore, Canada, Norway, and Mexico. You can’t pick specific servers (it auto-connects to the least crowded one), but that’s a minor limitation for a completely free service.

Speed is decent. Websites load quickly, HD video streams with minimal buffering, and 4K works if you’re patient with initial loading. Proton claims speeds around 380Mbps on free servers, which beats many paid VPNs.

The catch? One device at a time. And no access to streaming-optimized servers or P2P support. Those are reserved for paid plans.

What I like:

• Truly unlimited data with no artificial caps
• Swiss jurisdiction with strong privacy protections
• Open-source apps that have been independently audited
• VPN Accelerator technology improves speeds
• Works on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux

What’s missing:

• Only 1 device connection at a time
• Can’t choose specific servers (auto-connects)
• No streaming server access
• No P2P/torrenting support on free tier

URL: https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn

2. Windscribe Free

Best free VPN for protecting multiple devices.

Windscribe gives you 10GB of data per month when you verify your email address (only 2GB without). You can bump that up to 15GB by tweeting about the service. And here’s what makes Windscribe special: unlimited simultaneous connections, even on the free plan.

That means you can install Windscribe on your laptop, phone, tablet, and router, and use them all at the same time. Most paid VPNs limit you to 5-10 devices. Windscribe doesn’t care.

Free users get access to servers in 10 countries: US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Romania, and Hong Kong. The selection covers most use cases unless you need something specific like Australia or Japan.

Windscribe includes R.O.B.E.R.T., their built-in ad and malware blocker, on the free plan. It’s not as powerful as the paid version, but it blocks common trackers and ads effectively.

Speed is solid. Around 240-500Mbps in tests, which is faster than many paid VPNs. Windscribe even trolled NordVPN in October 2025 when their free tier beat NordVPN in a speed test.

What I like:

• Unlimited device connections (rare for any VPN)
• 10GB monthly data (15GB with Twitter bonus)
• R.O.B.E.R.T. ad/malware blocker included
• Build-a-Plan option lets you customize for $3/month
• Browser extensions available for Chrome and Firefox
• No account required for 2GB tier

What’s missing:

• 10GB runs out fast with heavy streaming
• No Windflix streaming servers on free tier
• Can be tricky to find some settings in the app
• Based in Canada (Five Eyes country)

URL: https://windscribe.com/features/use-for-free/

3. PrivadoVPN Free

Best free VPN for streaming.

PrivadoVPN offers something rare in free VPNs: actual streaming support. Most free services block Netflix, Disney+, and other platforms entirely. PrivadoVPN doesn’t.

You get 10GB of data per month and access to 13 server locations including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, and India. The South American servers are particularly useful since most VPNs ignore that region.

Based in Switzerland, PrivadoVPN benefits from the same privacy-friendly jurisdiction as Proton VPN. The company claims a strict no-logs policy, though it hasn’t been independently audited yet.

Speed is good for a free service. Websites load quickly, and streaming works without constant buffering. After you hit your 10GB cap, you’re not cut off completely. Instead, PrivadoVPN switches you to “Lite Mode” with slower speeds and access to one emergency server.

The kill switch and split tunneling features are available on the free plan, which is unusual. Most VPNs reserve those for paid tiers.

What I like:

• Actually works with Netflix and other streaming services
• 13 server locations including South America
• Kill switch and split tunneling on free tier
• Swiss jurisdiction with no-logs policy
• Lite Mode keeps you connected after data cap

What’s missing:

• Only 1 device at a time
• Data doesn’t auto-refresh (you need to manually claim it)
• No independent audit of privacy claims
• Control Tower features locked to paid plans

URL: https://privadovpn.com/freevpn/

4. Hide.me Free

Unlimited data, but there’s a catch.

Hide.me technically offers unlimited data on its free plan. But the speeds are throttled to around 1Mbps, which is painfully slow for anything beyond basic web browsing.

That said, if you just need a VPN for checking emails on public WiFi or browsing sensitive sites, Hide.me works fine. The unlimited data means you never have to worry about hitting a cap.

You get 7-8 server locations on the free tier: Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, UK, and US. All servers are physical (not virtual), which is good for privacy.

Hide.me has been around since 2012 and has built a solid reputation. The company underwent an independent audit in December 2024 confirming its no-logs policy. It’s based in Malaysia, which sits outside the major surveillance alliances.

One annoying quirk: the free plan “expires” every 30 days. You can renew it for free, but you’ll need to log in and click through the renewal process each month.

What I like:

• Unlimited data with no monthly cap
• No registration required to start
• Independently audited no-logs policy
• Split tunneling on Windows, Mac, and Android
• Good security features even on free tier

What’s missing:

• Speeds throttled to ~1Mbps (barely usable for streaming)
• No streaming site access
• Only 1 device connection
• Must renew every 30 days
• Limited to 7-8 server locations

URL: https://hide.me/en/free-vpn

5. TunnelBear Free

Good for beginners, but limited data.

TunnelBear is the most beginner-friendly VPN I’ve tested. The apps are simple, the animated bears are charming, and everything just works. If you’re new to VPNs and want something that doesn’t require technical knowledge, TunnelBear is a great starting point.

But the free tier is severely limited: 2GB per month. That’s enough for occasional browsing but nowhere near enough for streaming or regular use. You’ll burn through 2GB in about an hour of HD video.

The upside? Free users get access to TunnelBear’s entire network of 2,600+ servers in 47 countries. That’s far more locations than any other free VPN offers. Most free services restrict you to 5-10 countries.

TunnelBear uses AES-256 encryption, has undergone independent security audits, and includes a kill switch (called VigilantBear) on all platforms. The GhostBear feature helps bypass VPN blocking in restrictive countries like China.

What I like:

• Full server network (47 countries) on free tier
• Dead simple interface for VPN beginners
• Independently audited security
• GhostBear for bypassing VPN blocks
• Available on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android

What’s missing:

• Only 2GB monthly data (basically a free trial)
• No Fire TV Stick app
• No router setup option
• Can’t be used for serious streaming or downloading
• Clearly designed to push you toward paid plans

URL: https://www.tunnelbear.com/

6. Hotspot Shield Free

Quick and dirty US IP address.

Hotspot Shield’s free tier is limited but sometimes useful. You get 500MB of data per day (about 15GB per month), access to US servers only, and one device connection.

The daily data limit is actually smart design. Unlike monthly caps that run out halfway through the month, Hotspot Shield resets every day. Good for occasional use.

Speed is decent when it works. Hotspot Shield uses its proprietary Hydra protocol, which is optimized for performance. But the free version includes ads, which can be annoying.

The company is owned by Aura, a legitimate cybersecurity company. It’s based in the US, which isn’t ideal for privacy purists, but for basic protection on public WiFi, it works fine.

What I like:

• 500MB daily reset (instead of monthly cap)
• Fast Hydra protocol
• No registration required
• Simple one-click connection

What’s missing:

• US servers only
• Ads in the free version
• Only 1 device
• Based in US (Five Eyes jurisdiction)
• Limited privacy for serious use

URL: https://www.hotspotshield.com/free-vpn/

Free VPNs to Avoid

A few VPNs from my original picks are no longer recommended:

• Atlas VPN was acquired by NordVPN in late 2023. The free tier has become more restrictive, and the service is essentially a funnel for NordVPN subscriptions now.
• Avira Phantom VPN still exists but only offers 500MB per month (1GB with email signup). That’s too limited to be useful for most people.
• VPNbook requires manual configuration with no dedicated apps. Unless you enjoy downloading OpenVPN certificates and editing config files, skip it.
• Speedify still works but the 2GB monthly cap and focus on bonding multiple connections makes it niche. Good if you have unreliable internet, not great as a general VPN.
• ZoogVPN uses weaker 128-bit encryption instead of the industry-standard 256-bit. In 2026, that’s not acceptable.

What to Know Before Using a Free VPN

Free VPNs have limitations. Understanding them helps you choose wisely.

• Data caps are real. Except for Proton VPN and Hide.me, every free VPN limits your monthly usage. 10GB sounds like a lot until you realize one HD movie is about 3GB. Heavy users will hit caps fast.
• Speed varies. Free servers are often crowded. Expect slower speeds than paid services, especially during peak hours.
• No streaming guarantees. Most free VPNs can’t reliably unblock Netflix, Disney+, or other streaming services. PrivadoVPN is the exception.
• Limited server locations. If you need a specific country (like Australia or India), check the free server list before signing up.
• One device at a time. Windscribe is the only free VPN that allows unlimited devices. Everyone else limits you to one connection.

My Recommendation

If you’re only going to try one free VPN, make it Proton VPN Free. Unlimited data, no ads, Swiss privacy laws, and open-source apps. It’s the only free VPN I’d trust with sensitive browsing.

For multiple devices, use Windscribe. The 10GB cap is limiting, but unlimited device connections is a huge advantage.

For streaming, try PrivadoVPN. It’s one of the few free VPNs that actually works with Netflix.

For occasional use with maximum simplicity, TunnelBear gets the job done, even if 2GB doesn’t last long.

Final Thoughts

The best free VPNs are backed by companies that make money from paid subscriptions, not from selling your data. Proton VPN, Windscribe, and PrivadoVPN all operate this way.

Avoid completely free VPNs from unknown companies. If they’re not charging you money, they’re probably monetizing your browsing history, injecting ads, or worse.

A good free VPN protects you on public WiFi, hides your IP from websites, and gives you basic privacy without requiring a credit card. That’s genuinely valuable.

But if you need unlimited data, faster speeds, streaming access, and support for multiple devices, paid VPNs start at $2-3 per month. For most people, that’s worth it.