Introduction
Internet security and privacy are crucial in today’s digital age, where data breaches, cyber attacks, and online tracking are rampant. VPNs or Virtual Private Networks offer a solution to these issues by creating a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and most of them come with a price tag. This article aims to provide you with a comprehensive guide to the best completely free VPN services available today.
Whether you want to access geo-restricted content or secure your online activities from prying eyes, these freely available VPNs can help you achieve your goals without breaking the bank. Keep reading to learn more about the best free VPNs that you can use to enhance your online security, privacy, and freedom.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a service that allows you to connect to the internet securely and privately. When you use a VPN, your online traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel, which protects your data from cyber threats and makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activities. VPNs also hide your IP address, which means you can appear to be browsing the internet from a different location.
VPNs can be used for various purposes, such as accessing geo-restricted content, bypassing censorship, and securing your online activities when using public Wi-Fi. VPNs can also help you torrent safely and protect your online identity and personal information from malicious entities.
How Do VPNs Work?
VPN services use different encryption protocols and techniques to create a secure connection between your device and the internet. When you connect to a VPN server, your online traffic is encrypted and sent to the server, which then forwards it to the internet. The websites you visit will see the IP address of the VPN server instead of your own, which makes it difficult to trace your online activities back to you.
VPN services also offer different server locations, which allow you to choose where you want to appear to be browsing the internet from. For instance, if you want to access content that is only available in the US, you can connect to a VPN server in the US and appear to be browsing from there.
What Makes a Good Free VPN?
When it comes to free VPN services, there are some things you should consider before choosing one. Here are the criteria that we used to select the best completely free VPNs:
- Security: The VPN service should offer robust encryption and protocols to protect your online activities from cyber threats.
- Privacy: The VPN service should have a strict no-logs policy to ensure that your online activities are not recorded or monitored.
- Speed: The VPN service should not significantly slow down your internet connection.
- User-friendly: The VPN service should be easy to install, configure, and use.
- Server locations: The VPN service should offer a wide range of server locations to allow you to access geo-restricted content from different regions.
Best Completely Free VPNs
Here are the best completely free VPNs that you can use to enhance your online security, privacy and freedom:
1. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is one of the best completely free VPN services available today. It offers robust security and privacy features, with AES-256 encryption and the OpenVPN protocol. ProtonVPN also has a strict no-logs policy and is based in Switzerland, which is known for its strong privacy laws.
ProtonVPN’s free plan allows you to use its servers in the US, Japan, and the Netherlands. You can also use one device at a time and get unlimited data usage. ProtonVPN also offers a paid plan with additional features, such as access to more servers and simultaneous device connections.
2. Windscribe
Windscribe is another excellent completely free VPN service that offers robust security and privacy features. It uses AES-256 encryption and supports the OpenVPN protocol. Windscribe also has a strict no-logs policy and offers a wide range of server locations, including the US, Canada, and the UK.
Windscribe’s free plan allows you to use 10GB of data per month and offers servers in 10 different countries. You can also use an unlimited number of devices, which is a rare feature among free VPNs. Windscribe also offers a paid plan with additional features, such as access to more servers and unlimited data usage.
3. Hide.me
Hide.me is a popular VPN service that offers a completely free plan with robust security and privacy features. It uses AES-256 encryption and supports the OpenVPN protocol. Hide.me also has a strict no-logs policy and offers servers in five different locations, including the US and Canada.
Hide.me’s free plan allows you to use 2GB of data per month and offers servers in five different locations. You can also use one device at a time and get access to five server locations. Hide.me also offers a paid plan with additional features, such as access to more servers and unlimited data usage.
4. TunnelBear
TunnelBear is a user-friendly VPN service that offers a free plan with robust security and privacy features. It uses AES-256 encryption and supports the OpenVPN protocol. TunnelBear also has a strict no-logs policy and offers servers in 23 different countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.
TunnelBear’s free plan allows you to use up to 500MB of data per month, which is not much. However, if you tweet about TunnelBear, you can get an additional 1GB of data usage. You can also use an unlimited number of devices and get access to servers in 23 different countries. TunnelBear also offers a paid plan with additional features, such as unlimited data usage.
5. Speedify
Speedify is a unique VPN service that offers a free plan with robust security and privacy features. It uses ChaCha encryption and supports the IKEv2 protocol. Speedify also has a strict no-logs policy and offers servers in 36 different countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.
Speedify’s free plan allows you to use up to 5GB of data per month, which is higher than most free VPN services. You can also use two devices at a time and get access to servers in 36 different countries. Speedify also offers a paid plan with additional features, such as unlimited data usage.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Free VPNs
While free VPNs can offer many benefits, they also come with some disadvantages that you should be aware of. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of using free VPNs:
Advantages
- Cost: Free VPNs are, well, free!
- Access to geo-restricted content: Free VPNs allow you to access content that is only available in certain regions.
- Enhanced privacy: Free VPNs can help you protect your online activities from prying eyes.
Disadvantages
- Security risks: Free VPNs may not offer robust encryption and protocols to protect your online activities from cyber threats.
- Privacy concerns: Free VPNs may collect and sell your personal information to third parties to generate revenue.
- Speed limitations: Free VPNs may significantly slow down your internet connection, making browsing the internet a frustrating experience.
- Server restrictions: Free VPNs typically offer a limited number of server locations, which can limit your access to geo-restricted content.
Comparison Table
VPN Service |
Encryption |
Server Locations |
Data Usage |
Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
ProtonVPN |
AES-256 |
US, Japan, Netherlands |
Unlimited |
One |
Windscribe |
AES-256 |
10 countries |
10GB/month |
Unlimited |
Hide.me |
AES-256 |
5 locations |
2GB/month |
One |
TunnelBear |
AES-256 |
23 countries |
500MB/month |
Unlimited |
Speedify |
ChaCha |
36 countries |
5GB/month |
Two |
FAQs
1. Are free VPNs secure?
Not all free VPNs are secure. Some free VPNs may use weak encryption and protocols that can be easily hacked. It is essential to choose a free VPN that offers robust security and privacy features to protect your online activities from cyber threats.
2. How do free VPNs make money?
Most free VPNs make money by displaying ads to their users or by selling their users’ personal information to third parties. Some free VPNs may also limit their users’ speed and bandwidth to encourage them to upgrade to a paid plan.
3. Can I use a free VPN for torrenting?
Not all free VPNs allow torrenting. Some free VPNs may limit your bandwidth or block P2P traffic altogether. It is essential to choose a free VPN that allows torrenting and offers unlimited data usage to enjoy a safe and secure torrenting experience.
4. Can I use a free VPN to access Netflix?
Not all free VPNs can unblock Netflix. Most free VPNs struggle with bypassing Netflix’s VPN blocks and may not work at all. However, some free VPNs, such as Windscribe, can unblock Netflix and allow you to access a wide range of geo-restricted content.
5. Can I use a free VPN on my mobile device?
Yes, most free VPNs offer mobile apps that you can download and install on your iOS or Android device. However, it is essential to choose a free VPN that offers easy-to-use mobile apps and does not significantly slow down your internet connection on your mobile device.
6. How can I check if my VPN is working?
You can check if your VPN is working by visiting a website that displays your IP address, such as WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. If your IP address is different from your actual location, it means that your VPN is working correctly.
7. Do I need a VPN if I use public Wi-Fi?
Yes, using a VPN is essential when using public Wi-Fi to protect your online activities from prying eyes. Public Wi-Fi networks are often unsecured, which makes them vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches. Using a VPN encrypts your online traffic and makes it difficult for anyone to intercept or monitor your online activities.
Conclusion
Using a VPN is essential in today’s digital age to protect your online security, privacy, and freedom. While most VPNs come with a price tag, there are some completely free VPN services available that can offer robust security and privacy features. We hope that this guide has helped you choose the best completely free VPN service that suits your needs and preferences.
Remember to choose a free VPN that offers robust security and privacy features, easy-to-use apps, and a wide range of server locations. Be aware of the advantages and disadvantages of free VPNs and use them wisely to enjoy enhanced online security, privacy, and freedom.
Closing Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. We do not promote or condone the use of VPNs to engage in illegal activities or to circumvent copyright laws. The use of VPNs is subject to local laws and regulations, and it is essential to use VPNs responsibly and lawfully. We do not take responsibility for any consequences that may arise from the use of the information provided in this article. Use VPNs at your own risk.