Free VPN: which plans are honest
"Free VPN" raises an obvious question — if the service doesn't charge money, how does it make any? The answer varies: some providers offer a stripped-down version of their paid product to attract users, while others run on a P2P model where other users' traffic passes through your device.
Below are services from our catalog with an explicit free tier. The gap in data caps and server counts can be significant, so compare the cards before choosing.
How we choose: This shortlist includes services tagged "Free tier" — terms (data cap, server count) are listed separately on each card.
Proton VPN
⭐ 4.6
$0 (has a free tier)
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android · Linux
$2.19/mo
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android · Linux · Router
Windscribe
⭐ 4.4
$0 (10 GB free)
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android · Linux · Browser
$0 (free)
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android · Linux
TunnelBear
⭐ 4.3
$3.33/mo
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android · Browser
Bitdefender VPN
⭐ 3.9
$3.33/mo
Windows · macOS · iOS · Android
Frequently asked questions
What separates an honest free VPN from a suspicious one?
An honest one usually caps data or server count, but says so openly. Be wary of a complete absence of limits with no clear business model — that often means selling data or a P2P scheme.
What's the P2P model in free VPNs?
Other users' traffic is routed through your device, and yours through theirs. It's technically still "free," just with a different privacy model — worth considering if privacy is the whole point of using a VPN for you.
Can I use a free VPN as my only VPN long-term?
Technically yes, but data caps (usually 2–10 GB/month) make it impractical for everyday use — most people move to a paid plan for regular use.