How can you best protect your identity and data when you're navigating the online world? The simple answer is with a virtual private network, or VPN. That's the easy part covered, but how do you select a VPN that works for you and your lifestyle? That's a trickier question.
We know the decision process can be tough, so we've tried to help you out. Based on customer reviews, we have compared the best VPNs to help you find something that ticks all of your boxes. But first, we should talk about what these services actually offer, and why you should consider signing up.
What is a VPN?
A VPN is a connection method used to add security and privacy to private and public networks. VPNs are becoming increasingly popular as cybersecurity becomes a priority. A VPN improves online privacy because the user's IP address is replaced with one from the VPN provider. Those subscribed to a VPN can obtain an IP address from any gateway location the VPN service provides.
If this all sounds a little complicated, try thinking about a VPN as an encrypted tunnel through which all of your online traffic passes through. Nobody can see into the tunnel, and everything inside the tunnel is protected against online threats like viruses, hackers, and malware
Do you need a VPN?
Without a VPN you are basically cruising the online world naked, baring all to the world. A VPN keeps you covered up by hiding/changing your IP address, hiding your location, and encrypting your data transfers
VPNs are primarily designed to provide online security, but that's not all. Millions of people use these services to stream more content from around the world. By hiding your IP address and connecting you to a server in another location, you can trick leading streaming services into thinking that you are based in a different country. This means you can bypass content restrictions to watch all extra shows and movies from global libraries.
So the two key benefits to using a VPN are cybersecurity and streaming.
Should you use free VPNs?
The final question that's important to consider is whether you need to pay for a VPN. The answer really depends on your priorities. A free VPN is generally going to lack the most advanced features. A paid VPN will tend to offer faster connection speeds, servers in more locations, and better customer support (but not always). If anonymity is top of your list of priorities however, then a free VPN may be the better option as a free VPN provider won’t usually ask you to sign up to use its service.
It's important to carefully research the wide selection of free and paid VPNs before making any decision. Whether you need to pay for a service or go with the free option comes down to what you need from your VPN. Data limits are another stumbling block when it comes to a free service, so if this doesn’t bother you, go right ahead. If you do however need more data, more locations, and more servers from your VPN, then a paid service is the solution.
It's also worth noting that pretty much all of the best VPNs offer money-back guarantees, so if you're sneaky, you can work this system and use these services for a limited amount of time without fully committing with your cash. We don't recommend this tactic, but you can use the best VPNs for free if you cancel your subscription before the guarantee period comes to an end.
What is the best free VPN?
Before making your selection, you should think carefully about what you want from a VPN and which aspect of the service you want to prioritise. Once you've given that some thought, we recommend checking out the options we have lined up, including popular services like NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and ExpressVPN.
There is something for everyone and every budget in this list. All of these VPNs offer free trials or money-back guarantees, but we've also highlighted the cost of subscribing in case you're tempted to upgrade.
These are the best free VPNs in 2024.
NordVPN
Best For Security
- Monthly: ?10.39/month
- One-year plan: ?3.99/month
- Two-year plan: ?3.19/month
Read our full review of NordVPN.
NordVPN is one of the most reliable VPN services out there, NordVPN lays claim to over 5,200 servers in nearly 60 countries around the globe. It's also one of the best services for streaming and powerful security. NordVPN is one of the most comprehensive services on the market.
CyberGhost VPN
Best For Server Network
- Monthly: ?10.89/month
- Six-month plan: ?6.19/month
- Two-year plan: ?1.92/month
Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.
CyberGhost VPN has over 6,200 servers worldwide, offers unlimited bandwidth, and features AES 256-bit encryption, DNS and IP leak protection, and an automatic kill switch (among other stellar security tools). It's also capable of unblocking streaming services like Disney+, Prime Video, Netflix, and more top sites.
PureVPN
Best For Beginners
- Monthly: ?8.37/month
- One-year plan: ?2.86/month
- Two-year plan: ?1.75/month
Read our full review of PureVPN.?
PureVPN users get apps for every operating system, enterprise-grade security, 10-multi logins, and access to over 6,000 secure servers in 140 countries. PureVPN also has a strong record for good customer support.
Surfshark
Best For Unlimited Connections
- Monthly: ?9.90/month
- One-year plan: ?3.05/month
- Two-year plan: ?1.76/month
Surfshark users get an unlimited number of connections, uncompromised security and privacy, around the clock customer service, and enterprise-grade infrastructure. Surfshark also has a strict no-logging policy, meaning all of your data is protected from prying eyes.
TunnelBear
Best VPN for beginners
- TunnelBear Free: Free
- TunnelBear Teams: $5.75/user per month
- TunnelBear Unlimited: $9.99/month, $39.99/year, or $120/three years
Read Mashable's full review of TunnelBear.
TunnelBear is a simple and trustworthy VPN that will serve most casual users well. (If you didn't know what "VPN" stood for prior to reading this guide, look no further.) Like Proton VPN, it also offers a free tier. It's less workable for everyday use because it has a 2GB monthly data cap — TunnelBear recommends treating it like a "try before you buy" option — but it has the advantage of country-level server selection. I rely on it often for quick location spoofing.
McAfee's TunnelBear democratizes the VPN experience, forgoing supplementary security features and convoluted industry lingo in favor of a charming, basic app. (It'll underwhelm power users, but first-timers should find it refreshingly approachable.) Users can connect to servers by sending a little bear to yellow pipes on its posterized map interface — pretty cute — or by selecting locations from a list. It was reliably fast during testing, if sometimes slow to connect initially. With more than 8,000 servers in 45 countries, TunnelBear's network is decently large but not very geographically diverse, and it couldn't unblock regional content. Split tunneling is available on all platforms, though it's usually limited to web- or app-based traffic, not both. There's no multi-hop.
TunnelBear gives users the option of signing up for a free tier, which includes one connection, country-level server selection, and 2GB of browsing data per month. Free users are funded by the provider's paid subscribers, per a TunnelBear rep, and there are no ads. If you decide to upgrade, a paid Unlimited plan unlocks unlimited bandwidth, unlimited simultaneous connections, and city-level server selection. Users should be mindful that TunnelBear doesn't offer any sort of money-back guarantee, and refunds are only available on a case-by-case basis.
TunnelBear gets special props for its accessible, plainly written privacy policy and for its commitment to transparency: It was the first consumer VPN to publish a third-party audit of its infrastructure and technologies back in 2017. It's done one every year since, and the seventh and most recent one was published in February 2024. (You can r
- Monthly: ?9.87/month
- One-year plan: ?5.15/month
- Two-year plan: ?4.29/month
ProtonVPN provides access to hundreds of servers located in 40 countries, with multiple simultaneous connections, P2P/BitTorrent support, and a strict no-logging policy. ProtonVPN also offers one of the best free trials.
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