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The best free VPN in 2020

Nowadays, security is critical when you’re browsing the web. And many people have understood that – worldwide.

That’s why you’re likely to find thousands of free VPN out there that will help you browse and do whatever you want with the internet safely. But not all of them are worth using.

For that, you’ll have to get the best free VPN that secures your connection, but also works in all kinds of devices including PCs, Macs, Android, and iPhone phones, and sometimes tablets and others.

It doesn’t matter what you want a free VPN for, it will surely make your overall internet use safer. But you’ll have to know precisely why and how you can get the most out of them.

In this article, we’re going over the different reasons, benefits, disadvantages, and more about the best free VPN 2020.

Want to know more and find out whether a free VPN is something you need? Then come further into this article to find out!

What is a Free VPN?

A free VPN is a service that hides your connection data with false connection data. VPN services do this by concealing your connection with another connection anywhere in the world. And it all depends on where you are, and from where you want to masquerade your connection with.

Of course, being free means less effectiveness, less safety, and less speed. A free VPN won’t deliver the same performance as a premium VPN. But that doesn’t mean they are lousy software to use, they’re just not as good as the paid services.

A free option still offers the chance to improve your overall browsing safety. And what’s even better, you will be saving some bucks in the process.

Most companies use their free VPN services to market their premium ones. This way, users can try their free products and find out whether they need the paid version or not. Otherwise, they may stick to the free version or the trial option – which can be almost as effective as a paid one but for a limited time.

If you are looking for a VPN, then a free version can always be the right choice. You can decide whether a premium version is worth your money, or simply stick to the free one if you want.

How Does Free VPN Work?

A VPN has one single job: encrypt your data while it passes through the internet. It is like making your data go through a tunnel on the internet that no one can identify. The tunnel, of course, is just a costume that no one will know is, in fact, your data.

Apart from encrypting your data, it makes sure that all your internet and routing info is also secured. A VPN hides everything from your side as well as your recipient. So, when you’re using a VPN – no one including services, web pages, and even ISPs themselves can know you are you.

Be aware that this process of encrypting and scrambling data on the internet takes some computing power. Apart from that, the connections need to go through different paths and sometimes these paths are not necessarily the fastest. That ends up reducing speed and data efficiency.

Overall, a free VPN hides your computer, connection, and other data entirely from the internet. But as a free VPN, it doesn’t use data pipes, servers, or providers that cost money. Instead, the VPN uses standard and straightforward methods that hide data in an inefficient but helpful way.

Why Use a Free VPN?

Now that you are somewhat familiar with what a VPN is and how you can use it – then it’s time to learn why you should get one.

Remember, free VPNs have the whole purpose of hiding your data inefficiently. They aren’t the fastest or more reliable but offer enough protection for free.

So, how you can get the most out of them? Easy:

  • Accessing content that is not available in your country or region. This could be used to get into geo-blocked content, websites, videos, and more than some creators/distributors block for specific purposes.
  • Getting better internet speed to places that would otherwise be too slow. This is similar to the previous reason, but this time it mostly happens due to indirect blockades by ISPs, service providers, and DNS problems.
  • Hiding your data from websites, hackers, service providers, and more. If you want to access any location on the internet without leaving your data behind, then a free VPN is your best bet.

When to Use a Free VPN Provider?

We know the previous reasons can be too general and maybe not as helpful as we may think. That’s why we decided to give an even more detailed guide on when to use a VPN and for what purpose:

Using Public Wi-Fi

If you’re on a public connection, the risk of being hacked or getting your data stolen is higher. This happens because most public connections do not follow the necessary security steps to protect user’s data.

You could easily let anyone connect through a router or access point into your computer or data without you even noticing. That’s why using a VPN can confuse hackers and intruders, making it almost impossible to get your data by encrypting your IP.

In Foreign Countries

Some countries in the world have many internet restrictions. You may not be able to access Tinder in the United Arab Emirates, or YouTube in China, or Facebook in Russia, and so on. To prevent those blockades, a VPN is the way to go.  You will be able to at least access standard media, which is enough when you’re out.

Against Governments

There’s a lot of evidence about regimes and governments blocking the internet’s connection within their jurisdictions to prevent people from sharing information to the outside world. This has happened everywhere from China to Venezuela, Zimbabwe, and even Cuba.

If you are on one of these countries and you want to prevent these internet blockades during political turmoil or when governments are straight-up blocking access, then a VPN can help to get into the internet, surpass blockades, and share any info you may need to share.

Disadvantages of Free VPNs

While they can be critical for your internet safety if you don’t have a budget to get a premium service, free VPNs can also have some limitations. Some of these disadvantages are:

Limited Bandwidth

The first thing you’ll notice with a free VPN is that your internet speed may not be as fast as without one. This happens because VPN services tend to use inefficient data-hiding methods that end up slowing your internet speed.

Some VPNs may not even let you watch a video or download stuff. And if you are often streaming with applications like Netflix, then a free VPN may not be your best friend.

So, you’ll get a free product that prevents people from accessing your data, but that can be slightly frustrating.

Intrusive Advertisement

It is not very common, but some free VPN apps may bring ads to your device. These ads can appear out of nowhere in your and eventually make it difficult to browse, use other apps, or even chat.

You won’t experience this with any of the free VPN on this article. But other alternatives may bring these intrusive ads that produce annoying spam, dangerous malware, and other unsafe activities.

Data Mishandling

There’s a lot of talk about some VPN services not handling user’s data safely. Sometimes, VPNs hide their privacy statements not to let users know how their data is going to be treated.

The VPN companies that do this end up with a lot of users’ data stored. Then, they sell this data to third parties like advertisement companies. While this seems like a seemingly inoffensive thing to do, it could actually become a severe risk to users whose data is being sold.

The Best Free VPN in 2020

Now that you are familiar with everything a free VPN offers, it is time to go over the different options available out there.

We tried several VPN services and eventually chose 10 of the best ones. Here, you’ll learn everything we found about each free VPN service, including features, safety level, speed, and quality of paid services. Come and learn more:

 

1. Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield VPN

Hotspot Shield free VPN is most practical when it comes to free options. You can pair up several devices to the VPN and enjoy its next-level protection without having to pay a single dime.

The encryption level is exceptional, which ensures a safe shopping experience as well as guarding your data against any type of hacking or data insecurity.

You can also enjoy its straightforward interface, ideal for saving time and effort that complicated VPN may not.

As for speed & performance, you will get decent results. And being totally free, it still manages to offer 500MB of free browsing and media consumption every day. This means that you can get up to 15GB of total capacity per month.

The downside comes from its wide array of ads. You won’t be able to turn off the ads while using this VPN, and they can be annoyingly intrusive, which reduce your browsing freedom.

On top of that, the server locations are automatic. You won’t have the chance to pick your favorite worldwide location depending on your needs. Instead, it will choose a single server no matter where you are or what you need.

As for compatibility, you can use Hotspot Shield in almost any device, including iPhones and Android phones, Linux, and Windows.

The installation process on specific devices may not be the easiest, but it will be totally worth it if you can get it working.

If you want to download it, you can do it directly from its main page!

Hotspot Shield subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Offers up to 15GB of capacity every month
  • Outstanding safety level encrypts all data
  • Works with up to 5 devices at the same time

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Comes with several intrusive advertisements
  • Automatic server choice can be inconvenient

 

2. NordVPN

NordVPN

We couldn’t say that NordVPN is totally free, but it is still the best free VPN if you consider the 30-day testing period.

You can try this VPN for 30 days and enjoy the unlimited servers, the torrenting capacity, and even the limitless streaming to enjoy Netflix, YouTube, Twitch, and many other services.

If you aren’t going for a lifetime free VPN, then you’ll find NordVPN an almost perfect product. As long as you only need less than 30 days of high-quality VPN services, then you won’t have any problem with this one.

The safety level is of the highest quality in the world. There’s not a single negative opinion about this VPN, which makes it an almost perfect choice if you are a demanding user.

The best way to get the most out of its free 30-day service is to install it when you’re traveling. It circumvents censorship, geo-blocks, and other internet blockades.

It does this by using more than 5,000 servers in 60 countries, which delivers tons of advantages wherever you are.

The encryption is military-grade, helping people to guard their data for several days. And if you need to close the connection for any reason, there’s a fast kill-switch that prevents anyone from accessing your data.

Finally, you can use NordVPN on almost any device, including Android TVs, Android Smartphones, iOS devices, macOS laptops, Windows PCs and laptops, Linux, and with browsers like Firefox and Chrome.

Want to get it now? You can download it here!

NordVPN subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Offers unlimited browsing and streaming
  • Speed is unlimited and unobtrusive
  • Exceptional protocols and encryption keeps your data ultra-secure

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Only works for free with a 30-day testing period
  • The premium service is not precisely cheap

 

3. Hide.me

Hide.meThere aren’t many easy-to-use and user-friendly options out there like Hide.me proxy. It is incredibly safe still and offers tons of features that you can enjoy to the max.

The security protocols are exceptional, which ensure a totally safe browsing experience no matter what you’re doing. And what’s even better, it offers the chance to connect to 5 different countries, which is an excellent function if you like options.

The Hide.me service offers 2GB of browsing capacity a month. That’s not the best amount for such a long time, but it is still decent if you want it for things like simple browsing and other low-data activities.

Another considerable advantage is the ad-free service. You won’t have to battle against intrusive advertisements, no matter what device you’re using. And what’s even better, you won’t have to log any of your data which ensures even more safety.

The only downside is that you won’t be able to access services like Netflix or Twitch that use tons of data. But if you’re downloading small files from torrents or similar services, then you won’t have any problem.

It works with Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux, Amazon Fire OS, Chrome, Firefox, and some routers.

If you want to try it – download it from its main page!

Hide.me subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Up to 5 different server locations
  • Ultra-safe no-log service for exceptional safety
  • Totally free for a lifetime

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Low data capacity at only 2GB per month
  • Doesn’t allow streaming or large-file downloads

 

4. TunnelBear

TunnelBear

If you want a free VPN for PC, then you won’t find any better option than TunnelBear. It is a branded VPN from McAfee, one of the largest security software companies in the world.

This means that you’ll get one of the best safety services in the market without having to make any payment. The whole system is free, easy to use, and works wonders to keep your data safe at all times.

The sign-up process takes a few different parts of your data and stores it. But being McAfee, you can be sure that the security level is the highest you can ask for.

As for data availability, you will have up to 1.5GB free per month. This will be enough to get into your social media, email, and messaging services without problems. Everything will be fast and easy, so you won’t have to worry about anything.

You will get a decent amount of setup options as well, so you can pick a few server locations. And sure enough, you can hook up any desktop or mobile device without problems.

Sadly, you won’t have the chance to download or watch too much content. And the amount of devices you can connect to the free version is limited to only two (a PC and a mobile device).

Still, it works in all kinds of systems, going from Windows and Linux to iOS, Android, and many others. It doesn’t matter where you install it – the program will be easy and straightforward to use.

The download process starts directly from its main webpage!

TunnelBear subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Straightforward interface for easy use
  • Exceptional safety backed by McAfee systems
  • Works in desktops & mobile devices

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Low data limit at only 1.5GB
  • Expensive premium membership

 

5. Windscribe

Windscribe

Among the highest-rated VPN services out there, we found Windscribe to be an excellent choice. There’s almost no drawback that we could notice apart from a low connection speed in some cases.

What stands out the most about this service is the exceptional privacy it offers. No one will be able to access any of your data, connection info, or just anything related to your internet activity. You will be totally protected from the first time you get it working on your desktop or mobile device.

The amount of data you’ll get caps at 10GB if you sign up with your email. If you don’t want them to have your data, then you can decide to use the service anonymously, but your data capacity will top at only 2GB. Either way, you’ll get superb security.

Another exciting feature is the ability to block ads. You won’t have to fight against intrusive pop-ups while browsing. This pairs up well with the firewall, offering even better protection overall.

As for server availability, you can choose 10 different locations around the world. So you’ll have enough options to pick from wherever you’re connecting from.

It works with any operating system as well, including smartphones iOS, Android, and Windows Phone.

Get into its webpage for a direct download link!

Windscribe subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Top-notch security level
  • Up to 10 server locations to choose from
  • Comes with unique ad-blocker and firewall

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Low browsing speeds can be frustrating
  • Limited data capacity in no sign-up option

 

6. Speedify

Speedify

If we had to name the best VPN for Android, we would undoubtedly choose Speedify. There’s almost no question about how well it protects while still delivering top-notch speed and tons of features.

You will know by its name that this service stands out for its speed. And it happens thanks to a unique encrypting technique using more than 1000 servers and 50 countries that makes browsing ultra-fast. Of course, you can only pick the servers and locations with the pro membership – but it’s still worth in its free version.

A considerable advantage is that you can make it work seamlessly on any device you want. But it works better on smartphones using mobile data, especially 4G. The speeds and the safety levels are simply incredible, which ensures you can do whatever you want anonymously and without drawbacks.

The only small setback in the free version is that Speedify only allows 5GB of monthly data. This is not the best you can get, but it is enough considering it works mainly on smartphones where data is way more economical. Sadly, it lowers down after 3 months to only 1GB.

As for downloading and streaming, you will also meet a limit. It won’t let you do so as fast as it does browsing and emailing, but it will still work fast enough for most operations.

It works well on any iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, or macOS device. And you’ll have the chance to upgrade to its pro version and enjoy even better speed, and unlimited data and download capacity.

You can download Speedify directly from the main page!

Speedify subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Provides unbeatable browsing speed
  • Delivers decent privacy & protection
  • Works with over a thousand servers

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Limits to 1GB of capacity after 3 months
  • Installation & sign-up can be tricky

 

7. ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN

When it comes to a reliable VPN free online, we can’t deny that ProtonVPN is among the best out there. And that’s entirely for a reason.

What sets this service apart from the competition is the unlimited data despite being totally free. Yes, you can access as much content as you want without any limitation, which will ensure that you can enjoy sports, videos, downloads, or just whatever without problems.

Of course, this doesn’t mean it is a perfect free VPN. You will still face a few setbacks like a small array of server locations and slow speeds at peak time. On the other hand, it only works in one device at a time – so you won’t be able to enjoy everything it offers in your PC and smartphone at once.

Another disadvantage is the number of ads you will see. They can be sort of inconvenient from time to time, but they won’t keep you from browsing and enjoying your favorite media.

The security level is outstanding nonetheless, and the compatibility with most OS is superb. You can make it work anywhere with iOS, macOS, Linux, Windows, or Android.

If you can handle limited server options, slow speeds a few times a day, and the capacity to only work in one device at a time – then you’ll enjoy unlimited data and next-level safety.

Download it directly from its website!

ProtonVPN subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Compatible with all kinds of devices
  • Excellent safety & privacy levels
  • Unlimited data capacity for all types of media

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Slows down at peak times
  • Only works on one device at once

 

8. HideMan

HideMan

Another competitor for the best free VPN for Android is HideMan. While it works on any device you want, it is an excellent choice for Android users due to its exceptional compatibility. Yet, it also works wonders in iPhones.

The most significant advantage of this device is that you won’t have any limit when it comes to data, speed, or types of internet usage. You can do practically anything with it despite being free. Whether it is downloading torrents to accessing streaming webpages, and more – it is simply fantastic.

But of course, this comes with a huge setback: you will have a limit of seven hours of use per week in its free version.

This is something that may take HideMan out of the competition entirely for you. But they make it so because their service features are still among the best out there. With over 20 servers to choose from and a user-friendly interface – this system is a great bet.

If you don’t want to pay anything, then you’ll still get more-than-decent safety and privacy which ensure that none of your data is shared or in danger.

It works wonders when it comes to getting over geo-blocks and other types of internet blockades you may experience. And with the ability to work anywhere from Windows to macOS, Chrome, and all sorts of smartphones – this is a VPN not to dismiss.

Get it directly from its main webpage!

HideMan subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • High speeds and 20 servers to choose from
  • High-quality privacy level for extra security
  • Blocks ads and other data-limiting stuff

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Usage limit of 7 hours per week
  • Not the lowest premium prices out there

 

9. Hola VPN

Hola VPN

For those who want the most straightforward option, Hola Free VPN proxy will probably match their needs completely.

This is one of the most popular options nowadays due to its ability to surpass geo-blocks and offering exceptional security levels. You won’t have to worry about practically anything, as even the installation and set-up process is seamless.

The ability of Hola to do this comes from the fact that it works mainly as a browser extension. While you can get it on your smartphone or computer OS, it works way better when it is just working through the browser.

It is not the most intrusive out there and makes sure you can enjoy any of your favorite internet activities without reducing speed or limiting data.

The primary use of Hola VPN is to unblock websites that would otherwise be unavailable, either by geo-blocks or by mere ISP issues. So, if you are a heavy media user who wants to enjoy anything that’s commonly blocked in your country, then this VPN will be an exceptional idea.

The only drawback is that Hola uses shared bandwidth for all of its users. This means that you will be in the same network as all other Hola VPN users, which could leave some safety behind. If you want to prevent that, you can get its Plus version which is way more secure and still affordable.

Download it in seconds from its main page!

Hola VPN subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Unlimited data & media capacity
  • Works in all kinds of devices
  • Seamless installation and configuration

What We Didn’t Like:

  • All users share the same bandwidth
  • Browsing speed may lower down when using

 

10. Opera VPN

Opera VPN

When talking about free VPN services, we couldn’t leave Opera free VPN behind. It is the easiest-to-use and most compatible option on the whole list.

Remember, Opera isn’t precisely a VPN by itself. Instead, it is a browser just like Firefox or Chrome. But as a browser, it offers the most secure access to the internet, including an ad-blocker feature, malware protection, and other privacy features. The best of all is the anonymous browsing, which works like a VPN.

The most significant advantage is that Opera doesn’t cap internet speeds. Instead, it helps to achieve even better speeds, especially when accessing content from other parts of the world thanks to unique worldwide accessibility.

There’s no limit on data either, and there’s no compatibility issue. The only problem is that Opera is not a VPN by itself, and it may have a few safety holes when compared to true VPN software.

Download Opera from its webpage and get direct access to its free VPN!

Opera VPN subscription options:

What We Liked:

  • Unlimited speed, data, and usage
  • No need to log in or input any type of data
  • Extremely easy & straightforward to use

What We Didn’t Like:

  • Not a true VPN software
  • Could have a few safety holes

How to Choose a Free VPN?

Now that you are familiar with the different models available, it is time you learn a little about how you can get the best option. Here are a few factors to think about:

Business Model

Every VPN comes with its own business model. That’s not a secret as VPN is service software just like any antivirus or file storage system. Similarly to other marketed services, they also come with their own promotions, offers, sales, and so on.

You need to be careful, though. Most free VPNs are not precisely free, or eventually put some limitations, so you end up buying their paid version. On the other hand, you may be working with a VPN that sells user data, which is a slightly worse practice, but it allows the free service to operate.

That’s why it is essential to know what you’re getting into. Otherwise, you may end up giving your data away without knowing, or being a target for a paid service.

Level of Protection

The protection level, privacy, or security means how well the VPN hides your data, and how well it prevents lack of safety from causing damage. With a free VPN, you won’t have the best protection out there, but you should still seek the best possible option.

We recommend VPNs that prevent any permissiveness to web apps to access your data, that hide all your information including personal and connection, and at the same time block ads and other similar things that could store your info.

Getting the strongest level of protection will give you the best experience overall. That will save you tons of bad experiences and leave you less worried.

Free Features

When we talk about free features, we are referring to the standard functions of a VPN but free. For example, how many servers you can use to log with, the number of countries to register from, firewalls, ad-blockers, amount of data you can use daily, weekly, or monthly, and more.

The more features you have in the free version, the better.

Logged Data

One major point to consider when looking for a helpful free VPN is the data it logs from its users. This refers to what kind of information the VPN service stores about you. Whether it is username and password, or any personal data, connection info, or else.

To prevent your VPN provider from storing any of that, we recommend going for no-log services that don’t store any of that. You just need to either log in from your regular device, and that’s it – you may not even need to enter login info. Otherwise, you may go for those that erase your data once you log off.

This will ensure that any data breach or even the slightest of info about you is stored, read, or shared. Of course, this provides a much more secure connection.

Speed & Connectivity

It is not a secret that most free VPNs tend to produce connection problems. Remember that they work using tunnels and shortcuts that could eventually slow down the speed of your internet.

Apart from that, the back and forth of connection and tunneling may produce a loss of connectivity from time to time. This happens both with wired and wireless connections.

To prevent all that, we recommend services that use their own servers, tunnels, and other platforms without relying on third parties. This prevents any of the previous issues from happening.

Anonymous or Not?

Lastly, you’ll want to be as private as possible with the VPN. This means not having to even share your name with the service.

Some VPNs offer the chance to pay through Bitcoin and other anonymous ways. This could be a considerable advantage to prevent any kind of tracing to your accounts. Overall, it just eliminates the chance of someone knowing that you ever used a VPN.

Bottom Line

As you can see, all the different options in this article give a specific type of advantage and disadvantage that you can either love or hate. But you’ll have enough options to know which one to go for.

Remember, the best free VPN is the one that matches your security and privacy demands. Not only the one with the best free features but the one that hides your data the best way without harming speed.

Still, if you want the perfect service we recommend getting the paid versions – they are immensely better in every way. But sticking to their free ones won’t be a bad choice either. Just choose wisely, and you’ll get the perfect one for your needs.

The best free VPN in 2020

Front Line:

Nowadays, security is critical when you’re browsing the web. And many people have understood that – worldwide. That’s why you’re likely to find thousands of free VPN out there that will help you browse and...

About The Author
Senior Content Writer
Angel has been a tech enthusiast since his teenage years. After several years writing content for a wide array of clients in all kinds of niches, he decided to come back to tech and put his hobbies into work. Now, he writes for TechAndSoft delivering high-quality product reviews for all sorts of electronics. Reading his reviews will put you in front of the tech game.... See Full Bio
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