Best VPN Freeware: Secure and Free VPN Solutions for PCs and All Devices

After years of testing free VPNs, I can confidently tell you that when it comes to VPN freeware, these are the best options for changing your IP, hiding your location, bypassing blocks, and browsing securely without paying for a subscription.

And since it's rare to find a completely free service without a paid option, I have selected the best alternatives that are truly worth it, with a detailed explanation of their advantages and disadvantages so you can decide which one fits your needs best.

VPN Freeware Download: Best unlimited options

Proton VPN: Open-Source and Favorable Jurisdiction

Proton VPN has earned its place as the best freeware VPN you can use. It stands out for its generous free plan and advanced security features. It has 336 servers in 5 countries (Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, and the US) and is unlimited, a big advantage compared to other free services that restrict monthly traffic.

Proton VPN Free Security and Privacy:

• AES-256 Encryption and Modern Protocols: It uses unbreakable protocols like WireGuard to protect data while browsing.
• Audited Zero-Logs Policy: This ensures that no information about users' online activities is stored.
• DNS Leak Protection and Kill Switch: The kill switch automatically disconnects if the server access is lost, protecting your data.
• "Stealth" Obfuscation Protocol: For users in regions where censorship is an issue, Stealth is a key tool as it masks VPN traffic to bypass blocks and restrictions.
• Open-Source: Proton VPN stands out for its transparency as open-source software, allowing public audits and independent security verification, which is rare in freeware VPNs.
• Headquarters in Switzerland: Switzerland has strict privacy laws and independence from surveillance alliances, protecting user activity under one of the most rigorous legislations, which is why it is widely used by journalists and activists.

With the same free account, you also have access to the rest of the Proton ecosystem: the secure, encrypted Password Manager (Proton Pass), secure, encrypted Email (Proton Mail), encrypted Cloud Storage (Proton Drive), and an encrypted Calendar (Proton Calendar).

In my opinion, Proton VPN is the best free option currently, not only because it is unlimited and very secure but because it has advanced features, an intuitive interface, no ads, and apps for all devices and operating systems.

Tuxler: The VPN Freeware that Seems Perfect

The benefits of Tuxler VPN make it a unique free service, especially appreciated by those looking for residential IP addresses, which allows for more effective bypassing of geo-restrictions.

It has 116 countries to choose from and 300,000 residential IP addresses. Although it currently only has apps for Windows and Mac, and extensions for Google Chrome and Firefox, it offers unlimited bandwidth, making it ideal for streaming and torrenting.

However, it has some significant limitations; speeds can be very slow, especially when connecting to distant countries, which can make the streaming or downloading experience frustrating.

Additionally, there are privacy concerns since Tuxler does not reveal its logging practices, and as it is a community network, it uses the IP addresses of other users, and even if you are not using it, it could also share your bandwidth in the background.

Tuxler works with services like ESPN, Hulu, and Amazon Prime, but its frequent IP changes and inconsistent speeds make it less ideal for Netflix or BBC iPlayer. It also does not offer a kill switch nor specify its encryption protocols, which could be a concern for those looking for advanced security.

Opera Free VPN: Integrated in the Browser

Opera VPN is technically a proxy, not a full VPN. While Opera promotes it as a "free VPN," it works more like a proxy, as it only protects traffic within the Opera browser and does not encrypt activity across the entire device or external applications.

It is also unlimited and directly integrated into the Opera browser, so you don't need to download any software or create an account to use it.

Opera VPN claims to offer more than 100 servers across three general locations: Americas, Europe, and Asia. However, it is not possible to choose a specific country.

Additionally, it's important to note that you'll notice a decrease in your internet connection speed when enabling the VPN, and the impact on speed will depend on the location you're connecting to.

The Opera browser also includes a powerful built-in ad blocker, which removes even the annoying YouTube ads, making pages load faster and consuming less data.

Psiphon VPN: Free Tool to Bypass Censorship

Psiphon is an open-source VPN Freeware, it is unlimited, and it was designed as a tool to fight censorship, gaining popularity in countries with severe restrictions, such as Iran, Russia, and China.

Although it is often considered a VPN, it is actually a proxy designed to access blocked sites and bypass geo-restrictions. As mentioned earlier, it is more of a tool against censorship than a solution focused on security or privacy.

Its use is simple: you only need to download the executable file from its website, without installation, and you can connect to servers in 27 countries.

Despite being free, unlimited, and open-source, Psiphon has significant limitations in terms of security, privacy, and performance:

Psiphon VPN Limitations:

• In terms of security: Psiphon lacks essential features like a kill switch, meaning users are not protected if the connection is unexpectedly interrupted. It also leaks DNS data, further compromising security.
• In terms of privacy: Psiphon logs browsing activity, IP address, and connection times, which compromises anonymity. It also shares this information with advertisers and sponsors, contradicting its claims of guaranteeing privacy.
• Regarding performance: its VPN service is notoriously slow, with connections often not exceeding 4 Mbps, which makes even smooth browsing difficult.

Hide.me VPN Free: Encryption and Privacy with Speed Limit

Hide.me VPN offers a free version that allows access to 7 server locations without payment: Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States, and it can be used on any device.

Although Hide.me allows unlimited browsing in its free version, meaning no data usage restrictions, it limits the speed to prioritize paying users. When using it, you'll notice a drop of up to 60% in your connection speed.

It is useful for basic activities like hiding your IP and encrypting your connection, but you'll need patience for heavy downloads, especially during peak hours. It is also not compatible with streaming or torrenting, functions only available in the paid version.

In terms of security, Hide.me offers AES-256 encryption, one of the most secure, and does not keep logs of activity or personal information, supporting its no-logs policy. It also includes features like a kill switch and DNS leak protection.

Hotspot Shield Free: Unlimited, but with Serious Privacy Limitations

Hotspot Shield VPN Free previously allowed only one connection in the United States and limited usage to 500 MB per day. It has now improved: it is unlimited and offers connections in 4 locations across 3 countries: the United States (Los Angeles and New York), the United Kingdom, and Singapore.

However, it is not a VPN I would recommend for mobile devices. The free version on Android and iOS lacks essential features like the kill switch and the option to choose the WireGuard protocol, plus it displays intrusive ads. Although it maintains strong encryption.

The issue is that showing personalized ads means sharing data with third parties, which means it collects sensitive information like your approximate location (city-level), advertising ID, IMEI, MAC address, and wireless service provider.

On the desktop version (Windows and MacOS), these issues are not present, but connection speeds are significantly reduced when connecting to a server. In my tests, the speed dropped from 500 Mbps to only 100 Mbps.

Planet Free VPN: Basic but with Decent Speeds

Planet Free VPN is a simple option for users looking for a VPN that offers security and good performance.

It is unlimited, with decent speeds, does not log your activity or data, with AES-256 military-grade encryption (the industry standard for VPNs), a kill switch, and 5 locations to choose from: France, Germany, Netherlands, United States, and the United Kingdom.

Even in its premium version, Planet VPN remains quite basic and lacks advanced features like split tunneling, for example.

The free version offers an acceptable browsing experience, but there are two important aspects to consider: although it is unlimited, it disconnects automatically every 6 hours, so you'll have to click "connect" again. It also shows ads as a constant reminder that it's a free version.

Solid and Secure Freeware VPN Options with 10GB per Month

Windscribe VPN: Fast, Secure, and with 10GB for Streaming

Windscribe VPN Free is a solid option, famous for its clever marketing and funny memes, but it has a hard limit of 10GB of data per month if you register your email (2GB without registration).

The free version of Windscribe offers 26 servers in 10 countries: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, and Romania. It also includes "Robert," its ad blocker, trackers, and malware.

Windscribe is open-source, offers RAM-only servers, robust encryption, secure protocols, and a minimalist interface compatible with all operating systems.

The best part is that it works with some streaming services, although it won't unlock all of them and may require multiple attempts. With the WireGuard protocol, it is possibly the fastest free VPN for streaming.

PrivadoVPN: 10GB of Monthly Data with Military-Level Security

PrivadoVPN is a reliable free option for those looking for a VPN for casual use.

PrivadoVPN is a reliable free option for those looking for a VPN for casual use. Its free plan provides 10GB of monthly data and 13 servers in 10 countries: the United States, France, Germany, Brazil, India, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, and Mexico.

This VPN offers a strong combination of security and privacy: located in Switzerland, it operates outside of data-sharing alliances and uses military-grade AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption, along with OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard protocols. Additionally, its kill switch prevents IP leaks during unexpected disconnections.

However, unlike some leading VPNs, PrivadoVPN has not been audited by third parties, which could be a factor to consider for those seeking additional security guarantees.

TunnelBear: Security and Great Coverage, but with 2GB per Month

TunnelBear VPN is a solid option in the world of free VPNs, standing out for its security and number of servers. The free version includes protection measures like advanced encryption, modern protocols, a kill switch, and obfuscated servers. With about 5,000 servers in 47 countries, it’s one of the most accessible and reliable free services, although it limits you to 2GB of data per month.

TunnelBear’s free plan doesn’t include streaming servers, so this VPN is more focused on protecting your privacy and bypassing geo-restrictions for browsing. But with just 2GB, it may fall short if you need it for downloading torrents or for long streaming sessions.