What is VPNGratis.org and who is behind it?
VPNGratis.org is a website and YouTube channel specializing in comparisons, reviews, and tutorials about free VPNs. We run real-world tests and comparative analyses of different VPNs and provide impartial information to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.
Who’s behind VPNGratis.org?
César Calanche, founder of VPNGratis.org
I’m César Calanche, a Venezuelan journalist and the founder of VPNGratis.org. For over 10 years, I’ve focused on researching, testing, and comparing free VPN services, becoming a leading authority on this topic online.
My journey began in 2013, when geo-restrictions and growing internet censorship pushed me to start using VPNs. Since I couldn’t afford a premium service, I tried dozens of free options until I discovered which ones actually worked — and which didn’t.
In 2019, I uploaded an amateur YouTube video, “VPN gratis para Android”, which quickly surpassed half a million views and neared one million. That response confirmed that many people had the same need I did when I was starting out.
That’s why, in 2020, I launched the VPN Gratis ORG YouTube channel and created this blog, with the goal of offering clear and honest information (without unnecessary jargon) so anyone can choose and use a free VPN with confidence.
Over the years, I’ve also witnessed the industry’s evolution: the rise and consolidation of brands like NordVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN; multi-million acquisitions such as ExpressVPN by Kape Technologies or Atlas VPN by Nord Security; mergers like NordVPN with Surfshark; how ExpressVPN went from leading the industry to losing ground to competitors; the shutdown of solid options such as ZenMate VPN and Atlas VPN; and the emergence of many services that ultimately turned out to be complete failures.
Having closely followed the industry for more than a decade gives me the confidence to recommend only the VPNs that are truly worth it — and to help you tell apart those that actually work from those that are just marketing.
Editorial independence & funding
- Independence: VPNGratis.org is not funded by, nor owned by, any VPN company.
- We don’t accept payments to alter ranking positions, nor do we publish sponsored reviews that bias our conclusions. Our recommendations reflect what we genuinely believe, based on analysis and testing, and we always explain why.
- How do we make money? Through Google AdSense ads and affiliate links, especially when we recommend paid alternatives. So if you end up purchasing a subscription through those links, you help us keep testing and producing more useful content.
- Editorial criteria: Every decision is based on tests and evidence—never on commercial agreements.