The Best Free VPNs in 2020

Using VPN today is important whenever using a free VPN or any of our Best Free VPNs list you have to be cautious and know that a few more dollars a month may be worth it. Top VPN services offer a great way to protect your identity online. A safe VPN service can connect you to the web securely.

The internet we use is vulnerable and a dangerous place to be. Data harvesters, hackers and malicious websites are always out there waiting for users to make a mistake. The computers and devices connected to the VPN allow them to transfer the data securely through the encrypted tunnels created by the VPN.

Why should you use VPN?

• VPNs allow you to connect remote networks securely
• VPNs keep you secure and private on public networks
• VPNs allow you to bypass regional restrictions and blocked websites

Is a Free VPN Safe?

Free VPNs will slow you down, especially when downloading content or even just browsing the net. But there are a few exceptions which are free (freemium) trustworthy VPNs.

Risk of Using a Free VPN Service

• Low Level of Security
• Basic/No Features & Fewer Servers
• Unblocking Doesn’t Work
• Slow Connection Speeds
• Aggressive Advertising

Best Free VPNs

Hotspot Shield Free VPN – Torrent-Friendly VPN

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The Hotspot Shield free VPN plan is perfect for casual internet users and it is in our list for Best Free VPNs. If you need more features, then consider upgrading to their Premium VPN plan. 

The VPN’s protocols are integrated by large security companies all over the world. The application has numerous servers across the globe that serve to provide people with thousands of IP addresses for complete anonymity.

Hotspot Shield uses encryptions to conduct online activities in a private and secure manner and users no longer have to fear being tracked or snooped on by their ISPs, employers, and governments as well as hackers. Hotspot Shield also protects its users against malware by monitoring a website a user visits and ensuring they contain no malware. 

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

Features:

• Military-grade encryption
• Supports all platforms
• Unblocks Netflix, iPlayer, Disney+
• P2P-friendly
• Premium VPN Servers
• Private Browsing
• Personal Data Security
• Wi-Fi Security
• Ad-free browsing experience
• Complete cloud-based malware protection
• Dedicated customer support
• Multi-device support
• Virtual locations all over the world

Pricing: For the one-year plan, it will be $6.67/m + 3 months FREE or $12.95/m with no contract.

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ProtonVPN – Unlimited Data and Servers in Three Countries

ProtonVPN is a service headed by the ProtonVPN company AG based in Switzerland, developed by CERN and MIT scientists. The company also own the security-focused email service ProtonMail. The company offer on the the Best Free VPNs and they have a paid plans as well.

AES-256 encryption, key exchange is done with 4096-bit RSA, and HMAC with SHA384 is used for message authentication. The provider doesn’t save any information about your online activity. Proton protects over 20 million people with their products, and ProtonVPN has been vetted by the Mozilla Foundation.

ProtonVPN is another VPN provider in our best free VPNs list and it exclusively uses ciphers with Perfect Forward Secrecy, meaning that your encrypted traffic cannot be captured and decrypted later, even if an encryption key gets compromised in the future. ProtonVPN is the ONLY free VPN that has no privacy-invading ads, no malware, no bandwidth limits and proudly found its place in our list with best free VPNs.

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Features:

• Secure Core servers
• Forward Secrecy
• DNS Leak Prevention
• Strict no-logs policy
• Tor over VPN
• 30-Days Money-Back Guarantee

Pricing: $4.00/m with 1-year contract or $5.00/m with 1-month contract.

TunnelBear – Large Server Network and No Logging

TunnelBear encrypts your device’s incoming and outgoing data and it is another free VPN in our Best Free VPNs collection. Tunnelbear protects your online privacy from online threats, letting you access your favorite websites & apps.

When you use TunnelBear, your data passes through their secure VPN, letting you connect to WiFi hotspots without putting your data or device at risk. Your browsing activity and personal information is kept private from hackers, advertisers, or prying eyes.

TunnelBear uses strong AES-256 bit encryption. TunnelBear for free with 500MB of browsing data every month, no credit card required. Unfortunately, it doesn’t unblock Netflix US, Hulu, or BBC Player. TunnelBear has just over 23 server locations to choose from. Leak-protection, a strict no-logs policy, and independent audits make it a great choice for amateur or advanced users. 

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox

Features:

• No Logging
• Private & fast VPN with no logging, ever.
• Safe WiFi with grizzly-grade security
• Supports P2P connections

Windscribe – Unlimited Data and Servers in Three Countries

Windscribe is a VPN provider based in Canada and it was founded in 2015. It gives you access to multiple servers, unlimited bandwidth, and freedom to connect with many devices and major platforms.

The software feature browser extensions for all the major platforms including Chrome, Opera, and Firefox. It supports the Domain Name System (DNS) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) leak protection.

The Ad Blocker feature automatically blocks ads allowing to load websites much faster. Anti-social features allow you to strip out social trackers from social media platforms you visit.

The Kill Switch, for example, allows you to toggle an option that will instantly kill your connection if the VPN service cannot be used or has failed to connect. Windscribe is a great VPN service provider and its free option made it part of our best free VPNs list.

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Opera, and Firefox

Features:

• Firewall
• DNS leak protection
• Kill switch
• Stealth mode
• Adblocker
• P2P friendly
• Works with: Netflix, Hulu, HBO
• OpenVPN configurations
•  Strict no-logging policy
• 4 protocols to choose from (OpenVPN UDP/TCP, IKEv2, Stealth)

Hide.Me – Fast Speeds and 10GB of Free Monthly Data

Hide.Me is a fast and reliable VPN service and it is available as a premium and free version. The VPN service offers users 2GB of free data per month with server locations restricted to five countries such as the Netherlands, Canada, the United States East and West as well as Singapore. 

Hide.Me is a Malaysia based VPN service provider that has already emerged as one of the best free VPNs service logless providers. Hide.me has a strict no-logging policy. All the record is the bandwidth used, connection time and duration. 

Hide.me comes with a DNS leak prevention technology. The VPN fully supports all the major VPN protocols, including PPTP, IKEv1 and v2, L2TP/IPsec, SOCKS and most importantly OpenVPN. 

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux

Features:

• 10 GB of free data per month
• No Logging Policy
• Free servers in four countries
• Strong encryption and multiple available protocols
• Good connection speeds for quick loading and browsing
• Works with: Hulu, iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO GO

Speedify – Fast Speeds With No Ads

Speedify is more than just a VPN solution that encrypts your traffic to protect your online privacy.  It combines multiple internet connections” for a faster, more reliable, and secure connection.

It combines all available WiFi, 3G, 4G, and Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections to boost internet speed and reliability. Speedify has “military-grade” AES encryption. 

A kill switch gives you a little more privacy and protection. The software’s ability to combine the speed of multiple internet networks all at the same time accelerates connections for smooth media streaming, uploading, downloading, and web browsing.

The software has tools that allow users to unblock their favorite applications and services.

Supported platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

Features:

• Super Secure Encryption
• Channel Bonding
• Streaming Mode
• Redundant Mode
• Automatic Failover
• Packet Loss & Error Correction
• Servers Worldwide
• DNS leak protection
• Virtual IP addresses
• Detects and blocks unsecure networks

VPNBook – Unlimited Data Over OpenVPN

VPNBook is a virtual private network service, based in Switzerland. The service connects to a VPN via OpenVPN client or a PPTP connection. It is is designed with the latest technologies and most advanced cryptographic techniques to keep you safe on the internet.

The OpenVPN implementation uses AES encryption with a 128-bit key. It’s easy to setup and use – works on any device. All that’s needed is the username and password, no registration required.

It does not offer either applications or paid subscriptions. You have to manually set up the configurations to the VPN. 

Features:

• Unlimited data
• Virtual locations in 6 countries
• Built from secure OpenVPN technology
• No restrictions on any website
• Good Performance.
• No Bandwidth limits.
• Great Encryption.
• Smart CDN Fallback
• Strong AES-256-bit and AES-128-bit encryption

Final words

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Using a VPN app on your mobile or desktop device is an excellent way to protect you from the perils of online life. However, setting up a router to connect to your favorite VPN provider can protect all of your connected devices, making full protection much easier. While there are a large offering of VPNs on the market, very few of them are quality VPNs.

Free VPNs cannot be trusted to provide a safe, reliable and fast connection.

If you decide to choose a VPN provider not listed here in our best Free VPNs, especially because it is free, make sure you read the terms of service so that you aren’t surprised later on. Any VPN service that is slow, leaks the users’ IP address and sells their personal information is simply bad. 

Learn more about how to protect your privacy online by checking some of our other post in Privacy and Security Tools category.

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