Free things usually come with a catch. This is especially relevant to VPNs that restrict cybersecurity the use of data and speeds in order to entice customers to upgrade to paid plans. Some VPNs have been known to extract bandwidth from their users, essentially selling it, mercenary-style, to anyone who would like it.

A quality VPN should offer reliable encryption, fast performance and a wealth of advanced features that aren’t offered in the free tier. It should be easy to use, and not have significant limitations that could hinder your internet-related activities, like streaming, downloading, and videoconferencing.

The top free vpn providers should have a track record of success with impeccable privacy practices and be based outside of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance. In addition, they should be backed by a generous refund policy.

Proton VPN is one of the most well-respected and well-loved free vpn services. Proton VPN is one of the few providers to provide free plans that don’t add restrictions and limits to pressure you into upgrading. It has decent speeds, access to three locations, and offers powerful ad and malware blocking as well as streaming and P2P support.

Windscribe is a completely free VPN that offers 10GB per month of data great performance, as well as lots of advanced options. The Windscribe apps have been created with a wide range of helpful tools, tweaks and technologies. They also scored highly in my free VPN tests, beating many fees-based competitors.