Best Free VPN Services in 2026

Best for: Privacy-focused users who need unlimited data

Free tier: Unlimited data with no bandwidth caps. Access to servers in 5 countries: United States, Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. Single device connection on the free plan. Supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and ChromeOS.

How to access: Download from protonvpn.com and create a free Proton account. No credit card required. The same account works across Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton Calendar.

Strengths: ProtonVPN is the gold standard for free VPN privacy. It is operated by Proton AG, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail, and is subject to Switzerland's strict privacy laws. The free tier has genuinely unlimited data, which is unique among trustworthy free VPNs. The no-logs policy has been independently audited by Securitum. ProtonVPN uses the WireGuard protocol by default, which provides excellent security with minimal speed overhead. The kill switch ensures your real IP never leaks if the VPN connection drops. ProtonVPN is also one of the few VPN providers that is fully open-source, with all client applications published on GitHub.

Limitations: Free users are limited to a single device connection. The 5-country server selection is limited compared to paid plans. Speeds can slow during peak hours because free servers share capacity with a large user base. Free users cannot access Secure Core (multi-hop) servers, NetShield ad-blocking, or the Tor over VPN feature. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ actively block ProtonVPN free servers.

Typical speeds: 40-80 Mbps download on nearby servers. 15-40 Mbps on distant servers. Sufficient for HD streaming, video calls, and general browsing. Not ideal for 4K streaming or large file downloads during peak hours.

Best for: Users who want streaming access and flexibility

Free tier: 10 GB per month with email registration (2 GB without email). Earn an extra 5 GB by posting about Windscribe on X (Twitter). Access to servers in 11 countries including US, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Romania, Denmark, Hong Kong, and Norway. Unlimited simultaneous device connections.

How to access: Download from windscribe.com. Create a free account with just a username and password (email optional but adds 8 GB). Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and as browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

Strengths: Windscribe is the most feature-rich free VPN available. The 11-country server selection is the largest among free tiers. Unlike most free VPNs, Windscribe allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can protect your phone, laptop, and tablet simultaneously. The built-in ad blocker (R.O.B.E.R.T.) blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the DNS level on all connections. The browser extension includes additional features like cookie auto-deletion, GPS spoofing on mobile, and split tunneling. Windscribe's free servers can unblock some streaming content that other free VPNs cannot access. The no-logs policy has been verified through an independent audit.

Limitations: 10 GB per month is enough for everyday browsing and email but not enough for heavy streaming or large downloads. The data resets on the first of each month. Some streaming platforms like Netflix have blocked most Windscribe free servers, though the Windflix servers on the paid plan still work. P2P traffic is allowed but counts toward your data cap. The free plan does not include the static IP or port forwarding features.

Typical speeds: 60-120 Mbps download on nearby servers. 30-70 Mbps on distant servers. Generally faster than ProtonVPN free because of lower server congestion and WireGuard protocol support.

Best for: Torrenting and P2P file sharing

Free tier: 10 GB per month. Access to servers in 8 countries: United States (East and West), Canada, Netherlands, Germany, France, Singapore, and United Kingdom. Single device connection. No registration required to start using the service.

How to access: Download from hide.me. You can start using the VPN immediately without creating an account. Creating a free account unlocks the full 10 GB allowance and server selection. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Fire TV, and routers.

Strengths: hide.me is one of the very few free VPNs that explicitly allows P2P and torrenting on its free servers. Most free VPNs block torrent traffic entirely, making hide.me the clear choice for users who need to download files via BitTorrent safely. The no-registration option is excellent for users who want quick, anonymous protection without providing any personal information. hide.me is based in Malaysia, which has no mandatory data retention laws. The no-logs policy has been independently audited. The client supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2, and SoftEther protocols, giving users flexibility to choose based on their needs. Split tunneling allows you to route only specific apps through the VPN.

Limitations: 10 GB per month can be consumed quickly when torrenting large files. Single device connection limits flexibility. The server network is smaller than Windscribe's free offering. Streaming unblocking is inconsistent on free servers. The free plan does not include the SOCKS5 proxy, dedicated IP, or multi-hop features available on paid plans.

Typical speeds: 50-100 Mbps download on nearby servers. 25-60 Mbps on distant servers. P2P speeds typically range from 30-70 Mbps, which is fast enough for most torrent downloads.

Best for: Maximum speed and mobile users

Free tier: Unlimited data with no bandwidth caps. Routes traffic through Cloudflare's global network spanning 300+ cities worldwide. Available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS through the 1.1.1.1 app. No registration required.

How to access: Download the 1.1.1.1 app from your app store or warp.plus. Toggle WARP on. No account creation, no email, no credit card. It works immediately.

Strengths: WARP is the fastest free option by a wide margin. Because Cloudflare operates one of the largest networks in the world, your traffic is routed through the nearest Cloudflare data center, minimizing latency. In many cases, WARP actually improves your connection speed compared to your raw ISP connection because Cloudflare's routing is more efficient than typical ISP routing. The app is extremely simple with a single on/off toggle. WARP encrypts all traffic between your device and the Cloudflare network using WireGuard-based protocol (BoringTun). No data caps, no bandwidth limits, and no speed throttling make it the most generous free offering in terms of raw capacity. It is excellent for securing mobile connections on public Wi-Fi.

Limitations: WARP is not a traditional VPN in the privacy sense. It does not let you choose your server location, so you cannot bypass geographic restrictions on streaming services. Cloudflare can see your traffic metadata (which sites you visit), though they state they do not sell this data or use it for advertising. WARP does not hide your approximate location from websites because it routes traffic through the nearest data center rather than a distant server. There is no kill switch on the free tier. It does not support P2P traffic. WARP is best understood as an encryption and performance tool rather than a privacy or anonymity tool.

Typical speeds: 100-300 Mbps download depending on your ISP speed. Often within 5-10% of your raw internet speed. WARP adds minimal overhead because traffic exits at the nearest Cloudflare edge, unlike traditional VPNs that may route through distant servers.

ProtonVPN - Strictest privacy

ProtonVPN maintains a strict no-logs policy verified by independent audits from Securitum. They do not log connection timestamps, IP addresses, session duration, DNS queries, or traffic data. Based in Switzerland, which has no mandatory data retention laws and sits outside the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Proton has a documented history of refusing law enforcement requests for user data because they genuinely do not have it. All apps are open-source.

Windscribe - Strong privacy with transparency

Windscribe logs the total bandwidth used in a 30-day period (necessary to enforce the free tier cap) but does not log connection timestamps, IP addresses, visited websites, or any traffic content. Based in Canada, which is a Five Eyes member, though Windscribe has publicly fought government data requests and publishes a transparency report. The no-logs policy has been independently audited. All apps are open-source.

hide.me - Independently verified zero logs

hide.me maintains a certified no-logs policy audited by DefenseCode. They do not store connection logs, IP addresses, timestamps, or bandwidth usage (the 10 GB cap is tracked locally on the device). Based in Malaysia, which has no data retention laws. hide.me publishes an annual transparency report showing they have never provided user data to any government because they do not collect it.

Cloudflare WARP - Privacy-light

Cloudflare WARP logs some connection metadata including the amount of data transferred and error diagnostics. They commit to not logging your browsing activity, DNS queries, or the content of your traffic. However, Cloudflare is a US-based company subject to US law, including potential National Security Letters. WARP's privacy policy is less strict than dedicated VPN providers. It is best for encryption and performance rather than anonymity.

Red flags in free VPNs

• Hola VPN: Uses your device as an exit node for other users' traffic. Your IP address can be used for activities you did not authorize. This has been documented since 2015 and the practice continues.
• SuperVPN: Multiple security researchers have found the app contains malware, transmits unencrypted data, and leaks user information. It has been removed from app stores multiple times.
• Betternet: Documented by CSIRO researchers to contain tracking libraries and malware. The app injects ads and tracks your browsing.
• Any VPN requesting excessive permissions: A VPN should not need access to your contacts, phone calls, camera, or file storage. If it does, it is harvesting data to sell.
• VPNs with no identifiable company: If you cannot find a real company name, office address, and executive team behind the VPN, do not trust it with your traffic.

Choose ProtonVPN if:

Privacy is your top priority. You want unlimited data without paying. You browse, email, and video call but do not need to unblock streaming services. You value open-source software and independently audited security claims. You want a VPN backed by a trusted company with a track record of protecting user privacy.

Choose Windscribe if:

You want the most features on a free plan. You need to connect multiple devices simultaneously. You want a built-in ad blocker. You occasionally want to try unblocking streaming content. 10 GB per month is enough for your VPN usage.

Choose hide.me if:

You need to torrent files safely. You want a VPN that works without any registration. You value a strict no-logs policy in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction. You need P2P support on the free tier.

Choose Cloudflare WARP if:

Speed is more important than privacy. You want to secure public Wi-Fi connections with zero friction. You do not need to change your apparent location. You want unlimited data with no speed penalties. You primarily use mobile devices.