5 Best Free VPN Software for PC

Virtual private networks (VPNs) contribute to a more secure and private internet browsing experience. They also represent the web's founding principles of freedom of access and freedom of expression, especially when cost is no object.

There are free VPNs that do not sell data to third parties and reliably protect user privacy. Find out more in the following article!

Table of Contents

• 1. PrivadoVPN
• 2. Proton VPN
• 3. Windscribe
• 4. Hide.me
• 5. Hotspot Shield

1. PrivadoVPN

Another Swiss-based VPN provider, PrivadoVPN, claims on its website that its free VPN has the same features as its paid version. The only difference is a limited monthly data allowance and fewer server locations.

PrivadoVPN's free plan supports streaming as well as P2P applications. After signing up with your email address, you'll get 10GB of monthly data to browse, stream, and download content anonymously.

2. Proton VPN

Switzerland-based Proton AG is one of the world’s leading privacy advocates. The free Proton VPN option isn’t as comprehensive as a paid subscription, but it’s enough to keep your online activity private.

Proton VPN has an excellent reputation, so it should be on any list of free VPNs to try. It's compatible with all major platforms and offers unlimited data. You can connect one device to any of its 100+ server locations, but it doesn't support streaming and torrenting isn't allowed.

3. Windscribe

The free VPN from Canadian provider Windscribe is on par with their premium service. Windscribe offers multiple server locations in 10 countries, AES-256 encryption, and multi-platform support.

By default, monthly data allowance is limited to 2GB, but users can upgrade by signing up for free email (10GB), tweeting (+5GB), and referring (1GB per user).

Windscribe can be installed as a desktop application and run as a browser extension on Firefox, Chrome, and other browsers. Windscribe's free VPN is great for general use but can be limited to video streaming due to data caps.

4. Hide.me

Hide.me is a Malaysia-based VPN with a great name and even better service. The free plan allows you to connect to up to 8 server locations and offers unlimited data usage and no logging. However, Hide.me doesn’t support streaming or P2P traffic, so it’s quite limited in practice.

Hide.me supports Split Tunneling , which can be useful since connection speeds are limited on the free plan. Hide.me also offers live chat support for free users, which is rare among VPN providers.

For a low price, the free version of Hide.me provides everything you need for a secure, private connection.

5. Hotspot Shield

Since 2008, Hotspot Shield has been a VPN that many people trust. Its free Basic plan allows unlimited usage, has very respectable speeds, and comes with very user-friendly apps. It’s a good free VPN that can be useful in a pinch, but there are two big caveats to consider. Free users only get access to a single server, and there are a lot of ads.

Hotspot Shield Basic has no monthly limit, so you can use it as much as you want. The speeds aren’t bad either. Hotspot Shield Basic reportedly reached speeds of up to 70 Mbps, which is easily enough to stream 4K video through the single US server where all of the free user traffic is sent. You can successfully access Hulu and Netflix with Hotspot Shield Basic from anywhere in the world, which is worth noting if you just want to use a VPN to watch your favorite shows while traveling around the world.

All of the free VPNs we’ve reviewed are safe and trustworthy. They take your privacy seriously, and you can be confident that your data is safe when you use them. However, no free VPN can match the specs of a paid service. You can usually get access to more servers, bandwidth, and features if you sign up. A VPN is worth paying for, especially if you’re going to use it every day.

ExpressVPN is one of the best paid VPNs with over 3000 servers in 87 countries. Sign up now and get three months free!