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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Free VPNs can protect your privacy, but come with risks and limits.
- VPN use is rising as governments impose censorship and age checks.
- Choose the wrong VPN and your security and data could be at risk.
You’ve probably heard of virtual private networks (VPNs). Many governments worldwide would love to control them or shut them down, and if it weren’t for the fact they are a crucial tool for businesses to operate, many lawmakers would have succeeded by now.
Also: Hundreds of free VPNs offer ‘no real privacy at all,’ researchers warn – does yours?
But what is it about VPNs that has put them in the crosshairs of political arguments? It boils down to their use of encryption to protect your online communication, their ability to mask your IP address, and their ability to keep your activities private and secure.
If this reminds you of the time when some governments took on encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, and failed, you’d be right — whether they like it or not, we still have a right to privacy. It’s up to us to use it.
But it might not be possible for you to sign up for a paid VPN, so what do you do then? Many individuals have flocked to free services that promise protection without payment. If a free VPN is what you are looking for, be cautious, as there are drawbacks and risks you must be aware of.
What is a free VPN?
A free VPN is a service that doesn’t require you to hand over payment — at least monetarily.
Also: Windscribe VPN review: A flexible and free VPN
Free VPNs are often compatible with desktop, Android, and iOS devices and are commonly available in app stores and online software repositories. You then download the software, accept permission requests, and typically sign up with an email address.
Once the software has been launched and you have signed in, you will be able to connect to the VPN network.
Why are free VPNs popular?
NordVPN research shows that roughly 13% of American VPN users rely on free services. But if you’re not paying with money, you’re paying with your data.
Subscriptions are becoming more costly, and adding yet another bill payment to your budget is something few of us want to do, especially right now with the economy as it is.
Conflict has prompted Iranians to use VPNs to evade an internet blackout. Furthermore, following the lead of UK residents, Australian citizens are now flocking to VPNs in response to new laws requiring age verification before accessing online content. After all, who wants to hand over personal data, facial scans, or ID photos to a third party? (I’m looking at you, Discord.)
Also: Hide.me VPN review: A reliable free VPN for beginners
Financial pressure, conflict, unnecessary demands for data — and if you have the choice between receiving something for free or paying for what appears to be the same service, it’s a no-brainer — I’ll keep my wallet closed, thank you, and use a free VPN.
“People download free VPNs to protect their privacy, not realizing they may be handing it over entirely,” said Marijus Briedis, CTO at NordVPN. “There is hardly such a thing as a free VPN service.”
The true cost of a free VPN
While you don’t have to pay for these services in dollars, there is always a cost. However, this depends on whether the service is backed by paid subscribers.
Also: These popular free VPNs all share the same shady security practices — here’s why
If paying customers are backing a free service, you will be able to access the same VPN server network, but there will be restrictions. Usually, you will only have protection for one device — such as a laptop or smartphone — and you will be limited in server selection.
For example, you may have only one or two servers to choose from, and since they are handling the load for all free account holders, you will have to accept low speeds.
Still, these trade-offs are far better than the alternative: a free VPN that doesn’t reveal how the network is funded. In these cases, this is how you pay:
- Data: Your data is valuable currency. A free VPN may collect, share, and sell your data to third parties to fund its operation.
- Malware: Free VPNs may contain hidden, bundled nuisanceware such as spyware, or may actually be malware in disguise that steals your data, spies on you, or even encrypts your system with ransomware.
“We are seeing a rise in malicious apps that wear the mask of a legitimate VPN,” Briedis explained.
“Google’s own fraud advisory flagged VPN apps delivering infostealers, remote access trojans, and banking trojans, all designed to siphon browsing history, financial credentials, and even cryptocurrency wallets. Users install these apps specifically to feel safer online, and instead they open the door to the very threats they were trying to avoid.”
- Security issues: Without funding, free VPNs are often risky options that don’t patch vulnerabilities.
- A lack of protection: Recent research found that around 800 free VPNs offered “no privacy at all,” including issues such as no or poor encryption, unusual permission requests, unpatched bugs, and misleading claims.
Speaking to ZDNET, Aaron Engel, chief information security officer at ExpressVPN, said that there have also been cases where free VPN providers logged user activity despite advertising ‘no-logs’ policies, including one breach that revealed more than 1.2 terabytes of user data, such as IP addresses, browsing history, and passwords.
Also: How to enable Google’s free VPN on your Pixel phone – it’s easy
“Researchers have also identified free VPN apps that contain intrusive tracking software or operate with weak encryption, which can expose users to additional security risks rather than protecting them,” Engel added.
“These findings highlight the importance of transparency and verification. A privacy policy alone isn’t enough — users should look for providers whose claims are backed by independent, third-party security audits that validate their no-logs practices and infrastructure.”
The best free (and cheap) VPNs that you can trust
ZDNET extensively tests free and paid VPNs, running monthly tests to ensure our recommended VPNs — whether the best VPNs overall, for streaming, travel, or mobile, among other use cases — remain accurate.
Also: The best cheap VPNs: Expert tested and reviewed
There are not many free VPN services that we can recommend, but if you’re willing to accept account limitations, check out:
- Proton VPN: This is our favorite free option. Backed by paying subscribers, your free account is not limited in terms of traffic, but you can register only one device and access 10 countries when selecting servers.
- Windscribe: Windscribe is also backed by paying customers and offers free account holders access to servers in 10 countries. There are unlimited device connections, but the disadvantage is a data cap of between 2GB and 10GB.
- Hotspot Shield: Hotspot Shield is fast and you can use up to 15GB per month, but server selection is limited, and this service is supported with ads.
Also: The best free VPNs of 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
If you want full server lists, the best speeds, and more simultaneous connections, some of the best affordable VPNs on the market are Surfshark ($1.99 per month), Privado VPN ($1.11 per month), and Private Internet Access ($2.03 per month).
