Download strong free vpn for pc

Who could say no to a free VPN that does it all – Internet freedom, anonymity, worldwide streaming access... However, is that a realistic hope from a free VPN, and if it is, which ones can provide it for you? 

The big question is whether a free VPN can genuinely rival the very best VPN services in terms of privacy and functionality. If it can't, it's important to work out exactly in which areas you're willing to make sacrifices to save your cash.

Unsurprisingly, most free VPNs aren't as powerful as premium services, but many are still useful applications. While they're not great for streaming or torrenting, if you just want to secure your browsing on public Wi-Fi and check your emails securely, they can still be useful tools to have on-hand.

Is a free VPN worth it?

If you're going to get a free VPN, you need to know the facts. Firstly, they can come with hidden costs – you might get ads injected into your browser or, even worse, end up having your data sold or your device used as an exit node for other users.

If you want the best service possible, we'd recommend signing up to a paid provider. Our top-rated VPN is ExpressVPN, but if you're looking to save some money we'd recommend Surfshark. For less than $2.50 a month you'll have unlimited data and simultaneous connections, as well as in-depth features not available with free VPNs. 

If you're dead-set on testing out a free VPN, though, below we've rounded up the best five which manage to avoid compromising usability too much, and offer viable alternatives to paid services for casual users.

The best free VPN services you can download today

Hotspot Shield Free has been the best free VPN for a long time, and that's down the to the fact it doesn't make too many compromises that you'll notice in day-to-day usage. 

It's simple to use, you'll get 500MB a day to play with (15GB a month), and your data will be protected by powerful encryption to keep it safe should it ever be intercepted. Plus, while it's not quite as fast as its blazing paid-for sibling, Hotspot's free service is still nippy and you won't find yourself waiting for pages to load every other click.

There are a couple of concerns, however. There is some logging, including bandwidth used, your OS, the time you were connected and more, and although Hotspot assures us that none of that could identify users, it's more than we'd like. That's also not perfect seeing as it's a US-based company, meaning it's obliged to hand over data should the FBI pay them a visit.

Overall though, we think it's the best free VPN on the market, and although it's no good for streaming thanks to the fact it can't evade VPN blockers, it's still a very powerful privacy tool that provides a great amount of monthly data alongside excellent speeds rarely seen in free services. 

Sign up now on Hotspot Shield's website

Windscribe's premium service is excellent, and that translates over to its free service, too. When you sign up you'll get the chance to bag either 2GB a month without handing over any info, or 10GB if you provide an email address.

We also like the fact you can pick from a selection of servers, including North America, Europe, Hong Kong, and the recently added Turkey. Of course, if you upgrade you'll get a far larger selection, but this is generous for a free VPN.

What's interesting is that Windscribe's free VPN has been known to be able to access Netflix. While we can in no way guarantee this as the goalposts are always moving, if you're looking for a free Netflix VPN you could do a lot worse – plus you'll get an ad-blocker, a firewall, and claims of no-logging.

However, Windscribe's apps do let the side down a little, and the interface is quite cramped and can make it tricky to find settings. But, if you stick to the recommended settings and just turn it on and off (or just get used to the UI), it's perfectly serviceable. It's also worth noting that neither paid nor free versions get 24/7 support, so you could be left in the lurch if something goes wrong

Overall, though, Windscribe is a powerful free VPN service that's simple and effective. Well worth a look.

Sign up now on Windscribe's website

TunnelBear is owned by none other than giant McAfee, and with that comes some serious infrastructure and investment – this is no cottage-industry free VPN. 

The first thing you'll notice is the clean, simple app which makes it easy for wiz kids and Luddites alike to get going in seconds. However, with that comes a noticeable lack of function, although TunnelBear's target audience probably isn't too interested in adjusting DNS settings or the difference between OpenVPN UDP and TCP.

You don't have to fork over too much personal info to sign up – just an email – and this certainly inspires confidence in the VPN's security. It's great for checking your emails or online banking in privacy.

However, TunnelBear is crippled by its measly 500MB-a-month limit, meaning after a few Facebook videos and emails with attachments you could be nearing your monthly cap. Plus, for all but the most inexperienced users, the lack of functionality will be more hindrance than help.

But, if you're fine with that and want an audited, secure free VPN for very occasional use, TunnelBear is a great option.

Sign up now on TunnelBear's website

If you're after a free VPN and don't want to be limited on data, then ProtonVPN’s free VPN is perfect for you. The unlimited data allowance makes it a decent streaming VPN, and gives the peace of mind that usually only comes with paid-for services.

The limitations which may prompt you to upgrade are access to just one device at a time, no P2P support, only three locations and lower speed prioritisation compared to paid users. However, on the plus side, there's no logging, making it very private, and there aren't even ads you have to put up with. It even works on a wide range of platforms, including Android, iOS, Windows, Mac and Linux.

Sound too good to be true? It kind of is. Expect speeds to drop at peak times when the paying users will get more of that precious bandwidth, and there’s also a dearth in server locations with ProtonVPN – you’ll only have three to choose from with the free plan.

If you're a night owl, or don't mind putting up with slower speeds for the sake of saving money, ProtonVPN is a great option – and that unlimited data is sure to come in handy.

Sign up now on ProtonVPN's website

Speedify, as the name suggests, is a VPN that offers great connection performance across more than 1,000 servers in over 50 countries – and it does so without scrimping on security. You can enjoy a fully encrypted security system while the software's turbo-boosting technology is able to make sure speeds stay at their maximum possible performance throughout your connection time.

This smart software lets you use multiple connections to enhance speed – for example, both Wi-Fi and 4G data connections when on a mobile device – ensuring top performance speeds. The catch with this is that the mobile-data use might eat up your carrier's allocation if it's capped monthly.

Every month, Speedify allows you 10GB of free data, which refreshes every 30 days, which is great if you'll be using it for extended period, but you'll have to remember that one iot's gone, it's gone. Also, Speedify is a US-based company, meaning it's subject to federal search warrants. Do with that information what you will.

Sign up now on Speedify's website