5 Best Free VPN Services for 2020 (100% FREE & Safe)

Eric Raue
Last Updated by Eric Raue on November 17, 2020

I thought that most reputable free VPNs would keep me safe online — but I was wrong. Many free VPNs are actually involved in malicious activity, which could expose you to financial fraud, identity theft, and malware. I was also frustrated to find that many free VPNs cap your data (so you can barely use them) and have few server locations available, which causes slow speeds.

To help you avoid both dangerous and useless VPNs, I tested dozens of options and compiled this list of the best free VPNs. I was surprised that the top free service is also one of the highest-ranked VPNs on the market — ExpressVPN.

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Quick Guide: The Best Free and Reliable VPNs (Updated 2024)

  1. ExpressVPN: #1 VPN for fast, unlimited streaming and robust security features. You can try all of ExpressVPN’s premium features for free for 30 days (getting a refund is easy — I got my money back within 4 days!).
  2. Surfshark — Unlimited device connections and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but has a more costly month-to-month plan.
  3. NordVPN — Access to thousands of fast servers, no data cap, and you can try it risk-free for 30 days.
  4. CyberGhost — Has a long 45-day money-back guarantee and optimized servers for streaming and torrenting, but doesn’t work consistently in China.
  5. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Boasts an extensive global server network and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but its customer support could be better.

How to Choose the Best Free VPNs

While there’s no perfect free VPN, I made sure that all the top providers had good security, speeds, and performance. When evaluating a VPN for yourself, you can use this list of important criteria to pick the best option for your needs:

  • Strong encryption — Make sure the VPN you select has at least AES-256-bit encryption to keep you safe from hackers, government surveillance, and other prying eyes.
  • Proven ability to bypass geo-blocks — Before downloading a VPN, it’s important to know if you want to stream on Netflix or other sites. This is because not all VPNs can get around the geo-blocks used by platforms like Netflix — only the best services like ExpressVPN can do that.
  • Strict privacy policies — Many free VPNs track and sell user data. That’s why it’s important that you find a service that will keep your information private from advertisers and other prying eyes.
  • Reliable connections — VPNs may slow down your connection speeds. Even if it doesn’t have many server options, make sure your VPN offers fast speeds to let you access the services you want.

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5 Best Free VPN Services for 2020

1. ExpressVPN: Unlimited Data, Fast Streaming, Secure, and FREE for 30 Days

Pros:

  • Military-grade encryption with strict no-logs policy keeps you safe
  • Global network of 3,000+ servers in 94 countries
  • Unlimited data for endless streaming, torrenting, and gaming
  • Works on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs, routers, and more
  • Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video

Cons:

  • Only available for free for 30 days

ExpressVPN is the top choice as it gives you unlimited access to all its premium features — unlike other free VPNs that only offer full features if you upgrade. However, you can only use ExpressVPN free for 30 days.

To test the service, I downloaded ExpressVPN and connected to over 50 servers in the US, UK, Japan, and more. I was impressed that it gave me fast speeds up to 48.5Mbps!

I could stream my favorite shows and movies in Ultra HD. In addition to fast speeds, it can even bypass the Great Firewall of China and works in countries with strict online censorship, like the United Arab Emirates and Turkey.

Another important feature is its top-of-the-line security. For example, ExpressVPN uses RAM-based servers, which guarantees that its servers clear your browsing history whenever the power cuts off.

I used ExpressVPN for 3 weeks, then requested a refund from customer support (on live chat). I was really surprised at how easy it was to get my money back! Other VPNs that I’ve tried wasted my time trying to troubleshoot or get me to stay, but ExpressVPN processed my refund straight-away — no questions asked. The money was returned to my bank account within 5 days.

ExpressVPN can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, DAZN, Sling TV, fuboTV, HBO Now, Sky Go, YouTube, Kodi, and more.

ExpressVPN works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chromebook, Blackberry, PlayStation, Xbox, and routers.

Try ExpressVPN risk-free today!

2. Surfshark — Connect as Many Devices as You Want Simultaneously for 30 Days Risk-Free

Key Features:

  • 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee
  • Use all features with no limitations during the trial period
  • 1,700+ servers in 63 countries offers fast global connections
  • AES 256-GCM encryption, CleanWeb, and kill switch for data protection
  • 24/7 customer support with email and live chat available for quick refunds

Surfshark’s free trial lets you protect as many devices as you want at the same time for 30 days. With other VPNs, I always had to choose which of my devices I wanted to protect, but with Surfshark, I could rest assured knowing all my devices were secured with military-grade encryption. Best of all, Surfshark’s trial doesn’t limit speeds at all, so even when I connected 8 devices simultaneously, I was still able to stream Netflix in UltraHD on all of them at once.

The VPN has a strict no-logs policy and has been independently audited by Cure53, which proved that it doesn’t store any personally identifying data or recorded activity.

When I put Surfshark’s money-back guarantee to the test, I contacted the live chat and requested a refund. I was answered promptly and had the money back in my account in 7 days — I didn’t even need to give a reason why I wanted to cancel!

Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial for mobile users, which you can access through the Google Play or Apple App Store. I recommend you try Surfshark risk-free for 30 days with its money-back guarantee.

Surfshark can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, DAZN, ESPN, YouTube, Kodi, and more.

Surfshark works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Fire TV, Apple TV, Smart TVs, Chrome, Firefox, PlayStation, Xbox, and routers.

Get Surfshark for free for 30 days!

3. CyberGhost — 45 Days to Test Fast Streaming and Downloading Optimized Servers

Key Features:

  • 45-day risk-free money-back guarantee
  • Use all features with no restrictions during the trial period
  • 6,300+ servers in 90 countries provide fast global connections
  • Military-grade encryption, kill switch, and no-logs policy protect your data
  • 24/7 customer support available with live chat for fast refund process

CyberGhost gives you a very generous 45 days to test its optimized streaming and torrenting servers with no limitations or restrictions. As someone who streams a lot, it’s essential for me that a VPN can get around VPN-detecting technology on my favorite streaming sites like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. With CyberGhost, all I had to do was click the “For Streaming” tab on the app and pick the service I wanted to use. Best of all, it never slowed my speeds when I streamed during the trial and I was able to watch my favorite shows in HD with no lag.

CyberGhost has a “no questions asked” refund policy. When I tested this, the customer service agent I talked to through the 24/7 live chat didn’t try to convince me to stay when I asked for my money back, so getting a full refund was very easy. It took me just 5 days to get my money back in my bank account.

CyberGhost also has a 24-hours free trial available which you can use on your desktop without needing to enter any credit card details. I recommend you use it free for 45 days to ensure you have enough time to take advantage of all its features. You can rest assured knowing you can get a refund easily and whenever you want.

CyberGhost can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, DAZN, HBO Now, YouTube, Kodi, and more.

CyberGhost works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Chrome, Firefox, Smart TVs, Apple TV, Amazon Fire Devices, Xbox, Playstation, and routers.

Try CyberGhost for free for 45 days!

4. NordVPN — Blazing-Fast Speeds, Unlimited Data, and a 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Key Features:

  • 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee
  • Unlimited access to all features during trial
  • 5,000+ servers in 59 countries for super-fast connections worldwide
  • Military-grade encryption, CyberSec malware protection, and kill switch ensure data security
  • 24/7 customer support available to process refund requests quickly

NordVPN is the top overall choice for its fast speeds and high-quality security features. I like to thoroughly test a VPN before I subscribe and NordVPN’s generous 30-day money-back guarantee meant I had unlimited access to every feature, including its network of over 5,000 servers worldwide, lightning-fast speeds, and CyberSec malware protection.

Although I needed to pay upfront to use NordVPN’s free trial, getting my money back was hassle-free. I signed up for a plan and used NordVPN every day for 29 days. Then I contacted customer service using the live chat function on the website for refund and had the money back in my account within 4 days!

Since NordVPN’s free trial has no limitations on speed or bandwidth, you can use it to stream Netflix (and content on other sites) in UltraHD video quality. I tested 10 different servers in countries like the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, and Germany and my speed never dropped below 25Mbps.

To thoroughly test it and see if it’s right for you, take advantage of NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee and try the service totally risk-free.

NordVPN also unblocks: Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, ESPN, DAZN, HBO Now, Sky Go, YouTube, Sling TV, fuboTV, Kodi, and more.

NordVPN works with: Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux, Android TV, Chrome, Firefox, Amazon Fire devices, and routers.

Try NordVPN free for 30 days!

5. Private Internet Access (PIA) — Huge Global Server Network Gives You Access to Any Netflix Library

Key Features:

  • 30-day risk-free money-back guarantee
  • 17,800+ global servers in 72 countries
  • Military-grade encryption, zero logging, and P2P support
  • Connect 10 devices at once to protect your whole family
  • 24/7 customer support through live chat or ticket

Also known as PIA, Private Internet Access has an enormous server network allowing you access any Netflix catalog. It currently offers more than 17,800 servers in 72 countries around the globe, and keeps expanding at an impressive rate. This extensive network also means that you will never have to suffer from low speeds due to overcrowded servers.

With PIA’s military-grade encryption and strict no-logging policy, you can rest assured that no hackers or government agencies will be able to get access to your data. Even though PIA is headquartered in the US (a member of the Five Eye Alliance), the fact that there are no logs being kept means there is nothing to hand over to the government should an inquiry be made.

Thanks to PIA’s commitment to privacy, you can safely torrent or browse the deep web anonymously using TOR. What’s more, all servers are enabled for P2P file-sharing and the use of BitTorrent, which is much more convenient than just having a small number of dedicated P2P servers available.

When I tested PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee myself, my refund was approved in less than 12 hours and the money was in my bank account within a week. Be aware that if you choose to contact customer support via ticket, you may have to wait several days for a reply. I prefer the 24/7 live chat option due to its fast response times and helpful answers.

Private Internet Access can unblock: Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, and more.

Private Internet Access works with: Windows, Android, Mac, iOS, Chromebook, Linux, and more.

Try PIA free for 30 days!

Free vs. Paid VPNs: Hidden Costs You Should Know About

There are 2 different kinds of free VPN you should know about: unlimited free VPNs, and “freemium” VPNs.

Much like the name suggests, unlimited free VPNs give you unlimited access to the server connections. And while that may seem very tempting, these services make money by logging and selling your data. A huge number of unlimited free VPNs also contain malware, viruses, and other malicious software designed to obtain your data for profit. These should be avoided.

A “Freemium” VPN is like a sample of a premium service. The VPN services will be limited (by data caps, throttled speeds, or small server numbers) in the hope that you’ll get frustrated and upgrade to the premium VPN. These VPN services don’t monetize your data — paying customers subsidize free users, sharing network resources.

Try the best freemium VPN today!

Why pay for a VPN if there are safe free options?

There are free VPNs available that don’t pose security risks — but the safe options are always limited. Whether it’s capping the amount of data you can use or limiting the number of servers, safe free VPNs are designed to make you want to upgrade. It’s inconvenient, but they are legal services you can trust. The only way to get around those inconveniences is to upgrade to a premium version. That way, you can stream, torrent, and browse as much as you want while keeping your data secure.

Remember: Paid VPNs don’t sell your information for cash

Paid VPNs can vary greatly in price and the higher-end services have a huge variety of security features — kill switches, multiple connections at the same time, strict no-logs policies, and 24/7 customer care. Paid VPNs can afford to offer you all these benefits because of the revenue they generate from subscription fees. They don’t need to sell your information, which assures your security and privacy.

Try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days!

Avoid These Free VPNs Like the Plague

According to a recent study (CSRIO), 75% of free VPNs that claim to protect user privacy have at least one tracking library. Through my own research and testing, I found some shocking facts about several VPN services that I had to warn you about.

Betternet VPN

With over 5 million user installations to date, studies into Betternet have shown that it has one of the highest levels of malware among free VPNs. A test performed by Virustotal gave it an AV-Rank of 13, meaning it tested positive for malware on 13 different antivirus programs.

In addition, the CSIRO study found Betternet had 14 tracking libraries in its software. This is concerning as Betternet markets itself as a privacy advocate but logs a considerable amount of user data. This data includes general location (based on IP address), information device-specific information, and non-personal logs of domain names you visit when connected.

Cross VPN

In the CSIRO study, Cross VPN ranked as the 5th worst VPN service for taking advantage of users. It was flagged as containing potential trojan viruses by Virustotal, who gave Cross VPN an AV-Rank of 11.

HolaVPN

HolaVPN built a P2P server network instead of using worldwide servers, which in theory would be effective at bypassing firewalls, maintaining privacy, and masking IP addresses.

In reality, HolaVPN has been known to forward user traffic through other participating user nodes, breaking its promise that data would be kept private and anonymous. Even worse, HolaVPN was letting premium members use the bandwidth of free users. Free users would also end up with the premium users’ data on Hola’s servers. This left free users open to investigations as any online activities would be logged to their IP addresses.

Try the safest VPN

Use This Trick to Get a Premium VPN for Free

If you want to use a VPN for a short period of time, the trick is to sign up for a premium VPN with a money-back guarantee. Whether you’re taking a vacation abroad or want to catch up on your favorite foreign shows, a premium VPN will protect you for at least 30 days — free of charge!

Try ExpressVPN for free for 30 days!

Choose A VPN That Won’t Compromise Your Safety

The market is flooded with free VPNs, but many of them pose serious risks to you and your data. Slow speeds, bandwidth limitations, and connection restrictions are annoying — having your data logged and sold to generate revenue compromises your data security.

The free VPNs I’ve recommended may have some limitations in terms of connections and bandwidth, but they all keep your data safe. Want all the security features without the limitations? Try ExpressVPN for 30 days risk-free and get a full refund, “no questions asked,” if you’re not totally satisfied.

Try ExpressVPN Now!

Top Ranked Top Choice
ExpressVPN
$6.67 / month Save 49%
Surfshark
$2.29 / month Save 85%
CyberGhost VPN
$2.03 / month Save 84%
NordVPN
$3.09 / month Save 76%
Private Internet Access
$2.03 / month Save 83%

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