Free secure vpn for windows

Whether you are a regular internet user who is online most of the time or just browsing some websites for work purposes, you should always concern about your online privacy. Almost all internet service providers collect all our personal details whenever we surf the web or browse some topics on the web which exposes our online privacy.

To fix this problem by protecting our data, we need a reliable VPN service that can hide our online activities from ISP and also protects us from other criminal-minded people or any other third parties. And here are some best free VPN for Windows PC which are most trusted and provides you with reliable and free VPN service.

What is a VPN App?

The term VPN stands for Virtual Private Network; it is a service that allows you securely connect your PC to the internet and lets you access content on the web securely without revealing your identity. To connect to a VPN service you need an application called VPN application. To connect to a VPN service, there are several configurations that need to be done. It is a time-consuming process too. But when you use VPN application, it makes the process much faster and more convenient and lets you connect to a VPN server instantly with a few clicks as most VPN apps come with pre-configured settings and easy-to-use interfaces that minimize the setup process.

Usages of VPN Service:

VPN service can be used for different purposes because it can provide several benefits for users who want to protect their online privacy and security, access restricted content, or work remotely. Some major usages of VPN software are:

Online privacy and security:  A VPN service is a great way to keep your online activity, data, and privacy secure and annonymous. It ensure your online security and privacy hiddden from others by encrypting your internet traffic and masking your real IP address, so no one can track your online activities – not even hackers, government agencies, or your ISP.

Access restricted content: Using the best free VPN for Windows, you can access content like many streaming services or websites, or resources that may be restricted or blocked in your region or country.

Remote work: VPN applications are also ideal solutions if you’re working remotely, It lets you connect to a remote server or network securely through a secure connection to the company’s network.

Online gaming: Online gaming is quite popular among many peoples. But it needs a fast and reliable internet connection to connect to a gaming server in a different location while playing. In this situation, you can use VPN software to reduce lag and improve online gaming performance.

Torrenting:  Additionally, if you download torrents, it is a great way to keep your internet provider unknown of your activity, ensuring your internet speed isn’t reduced.

FAQs:

Here are some frequently asked questions about VPN and its usages:

How Does a VPN Work?

When you link up your PC or mobile device to a VPN, it builds a secure and encrypted connection between your computer and the web. The VPN app sends your internet traffic through a remote server (which could be found anywhere in the world) and makes it appear that you are surfing the web from that spot to protect your online privacy by concealing your true IP address, spot, and encryption your web traffic. This makes it difficult for hackers or other third parties to observe your online activities and stops any malicious malware from attacking your system.

Is VPN safe to use?

VPN is safe as well as not safe sometimes depending on the people who are running the server. The owner of the VPN can collect data when you are using the service, so it is important that the connection is encrypted to ensure your data is secure. If the connection is not encrypted, then your data could be exposed, making the VPN unsafe. Therefore, we have selected some best free VPN software for you after testing several VPN apps so that you can choose any one of these without worrying about your privacy.

Is Using VPN Software Legal?

Yes, most countries in the world including the US, Canada, and most of Europe and Asian countries like India consider VPN usage legal. However, some country has restricted the usage of VPNs and you might risk heavy fines or even imprisonment for using a VPN in such countries. For example, China, Iran, and North Korea have banned VPNs.

7 Best Free VPN for Windows (Reliable and Trusted):

There are many free VPN software available that claim to provide you with free VPN servers without any cost, but, do they really provide free VPN service? Do you know that many VPN providers sell users’ data such as search history, download history, and any other online activities that users do while using that particular VPN service? So not all free VPN Apps are safe unless they have a strict no-logs policy and use a strong encryption feature. On the other hand, some reputed premium VPN provider gives only a few MB of data per month or day in the name of free VPN, which is not sufficient for your work.

But the good news is that there are still some reliable and free VPN services available that allow you to use their VPN server for free and they never keep records of user activities. They also provide a decent amount of Bandwidth daily or monthly basis that is enough for your day to work, watch a few movies, etc. Here are some best free VPN software for Windows PCs that you can trust.

PrivadoVPN Free:

PrivadoVPN is the perfect, effortless free VPN for Windows 10 and 11 users. It’s lightning-fast, so with just one click you can be connected to any nation in seconds. And it’s secure, so you don’t have to worry about compromising your safety. If you want to access content from a different region, just connect to a server in that area and you’re good to go. PrivadoVPN has hundreds of servers across 60+ countries. The experts have even mastered unblocking popular streaming services like Netflix and BBC, which many paid services can’t do. Hence, you can certainly consider it the best free VPN for Windows.

It’s the ideal choice if you want to access content from overseas, plus you get 10GB of unrestricted bandwidth per month for free! Should you use up the data before the month ends, you can still access unlimited data, though at a slower speed of 1Mbps. All you need is a valid email address to sign up for a free PrivadoVPN account. When you reach the 10 GB limit, your speed will be reduced, but you can still use the VPN at a lower speed.

It’s easy to install and use, so even those who are not tech-savvy can enjoy the benefits of a secure VPN. PrivadoVPN utilizes a variety of protocols, like OpenVPN, IKEv2, WireGuard, and SOCKS5, to keep your online data encrypted and your IP address anonymous. Plus, you can use it on all your devices, whether it’s Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Asus Router, DD-WRT Router, etc.

Read more and download PrivadoVPN for free.

Proton VPN Free:

ProtonVPN is a high-speed free VPN for Windows that allows you to hide your device address, mask your online activities, encrypt your internet connection, unblock any website, and bypass geographical restrictions for free. This is a multi-platform application that is also available for Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux OS.

It offers blazing-fast speeds, the strongest encryption, an intuitive user interface, and no ads or malicious software. With just one click, you can connect to multiple locations and integrate with the Tor browser or anonymity network. ProtonVPN also uses the highest-strength encryption to protect your internet connection and a Kill Switch feature to prevent accidental disconnects that could compromise your privacy.

ProtonVPN offers an awesome free version that is great for personal use. Unlike other free VPN providers, ProtonVPN doesn’t restrict your bandwidth. You can use their free VPN data as much as you’d like each month, although you are limited to one device and three server locations with medium speed. If you want more features, you can opt for their paid versions, which offer high-speed VPN, access to all countries, and 2-10 devices.

Enjoy fast and unlimited browsing, anonymous browsing options, and the ability to access censored websites with ProtonVPN. All these features make ProtonVPN an excellent option for anyone looking for a secure connection.

Click here to download this best free VPN for Windows 11, 10

Or

Get Proton VPN for Windows Windows 7

Windscribe Free VPN:

Windscribe Free VPN stands out for its numerous features, which make it one of the best three services. Though the data allowance is lower in comparison to the top two VPNs at 10 GB per month, its other features make it a great choice. What makes it particularly appealing is that there is no restriction on the number of devices you can install and use the service on at once, a feature not many other free plans (or even some paid plans) offer.

Windscribe Free VPN is a great option if you’re looking for a free VPN service with multiple locations and servers. It spread across 11 countries, which is more than the 10 countries supported by PrivadoVPN Free and the 3 countries supported by Proton VPN. Even though it may not seem as user-friendly as those other VPNs, it is still straightforward to use with more experienced users able to access a variety of features.

Through our testing, we found that everything worked as expected for Windscribe VPN. Moreover, it is able to unlock UK Netflix and BBC iPlayer, something that surprised us! We can also confirm that the security is top-notch, with AES-256 encryption, and there is no logging of data.

Windscribe allows its users to customize their internet connection based on their needs with a range of connection protocols including OpenVPN (TCP/UDP), IKEv2, WireGuard, Stealth, and WStunnel. OpenVPN and IKEv2 are the typical options, providing optimal speeds, while WireGuard adds an extra layer of security. Stealth and WStunnel, alternatively, are especially created for users located in countries with rigorous censorship regulations as they conceal VPN traffic as regular browsing. This makes Windscribe ideal for streaming, bypassing censorship, and circumventing geo-restrictions.

Download Windscribe Free VPN here.

Planet VPN:

Planet VPN, another great free VPN for Windows, stands out from the crowd with its ease of use and simple main menu and settings page. You won’t have to sign up for an account to use the service, nor will you be limited by time or bandwidth. The free version offers 5 server locations across Europe and the USA, while the subscription plan for just 1.99 USD per month gives you even more features, including the ability to connect up to ten devices all at once!

Planet VPN makes connecting to a VPN server super easy and hassle-free – all you need to do is click one button! Perfect for protecting your online activities, it ensures your personal data remains secure, keeps your IP address hidden and provides unrestricted access to the web. Moreover, travelers can rest assured that their conversations with partners online remain private and secure, as all transmissions are encrypted with Planet VPN. Though its speed may be a bit slower, compared to other free VPN service providers, Planet VPN is still a reliable option for secure access to the web.

Planet VPN prioritizes security by using a solid encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and a kill switch feature that will instantly block traffic if the connection is interrupted – all of which must be enabled in the settings. It may not possess the same advanced features and security measures as other programs, like firewalls or ad-blockers, but it is still viewed as a secure option. To get the most out of your Windows system, download Planet VPN by following the link below.

Download Planet VPN here

Hide.me Free VPN:

Hide.me free VPN provides an incredibly easy-to-use and straightforward interface. All you have to do is press the Enable VPN button from the homepage, or go to Locations to pick the connection of your choice. Even the app settings are designed to be very navigable, with all the options in the left side menu. To make things even better, you can access multiple VPN protocols for free through Hide.me, such as WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2. If you ever want to change protocols, it’s just a matter of accessing the app settings and making the switch.

For those who don’t need a lot of content on a regular basis, Hide.me’s free VPN plan is worth considering. With this, you get 10 GB of data per month – thats more than enough – plus, no daily bandwidth limit, so you can enjoy faster speeds with no restrictions. You also get to choose any of the 8 servers available. It even has some helpful features, like auto-connect and kill switch, however the best ones are limited to the Windows app.

So if you’re just browsing, streaming occasionally or something similar, this should be plenty for you – but if you’re streaming loads of content, gaming online a lot or having long video calls, you may have to upgrade to a different plan. You can also only connect one device at a time with the free version, and the server locations are limited.

Download Hide.me free VPN here.

Atlas VPN:

Atlas VPN makes sure you stay secure online, providing tools to track your digital health. The free version comes with Tracker Blocker to protect your computer from suspicious websites, as well as a Breach Monitor to see if your email address has been involved in any data breaches. All in all, Atlas VPN earned its place on our list of the best free VPNs due to its little extra features.

Atlas VPN is the best free VPN for Windows that offers an internet experience that is both secure and open. It utilizes the top-notch WireGuard protocol to ensure a secure and smooth streaming, gaming, and browsing experience. Furthermore, it allows you to access the internet from multiple IPs at the same time. It comes with additional features such as two-factor authentication, 24/7 support, and Tracker Blocker to protect your device from unwanted websites, as well as Breach Monitor to check if your email address has been compromised. These features have earned Atlas VPN a spot on our list of the top free VPNs.

Atlas VPN is a perfect option for those in search of quick and safe VPN services. Its WireGuard protocol competes with the performance of leading VPNs such as Hotspot Shield and Proton VPN, providing excellent speeds for downloads and streaming, even with remote servers. It’s a freemium software, permitting people to access 3 servers for free, with AES-256 encryption and IPSec/IKEv2 tunneling protocol for optimal security.

Additionally, Atlas VPN gives away 5GB of data free of charge every month, which is suitable for normal browsing but could be insufficient for those wanting to transfer or watch large files. All in all, Atlas VPN is an outstanding pick for users looking for fast, secure, and free VPN services.

Know more and download Atlas VPN here.

HotSpot Shield Basic:

Hotspot Shield Basic VPN offers the optimal solution for concealing your IP address, location, and protecting your computer from online threats. Best of all, this free Windows VPN software not only safeguards your data, but also lets you access websites and content that are normally blocked and play restricted online games.

With 15GB of free data allowance every month, Hotspot Shield is one of the most highly-esteemed free VPN services around. It’s incredibly easy to set up, and you even get 500MB VPN free every day – totalling up to 15GB of data a month. If you’re interested in Hotspot Shield’s VPN service, you can give it a try before you commit to a paid subscription with their free version.

However, while it can offer you a glimpse of the features that Hotspot Shield has, there are some restrictions – you can only use it on one device. It also has a limited range, since you can only access one US server whereas other free VPN services offer three to 10 countries. Furthermore, if you use the mobile app, you can frequently be met with video ads and there is also no kill switch, meaning that if your VPN connection drops, your data could be at risk.

The free free VPN for Windows only has a speed cap of 2 Mbps and a daily data limit of 500 MB, and you don’t have access to the Gaming and Streaming modes. It’s a bit of a bummer that there’s no live chat or email support to help you out if you should have any trouble – you’ll have to find a solution on your own on the Hotspot Shield website. If you want to snatch up all of Hotspot Shield’s features, you’ll need to upgrade to their premium subscription.

Know more and download HotSpot Shield here.

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Table of Contents

• Key Takeaways
• What Makes the Best Free VPN for Windows?
• Free vs Paid VPNs vs Proxies
• Best Free VPNs for Windows
• 1. Proton VPN
• 2. Windscribe
• 3. TunnelBear
• 4. hide.me
• 5. PrivadoVPN
• Why Use a VPN on Windows?
• Risks of a Free Windows VPN
• Final Thoughts
• Comments

Over 1.4 billion devices currently use Windows 10 or 11. If you belong to this group, and you’re looking for a secure and anonymous way to surf the internet, you’ll need to find a great VPN (virtual private network). If you’re on a budget, we can help — this guide helps you find the best free VPN for Windows based on your needs.

Key Takeaways: Best Free Windows VPN Services

• A free VPN for Windows ensures you’re always safe online and your data is private.
• Most free VPNs are unreliable and slow, and many are dangerous. Selecting any free VPN you find on the internet can lead to security risks on your Windows PC.
• Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Windows. However, you may select another VPN based on your specific needs, such as Windscribe, TunnelBear, hide.me and PrivadoVPN.

Most VPNs, free and paid, have an app for Windows, given the operating system’s popularity. However, most free VPNs you find on the internet can’t provide adequate security, with many even being dangerous — pay particular care to stay away from the ones found on our worst VPNs list.

Finding a decent free VPN is like finding a needle in a haystack, even when you’re familiar with them. If you’re about to use a VPN for the first time, pick one from the five free VPN services we recommend in this guide, and you can’t go wrong.

• 03/21/2023 Facts checked

  TunnelBear changed its free data amount to 2GB per month, up from 500MB per month.

• 08/08/2023 Facts checked

  Removed reference to TunnelBear’s discontinued Twitter/X promotion.

• updates

• Yes, Proton VPN and hide.me can be considered totally free VPNs given they offer unlimited data. However, free options, at least ones that are safe, generally come with a few restrictions. VPNs like Proton VPN and hide.me restrict access to a few features, while other VPNs have a data cap.

• Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Windows. It’s fast, reliable and offers unlimited data. However, you may find a different service more preferable based on your specific needs.

Top Free VPNs for Windows

What Makes the Best Free VPN for Windows?

Most free VPNs are free because they benefit indirectly — stealing your data or infecting your system with malware and ransomware. That’s why we recommend using premium VPNs that offer a free version as a preview to their paid service. Premium services are trustworthy and much more reliable. Here are the five of the best free VPN services for Windows:

1. Proton VPN — Unlimited free data
2. Windscribe — Great speed and security
3. TunnelBear — Free servers in over 40 countries
4. hide.me — Access to almost all features on the free version
5. PrivadoVPN — Excellent user interface

Security and privacy are the primary factors to consider, since Windows is more prone to malware attacks. Since free VPNs can potentially infect your PC, you need a reliable service that also encrypts your internet connection strongly enough so that no one, including your ISP, can read your data. The most secure VPNs offer the best security protocols and ciphers, such as OpenVPN and AES-256 or WireGuard and ChaCha20.

Speeds and latency are important factors as well. Many use their PC for gaming, torrenting and streaming content. However, free VPN users often get access to a limited number of servers, which means each server has a relatively higher server load. This can have a negative impact on performance. You need a VPN service that can deliver decent speeds and low latency to play games and stream content.

A VPN’s ability to unblock streaming sites is also something to consider. Unlike paid VPNs, free VPNs don’t have streaming-optimized servers, which means they often fail to get past Netflix’s VPN ban or the geoblocks on websites like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Geoblocking capabilities also help you gain early access to gaming titles that are only available in specific regions.

Finally, you need to verify an app’s compatibility. Most VPNs run on Windows 10 and 11 — the latest Windows operating systems. However, you should check if the VPN has an app for the older versions if you’re using Windows 7 or 8.

Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs vs Proxies

Proxies and VPNs have just one thing in common — both can be used to access websites that aren’t available in a specific region. Proxies are slow and far less effective at unblocking such websites, and almost always fail to unblock streaming services like Netflix. Plus, your connection is unencrypted when using a proxy, so it offers no security at all.

On the other hand, using the right VPN service allows you to unblock websites more effectively. VPNs also encrypt your connection, so third parties like your ISP and the government can’t read your data.

Paid VPNs are generally better than free VPNs, except for a handful of the best free VPNs on the market. If you’re on a budget, you can still find a handful of reliable free services to secure your connection and access geoblocked websites.

The 5 Best Free VPNs for Windows

We found five of the best free VPNs based on key considerations like security, privacy, speed and streaming capabilities. We recommend ProtonVPN, but you can’t go wrong, picking any of these five VPN services based on your specific needs.

1. Proton VPN

More details about Proton VPN:

• Pricing: Free, $4.99 per month (two-year plan)
• Provider website: protonvpn.com

Pros:

• Unlimited data
• Excellent user interface
• Secure protocols

Cons:

• Free servers in 3 countries

Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Windows. The free version offers almost everything you’d expect from a reliable VPN service. Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN’s Windows app has an attractive, intuitive and detailed interface.

If you frequently stream content online, play games or use torrents, you’ll appreciate Proton VPN’s fast connection speeds. Proton VPN can easily bypass geoblocks on most streaming platforms, including Netflix and Hulu.

The free VPN secures your internet connection with OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard protocols. The interface houses basic security features, like a kill switch, which disconnects you from the internet should the VPN connection drop, to ensure complete security.

The Windows app also has split tunneling, which lets you use the encrypted and unencrypted connections simultaneously. This way, you can use the encrypted connection for gaming or torrenting, and continue using the unencrypted connection for other activities.

Unlimited Data

Very few Windows VPNs offer unlimited data on the free version. Premium VPNs want to encourage users to upgrade, so services commonly add limits to data. However, Proton VPN only limits server locations and access to features. This works out great if you want to stream content without worrying about running out of data.

Proton VPN’s paid plans aren’t cheap — the monthly plan costs $9.99 per month. However, you can save money by selecting the annual plan, costing $5.99 per month, or the two-year plan (its best value), costing $4.99 per month. Even at the best price, Proton VPN is more expensive than premium services like Surfshark.

However, Proton VPN offers an excellent interface and feature set. If that’s something you like, the two-year plan is a reasonable price to pay. If you’re still not sure, you can try Proton VPN’s paid version risk-free using its 30-day money-back guarantee.

2. Windscribe

More details about Windscribe:

• Pricing: Free, $5.75 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: windscribe.com

Pros:

• Great connection speeds
• Secure servers
• Unblocks apps like Netflix

Cons:

• 3-day money-back guarantee

Windscribe is one of the few VPNs with a free plan that claims a spot in our best paid VPNs list. A major reason for including it is its great security and speed.

The free VPN service encrypts your connection using OpenVPN and AES-256 or WireGuard and ChaCha20. Windscribe also has a strict no-logs policy. Moreover, the Windows app has a kill switch and split tunneling, so you’re always secure and in control of your network’s security.

In addition to great security, Windscribe is also one of the fastest VPNs on the market, according to our U.S.-based speed tests, even beating a few premium VPN services in the process. If you’re a gamer, Windscribe is an excellent choice because it can deliver the speeds needed for lag-free gaming.

Free users get unlimited simultaneous connections and unlimited bandwidth, so you can always share the VPN service without worrying about compromising on performance. Windscribe’s Windows app can run on Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11, which covers all the popular Windows systems currently in the market.

Generous Free Plan

Windscribe isn’t a completely free VPN — it’s a paid VPN that offers a free version with a data limit. However, Windscribe’s free plan is generous. You get 10GB of free data each month and an additional 5GB of free data per month if you tweet about Windscribe.

The free version includes limited access to R.O.B.E.R.T. — Windscribe’s ad and malware blocker, and access to servers in 11 countries. Learn more about R.O.B.E.R.T. and Windscribe in our full Windscribe review.

Windscribe offers a flexible pricing option called build-a-plan. The option has a $3 per month minimum checkout value, so you can either add three server locations (for $1 per month each) or two server locations along with unlimited data plus access to R.O.B.E.R.T. (for $1 per month). This allows you to access geo-restricted gaming titles and servers.

If you want access to the complete feature set, you can select one of Windscribe’s paid plans. The monthly plan costs $9 per month, while the best value annual plan costs $5.75 per month. The pricing isn’t cheap, but you get unlimited simultaneous connections, which allows reducing the per-user cost by sharing your account.

Free

• Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
• 15GB
• Unlimited

Pro Plan

• Unlimited GB
• Unlimited
• Yes

3. TunnelBear

More details about TunnelBear:

• Pricing: Free, $3.33 per month (three-year plan)
• Provider website: tunnelbear.com

Pros:

• Free servers in 40 countries
• Easy to use
• GhostBear obfuscation tool

Cons:

• Poor streaming experience

TunnelBear is a great choice for those who value simplicity. If you’re new to VPNs, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to use TunnelBear. The interface’s home screen comprises a map and a server list, and a panel on the left to access settings. Just select a location to connect to a server, and that’s it.

The VPN secures your connection with OpenVPN and AES-256, currently the strongest encryption combination. In addition to great encryption, TunnelBear offers an obfuscation tool called GhostBear. The tool allows you to conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN, and is great in censorship-heavy countries like China. Learn more about TunnelBear’s feature set in our TunnelBear review.

TunnelBear’s Windows app has a kill switch (called VigilantBear). However, split tunneling (called SplitBear) is only available on Android and iOS apps. At just 2GB, TunnelBear’s free monthly data allowance is the lowest among services on this list.

The VPN’s low data allowance makes it difficult to use for gaming, streaming or torrenting. However, you can still use it to secure your connection if you use your Windows PC for work or just browsing the internet.

Access to Over 40 Free Servers

TunnelBear offers servers in over 40 countries on the free plan, more than any other VPN on this list. If you need a VPN that can help you acquire IP addresses from a long list of countries, and don’t necessarily mind the low data limit, TunnelBear is an excellent choice.

TunnelBear isn’t a free unlimited VPN because of its stingy data limit. You can remove the limit by upgrading to its paid plans. The monthly plan costs $9.99, while the three-year plan (its best value) costs $3.33 per month.

Individual

• Unlimited GB, five devices, priority customer service
• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

Teams

• Unlimited GB, five devices per user, centralized billing, account manager, price per user per month
• Unlimited GB
• 5
• Yes

4. hide.me

More details about hide.me:

• Pricing: Free, $5 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: hide.me

Pros:

• Access to almost all features
• Unlimited data
• Double-hop servers

Cons:

• Doesn’t unblock Netflix

hide.me is among the few free VPNs that are secure and offer unlimited data. However, unlike Proton VPN, hide.me’s unlimited data comes with a caveat.

Free hide.me users get access to servers in eight countries, including Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S. Once you’ve used 10GB of data, however, you lose the ability to choose your server location. hide.me assigns a server from one of the eight countries at random.

You might be able to disconnect and reconnect until you’ve reached your desired server location, but that isn’t exactly ideal. However, you can continue using the VPN with the same speeds, which means it’s a great option when you want to game, download content using torrents, or stream content without any data limits or buffering.

hide.me offers access to almost all features on the free plan, except for its lab features and WireGuard. Learn more about what you do and don’t get as a free hide.me user in our full hide.me review.

If you decide to upgrade to hide.me’s paid version, you’ll get access to the lab features, including Bolt — a feature that’s only available on Windows. Bolt helps you improve speeds, at least theoretically. The feature helps you prevent ISP throttling and addresses the poor support for VPN clients on Windows.

The Windows app is only available for Windows 7 and later. If you’re running Windows XP or Vista, you won’t be able to use hide.me on your PC.

Fallback Protocol

The hide.me Windows app packs in a ton of unique features, one of which is the fallback protocol. The fallback protocol is essentially a backup protocol. Should your primary VPN protocol fail for some reason, the fallback protocol auto-activates to secure your connection. This way, you can always rest assured that your connection is secure.

hide.me offers an easy upgrade if you want to retain the option to select a server even after you’ve used up 10GB of data. The best value plan is the annual plan, which costs $3.84 per month.

However, if you don’t want to commit for the long term, you can start with the six-month plan costing per month or the monthly plan costing $9.95 per month. There’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee if you want to try the service.

Premium

• The 3-year plan comes with 3 extra months free.
• Unlimited GB
• 10
• Yes

5. PrivadoVPN

More details about PrivadoVPN:

• Pricing: Free, $4.99 per month (one-year plan)
• Provider website: privadovpn.com

Pros:

• 10GB of free monthly data
• Free servers in 10 countries
• Unblocks big streaming apps

Cons:

• Lacks advanced features

PrivadoVPN offers a generous data allowance on the free plan. You get 10GB of free data each month, which is great if you like to binge-watch occasionally. However, if you like to stream regularly, consider a free service with unlimited data, like ProtonVPN, instead.

Another reason you might consider PrivadoVPN is its speeds. While you will still notice your speeds go down, as with any VPN, you should still be able to stream comfortably in standard definition and play most gaming titles without audio or video lag.

The Windows interface looks sleek. By default, it’s docked above the taskbar, but you can convert it into a window if you want to prevent it from disappearing every time you click outside the interface.

The VPN encrypts your internet traffic with VPN protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, combined with AES-256 and ChaCha20. This means PrivadoVPN is a secure VPN, but we found a few concerning points in its privacy policy, as we explain in detail in our PrivadoVPN review.

Great Streaming Experience

Even though PrivadoVPN isn’t the fastest service around, it manages to unblock most streaming services, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. Very few VPNs, especially free ones, can get into all streaming websites effectively.

PrivadoVPN isn’t exactly cheap. The monthly plan costs $7.99, while the best value plan, the annual plan, costs $4.99 per month. Even at the best price, PrivadoVPN is more expensive than premium services like NordVPN. If you want to use PrivadoVPN before committing for the long-term, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee. If you don’t like the service, you can get a full refund.

Why Should I Use a Windows VPN?

Using a VPN on any device helps keep your data secure and the connection private. When using Windows, you might be transmitting sensitive information over the network. For example, you might log into your banking account or make payments using your credit card. A VPN encrypts this information before transmission, so no one can read it.

VPNs can also help you deal with an increasingly common problem — ISP throttling. When ISPs notice that you’re frequently using streaming services or downloading a lot of data, they might slow down your speed to prevent excessive data use.

VPNs can help you unblock geoblocked websites. If you’re trying to access another country’s content library on websites like Netflix, you’ll need to use a VPN.

What Are the Risks of Using a Free VPN for Windows?

Free VPNs, in most cases, are unreliable and slow. They can even, in extreme cases, be dangerous. Free VPNs still need to make money to survive, so many steal user data. In worse cases, they can infect your computer with ransomware.

Even when they’re safe, free VPNs tend to be slow and can’t unblock websites as effectively as paid VPNs because free servers generally have high server load and aren’t optimized for streaming.

While it’s difficult for free VPNs to match a premium platform in terms of reliability and performance, options like the ones we recommend on this list come close.

Final Thoughts

All things considered, Proton VPN is the best free VPN for Windows. It offers everything you’d want in a decent VPN service and unlimited data. However, you might find that a different service better suits your needs — like TunnelBear, if you want access to more server locations and don’t mind the low data allowance.

Have you used a free VPN before? Which one, and what was your experience like? Were you able to unblock your favorite streaming sites with it? Let us know in the comments below and, as always, thank you for reading.

Иллюстрация: Polina Vari для Skillbox Media

Филолог и технарь, пишет об IT так, что поймут даже новички. Коммерческий редактор, автор технических статей для vc.ru и «Хабра».

VPN-сервисы защищают конфиденциальную информацию пользователей и помогают получить доступ к заблокированным в определённой стране веб-сайтам. Всё это благодаря тому, что они способны менять геопозицию подключения, шифровать данные и анонимизировать трафик.

Выбрать подходящий VPN непросто, так как многие сервисы не работают в России или их премиум-функции невозможно оплатить из страны. В этой статье мы расскажем о быстрых, стабильных и бесплатных VPN-сервисах, которые работают в российском интернете:

1. iTop VPN — компаньон для развлечений
2. Bright VPN — 41 локация бесплатно
3. HideMy.name — проверенный годами
4. 4ebur.net — анонимный, российский
5. Whoer VPN — в Нидерланды бесплатно
6. ZoogVPN — выгодный и безопасный
7. Planet VPN — набирающий популярность
8. AdGuard VPN — качество и стабильность
9. Бонус: SoftEther VPN — IP вне чёрного списка

При бесплатном тарифе это обычный VPN, которые не отличается от других сервисов. Доступно 16 серверов в разных странах. Скорости соединения достаточно для потокового воспроизведения Full-HD-видео, но есть лимит ежедневного трафика — 700 МБ.

Покупка премиума даёт доступ к 1800 серверам по всему миру, в том числе к IP, предназначенным для подключения к зарубежным игровым серверам, социальным сетям и стриминговым сервисам. Поэтому они работают стабильно и быстро.

Особенность iTop VPN — функция анонимной загрузки по протоколу P2P, позволяющая обойти ограничения провайдеров на работу с торрентами. И конечно, премиум снимает лимиты на объём трафика и скорость соединения.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS

Работает в России: да

Оплата: Qiwi

• 6 месяцев — 29,99 доллара
• 2 года — 49,99 доллара
• 3 года — 55,99 доллара

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Bright VPN — бесплатный VPN с 41 локацией для подключения: среди них есть страны Европы, Северной и Южной Америки, Азиатско-Тихоокеанского региона и Ближнего Востока. Сервис подойдёт для геймеров, так как среди доступных стран есть Турция и Индия, популярные для онлайн-игр.

VPN работает стабильно и быстро. Но есть и недостаток — компания собирает данные о пользователях для продажи маркетинговым компаниям.

Платформы: Windows, LG Smart TV, расширения для браузеров Chrome, Opera, Edge и Firefox

Работает в России: да

Скачать приложение

Один из старейших VPN-сервисов — HideMy.name. Он работает уже 17 лет и пока что ловко уклоняется от попыток заблокировать его работу на территории России. Попробовать сервис можно с помощью триал-версии — доступа к премиум-функциям на 24 часа.

Серверы расположены в 15 странах и не имеют ограничений на скорость соединения. HideMy.name подойдёт как для чтения онлайн-медиа, так и для загрузки файлов на высокой скорости.

Платную подписку можно оформить без регистрации на сайте. При запросе пробного периода или после оплаты премиум-подписки на почту придёт код — аналог лицензионного ключа, который нужно ввести в приложении. Он используется вместо логина и пароля.

Подписка позволяет одновременно использовать VPN без ограничений на пяти устройствах. Если работа сервиса вас не устроит, то деньги можно вернуть в течение 30 дней после покупки.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, установка на роутер

Работает в России: да

Оплата: «Мир», Visa, MasterCard, СБП, Qiwi, «ЮMoney», криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 680 рублей
• 6 месяцев — 2340 рублей
• 1 год — 3240 рублей

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4ebur.net — VPN-приложение с русскоязычным интерфейсом и бесплатным доступом к пяти локациям. Скорость ограничена, но точных значений на сайте не указано. Мы протестировали VPN и выяснили, что его хватает для просмотра видео в онлайне в высоком качестве.

Сервис не собирает информацию о сессиях пользователя. Для авторизации вместо привычного логина и пароля используется сгенерированный ключ, что повышает анонимность использования.

Премиум открывает доступ к 30 локациям в разных странах без ограничений по скорости соединения.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, расширения для браузеров Chrome и Firefox

Работает в России: да

Оплата: «Мир», Visa, MasterCard, СБП, SteamPay, криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 488,54 рубля
• 6 месяцев — 2398,32 рубля
• 1 год — 3997,17 рубля

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Whoer VPN — отличный выбор, если вам нужен просто работающий VPN. При бесплатном тарифе доступно два сервера в Амстердаме. Это удобно для жителей России: благодаря территориальной близости Нидерландов при подключении к их серверам сохраняется низкий пинг и хорошая скорость соединения даже при ограничениях бесплатного тарифа.

Платная версия снимает ограничение скорости, открывает доступ к дополнительным серверам в 21 стране и позволяет использовать один аккаунт на пяти устройствах одновременно.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, , iOS, Linux, Android, расширения для браузеров Chrome, Opera, Firefox, «Яндекс», установка на роутер

Работает в России: да

Оплата: «Мир», Visa, MasterCard, Qiwi, «ЮMoney», криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 9,90 доллара
• 6 месяцев — 39 долларов
• 1 год — 46,90 доллара

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ZoogVPN — обычный VPN, не отличающийся от конкурентов. Бесплатный тариф предлагает доступ к пяти локациям и 10 ГБ трафика. Скорости соединения достаточно для просмотра Full-HD-видео на YouTube. В отличие от браузерного расширения, в десктопном клиенте бесплатный тариф ограничен трёхдневным пробным периодом.

Оплата премиума улучшает метод шифрования соединения с AES-128 до AES-256 и позволяет использовать аккаунт на неограниченном количестве устройств. Также для пользователя открывается доступ к тысячам IP-адресов, в том числе оптимизированных для просмотра потоковых видео с зарубежных развлекательных сервисов.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, установка на роутер

Работает в России: да

Оплата: Visa, MasterCard, Qiwi, UnionPay, криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 9,99 доллара
• 1 год — 35,99 доллара
• 2 года + 3 месяца в подарок — 47,76 доллара

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Planet VPN был создан недавно на базе проекта RusVPN. Сервис популярен благодаря стабильной работе и невысокой цене на премиум-тариф. На обычном тарифе доступно пять стран, а использование не требует регистрации.

Платная подписка включает 45 локаций и отдельные оптимизированные каналы для просмотра стриминговых площадок: Disney Plus, Netflix и других.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, браузерные расширения для браузеров Chrome, Opera, Edge, Firefox, «Яндекс», установка на роутеры, конфигурация для OpenVPN-клиента

Работает в России: да

Оплата: «Мир», Visa, MasterCard, Qiwi, криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 799 рублей
• 1 год — 3588 рублей
• 3 года + 1 год в подарок — 7632 рубля

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AdGuard VPN на бесплатном тарифе позволяет подключиться к девяти странам. Одно из преимуществ этого VPN — стабильная скорость соединения, позволяющая смотреть видео в высоком качестве, даже без премиума.

Объём трафика — 3 ГБ в месяц. Его можно увеличить за счёт выполнения заданий. Например, пригласив друга стать пользователем приложения.

Платный тариф снимает ограничения на скорость и даёт доступ к 60 локациям в разных странах.

Платформы: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, расширения для браузеров Chrome, Opera, Edge и Firefox

Работает в России: да

Оплата: «Мир», Visa, MasterCard, «Яндекс Pay», криптовалюты

• 1 месяц — 999 рублей
• 1 год — 3948 рублей

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Это открытый бесплатный проект свободного интернета от японского Университета Цукубы. Работает он просто — каждый желающий может стать волонтёром, предоставив пропускную способность своего соединения в качестве точки подключения.

Обычно крупные компании составляют чёрные списки IP VPN-сервисов, чтобы определять, действительно ли пользователь находится на территории той страны, из-под IP-адреса которой он посещает сервис. SoftEther VPN решает эту проблему, позволяя заходить на любые сайты с таким ограничением.

Официальный сайт проекта, на котором лежит сборка SoftEther с VPN-Gate-плагином, заблокирован в России. Чтобы попасть на него, можно воспользоваться любым VPN-сервисом из этой статьи.

Запустить SoftEther VPN непросто, так как подключение придётся настраивать вручную. Думаем, это оценят поклонники Linux.

Стоит сразу предупредить — не все точки подключения, доступные в плагине, заработают сразу. Поэтому при запуске отсортируйте список локаций по скорости и подключайтесь к самым быстрым из предложенных.

Работает в России: сайт проекта не работает, но VPN-сервис — да

Платформы: Windows, macOS, Linux

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Жизнь можно сделать лучше!
Освойте востребованную профессию, зарабатывайте больше и получайте от работы удовольствие. А мы поможем с трудоустройством и важными для работодателей навыками.
Посмотреть курсы

Протестировал несколько популярных VPN бесплатных и платных сервисов. Сформировали порядок по критериям: цена, скорость, количество устройств.

Что такое VPN

VPN — это технология, которая позволяет установить безопасное и приватное соединение между компьютером или мобильным устройством и Интернетом.При использовании VPN все передаваемые данные между вашим устройством и Интернетом защищены от шпионажа и перехвата.

VPN служит для различных целей: защита конфиденциальности интернет-трафика, обход интернет-ограничений, которые могут быть введены в стране, доступ к заблокированным сервисам.

Бесплатные VPN для телефонов и ПК

VPNTYPE — предлагает бесплатный ежемесячный лимит данных в размере 10 ГБ со скоростью до 50 мб/с. Подключение 15 стран и высокая скорость до 100 мб/с. Использование 10 устройств на одном тарифе. Услуга доступна по цене 99 рублей в месяц и не требует регистрации. Он совместим с macOS, Windows, iOS и Android. Подойдет для chatGPT, netflix, torrent, стриминга, соц сетей.

Hola VPN — платный план Hola Premium, который стоит $12.99/в месяц и $6.89 в месяц (при покупке годовой подписки). Бесплатный тариф Hola VPN поддерживается в Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS и расширениях браузера для Chrome и Firefox. Скорость до 94 мб/с на платном тарифе, бесплатный тариф до 10 мб/с. Подключить можно 3 устройства. Доступно 40 стран.

Speedify — Стандартный план стоит 9,99 долларов в месяц или 71,88 долларов в год, а план Премиум — 14,99 долларов в месяц или 107,88 долларов в год. Бесплатный план имеет ограничения 2 ГБ в месяц. Он работает на Windows, macOS, iOS и Android. Скорость до 50 мб/с на всех тарифах, Подключить не более 5 устройств. Доступно 50 стран.

Browsec — 590 рублей в месяц (доступ к 40 странам + 7 дней пробного периода) Бесплатная версия имеет некоторые ограничения, в том числе ограниченную скорость и доступ к ограниченному количеству серверов. Он поддерживает Windows, MacOS, Android и iOS, а также расширения для популярных браузеров, таких как Google Chrome и Mozilla Firefox. Скорость до 60 МБ/с. 40 стран для подключения и возможность подключить на 5 устройствах.

TunnelBear — предлагает бесплатный план с лимитом трафика 500 МБ в месяц и платные планы, начиная с 3,33 долларов в месяц за годовой план. Платные планы снимают ограничения трафика. TunnelBear доступен для Windows, Mac, Android, iOS и Linux с расширениями браузера для Chrome, Firefox и Opera. Подключение на 5 устройствах. Доступно 47 стран.

Windscribe — предлагает как бесплатную, так и платную версии. Бесплатная версия имеет лимит трафика 10 ГБ в месяц, в то время как платные планы начинаются с 4,08 долларов в месяц и предоставляют неограниченный трафик, 69 серверов, возможность использовать Windscribe на 5 устройствах одновременно и дополнительные функции, такие как защита от вредоносных программ. Он работает на Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS и расширениях браузера для Chrome, Firefox и Opera. Он также поддерживает маршрутизаторы. Скорость до 70 МБ/с.

ProtonVPN — имеет бесплатный план с ограниченной скоростью и доступом к серверам в нескольких странах, в то время как платные планы начинаются с 5 евро в месяц и предлагают высокую скорость до 90 МБ/с, доступ к 68 серверам и дополнительные функции, такие как Tor через VPN и Secure Core. Он доступен для Windows, MacOS, Linux, iOS и Android с расширением браузера для Chrome и Firefox. Можно подключить 10 устройств.

Hotspot Shield — платный тариф с 7,99 долларов в месяц, а бесплатная версия предлагает ограниченную скорость и доступ только к серверам в США. Он поддерживает Windows, Mac, iOS, Android и расширения браузера для Chrome и Firefox. 80 стран для использования, есть триал период 7 дней, доступно на 5 устройствах.

«Бобер» — предлагает бесплатный тариф с ограничением скорости 1 Мбит/с и подключением до 2 устройств одновременно. Платные планы стоят $3,99 в месяц, обеспечивая неограниченную скорость, возможность одновременного подключения до 7 устройств и более широкий выбор серверов. Он работает на Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android и iOS.

Hide — Бесплатный план дает доступ к ограниченному количеству серверов и 2 ГБ данных в месяц. Платные планы предлагают неограниченную пропускную способность, скорость до 80 мб/с и доступ к 500 серверов. Он поддерживает Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, маршрутизаторы и смарт-телевизоры. Можно подключить 10 устройств одновременно.

Psiphon — бесплатный план позволяет пользователям подключаться к ограниченному количеству серверов и имеет ограничение скорости 2 Мбит/с. Платные планы, начинающиеся с 4,99 долларов в месяц, предлагают более высокую скорость и доступ к большему количеству серверов. Он работает на нескольких платформах, включая Windows, macOS, iOS и Android, с расширением браузера для Chrome и Firefox.

Что делать если не работает VPN ?

— Включить/выключить авиарежим на телефоне или компьютере;
— Подключить к другой стране/серверу/протоколу;
— Изменить сеть для подключения (возможно провайдер может блокировать соединение);
— Подключить VPN на другом устройстве;
— Проверить оплачен ли интернет у провайдера;
— Проверить в настройках не идет ли соединение к другому VPN.

Заключение:

Все VPN примерно одинаковы по функциональности, основные задачи — это стабильная работа и хорошая скорость. Советую тестировать VPN на бесплатных серверах, а потом переходить на платные с небольшими платежами в месяц, так как множество VPN имеют свойства закрываться из за блокировок, а просят оплатить сразу на подписку на год.