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Free VPN: free plans, limits, and trials compared
Yes, free VPN plans exist: 3 of the 13 providers in this archive name a free plan: Proton VPN, Windscribe, and hide.me. Below are their limits, the companies behind them, and what our measurements show; then free trials and money-back periods.
Providers with a free plan
The providers also sell paid plans. The limits are taken from their own pages and are not tested here.1
| Provider | Limits named by the provider | Paid plan from, per month | Money back | Home page: advertising or analytics2 | Measured locations that match their country3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Proton VPN | 1 device at a time, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed, no data limit. Source | $3.49 | 30 days | no advertising or analytics | not measurable |
 Windscribe | 10 GB of data per month once you sign up and confirm your email. Source | $5.75 | not recorded | no advertising or analytics | 135 of 199 |
 hide.me | Unlimited data, restricted speeds, 8 locations, 1 connection at a time. Source | not collected | not recorded | no advertising or analytics | 58 of 64 |
Limits as the pricing pages stated them on October 17, 2026.4
Who runs the free plans
A free plan has to be paid for somehow: by the provider's paying customers or in other ways. These are the companies behind the free plans here, as the providers' own pages name them.
| Provider | Company | Based in | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proton VPN | Proton AG |  Switzerland | Proton Foundation (primary shareholder) |
| Windscribe | Windscribe Limited |  Canada | not recorded |
| hide.me | eVenture Ltd |  Malaysia | not recorded |
Checked on Oct 17, 2026.4
Free VPN apps by device: iPhone, Android, PC, Mac, and TV
Free trial
Pricing pages that mention a free trial: Surfshark. A trial gives you the paid plan for a short time; how long, and whether you need to enter payment details, is up to the provider.
No free plan: test a paid plan with a money-back period
Most providers have no free plan and promise a refund instead: you pay first and can cancel within a set number of days. 5 of the 8 pricing pages here that name a period promise 30 days or more.
Money-back periods of all providersWhat a free plan and a free trial are
Questions about free VPNs
Is there a 100% free VPN?
Yes. According to their pricing pages, Proton VPN and Windscribe offer a free plan. Unlike a free trial, a free plan does not end after a few days, but it has limits, such as one device, fewer countries, or lower speed.
Which VPN has a free trial?
Of the pricing pages this archive reads, these mention a free trial: Surfshark. A trial gives you the paid plan for a short time; the provider decides how long it lasts.
Are free VPNs safe?
This site does not test apps, so it cannot say how safe a VPN app is. Before you install a free VPN, check who runs it and how the free plan is paid for. None of the home pages of the providers with a free plan here loads advertising or analytics services on a first visit. Company seats: Proton VPN (Switzerland) and Windscribe (Canada).
What is the difference between a free plan, a free trial, and a money-back guarantee?
A free plan costs nothing and has no end date, but it comes with limits. A free trial lets you use the paid plan for a short time. With a money-back guarantee, you pay first and can ask for a refund within a set number of days. Pricing pages here that promise 30 days or more: 5 of the 8 that name a period.
Which free VPN is the best?
This site does not rank free plans. Compare the limits each provider names in the table above, and see its review page for its measurements, its home page, and who is behind it.
Is a free VPN safe? Free plans, trials, and refundsVPN prices comparedFind a VPN that fits you
Guides for this page
As of October 19, 2026.