Free items usually have a catch. That’s particularly true of VPNs, who often restrict the use of data and speed to lure users to paid plans. Some VPN providers are known to harvest bandwidth and sell it to anyone who needs it.

A reliable VPN will offer high-quality encryption, fast speed and a wealth of advanced features that aren’t offered in the free level. It should be simple find out here to use and have no strict restrictions that could hinder your everyday internet activities like streaming, downloading and videoconferencing.

The best free vpn providers should also have a solid track record with flawless privacy practices and be based outside of the Fourteen Eyes Alliance. The ideal scenario is that they will be backed up by a generous guarantee of refund.

Some of the most highly-respected and widely used free VPN services are Proton VPN, Windscribe and TunnelBear. Proton VPN offers a free plan with no restrictions or limitations. It has decent speeds, access to three countries and offers powerful malware and ad blocking as well as streaming and P2P support.

Windscribe is a completely free VPN that offers 10GB of data per month with excellent performance and plenty of advanced options. Its apps are also incredibly well-engineered and packed with useful tweaks, tools and technologies and has already topped my free VPN speed tests, beating several fully fee-based rivals.