Free VPN or paid VPN? What you actually get

Published 1 October 2026 · Prices checked on the official pages on 29 September 2026, in the page currency, excluding local VAT.

A VPN costs money to run: servers, traffic, development. When you don't pay, someone has to cover the cost. That doesn't mean every free VPN is dangerous — but you need to know what you're choosing.

Free VPNs from well-known providers

Of the 15 providers in our comparator, 2 offer an official free plan:

• Proton VPN Free — 1 device. Details on the official site
• Windscribe Free — devices: see the official site. Details on the official site

Free plans usually have limits: fewer servers or countries, reduced speed, a traffic cap or a single device. The exact limits change often, so check them on the official page.

What to watch out for with unknown free VPNs

• The business model. If there is no paid plan, ask yourself how the app makes money: ads, selling data, something else? Read the privacy policy.
• No audit. A free VPN without an independent audit asks you to trust it blindly, even though all your traffic goes through its servers.
• App permissions. On your phone, look at what permissions it asks for. A VPN doesn't need your contacts or your photos.

What you get extra with a paid VPN

All locations and servers, more simultaneous devices, usually a money-back guarantee and, with many providers, a published independent audit. Some bundles also include extras: ad blocking, a password manager or antivirus. The lowest official monthly prices in the comparator, on 29 September 2026:

• FastestVPN: from 0.83 USD/month, 31-day guarantee. Official site affiliate link
• CyberGhost: from 2.03 USD/month, 45-day guarantee. Official site
• Private Internet Access: from 2.03 USD/month, 30-day guarantee. Official site

Note: the low monthly price usually comes with paying up front for 1–2 years. See what the renewal costs.

Conclusion

For occasional use (a public Wi-Fi network now and then), a free plan from a well-known provider that has a paid plan and an audit can be enough. For daily use on several devices, a paid plan with a guarantee gives you more control — and you can test it during the guarantee period.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a trustworthy free VPN?

Among the providers in our comparator, Proton VPN and Windscribe have an official free plan. Proton VPN also has a published independent audit (Securitum, 2026).

What limits does a free VPN have?

Usually fewer servers, limited speed or traffic and fewer devices. The exact limits change, so check the official page.