7 Best VPN Services with Free Trial (100% Risk-Free)
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) allows you to use the internet more securely using an encrypted connection. For most VPN providers, if you want to use their secure server network, you will be required to pay a monthly fee.
Do you want to try a VPN without committing to these monthly fees? There are various VPN providers available that offer a connection for free. One thing you should note is that not all VPNs are equal. Some have limited features that can be frustrating.
In this article, we will show you the best VPN free trials with all the necessary features to use the internet more securely.
Best VPN with Free Trial Comparison
1. ExpressVPN
One of the Safest and Fastest VPNs Around
ExpressVPN is a user-friendly, fast, and highly secure virtual private network that you can set up for any device, including Android, Mac, Windows, iOS, and routers. It has features that allow you to stream in HD or download anything you want with no restrictions.
All you need to do to set up this VPN is install the app and connect the device to a secure server. You do not require any tech skills to use it. This VPN ensures that your online activity will not be tracked. ExpressVPN uses AES-256 bit keys encryption to secure your data from hackers.
You have access to more than 145 VPN locations in 94 countries, no matter where you are. You can switch as you like with no limits. With its advanced Kill Switch option, you can automatically stop incoming and outgoing traffic if the VPN is turned off.
No DNS from other parties involved in running its operations. There are real humans available via chat and email to attend to customers’ queries. When using public Wi-Fi, ExpressVPN is pretty essential. With this VPN, you can set up a torrent client which allows for peer-to-peer file sharing.
Pricing
All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and include every feature. ExpressVPN offers three pricing plans. The month-to-month payment will cost you $12.95. If you pay every six months, the cost will reduce to $9.99 per month.
The most popular plan is the 12-month plan, which allows you to save 35%. You get to pay $8.32 per month.
2. Surfshark
The Best-value VPN with High Level of Unblocking Power
Surfshark allows you to protect as many devices as you want. Its network has over 3200 servers distributed across over 160 locations in 65 counties. This VPN has a strict no-logs policy, which means that they do not monitor, track, or store what you do online.
It is available for Mac, Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS. This VPN with a free trial gave the power to unblock US Netflix and 25 different Netflix libraries from around the world. With its strong industry-leading AES-256-GCM encryption, you are sure that your data is secure, both at home and on public Wi-Fi.
Using its Kill Switch feature, your activities and sensitive data are never exposed. It is a safety net in case your VPN connection drops. You can put it on camouflage mode such that not even your network provider can tell that you are using a VPN.
When you put Surfshark in the NoBorders mode, you will be able to use the VPN everywhere you are. You can change your IP address to the one that cannot be connected to your digital identity. The default protocol on all its apps is IKEv2/IPsec.
With its multihop feature, you can route traffic through multiple servers, like running two VPNs at once. This is for folks who need an additional layer of security. It offers 24/7 expert customer support.
Pricing
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial period on mobile to check out its features before committing. It also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay $12.95 for a month-to-month subscription. Save up to 81% for the 24-month plan and pay $2.49 per month. This plan includes the most significant savings.
For the 6-month plan, you get to pay $6.49 per month.
3. Hotspot Shield
One of the Few VPNs that Offer a Free Subscription Tier
Hotspot Shield is a popular VPN service with multiple servers in over 80 countries. Its unique Catapult Hydra protocol feature maximizes speed without sacrificing security. This VPN offers fast speed and unblocks popular streaming sites.
It offers user-friendly dedicated apps, peer-to-peer support, and 24/7 live chat support. This free VPN allows torrenting on all servers and all device platforms. Hotspot Shield masks your IP address and hides your P2P activity from your ISP.
One great thing about this VPN is that it does not keep usage logs of your online activity. It is supported by Mac, Windows, iOS, Chrome, and Android. Hotspot Shield has a Kill Switch software tool that will automatically shut down your internet if you lose connection to a VPN server.
Their standard encryption when using this VPN is 128-bit AES encryption, but they also support 256-bit AES encryption.
Pricing
HotSpot Shield offers three pricing plans. The Basic plan is the free plan. For ultra-fast VPN and three security apps, you can get the Premium plan, which costs 7.99€ per month.
The Premium Family plan is ideal for the whole family. You get five-member accounts and can connect 25 devices. It costs 11.99€ per month. This VPN offers a 7-day free trial period. All plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee.
4. NordVPN
A Cheap VPN With Amazing Features
NordVPN offers a vast global network of servers and unblocks hundreds of streaming platforms. With its lightning-fast speeds, you can carry out bufferless streaming, torrenting with little wait time, and lag-free gameplay. This VPN’s fast speed is because it automatically connects to the fastest possible server available.
It has a no-log policy and military-grade encryption. Their unbeatable AES-256-bit encryption ensures that you do not have third parties snooping into your business. You can unblock over 400 streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video. This VPN allows you to protect up to six devices.
With its CyberSec feature enabled, you can avoid annoying ads and block dangerous websites. Users can keep their browsing history to themselves for privacy. This software is supported by devices, including Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, Android TV. Chrome, Android, and Firefox.
This cheap VPN has over 5,000 servers in 62 countries, and this means that you can stream without experiencing any form of lag. NordVPN offers 24/7 customer support, so you are not left in the dark as a customer.
When your internet restarts while you are doing something sensitive online, you do not have to worry about your data getting compromised because NordVPN has this Kill Switch feature that blocks your internet as soon as it disconnects and keeps your data protected.
You can activate auto-connect on this VPN so that each time you come online, you are automatically protected. And you don’t have to turn it on yourself every single time.
Pricing
NordVPN offers three plans. The exclusive plan comes with a 69% discount plus three months for free. This is a 2-year plan, and it costs $3.67 per month. The 1-year plan costs $4.92 per month. This plan gives you a 58% discount.
The 1-month plan costs $11.95 per month. You get a 30-day free trial period on the 2-year plan to try out its features before committing. If its features are not okay with you, NordVPN will refund you.
5. ProtonVPN
A Free VPN With Unlimited Bandwidth
ProtonVPN has the combination of unlimited bandwidth and special P2P servers, making it an excellent VPN for torrenting. It has annual transparency reports to back up its no-logs policy. All your network traffic is encrypted with AES-256, key exchange is done with 4096-bit RSA, and message authentication is done with HMAC with SHA384.
Internet Key Exchange Version 2 (IKEV2) is a VPN protocol used by ProtonVPN to automatically re-establish your connection with your VPN after being disconnected from the internet. Your connection speed is based on the plan you subscribe to. The free plan will surely be slower than the paid plans.
It has a built-in Kill Switch feature and the Always-on VPN feature so that in the event where you lose connection with the VPN server, the Kill Switch blocks all network traffic, and the Always-on automatically restores the connection to the server. These features do not let your privacy get compromised.
Pricing
ProtonVPN offers a free plan which allows you to try out most of its features without spending a penny and also has a 30-day money-back guarantee on its paid plan. Beyond the free version, this VPN provides three pricing tiers.
With this free plan, you can access 23 servers in 3 countries. You get 1 VPN connection and a medium speed. It also offers a 7-day free trial period where you can try out advanced features before committing.
The Basic plan costs 4€ per month. With this plan, you get over 350 servers in over 40 countries. The best offer that ProtonVPN provides is the Plus plan. It costs 8€ per month. You get over 1200 servers in 55 countries with 10 VPN connections.
The Visionary plan costs 24€ per month. This plan offers you everything in the Plus plan, plus you get to own a ProtonMail Visionary account.
6. CyberGhost
The Best VPN for Mac Devices
CyberGhost VPN allows you to hide your IP address with just one click and replace it with one from their network. You can spoof your location, thereby making it impossible for websites to track your online activity.
Users can connect to over 7200 servers in more than 91 countries. This VPN ensures that you stay anonymous, wherever you are. It allows you to bypass any geo-restrictions and access blocked websites no matter the part of the world that you are in.
In CyberGhost VPN apps, you can find servers optimized for torrenting. It reroutes your P2P traffic through an encrypted tunnel. This fast VPN is supported by Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. CyberGhost uses the most advanced data encryption system, the 256-bit-AES encryption.
You can contact this VPN via email or chat as they offer 24/7 live chat support. With CyberGhost VPN, you can connect to public Wi-Fi with complete peace of mind. One subscription allows you to secure your data on up to 7 devices simultaneously.
Pricing
CyberGhost offers three pricing plans. The one-month plan costs $12.99 per month. This plan provides you a 14-day money-back guarantee to try out its features if you are satisfied with what the VPN offers.
With the two-year plan, you get to save 83% of the total cost. You get a 2-month free trial period to use this VPN. The cost is $2.25 per month. The six months plan costs $6.39 per month, and you get a 45-day money-back guarantee.
The two-year plan offers you a 45-day money-back guarantee to enable you enough time to try out the app and see if it’s right for you.
7. ZenMate
One of the Most Reliable VPN Services Available
ZenMate VPN offers you remote servers from over 79 countries all over the world. Your IP address is replaced by one from their servers when you connect to their servers. They follow a strict zero-logs policy and do not keep any data on their user.
Its Kill Switch feature allows you to stay protected and anonymous online. If Your VPN connection drops, this VPN automatically shuts down your internet connection so that your vital data is not exposed at any time. This VPN is available on all operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It supports browsers such as Opera, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome.
The user interface is excellent, whether you are a new user or have used it for a long time. The app is highly secure and barely affects your internet speed. They offer special servers for unblocking geo-restrictions and also for downloading.
ZenMate offers military-grade encryption, that is, the AES-256 encryption. Its browser extensions use AES-128 encryption rather than 256. Customer support is reliable and is via email.
Pricing
Zenmate offers a 7-day free trial period when you can try out its features before committing. It has three plans. The one-month plan costs $10.99 per month. Their best value plan is the three years plan which costs $1.64 per month. With this plan, you get to save 85% and get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
With the one-year plan, you can save up to 59%. It costs $4.49 per month.
Tips on How to Choose the Best VPN Free Trial
There are a lot of free trial VPNs out there, but you have to go for the one that is more relevant to your personal needs. Here are a few things you should look out for before choosing a free trial VPN.
1. No Limitations
When choosing a free trial VPN, you should be able to select the one that gives you access to all the premium features. There should be no limitations. You want to have a good feel of what the premium version is like. However, you should choose a VPN that has the selection of features that you need.
One important feature that you should look out for is the Kill Switch. This feature ensures that even if your internet goes off, your data still stays secure from prying eyes.
2. Payment Information
You should be able to choose a free trial VPN that does not require any payment information. Choosing a free trial that involves putting down your credit card details will mean you are getting charged if you forget to cancel the subscription before it expires.
3. Extended Free Trial Period
Look out for an extended free trial period to avail you of enough time to test. The longer the free trial period, the better you can try out all its features and decide the right VPN for you.
4. Customer Support
Customer support is the pillar of every business. You should go for a free trial with excellent customer support because they will surely come in handy one day, and you would not want to be stranded. The VPN should come with 24/7 customer support. VPNs that offer live chat are preferable because email and tickets can take long hours before you get a response.
5. Money-back Guarantee
Ensure that the free trial VPN you are hopping on has a money-back guarantee. You do not want to get stuck with a product that you do not want. Various VPNs offer a specified time to get your money back if you do not like the product. Those are the ones you should try out before committing.
What About Free VPNs?
A VPN creates an encrypted connection between your computer and a server controlled by the VPN company. If your reason for having a VPN is just for security, then any free VPN will do the magic.
You will not pay for free VPNs; however, they may be turning their profit in another way, usually with invasive advertising or by selling your data to third parties. Also, they limit your speed and the amount of data you can use.
While free VPNs will give you basic features, they might not be the best in the long run because of their limitations. You are limited to the number of servers you can connect to, the number of devices you can connect to, and the amount of time you can use the VPN for.
However, not all free VPNs are limited. The most important thing to pay attention to when choosing a VPN is its level of security.
VPN Free Trial FAQ
A free VPN trial is a period a VPN provider gives its users to try out their advanced features for free to decide if it is suitable for them or not. The length of time given varies for various VPN services. However, it ranges from seven days to two months.
This free trial differs from the free plan in that you are allowed access to advanced features which only the paid plan gives you. The free VPN plan is quite limited and lacks many unique features that you require to stay invincible online.
You still have to pay for the subscription period upfront, but then you have a length of time during which you can cancel your plan and ask for a refund at any time.
VPN providers have noticed that you may be wary of signing up for their service and fully committing as a newbie. A free trial gives users enough time to give the service a shot for free to get a feel of its capabilities
It’s good customer service if you allow newbies to do this to test if your service is a good fit for them or not. This is not a way for service providers to rope you in and steal your money. It is a lead generation marketing strategy to capture important details for email newsletters.
It depends as some free companies may take your data and sell it to third-party companies or infect you with viruses through your personal info that they have stolen. Free-trial VPNs are safe to use because they give you the exact same features that the paid version will give you. Only that it spans for a short time.
So long you are using reputable VPN providers, your data is safe.
ZenMate, SurfShark, HotSpot Shield, and ProtonVPN offer 7-day free trial periods. CyberGhost provides you a 2-month free trial period on its 2-year plan. With NordVPN, you get a 30-day free trial period.
Some VPNs let you use a free trial without a credit card while others do not. You should read the fine print before starting a free trial. The best free trials will only request an email address with no credit card information.
ExpressVPN, ZenMate, and CyberGhost will not ask for your credit card details.
The greatest limitation of using a free trial VPN is that you get to use it for a limited period. After that short time that you were given access, you get to pay if you still want access to those unique features.
Another limitation is that it could have slower speeds because you are restricted to a smaller pool of servers. Also, there are specific features that you cannot have access to unless you apply for a paid subscription.
To avoid limitations, a money-back guarantee is preferable so that you can test the VPNs full features for a more extended period.
Get the Best VPN Free Trial Today
VPNs are a great way to keep your information from being sold to advertisers by your ISP. Every free trial differs for each VPN service. Some of them come with a lot more restrictions than others. You have to make sure that the decision you make is the right one for you.
ExpressVPN is a top-notch VPN because it is super fast, secure, offers world-class security features, and unblocks many streaming services. CyberGhost gives you more than enough time, about two months to try out its features for free before committing, and offers you a 45-day money-back guarantee.
SurfShark offers you unlimited device connections. It allows you to protect as many devices as you want. All the VPNs outlined in this article have a Kill Switch feature that blocks your internet and enables you to stay protected even when you get disconnected from your internet.
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Martin Luenendonk
Martin loves entrepreneurship and has helped dozens of entrepreneurs by validating the business idea, finding scalable customer acquisition channels, and building a data-driven organization. During his time working in investment banking, tech startups, and industry-leading companies he gained extensive knowledge in using different software tools to optimize business processes.
This insights and his love for researching SaaS products enables him to provide in-depth, fact-based software reviews to enable software buyers make better decisions.