The Free VPN Secrets No One Told You: Best Free and Paid VPN Services

The secret: one of the fastest “free VPN-like” tool many people don’t know is Cloudflare WARP—but it’s not a typical VPN.

Cloudflare WARP mainly encrypts your traffic between your device and Cloudflare’s network. It’s excellent for accessing blocked / geo-restricted content, basic protection on public Wi‑Fi and often feels fast, but it’s not designed for choosing countries or no-logs policies like traditional VPNs.

Quick Comparison Table

Tip: The table below only shows category and starting price. Full details (servers, devices, features, pros/cons, and download links) are listed further down.

In today’s interconnected world, online privacy and security have become more critical than ever. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are essential tools for safeguarding personal data, accessing geo-restricted content, and ensuring a secure browsing experience. With numerous VPN services available, both free and paid, choosing the right one can be daunting. This guide ranks and reviews the best VPN options to help you make an informed decision.

How to Choose the Right VPN (Fast Checklist)

1. Privacy: no-logs reputation, clear policies, and modern protocols.
2. Speed: WireGuard-based options are usually faster.
3. Countries/Servers: more coverage usually means better performance.
4. Devices: check simultaneous connection limits (important for families).
5. Streaming / P2P: not all VPNs are equal here.

Top Paid VPN Services

1) NordVPN

Official URL: nordvpn.com

Servers / Countries: ~8,800+ servers / ~129 countries
Devices: 10 simultaneous connections

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Key Features:

• Fast WireGuard-based protocol (NordLynx)
• Threat Protection / ad & tracker blocking (plan-dependent)
• Specialty servers: P2P, Double VPN, Onion over VPN (varies)

Pros

• Excellent speed and stability
• Strong privacy/security feature set
• Great for streaming + everyday use

Cons

• Cheapest price needs long-term plan
• Some features vary by platform/plan

2) Surfshark

Official URL: surfshark.com

Servers / Countries: 4500+ servers / 100 countries
Devices: Unlimited simultaneous connections

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Key Features:

• Unlimited devices (huge value for families)
• CleanWeb ad/tracker blocking
• Modern protocols + kill switch

Pros

• Best value for many devices
• Strong features for the price
• Good speeds for most use cases

Cons

• Lowest prices require long-term plan
• Some advanced features vary by plan

3) ExpressVPN

Official URL: expressvpn.com

Servers / Countries: 105 countries (170+ locations)
Devices: Plan-dependent (commonly 8–14)

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Key Features:

• Very beginner-friendly experience
• Often reliable for streaming
• Router support can cover many home devices

Pros

• Easy setup and stable apps
• Good streaming performance for many regions
• Strong reputation

Cons

• Usually more expensive than competitors
• Device limit depends on plan

4) Private Internet Access (PIA)

Official URL: privateinternetaccess.com

Servers / Countries: 91 countries
Devices: Unlimited

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Pros

• Highly customizable settings
• Unlimited devices

Cons

• Can feel complex for beginners
• Best performance needs some tuning

5) CyberGhost

Official URL: cyberghostvpn.com

Servers / Countries: ~9,900 servers / 100 countries
Devices: 7

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Pros

• Very beginner-friendly
• Streaming/torrenting server labels help a lot

Cons

• 7-device limit (not unlimited)
• Cheapest plans require long-term commitment

Best Free VPN Services

1) Proton VPN (Free)

Official URL: protonvpn.com/free-vpn

Free plan locations: US, NL, JP, RO, PL (may change)
Devices: 1 device at a time

Download apps: Proton VPN downloads

Pros

• Only major free VPN with unlimited data bandwidth
• Strong privacy reputation

Cons

• Limited locations/features on free tier
• Not great for streaming on free tier

2) Windscribe (Free)

Official URL: windscribe.com

Free plan: typically ~10GB/month (confirmed email)
Devices: Unlimited

Download apps: Windscribe downloads

Pros

• Feature-rich free plan
• Unlimited devices

Cons

• Monthly data cap
• Free locations limited

3) hide.me (Free)

Official URL: hide.me/en/free-vpn

Devices: 1 device at a time

Download apps: hide.me software downloads

Pros

• Reputable provider; simple setup

Cons

• Single-device free plan
• Free tier limits vary

4) TunnelBear (Free)

Official URL: tunnelbear.com

Devices: Unlimited

Download apps: TunnelBear downloads

Pros

• Very easy for beginners
• Unlimited devices

Cons

• Small data cap (2GB per month) on free plan

5) Hotspot Shield (Free)

Official URL: hotspotshield.com/free-vpn

Devices: 1

Download apps: Hotspot Shield downloads

Pros

• Quick short-term use

Cons

• Daily data cap + limitations

6) Cloudflare WARP (The “Secret”)

Official URL: one.one.one.one

Pros

• Access most geo-restricted content
• Fast encrypted tunnel for daily browsing
• Great for public Wi‑Fi safety

Cons

• Not a traditional VPN for choosing countries
• Not a full replacement for a paid VPN

Download apps:

• Windows
• macOS
• Android
• iOS

Free vs. Paid VPNs: Which One Should You Choose?

If you need basic browsing protection or occasional access to geo-restricted content, free VPNs can suffice. However, for consistent performance, robust security, and advanced features, investing in a paid VPN is worthwhile.