Despite widespread awareness of digital vulnerabilities, our TechRadar survey reveals a startling trend: approximately 25% of respondents actively utilize free VPN services. This occurs even as experts consistently highlight significant associated dangers.
The core issue centers on privacy expectations. Virtual private networks primarily function by encrypting user connections and masking IP addresses—techniques designed to shield activities from surveillance and bypass regional content barriers. However, maintaining such infrastructure demands substantial investment in global server networks and advanced security protocols.
Free VPN providers face a critical challenge: sustaining operations without subscription revenue. Their solution often involves covert data exploitation. Users might encounter aggressive ad injections, which serve dual purposes—generating income and harvesting personal information. This directly contradicts the fundamental privacy objectives driving VPN adoption.
More alarmingly, some services deploy sophisticated tracking to monitor browsing habits. Collected data—ironically, the very details users seek to protect—may then be packaged and sold to third-party data aggregators. This practice transforms privacy tools into potential surveillance channels.
Performance compromises accompany these risks. Resource limitations inherent in free models typically result in slower speeds, unreliable connections, and restricted server access. Users essentially exchange both security and functionality for zero monetary cost—a perilous trade-off in an era of escalating cyber threats.
Free VPNs have repeatedly proven risky, and 2024 brought a notable spike in malicious “free” VPN applications that bundled malware with their installers. '\'
Research from Kaspersky revealed that many users who downloaded cost-free VPN apps also picked up harmful software, as attackers covertly turned infected devices into proxy nodes for larger cyberattacks. '\'
Security researcher Vasily Kolesnikov has warned that people often assume an app on official stores is harmless — and that a free label makes it even safer — but that assumption can be dangerous. '\'
Additional analysis published in April by the Tech Transparency Project found millions of free-VPN users unknowingly routing their data to servers in China. '\'
Apps such as Turbo VPN, VPN Proxy Master, Thunder VPN, Snap VPN and Signal Secure VPN were named in reporting that tied them to a sanctioned Shanghai-based company alleged to have military connections. '\'
Worryingly, many of those flagged apps remained available on Google Play and Apple’s App Store even weeks after the findings — an update from June 12, 2025 confirmed their continued presence. '\'
Beyond outright malicious behavior, free VPNs often come with functional trade-offs that hamper everyday use. '\'
Common limitations include small server fleets that can’t reliably unlock streaming libraries, lack of P2P support for torrenting, and strict bandwidth or time caps that curtail gaming, long streaming sessions, or heavy downloads. '\'
Free services may also rely on advertising, data collection, or other revenue models that compromise user privacy, making some “free” offerings more expensive in terms of personal information than a paid plan would be. '\'
How to reduce the risk: '\'
- Read the privacy policy carefully before installing — check what data the provider collects and whether it’s shared with third parties. '\'
- Prefer services that explicitly state a no-logs policy and, where possible, have undergone independent audits. '\'
- Consider jurisdiction: where the company is headquartered affects legal obligations and data-request practices. '\'
- Avoid VPNs that display intrusive ads, require excessive permissions, or have vague ownership or business-location details. '\'
If you want a free-tier option without as much risk, look for reputable freemium providers that limit features rather than monetize user data. '\'
TechRadar’s recommended free tiers that meet those criteria include PrivadoVPN Free, Proton VPN Free, Windscribe Free and Hide.me Free — each offers a restricted version of a paid service instead of turning to aggressive data monetization. '\'
In short: saving money with a free VPN can be tempting, but the potential privacy, security and functional downsides mean you should choose carefully or opt for a trusted freemium or paid plan.
If you want a reliable VPN, paid services remain the safest bet — our reviewers currently put NordVPN at the top thanks to its strong security suite, fast performance and broad server coverage.
Before subscribing, think about which features you actually need and whether any limits of a service will matter to you.
Free options can be surprisingly capable but usually come with compromises.
For instance, PrivadoVPN's free tier performed well in our tests for streaming and torrenting and offered steady speeds, but it limits you to a single device and caps high-speed data at 10 GB per month.
Proton VPN’s free plan is more generous on data — it provides unlimited usage plus key privacy tools and a reliable kill switch — yet it won’t let you pick specific servers (so don’t expect to unlock every Netflix region), lacks P2P support, and is also restricted to one device.
In short: top free services can work for many casual users, but you’ll need to accept trade-offs.
If you prefer a fuller feature set, budget-friendly paid VPNs are worth considering; at the time of writing Surfshark is leading the cheap-VPN list with plans starting around $2.19 per month.
NordVPN, our overall favorite, is also running a limited-time sale right now — including discounts of up to 76% and an opportunity to receive an Amazon gift card with certain purchases — so it’s worth checking current deals before you decide.
Disclaimer: we test and recommend VPNs for lawful, legitimate uses only, such as accessing services available in other countries (subject to those services’ terms) and enhancing privacy and security while online. We do not endorse illegal or malicious activities, including unauthorized consumption of paid pirated content.
Related headlines:
• “Emergency requests are on the rise” — major tech firms increasingly compelled to hand over user data to authorities worldwide
• Telegram denies claims linking it to Russian intelligence
• Windscribe’s CEO raises concerns about global pressures facing no‑log VPN providers
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