Olivia Grant
Olivia is passionate about digital freedom, a coffee lover who enjoys exploring new cities. She’s dedicated to making the internet a safer place, one article at a time.
Free VPNs promise privacy and access without a price tag—but are they too good to be true? Let’s dive into the benefits, drawbacks, and risks of using free VPNs in 2025, and see how they stack up against paid options.
Free VPNs are services that offer basic VPN functionality at no cost. Popular names include ProtonVPN Free, Windscribe Free, and TunnelBear Free. But as the saying goes, “If it’s free, you’re the product.”
Not all free VPNs are safe. Studies (e.g., CSIRO 2023) found:
| Aspect | Free VPNs | Paid VPNs (e.g., Surfshark) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $0 | $2.19/month |
| Speed | 10-100 Mbps | Up to 950 Mbps |
| Data | Limited (e.g., 10 GB) | Unlimited |
| Privacy | Risky (some log data) | No-logs audited |
Free VPNs are fine for casual browsing, but for streaming, gaming, or serious privacy, they fall short. A budget-friendly paid VPN like Surfshark ($2.19/month) offers far more value. Compare top options in our NordVPN vs Surfshark guide.
Olivia is passionate about digital freedom, a coffee lover who enjoys exploring new cities. She’s dedicated to making the internet a safer place, one article at a time.
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