The best VPN free trials in 2024
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Whether you want to protect your digital privacy or unblock shows and movies from streaming services around the world, a VPN can help you out. However, thebest VPNsrequire you to invest in a subscription – and they’re sometimes pretty lengthy.
If you’d rather not make the commitment (or if you want to try out a few different providers), there’s a simple solution: VPN free trials. The TechRadar team has put dozens of services to the test to find which ones are worth your money – and which ones have the best free trials.
So, keep reading, and I’ll walk you through my top picks, and what makes them stand out in such a competitive market.
Top three VPN free trials at a glance
1.NordVPN- from $3.39 per monthThe best VPN for most peopleNordVPN’s free trial lets you play with a ton of features without spending a fortune. You’ll get tough encryption that’ll protect your personal data – and NordVPN is more than fast enough to keep up with 4K streaming, too. On that note, I had no trouble unblocking any streaming platform with NordVPN, which is good news if you’re looking for a new series to watch. Try NordVPN for yourself with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
2.Surfshark- from $2.19 per monthThe best cheap VPNSurfshark is a great pick for folks working with a budget or looking for a bargain. For a miniscule price, you get premium privacy tools that have your back whether you’re at home or using public Wi-Fi. I also like that Surfshark gives users unlimited simultaneous connections (it’s awesome value for money) and a huge network of servers around the world, which makes unblocking streaming content a breeze. Take Surfshark for a test drive with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3.ExpressVPN- from $6.67 per monthThe best VPN for beginnersExpressVPN is a sleek service that I often recommend to newbies. Getting set up only takes a few clicks, all the complicated configuration is handled for you, and connecting to a server is as easy as hitting a button. It’s more expensive than NordVPN – however, you can make good use of the provider’s 30-day money-back guarantee to sweeten the deal and see how it works for you.
In our latest update to this best VPN free trials guide, we’ve taken a moment to simplify everything for you, adding new infographics and condensing some of our data to help make your decision-making process easier. Plus, a new round of testing has taken place, which has seen Surfshark rise up our rankings to second position.
The best VPN free trials in 2024
Why you can trust TechRadarWe spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best.Find out more about how we test.
Here’s a more in depth look at our top picks for the best VPN free trials you can currently get your hands on. Remember, different VPNs suit different peoples needs better than others, so you might find it’s not the provider you expect that best suits your needs.
The best VPN with a free trial
1.NordVPN
The best, and quickest, VPN with a free trial
Free trial type:30-day money-back guarantee |Number of servers:6,100+ |Server locations:140+ |Maximum devices supported:10 |Works on:Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
✔️You want the fastest VPN around: NordVPN soared to the top of our speed charts during our latest round of testing.
✔️You’re looking for a built-in security suite: Ad blocking and malware protection tools come with your NordVPN subscription.
✔️You want real value for money: NordVPN comes with a full toolkit of features and customizable pricing, so only pay for what you’ll use.
❌A simple UI is a must: Exploring the NordVPN map interface is fun, but it’s not as intuitive as ExpressVPN’s streamlined apps.
❌Command line isn’t for you: While NordVPN can be used on Linux machines, the command line interface does lack navigability.
🔒NordVPNticks all the right boxes; it’s incredibly fast, has proven its commitment to user privacy with numerous audits, and unblocks a ton of streaming platforms. Take a look for yourself with its30-day money-back guarantee.
Our fullNordVPN reviewlooks in depth at the details of the service and its roster of privacy features.
NordVPN proves that finding a high-quality VPN service doesn’t have to break the bank. You get a lot of functionality in return for a very modest price—but, as you’d expect from our number one pick, you can try before you buy with a30-day money-back guarantee.
I’m consistently impressed by NordVPN’s all-in-one approach to security, as you’re getting more than just a VPN when you subscribe. Built-in ad blocking and antivirus protection keep your day-to-day browsing secure (and your personal details out of the hands of cybercriminals), and users on the Complete plan get access to a password manager, data breach scanner, and secure cloud storage.
One of the standout features of NordVPN is itsMeshnet, which allows users to create their own secure private network that covers up to 60 devices simultaneously. That’s great news if you plan on doing some file sharing, gaming, or virtual routing—and best of all, theMeshnet feature is now freefor everyone.
NordVPN has more than 6,100 servers to choose from—which is more than you’ll get from the likes of ExpressVPN. Plus, this expansive network means you won’t have trouble hopping digital borders to evade geo-blocks preventing you from checking out international content, or even government-imposed bans on social media platforms.
When it comes to customer support, NordVPN has never let me down. I’ve thrown even the most technical questions at its 24/7 live chat team and received timely, thorough answers. If you’d rather do troubleshooting yourself, you’ll be glad to learn that the NordVPN knowledge hub has plenty of tutorials on hand (and in multiple languages.)
The 30-day money-back guarantee isn’t a traditional free trial, seeing as you’ll need to pay for a plan first, but if you decide NordVPN isn’t for you, claiming your money back is a straightforward and fuss-free process. It’s well worth taking the month to trial NordVPN on your favorite devices, and see for yourself exactly why it tops our ranking.
The best cheap VPN free trial
2.Surfshark
Big features at a low price—and a handy 7-day free trial
Free trial type:7-day free trial (Android, iOS, macOS) and 30-day money back guarantee |Number of servers:3,200+ |Server locations:100+ |Maximum devices supported:Unlimited |Works on:Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
✔️You want the best budget VPN:Surfshark perfectly blends low prices with lots of features, unbelievable speeds, and a reliable network.
✔️You need the fastest VPN around:currently topping our charts with over 950 Mbps average speeds, Surfshark isn’t just fast, it’s faster than all of our top picks.
✔️You want a cheap security suite:much like NordVPN, Surfshark comes with an array of internet security tools to keep you safe.
❌You need a bulletproof kill switch:our testing showed some issues with Surfshark’s kill switch. If an accidental IP leak could put you in danger, we’d recommend ExpressVPN or NordVPN.
❌ You only want to torrent:while Surfshark supports torrenting on its service, you’ll see better results from the likes of Private Internet Access or ExpressVPN.
🔒Surfsharkoffers a budget-friendly security suite. With unparalleled speeds and unlimited simultaneous connections, see why it’s my favorite cheap VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our in-depthSurfshark VPN reviewand see why it’s also my #1 budget pick.
Surfshark is a VPN that proves you can have an affordable VPN that still delivers powerful features, with innovations being introduced all the time, including Surfshark Nexus and its IP Rotator.
This little gem offers a seven-day free trial, though it does require credit card details linked to yourGoogle Play Storeor App Store accounts. The trial is available onAndroid, iOS, and macOS devices (no luck for those after aWindows VPN).
It’s worth noting that while this will allow you to benefit from the Surfshark free trial, it will mean potentially missing out on the better rates when signing up directly through Surfshark’s website.
Still, you’ll also benefit from its30-day money-back guarantee, whether you sign up through the dedicated app store or on its website. On top of that, Surfshark offers a price that undercuts much of the competition, yet still crams in loads of security and geo-restriction unblocking powers. It’s much cheaper than ExpressVPN, significantly beats NordVPN, and the only cheaper services you’ll find are inferior in quality (takeIvacy VPNfor example).
Get access to over 3,200 servers across more than 100 locations and, unblock Netflix libraries worldwide, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and Japan. Speeds are faster than any other provider (WireGuard speeds maxed out my latest tests with over 950 Mbps).
Surfshark’s security is fierce thanks to its AES-256 encryption, plenty of encryption protocol customization, and a kill switch to prevent data leaking if your connection drops. Despite the complex sounding systems, the app is clear and easy to use, even for beginners.
With built-in antivirus, ad-blocking, data breach scanning, and even a new partnership with Incogni to automatically remove your data from databases, Surfshark offersa full online security suite. When combined, this makes Surfshark one of thebest cheap VPNoptions out there according to our in-depth reviews.
The best VPN free trial for beginners
3.ExpressVPN
The best user-experience around
Free trial type:30-day money-back guarantee |Number of servers:3,000+ |Server locations:160 |Maximum devices supported:8 |Works on:Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
✔️You want a VPN that you can set and forget:auto-connect functionality and a kill switch mean you connect once, and you’re always protected.
✔️You want lots of locations:ExpressVPN has over 160 locations worldwide to choose from, meaning you can unblock content no matter where you are.
✔️You need a VPN you can trust with your life:ExpressVPN’s regular audits and no-logs policy show its commitment to keeping you safe from oppressive regimes.
❌You’re on a strict budget:ExpressVPN is notably more expensive than other equally capable alternatives. If you’re working on a budget, I’d recommend looking at NordVPN or Surfshark.
❌ You want a Linux app:ExpressVPN only offers a command-line interface. If you need a graphical user interface (GUI), you should consider Surfshark, Proton VPN, or PIA.
🔒ExpressVPNis a show-stopper, constantly excelling in our rigorous testing. Try for yourself with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our in-depthExpressVPN reviewfor a closer look at the service, and see why it’s a worthy runner-up.
ExpressVPN is a feature-rich service that focuses on high-quality, intuitive apps that are as easy to use as they are reliable. With a 30-day no-quibbles refund, you can take it for a spin and see for yourself why it’s one of my favorite VPNs in 2024.
It offers industry-leading encryption, DNS content unblocking, a no-logs policy, a kill switch, P2P torrenting support, and leak protection. Together, this means you can trust ExpressVPN with your life, just like the thousands of journalists, activists, and political dissidents around the world who put their faith in the service.
ExpressVPN’s well-maintained server and IP list mean you’ll always be able to unblock content from anywhere in the world. I love that its customization options mean I can choose the encryption that’ll work best for whatever I need, whenever I need it.
The 24/7 customer support service we witnessed is a huge bonus, with helpful and knowledgeable agents who are always on hand to ensure you stay protected at all times. The only notable negative of the service is that you can only use ExpressVPN on five devices at one time. It’s still not bad (just fewer than the likes of NordVPN and Surfshark) and since you can set this up on the router, that helps bypass that issue at home.
While its30-day money-back guaranteedoesn’t offer a “true” free trial experience, it gives you ample time to see if it is the right VPN for you before claiming your money back. Plus, with the money-back guarantees offered throughout the industry, you can see how each VPN compares before committing to anyone in particular.
However, even when taking payment—which will be required upon signing up in the case of the ExpressVPN free trial—it favors anonymity and security. There are plenty of payment options available, including Bitcoin for increased privacy.
If you want to save money, you can get the bestExpressVPN pricesby signing up for a longer plan. If you subscribe to the 12-month plan, youget an extra 3 months of protection for free.
Other free trial VPNs I’ve tested and recommend
4.PrivadoVPN
The best free VPN in 2024
Free trial type:Free version |Number of servers:300+ |Server locations:60+ |Maximum devices supported:10 |Works on:Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
✔️You need a reliable free VPN:PrivadoVPN doesn’t hide its most important features behind a paywall like ProtonVPN, so you get a reliable service without spending a penny.
✔️You want to stream Netflix:a dedicated geo-unblocking team means that even free users benefit from reliable Netflix unblocking.
❌You want lots of server options:the free service has 13 locations, but it’s still incredibly limited, and the same can be said for the premium service compared to the likes of PIA and Surfshark.
❌You need more than 10 GB of data per month:PrivadoVPN’s free service has a data limit on its uncapped server speeds, but after that’s used up, you go into “over quota mode” where you’re limited to 1 Mbps. If you need unlimited data on a free VPN, I recommend Proton VPN.
🔒PrivadoVPNoffers a decent mid-tier premium service, but it’s hands-down the best free VPN on the market right now.
Check out our in-depthPrivadoVPN reviewand see why this free service is so good at unblocking Netflix.
PrivadoVPN currently tops our list as thebest free VPNthanks to its great speeds, reliable Netflix unblocking, and forever-free app. On a premium subscription, you get 10 simultaneous connections, a SOCKS5 Proxy to help unblock content in the most restricted countries, a zero-log policy, an ad-blocker, parental controls, and even a built-in antivirus to keep your device secure.
When it comes to PrivadoVPN’s free version, most of these features are locked behind the premium paywall. But you can still experienceplenty of functionality and customization on the free platform.
PrivadoVPN’s premium servers showed impressive 350 Mbps download speeds in our latest round of tests, these speeds are more than 10 times what you’ll need to stream in4K, play games online, and torrent seamlessly. It’s one of the few VPN providers that has full control over its own bandwidth and transit routes, so you get fantastic speeds and almost no server congestion—even on free servers.
Itseasy-to-use and reliable appsallow for plenty of customization. You can utilize one-click connections and a kill switch to make sure you’re always protected, even if your VPN connection drops.
PrivadoVPN has a dedicated geo-unblocking team, that constantly looks to bypass censorship and regional content restrictions. This isn’t restricted to just the premium servers, either. It’s one of the only free services that can reliably unblock Netflix, iPlayer, and Disney+.
The service has yet to verify its privacy credentials with an independent audit. Privado told us that it plans to pursue an audit as soon as possible, but it needs to make sure it’s offering the best service it can at all times—as an audit would mean shutting down all development until the audit was completed.
All in all, PrivadoVPN’s choice not to hide its WireGuard encryption behind a paywall shows its genuine commitment to giving the best experience possible to every user, whether they’re paying or not, which I love.
5.CyberGhost VPN
Super configurable VPN with a long money-back guarantee
Free trial type:24-hour free trial, 45-day money back guarantee |Number of servers:9,000+ |Server locations:115+ |Maximum devices supported:7 |Works on:Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux
✔️You need a budget VPN:under three dollars per month makes it an excellent cheap pick.
✔️You want more than a month to test it:CyberGhost VPN offers the longest money-back guarantee on the market at a spectacular 45 days.
❌You need a Disney Plus VPN:in our last round of testing, CyberGhost VPN struggled to unblock the popular streaming service.
❌You need in-depth support:while the customer support agents are friendly and helpful, CyberGhost’s support site lacks the depth we saw from services such as PIA, ExpressVPN, and NordVPN.
🔒CyberGhost VPNis a popular choice for beginners with easy-to-use apps and a whopping 45-day money-back guarantee.
Check out our in-depthCyberGhost VPN reviewto find out more about this popular VPN provider.
CyberGhost VPN’s server selection makes it one of our favorite VPN services for unblocking video content. Simply pick the service you want, be it US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, or another big player, and the VPN will select the best server to get you the ultimate performance.
Better still, when it comes to aCyberGhost free trial, you can put it to the test for 24 hours before you begin paying for it, with the trial now available on desktop and mobile.
With CyberGhost VPN, you can explore a whopping 9,000+ servers that span across more than 91 countries, all the usual clients, and an impressive live chat support service. You also get automated HTTPS redirection and optional data compression to keep you secure and save you money, respectively.
The device limitation is a bit of an annoyance, and at times it feels like the general user experience could do with some polishing up. For example, it’s strange that it doesn’t notify you when you connect or disconnect, and themobile VPN appsare somewhat underpowered compared to the full desktop versions. But overall, this is still a provider we rate highly.
Much like Surfshark, signing up through the Google Play Store or App Store on your Android or iOS device means you can benefit from a free trial. ForAppleusers, it’s a whole 7-days, while Android users are relegated to only a 3-day trial.
The money-back-guarantee lasts a fantastic 45 days,significantly more than the industry standard. But that doesn’t apply to its one-month sub, where the guarantee is reduced to 14 days.
TechRadar’s VPN rankings
Since there are likely plenty of VPNs you’ve heard of that aren’t on this list, it’s fair to wonder whether I’ve considered them. I consider any and all VPNs for my ranking, but only the best of the best make it onto the page in full. Here then are my current top fifteen VPNs we’ve tested, if a service you know hasn’t made this list, it doesn’t necessarily mean all is bad, just that there’s probably a better service out there.
What is the fastest VPN?
Want to know which provider gives the fastest speeds? Here are the latest speed test results from across the top VPN services:
VPN free trial FAQs
What is the difference between a VPN free trial and a money-back guarantee?
It’s commonplace for a VPN provider to offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, which many market as a free trial, including the best of the best like NordVPN. We want to be transparent, though, and point out this is not strictly a “true” free trial.
While a free trial means you won’t pay for that period of use, a money-back guarantee simply gives you the security that if you decide not to proceed with the VPN within that time frame, you’ll be fully refunded. The money therefore will leave your bank account and, if you do continue your VPN subscription, that first month will be paid for.
Are free trial VPNs safe?
Caution is always a good thing when it comes to freebies, especially when VPNs are involved. Completely free services certainly can have their drawbacks regarding the degree of security they can offer.
However, if you opt for any of the free VPN providers above, including PrivadoVPN, Proton VPN, or Hotspot Shield, you can rest assured that they are safe with TechRadar’s endorsement. Aside from the fact they have paid-for counterparts that ensure the funding of secure, strong infrastructure, we’ve also tried and tested them ourselves to ensure they’re the real deal.
Which VPN offers a free trial without entering card details?
For those who don’t want to enter their card details to make the most of a VPN with a free trial, there are several options.Proton VPN,PrivadoVPN, andHotspot Shieldall offer free plans that install straight onto your desktop, so you can protect your device without putting your payment information on the line.
What is a VPN?
Avirtual private network (VPN)is a cybersecurity tool used to encrypt your internet traffic and route your data through a secure server elsewhere in the world. In doing so, it protects your information from cybercriminals, hides your online activity from prying eyes, and lets you pretend to be anywhere you can think of.
With a VPN, you can unblock content in almost any country, access your favorite streaming services abroad, and even speed up your internet connection by preventing bandwidth throttling.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1.Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2.Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
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Andreas has been with TechRadar as Future PLC’s Editor-in-Chief of Tech Software since March 2023, supporting content and teams on VPNs, antivirus, and other cybersecurity tools. He’s previously written for and led content at ProPrivacy, Business2Community, and The Tech Report. After completing a Master of Research degree, Andreas fell in love with all things cybersecurity; combining his passions to help expose the prevalence of ad tech in the charity sector and raise awareness of digital privacy around the world.
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