A VPN or virtual private network allows you to send and receive information over the Internet with a higher level of security and anonymity. The VPN protects your online privacy by allocating you an anonymous IP address in a different country or location. There are many other benefits of VPNs besides protecting your privacy.
When you connect to the Internet via a VPN, your computer, smart TV, or mobile device contacts the websites you visit through an encrypted connection hiding your real IP address and location. This allows you to access sites that are geo-restricted in your region. With a good VPN, you can easily bypass geo-restricted online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu by routing your traffic through another country.
Best Free VPN Services
So, what are the best free VPN services? Here are our top 5 picks of the best free VPNs.
1. Proxy Master VPN
There must be a good reason why the Proxy Master VPN service currently enjoys a huge user base of close to 60 million active accounts. It is one of the most popular VPN services on both the App Store and Google Play Store in 2020. Compared to other free VPNs, Proxy Master has the best rating and reviews on both platforms.
Proxy VPN has both free and paid versions. Naturally, the free version is rather limited in terms of features and access to some servers. However, you can still stream Netflix videos from some locations that are probably restricted in your region using Proxy Master VPN. Unlike most free VPNs, Proxy Master doesn’t have bandwidth restrictions, which means you can use it as much as you want without breaks. The VPN is also comparatively faster than most free VPNs. It has download speeds of up to 16Mbps, which allows you to stream content without buffering.
However, the free version of Proxy Master VPN displays ads as a way of sustaining the free service. If you want to get rid of the annoying ads, you’ll have to upgrade to a VIP paid version. Just like other free VPN services, the free version of Proxy Master has its own share of downsides but is still one of the best options for those who want to test the service before buying a package.
Pros:
- Data encryption using OpenVPN security protocol
- Gives you unlimited bandwidth
- No-logs policy
- The free version doesn’t require registration
- Compatible with both iOS and Android
- Can unblock Netflix
Cons:
- No support for P2P streaming and BitTorrent
- Doesn’t work in China
- Lacks a kill switch
- A lot of ads
2. SecureVPN
Launched in June 2015, SecureVPN is another good VPN service with a free version. It is owned by a US-based company, SecureVPN Inc. As of 2020, the VPN service has 5 servers spread across 5 countries, which gives you a wider range of locations to connect from. It is easy to install and use, allows torrenting, and is comparatively more secure than other free options. Their customer service is also top-notch.
One of the best things about Secure VPN is their well-built and easy-to-use platform. It is designed for both new and advanced users of VPN. They also claim to have a zero-log policy and tight security but for the paid version the claim is rather doubtful.
The biggest downside of SecureVPN is their lousy speed of an average of 1.8Mbps which cause lengthy buffering and poor streaming quality. They also don’t give you access to Netflix USA. The VPN does not offer a dedicated client for free users but instead allows you to download and install third-party software to use their services. Some tests have also reported DNS leaks. They also have limited payment options in case you want to upgrade to a paid plan.
Pros:
- Excellent customer service
- Affordable plans if you want to upgrade to a paid plan
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Lousy speed
- DNS leaks
- Uses 3rd party software
- No client
- Low-quality encryption
3. Touch VPN
As a new player in the VPN industry, Touch VPN offers another relatively good free version without paid subscriptions. It has comparatively faster speeds of an average 27Mbps. It is also easy to download and install on both iOS and Android platforms. However, it is rather problematic on Windows. The VPN allows you to connect to US servers if you are outside the United States and access some restricted services but as a fully free VPN service, it is rather limited in terms of features.
Pros:
- Completely free
- Easy to use
- Good speed
- No bandwidth limitation
Cons:
- You need manual configuration for Windows client
- It doesn’t work with Mac
- Fewer servers
- Not a zero-log service, they keep some logs
- Email support only
4. Turbo VPN
This is another good option for those seeking for the best free VPN services 2020 has to offer. The China-based VPN can help you unlock most geo-restricted services outside the US but lacks features and performance required by more demanding users of VPN. However, Turbo VPN is quite popular with over 50 million downloads across the world. They also use the best OpenVPN tunneling protocol. Their speeds, however, leave a lot to be desired with an average speed of 4.8Mbps according to several users’ tests.
Pros:
- Free VPN with unlimited bandwidth
- Can unblock Netflix
- Gives you 9 locations
Cons:
- Lousy speeds
- It only works with mobile devices
- Not easy to configure
5. Ultimate VPN
Ultimate VPN provides good services free of charge but with severe limitations in terms of features. It has a nice easy-to-use interface and relatively better speeds than most free VPNs at an average of 22Mbps download speeds according to tests done by several users. You can also use Ultimate VPN to unlock TV services restricted to the US if you are outside the United States. It has decent security too.
Pros:
- Decent speeds
- Can use multiple devices
- Free version
Cons:
- Doesn’t provide access to US Netflix
- Limited servers
- Unclear privacy policy
Conclusion
A VPN is an effective tool when you want to browse the net anonymously but to ensure maximum privacy you need to use a VPN service that doesn’t store online logs. A real no-log VPN will protect you from government surveillance and ensure that your internet service provider doesn’t know which sites you regularly visit. A good VPN service should also have servers with sufficient protection from malware and viruses.
However, not all best free VPN services are created equal. They come with different features, functionalities, and prices. Some of these free VPNs provide excellent service but one thing they have in common is some form of limitation. To encourage you to upgrade to a paid plan, most free VPNs limit you to just a few features, a few connections, and just one or two devices for each account you have. There are others that limit your data bandwidth per day or month or restrict access to just a few servers. You should also be prepared to see an endless stream of ads when you use free VPNs.
More importantly, keep in mind that they are likely to sell your personal data to other companies which kills the entire idea of privacy and anonymity.
That is why we don’t recommend using free VPNs.
What we recommend is to use a quality VPN service like IPVanish to protect your online activity and keep your anonymity.
Let us know in the comments down below what type of VPN service you use! We look forward to hearing your opinion.
