Are you an individual, and site blocking on the Internet is frustrating you? Unable to watch your favorite movies on Netflix or access torrent? Want to bypass the geographical restrictions on websites to access free music and games? Or are you into business? Wish to keep your data threat-proof from hackers? Want to prevent suspicious parties from tracking your web transactions?
If yes, then this blog is a must-read for you. Scroll below to find a way out to all the hassles, as mentioned earlier, and know more about VPNs…
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) changes your IP address and gives you anonymity on the Internet, secures your connection, and gives access to geo-restricted websites such as 192.168.0.1 & many more. A VPN will automatically disguise your IP address every time you connect to the Internet. An interesting fact is that they are totally legal in most parts of the world – excluding China and Russia! Here are some significant advantages of installing a VPN on your device –
- When you browse the Internet, data logs are generated that can be tracked and accessed by Internet service providers (ISP), security threat actors, etc. for information gathering. Switching to a VPN will not collect your data logs.
- As your device connects to a VPN server, it will be sent through an encrypted tunnel that prevents outside users from examining your data. By encrypting your business data, a VPN ensures that unauthorized users cannot see your private data even if they access it.
- VPN breaks through regional restrictions, allowing its users to enjoy the freedom of visiting sites in one go, accessing P2P services, and using VoIP apps and IM tools.
With free VPNs becoming so popular these days, it’s challenging to find the best among the pile. That’s why we have well researched the list of top 5 Free VPNs for you. Each of my recommendations is ranked based on its mixed results on security, speed, usage limits, and reliability. I also looked at streaming and torrenting support, logging policies, server availability, compatibility, and bonus features like malware blocking.
5 Best Free VPNs to Hide IP Address
- Windscribe
Windscribe’s generous data allowance makes it one of the top free VPNs. They are relatively new in this segment, and maybe that’s why they offer a large 10Gb monthly bandwidth. Tweeting about their service will earn you five extra GB and a generous 1GB for every friend you refer to. Windscribe doesn’t log your traffic, unlike some free VPN providers do, which means your privacy is guaranteed.
It’s enough to stream in high definition for just over 3 hours. Offering you a bit more, it comes with a firewall and an ad blocker as well. The company has a detailed privacy policy as well as a no-logs policy to protect your privacy. Windscribe offers a desktop app and browser extension as well.
Key Features :
- 10 GB of free data every month
- Access blocked content in 10 countries
- Robust encryption, malware protection, and ad blocking
- Torrenting support
- Works with: Netflix, Hulu, HBO
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Firefox, Chrome, Linux
- Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield offers reliable connections and robust encryption. It is compatible with all major operating systems, has a no-logs policy, and offers dedicated tech support. It also provides P2P support for both free and premium users. Its user-friendly, dedicated apps offer one-click connect, preventing hassles. The free version comes with limitations. It is supported by ads and gives you only 500 MB of data per day.
While this is far too little for downloading large files, you will have no problem checking your email or browsing social media
Key Features:
- 500 MB of free data every 24 hour period, which means 15 GB per month
- A simple, user-friendly interface makes it easy to get started
- Stable connections ensure lag-free browsing
- Works with: YouTube and Spotify
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome
- ProtonVPN
One of its most significant advantages over most free VPNs is that it comes with unlimited data. It is also ad-free, which is a big plus. You will need to upgrade to a paid offer to stream or torrent with ProtonVPN, but you can still use the free virtual locations to bypass censorship and access geo-blocked social media platforms and messaging apps. ProtonVPN features a user friendly, easy to use interface, and multi-platform compatibility.
The Quick Connect feature connects you to the fastest nearby server. It also offers robust security, including powerful AES encryption and an automatic kill switch. Other features include DNS leak protection and split tunneling support.
Key Features:
- Unlimited free data
- No-log policy and Swiss privacy laws to protect your anonymity
- Robust encryption and automatic kill switch
- Works with: YouTube, Spotify, Kodi
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux
- ExpressVPN
With ExpressVPN, you’ll experience unlimited bandwidth and data so you can browse and download for hours without being cut off. If you like to stream Hulu, Netflix, or any of the other sites that the VPN can unblock, you’ll find that unlimited data is a feature you can’t live without. Access to so many IP addresses allows the service to go undetected by even the strictest anti-VPN measures.
To ensure your info stays secure, ExpressVPN employs military-grade 256-bit AES encryption, which scrambles your data so well that it would take billions upon billions of years to crack. It also maintains a no-logs policy that guarantees it will never record your browsing history or identity.
Key Features:
- Unlimited bandwidth and data
- 3,000+ servers in over 90 countries
- 256-bit AES encryption and a no-logs policy
- Up to five simultaneous connections
- Works with: Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Hulu, ITV Hub, Netflix, and more
- Compatible with: Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, Amazon Fire Stick, AppleTV, and many routers
- Tunnel Bear
TunnelBear has a user-friendly interface that comes complete with animated grizzly bears. Unlike most free VPNs that might limit you, TunnelBear allows free users to connect to multiple countries and enjoy decent connection speeds. TunnelBear uses AES 256-bit encryption and guarantees no data logging. This means your data will never be stored, and your identity will always stay private.
This VPN can unblock most geo-restricted websites and bypass content filters without a hassle, but it doesn’t work with Netflix or other streaming services. A free account with this VPN gives you just 500 MB monthly data. This will be enough to stream for about half an hour.
Key Features:
- 500 MB of free data every month
- Servers in 22+ countries
- No-logging guaranteed
- Works with: YouTube, Spotify
- Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera
These were some of the best 5 VPNs that you could use. A point to be noted is that while you can find some good free VPNs, even the safest free services can’t compete with low-cost premium VPNs. Most free VPNs won’t offer you unlimited data and bandwidth, unlike some premium VPNs. So if you have the budget, you might also try to go for the premium VPNs. You will then be able to access more servers and enjoy faster speed !!
Feel free to share with us your opinions on the top 5 Free VPNs in the comment section below.
