What Is the Best Free VPN for Your PC
Whether you’re looking for a safer and more private internet browsing experience or want to bypass geo-restrictions on content and prices, VPNs are important.
But what if you don’t have it in your monthly budget to invest in a reliable VPN service? Fear not: many reliable VPN providers offer freemium options that are limited in features but still do a great job of keeping you safe online and hiding your location.
So, here are the best free VPNs for PC based on your needs.
1. Windscribe VPN
Windscribe is a Canadian VPN that is free to use as a desktop app on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. As a browser extension, you can get Windscribe VPN on Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and Microsoft Edge.
The free version comes with 10GB of data that renews every 30 days along with access to 10 server locations. However, for streaming content on Hulu and Netflix, only UK and US servers work on the free version.
Testing the German server on Speedtest, Windscribe VPN averaged 10Mbps, which is more than enough to browse the web comfortably.
However, the US server—which is one of only two that Netflix and Hulu have access to—has a speed of 3.2Mbps, which is just above the 3Mbps that Netflix recommends for standard-quality streaming without buffering issues.
2. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a Swiss VPN available for free on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. With unlimited data and military-grade encryption, you can access geo-restricted content on YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Kodi.
However, you will only have access to three server locations in Japan, the Netherlands, and the US.
Trying the Japanese server on Speedtest, ProtonVPN reached 15 Mbps. But note that results may vary depending on server traffic.
3. Betternet VPN
Betternet is an American VPN available for free on Windows and macOS PCs. You’ll get 500MB of browsing data per day, which adds up to 15GB in a month.
With a privacy-friendly model that doesn’t require you to log in, you can use the free version of Betternet VPN to access geo-restricted content on Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube on up to five devices. The biggest downside is the lack of server variety as only the US server is free.
With average speeds of 1.1 Mbps, Betternet VPN remains an excellent choice for casual secure online browsing, but streaming high-definition content will involve a lot of buffering.
4. Genmate
ZenMate is a German VPN available for free on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. It also has browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera.
Using the free version of ZenMate VPN, you’ll get unlimited data and the ability to access geo-restricted content on YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon Prime. You will get access to four server locations in the US, Hong Kong, Germany, and Romania.
Running the speed test on a US server, the ZenMate reached speeds of 2.4Mbps, just below the speeds Netflix recommends for standard-quality streaming. However, the ZenMate is still suitable for streaming music on Spotify that isn’t available in your region.
So, which is the best free VPN for PC?
All of the VPNs tested above are free to use indefinitely. There is no free trial you have to work for.
If your main goal of getting a VPN is to stream content and videos that are not available in your country, then Windscribe is your best option with server locations available in 10 countries.
For general browsing, however, Betternet VPN wins out despite the limited selection of server locations in the free version. Even 15GB will last you a long time if you avoid video content and stick to browsing text and image-based content.
Whether you want to browse the internet privately and securely or access geo-restricted content on Netflix and YouTube, using a VPN is essential.
While it is an option, using a VPN doesn’t have to be a financial investment on your end. Even if you’re using a less common device like a Chromebook, you can still have access to a free VPN that’s secure and private. Here are seven of the best free VPN and secure browsers for your Chromebook.
ZenMate is a German VPN available on Chromebooks and a variety of web browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. It offers completely free and unlimited VPN service with some limitations as compared to the paid version. They have a no-logs policy and use OpenVPN as the main tunneling protocol.
You can use it to access Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and Spotify, and foreign content on Amazon Prime. You also get access to four server locations in Germany, Romania, Hong Kong, and the US.