Encrypting your internet connection with a VPN seems like a smart option—but you're not sure about it. After all, it means a financial commitment, typically with a monthly or annual outlay.

Wouldn't it be great if there were a VPN with a free trial for you to sign up to?

Fortunately, there are several virtual private network providers offering free trials. Simply check the free VPN trials below, sign up, and enjoy encrypted, private browsing.

Do VPNs Offer Free Trials?

Overall VPNs don't tend to offer free trials. Those that do seem to keep it to themselves. Free trials are hard to find online for a reason, however. VPN providers use the enticement of a free trial in advertising literature and freebies, typically for print magazines.

Occasionally a free trial might appear online, but in most cases, you'll need to go looking.

We've compiled the best VPNs offering free trials right now. This list includes big names such as ExpressVPN, NordVPN, CyberGhost VPN, and ProtonVPN. These are all trusted, reputable VPN providers, so their trials are worth considering if you're looking for a long-term subscription.

Whatever you do, be sure you avoid bad VPNs.

1. Try the ExpressVPN Free 30-Day Money Back Trial

ExpressVPN free trial

Many VPNs offer a free trial based on the concept of a money-back deal if you're not satisfied. They're certain you will be, of course.

One example of this sort of trial is ExpressVPN. The VPN giant promises that after you sign up, "If you’re not satisfied, we’ll refund your payment. No hassle, no risk."

This is a brave promise that is worth considering. ExpressVPN offers 3,000+ servers in 160 locations across 94 countries. ExpressVPN has unlimited bandwidth, apps for almost every device, top-quality encryption, and you can stream Netflix and download torrents. Check our ExpressVPN review for more details.

Importantly, ExpressVPN's 30-day money back trial is not feature-limited. Use this link to get a 49% discount with ExpressVPN when you trial its VPN service.

2. Get a Risk-Free 30-Day Trial With NordVPN

NordVPN free trial

Like its main competitor, NordVPN offers a 30-day trial, so you can enjoy a risk-free sample of its features.

Boasting almost 6,000 servers worldwide and six simultaneous connections, NordVPN has a clear no-logs policy. It also features what it calls a "Double VPN"—an advanced security feature that encrypts your data twice. Aimed at dissidents and journalists, this is an optional feature that can be enabled when required.

Fast, and ideal for video streaming and P2P video sharing, NordVPN has apps for almost any device you can think of. Take advantage of the NordVPN 30-day trial and see what they have to offer.

3. Try the CyberGhost Free VPN Trial

CyberGhost VPN free trial

Unlike the other VPN providers, CyberGhost offers a genuine free trial. If you're looking for a VPN free trial with no credit card requirement, this is ideal.

While limited, you can use the CyberGhost trial free for one day and access VPN servers for streaming and torrenting.

CyberGhost splits its servers up by purpose. So, some are optimized for streaming Netflix; others for BBC iPlayer. CyberGhost has servers more suited to torrenting, while general use servers are for standard encrypted browsing.

With over 6,100 servers, apps for most platforms, and simultaneous connections on seven devices, CyberGhost is a great VPN. Sample CyberGhost's VPN trial before you commit to a subscription.

4. ProtonVPN's 30-Day Money Back Trial Option

ProtonVPN free trial

Unsure about signing up to a VPN? ProtonVPN has two options for you to get a taste of online encryption.

The first is ProtonVPN's limited single device free option. This gives you the chance to try a VPN with medium speed and a choice of three servers, on one device.

Want something more? ProtonVPN also offers a 30-day money back trial. This gives you the chance to try the full ProtonVPN experience without any long-term commitment.

To find out more, visit ProtonVPN and sign up to their free option or grab a 30-day money back subscription.

5. Try Surfshark for Free With a 30-Day Money Back Period

SurfShark free trial

Another VPN you should consider is Surfshark. Its 30-day money back trial is a great safety barrier.

Surfshark gives you apps for almost any device you can think of, with unlimited connections. It allows torrenting and site whitelisting (ideal for accessing banking sites and apps), but isn't ideal for streaming video.

As it clearly has its advantages, Surfshark is worth checking out. Check the details of Surfshark's free 30-day VPN trial! And should you like it after your trial, use this link to get Surfshark for only $2.49 per month.

6. Norton Secure VPN’s 7 Days Free Trial

norton-1

Norton Secure VPN offers a seven-day free trial, so it’s plenty of time to test its features and figure out if it’s the right VPN for you. Furthermore, Norton’s annual plans come with a 60 day money-back guarantee.

While it isn’t as popular as other VPNs on our list, Norton Secure VPN is a serious competitor when it comes to security features. Besides the standard encryption, the VPN keeps no logs, so it doesn’t store anything about your browsing, and it’s equipped with a kill switch. This way, your personal information is protected.

In addition to keeping you safe online, the Norton Secure VPN can help you get around regional restrictions on the most popular streaming platforms and unlock content that isn’t available in your country.

However, Norton’s VPN might not be the best choice if you own a Mac or iOS device. At the time of writing, Norton’s split tunneling and kill switch features are available only for Windows and Android devices.

Need a VPN Free Trial, but Have No Credit Card? Try a Proxy

Encryption is only one side of the VPN coin. You might need a service to help circumvent some form of censorship.

Which means you might not need a VPN at all. After all, online proxy servers can help you to view websites that have been blocked. Whether restricted by government, workplace restrictions, or by the institution you study at or reside in, websites can be unblocked without a VPN.

Several proxy servers are available to help here. But beware: many proxy sites are basically untrustworthy. If you want to make sure you're not putting yourself at risk, you can create your own online proxy server in minutes.

It's Tough to Find a Free VPN

We've looked at six VPNs offering either a free trial, or a free limited service:

  1. ExpressVPN.
  2. NordVPN.
  3. CyberGhost.
  4. ProtonVPN.
  5. Surfshark.
  6. Norton Secure VPN.

In many cases, you might alternatively use a proxy if your aim is to circumvent censorship rather than online encryption.

Unable to find a VPN trial to suit you? Fortunately, a few free VPNs are available without trial. While their features are limited, they offer encrypted browsing for increased online privacy.