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 key.
But what if you don’t have it in your monthly budget to invest in a reliable VPN service? Fear not: many trusted VPN providers offer freemium options that are limited in features but still work great at keeping you safe online and camouflaging your location.
So, here are the best free VPNs for PCs depending on your needs.
1. Windscribe VPN
Windscribe is a Canadian VPN that’s free to use on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices as desktop apps. 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, with access to 10 server locations. However, for streaming content on Hulu and Netflix, only the UK and US servers work on the free version.
Testing the German server on SpeedTest, Windscribe VPN averaged at 10Mbps, which is good enough to comfortably browse the web.
However, the US server—which is one of the only two that has access to Netflix and Hulu—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 that’s 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’ll only have access to three server locations in Japan, the Netherlands, and the US.
Trying the Japanese server on SpeedTest, ProtonVPN reached 15Mbps. But note that the result may vary depending on server traffic.
3. Betternet VPN
Betternet is an American VPN that’s available for free on Windows and macOS PCs. You'll get 500MB of browsing data per day, which adds up to 15GB 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 diversity as only the US server is free.
With an average speed of 1.1Mbps, Betternet VPN remains an excellent option for casual safe browsing online, but streaming high-definition content would involve a lot of buffering.
4. ZenMate
ZenMate is a German VPN that’s 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’ll also get access to four server locations in the US, Hong Kong, Germany, and Romania.
By running a speed test on the US server, ZenMate reached a speed of 2.4Mbps, just under the recommended speed for standard-quality streaming by Netflix. However, ZenMate is still suitable for streaming music on Spotify that isn’t available in your region.
So, Which One Is the Best Free VPN for PC?
All the VPNs tested above are free to use indefinitely. There’s no free trial that you have to work around.
If your main goal of getting a VPN is to stream content and videos that aren’t available in your country, then Windscribe is the best choice for you with server locations available in 10 countries.
For general browsing, however, Betternet VPN wins despite the limited selection of server locations in the free version. 15GB will also last you a long time if you avoid video content and stick to browsing text and image-based content.