When it comes to VPNs, there are hundreds of free as well as premium VPN services. Many choose to go with free VPN services as they think the services offered by free and paid services are the same. Likewise, they believe they can save money by choosing a free VPN service. This is one reason why we find a lot of free VPNs on the market. People who have subscribed to paid services also are trying to switch to free services as they believe they are going to get the same services for free.
Now that many are moving to free VPNs, it is important to know if free VPNs are really protecting their users’ data. Many free VPNs leak their users’ data and they sell them for monetary benefits. Free VPNs may let you save a few bucks, but will they keep your personal data safe? Keep reading to know more.
Risks of Free VPN Services
Free VPNs may seem appealing as you do not have to pay for your subscription, but you can unblock geo-restricted content, games, etc., using the free service. But are your personal details secure and private with free VPN services? Similarly, just like premium VPN services, free services also need money to maintain their infrastructure and run their business. So, how do free VPNs make money to run their business?
Many free services have been found to have a minimum of at least one third-party tracking library. If you are currently using a free VPN service, you might have noticed irrelevant ads popping up on your screen. These ads will not be relevant to you in any way and will only be disturbing. In addition, those ads can collect and store your personal information, which will later be shared with third parties.
Staying secure online is one of the main reasons why many use a VPN. But free VPNs do not provide the required security features to keep their users’ data secure and they also steal important sensitive data. Such free VPNs can also infect your device with viruses.
According to Cybernews, free VPNs like Bean VPN have left more than 20 GB of its users’ connection logs accessible to the public. This includes IP addresses, connection stamps, device IDs, and more. This new report shows that people using free VPN services like Bean VPN are vulnerable to attacks. Their personal information can be stolen or sold.
This happens with many other insecure free services, as well. Free VPNs are only similar to paid services, but they do not come with the same security features and are not built using the same security standards as premium VPN services.
Likewise, free VPNs may not be able to unblock blocked streaming platforms and may not have a good server network. You cannot expect good speeds, as well. If you want a secure VPN that is good at unblocking streaming services and that comes with apps for multiple devices and platforms, you will need to switch to a premium VPN service.
If you are currently using a free VPN service and wondering how to switch to a secure premium VPN, read on to know what are the top five premium VPNs that are secure and budget-friendly, as well.
Top 5 Premium VPNs
If you are really concerned about your online security and privacy, you will need to stay away from free VPNs. Instead, you can go for a premium VPN service that offers budget-friendly plans and a free trial so that you can test the VPN for free before you pay for the service. The following are our top five recommendations.
NordVPN – The Best Overall VPN
Our #1 recommendation is NordVPN. This VPN offers reliable connections and comes with a good server network. Its streaming-optimized servers will let you unblock international streaming catalogs like HBO, Netflix US, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and more.
It will let you torrent files safely. When it comes to streaming and torrenting, having unlimited bandwidth will be an added advantage as you will not want to face lags while streaming movies or sports. NordVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and lets users stream and download as much as they wish.
It comes with excellent security features like double VPN, onion over VPN, kill switch, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, ad and malware blocker, 256-bit encryption, and more. There are easy-to-use apps for almost all devices and platforms, including Windows, Linux, routers, Android, iOS, and macOS.
- 5200+ servers in 62 countries
- Use up to 6 devices
- Next-generation Encryption
- Double VPN Feature
- Strict no-logs policy
ExpressVPN – Fastest and Privacy-Conscious VPN
ExpressVPN is for those looking for good speeds and security, as well. This VPN is the fastest VPN that will offer an excellent streaming experience. It will also unblock all your favorite streaming services like Netflix US, Hulu, HBO, BBC iPlayer, Showtime, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, and more.
Be it routers, PCs, tablets, or mobile phones, you secure them all using this VPN. You can download its app and secure your devices instantly. However, you cannot connect more than five devices to the VPN at a time.
ExpressVPN is not just great for streaming, but it supports torrenting, as well. You can connect to its secure servers to torrent files anonymously. As there are no bandwidth limitations, you can download or stream as much as you wish.
- 160 server locations
- Network Lock kill switch
- Zero-knowledge DNS
- VPN split tunneling
- Stream Sports online
It does not fall short in terms of security and comes with advanced security features like 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, split tunneling, network lock kill switch, and more.
If you would like to know about this VPN’s pricing and the free trial, you can read our detailed review of ExpressVPN.
Surfshark VPN – Best Budget-friendly and Secure VPN
If you are looking for a VPN that is secure yet budget-friendly, Surfshark VPN is the one for you. This VPN is an excellent choice for those looking for a VPN that can secure all their devices, as Surfshark VPN does not meter parallel connections.
This VPN boasts a huge network of servers in over 95 countries worldwide. All its servers are optimized for streaming and you can be assured that you will not face lags while you stream your favorite series or movies.
It is a good choice for torrenting, as well. As it offers unlimited bandwidth, you need not worry about how much you can stream in a day and you can stream as much as you wish. Likewise, be it gaming or torrenting, there are no limits whatsoever.
- Connect unlimited Devices
- AES-256-GCM encryption
- IP & DNS leak protection
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Free Browser Extensions
- Strict no-logs policy
It comes with simple-to-use apps for devices and platforms like Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, etc. You can connect the VPN on all these devices and secure them all. You can even let your family members and friends use the VPN as there are no limits on the number of parallel connections.
If you would like to know more about this pocket-friendly VPN’s security features and subscription plans, you can check out our detailed review of Surfshark VPN.
Atlas VPN – Unlimited VPN with Strong Security Features
Atlas VPN is an unlimited VPN; it offers unlimited bandwidth, data, and allows unlimited parallel device connections, as well. This VPN is another good choice for people looking for a secure VPN but at a pocket-friendly price.
Atlas VPN comes with security features like ad and malware blocker, tracker blocker, split tunneling, private DNS, Multihop+, network kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and more. It also follows a strict zero-logs policy and assures that your data will remain private and anonymous.
This VPN is great for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and more. It is also great at unblocking all geo-restricted streaming platforms like HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, ESPN, Sling TV, and more. No matter where you are in the world, you will have no difficulty unblocking region-blocked streaming services.
- 750+ servers worldwide
- Unlimited number of devices
- Block trackers and ads
- Military-grade encryption
- 24/7 Support
Its apps are available for almost all devices and platforms. This includes iOS, Mac, Windows, Fire TV Stick, Linux, and Android TV. You and your family members can connect all devices you use in your household to the VPN at the same time and watch your favorite content or play games online without limitations.
Atlas VPN is one of the few premium VPNs that offer a free plan in addition to premium subscription plans. If you would like to give its free plan a try, we recommend checking out our extensive review of Atlas VPN to know more.
PureVPN – Secure and Fast VPN Service
PureVPN is our next choice. This VPN boasts servers supporting torrenting and is an excellent steaming VPN too. It has a wide network of over 6500 servers in 78+ countries worldwide. You can connect to its secure servers to unblock almost anything you wish.
Netflix US, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Fox Sports, ESPN, Disney+, and BBC iPlayer are among the popular streaming services you can unblock using PureVPN. Likewise, you can stream the whole day too, without worrying about limitations as it offers unlimited bandwidth.
PureVPN can be used to secure devices and platforms like Android TV, Firestick TV, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux, routers, and more. You can install the VPN on all your devices and secure up to ten devices at a time.
- 6500+ Secure Servers
- 3 Million+ Satisfied Users
- 10-Multi Logins
- One-click Software
- 31-Day Refund Policy
- 24/7 Customer Support
This VPN focuses on security and it comes with features like WebRTC leak protection, DNS leak protection, split tunneling, kill switch, 256-bit encryption, and a strict no-logs policy. No matter what, your personal details and other data will remain secure and anonymous.
There is a money-back guarantee policy to test all its features for free. Learn more by checking out our in-depth review of PureVPN.
The Final Word
Though free VPNs might seem appealing, you will need to think multiple times before using a free VPN if you prioritize security and privacy. If you wish to remain secure and also unblock geo-blocked streaming services, games, and websites, you will need to consider a premium VPN. All the VPNs mentioned above come with a money-back guarantee policy so that you can test all their services for free.
VPN services offer exciting deals and discounts from time to time. We constantly update our page on VPN Coupon Codes with the newest and the best offers. You can keep track of that page to get the best offer possible.
Biggest Discount: 72% Discount on World's
