In this tech-savvy era of heightened Virtual Private Network (VPN) awareness, many travelers are embracing the VPN trend. 

Free VPNs provide budget-friendly access to geo-restricted content and online privacy benefits. They serve as a risk-free way for travelers to explore without an immediate financial commitment, avoiding potential costs associated with selecting the wrong premium VPN.

Yet, free VPNs are often limited by slower speeds, fewer server options, and security concerns. If you are going for a free VPN, this guide will help you understand what to look for.

Totally ‘Free’ VPNs? What You Should Know

While free services are enticing, the question arises: Is the notion of a free VPN genuinely legitimate?

In reality, no truly 100% free VPN exists without any limitations or trade-offs. While some VPN services offer free plans, these typically come with restrictions such as limited servers, slower connection speeds, and data caps or bandwidth limits.

• Limited Server Locations: Free VPNs often provide access to only a limited number of servers, which may result in slower connection speeds and restricted access to certain geo-blocked content.
• Data Caps and Bandwidth Limits: Many free VPNs impose data caps, restricting the amount of data you can transfer. This restriction can hinder activities like streaming or downloading large files.
• Unreliable Performance: Free VPNs may struggle to provide consistent and reliable service, often resulting in slow connection speeds and frequent disconnections.

Imagine dealing with slow internet speeds, frequent disconnections, and limited server options while constantly monitoring your data usage to avoid exceeding the cap. Using a free VPN can quickly become tedious and inefficient.

The limitations may not stop there. Free VPNs may not offer robust customer support, leaving users with fewer resources to address technical issues. Additionally, free VPNs might also come with privacy concerns, as some may log user activity and sell user data.

In terms of cost, free VPNs often nudge users to upgrade their subscription tiers for enhanced features and better performance. The catch is that these premium plans often come with a hefty price tag. The so-called ‘free’ service is used as a gateway to more costly commitments.

What to Look For in a Free VPN

Since you’re not getting 100% of the core features in a free VPN, be selective. Identify the features you need. 

For travelers seeking a reliable and secure VPN experience, in general, certain factors should take precedence over others:

1. Reliable performance

A VPN should offer consistent and stable connection speeds to ensure you can browse and stream seamlessly. Unreliable performance can lead to frequent disconnections, and slow connection speeds can be very disruptive. 

This is arguably the most important factor to prioritize in a free VPN. Many free VPNs are too sluggish and offer speeds significantly slower than those of premium services. For instance, free VPNs often deliver download speeds well below 100 Mbps.

Why it may not be a dealbreaker: A VPN’s suboptimal performance may not be a deal breaker, if you utilize the VPN occasionally or sparingly — you may only need to turn it on at select times. Perhaps you only require its security features for occasional light browsing and online activities. Still, you may get frustrated if you encounter the occasional lag or internet slowdown.

2. Global range of server locations

Many free VPN services offer a restricted number of server options. Often, free VPN services may give you a few locations that do not cover most regions of the globe. Some services do not allow you to select the server you want. This could limit your access to certain geo-restricted content and services – as the specific country or region you aim to spoof may be unavailable on the free service.

Further, a limited server network may lead to slower internet speeds. Simply put, when more users connect to the same few servers, there’s higher traffic and congestion leading to slower data transfer.

A broader range of server locations enhances access to geo-restricted content from different regions. TunnelBear, a free VPN, provides global coverage with numerous server locations, making it ideal for accessing content from various countries. Its user-friendly interface and reliable performance cater to the needs of budget-conscious travelers.

Why it may not be a dealbreaker: If you don’t need access to content from specific regions, a limited number of server options may be sufficient. This is especially true if you visit familiar locations where geo-restricted content access isn’t an issue or if your internet activities don’t require diverse server locations.

3. Number of simultaneous connections

This is especially crucial for those with multiple devices. As a mobile professional, you probably often travel with your laptop and smartphone for business or leisure. You ideally want the VPN installed on both your devices. Otherwise, the inability to access critical geo-blocked services from either your laptop or smartphone may disrupt your business or personal activities.

A higher limit on simultaneous connections adds versatility, allowing you to use the VPN on multiple devices. This is particularly beneficial for sharing the VPN with family and friends during travel, ensuring everyone stays connected and secure.

Why it may not be a dealbreaker: If you primarily use a single device and don’t require simultaneous protection across multiple devices, a limited number of connections may be sufficient.

4. Data cap and bandwidth limits

Many free VPN services have tight data cap and bandwidth limits. This reduces usage of the VPN service. If you engage in data-intensive activities like streaming high-definition videos, online gaming, or downloading large files, a strict data cap can quickly limit your ability to perform these activities. It can lead to frequent interruptions or the need to monitor your usage closely.

If you plan to use the VPN regularly for extended periods, a strict bandwidth limit will reduce usability and convenience.

Why it may not be a dealbreaker: If your internet usage is primarily for light activities, such as web browsing or email rather than streaming geo-restricted content, a tight data cap may not be a problem. If you only use a VPN occasionally, its stringent bandwidth limits may still meet your needs.

5. Strict “no-logs” policy

Trust in free VPNs generally depends on their security features and a strict “no-logs” policy. Some free VPNs may compromise privacy by logging data, so it’s important for users to carefully consider these aspects before using the VPN service and sharing their sensitive information. Look for providers that explicitly state they do not store or log your online activities.

Trust relies on factors such as the company’s reputation and policies. It’s best to stick with trusted, well-reviewed, and reputable companies.

This article was originally published on unboundist.com. If it is now published on any other site, it was done without permission from the copyright owner.

The Best (Free) VPNs for Travel

To evaluate worth and find the best VPN, determine the features you are looking for. For instance, free VPNs like TunnelBear and Proton VPN cater to specific needs. TunnelBear’s global servers enable reliable connectivity, while Proton VPN enhances travelers’ flexibility with ample data. 

Here are some recommendations based on different needs.

Priority: Accessing geo-restricted content or services

Prioritize a VPN service with reliable performance and a global range of server locations. This ensures you can access geo-blocked content from anywhere.

Yet, depending on your needs, you may also need simultaneous connections on multiple devices or unlimited data. For instance, if you want to stream geo-restricted movies and shows, you would need a lot of data. So even if you utilize a global network of servers from a VPN like TunnelBear, understand it has tight data restrictions (500 MB – 2 GB) that may only be adequate for watching one show. You’re better off picking a different free service or paying for a premium service like Surfshark or NordVPN.

Priority: Data-intensive activities

If you need a VPN for data-intensive activities like streaming, video conferencing, large file transfers involving multi-media elements, or gaming, prioritize reliable performance and unlimited data.

Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN stand out for their commitment to providing ample data allowances:

• ProtonVPN offers unlimited bandwidth and data. 
• On the other hand, Privado offers a 10GB monthly data limit (which is decent for a free service) and 12 free server locations, which is generous compared to other free VPNs. The downside is that Privado has slower network speeds compared to other free services.

Priority: Digital security

If your primary goal is to ensure basic privacy and security, simply pick a VPN with the best performance. Prioritize reliable performance and the number of simultaneous connections allowed by the free VPN. 

Proton VPN and Hotspot Shield offer high speeds (provided their servers are not too far away from your location). Having multiple devices connected to your VPN gives you more security – it is not singularly limited to your laptop or smartphone.

Priority: Using a VPN on multiple devices

If you require a VPN on multiple devices, likewise, prioritize reliable performance and the number of simultaneous connections allowed by the free VPN. 

TunnelBear and Bitdefender Premium VPN are noteworthy for their compatibility with multiple devices. However, note the data caps of such VPNs, as stringent caps may mean that the data limit is easily reached via use on multiple devices. TunnelBear has an extremely tight data cap, while Bitdefender Premium VPN is more generous with 200MB per day.

Conclusion

While the allure of free VPNs for travelers is undeniable, it’s key to approach them with caution and awareness of limitations. 

As a traveler, prioritize a VPN’s performance, global availability, simultaneous connections, and data limits.

Ultimately, do strike an optimal balance between cost and features. If a free VPN falls short of your requirements, consider investing in a paid service from a reputable company, often available for less than $100 annually.