Risks of free VPNs
Free VPNs promise protection, but can have the opposite effect. Many free VPNs are financed by selling user data, display advertising or use insecure encryption. We show the biggest risks and name secure alternatives.
The essentials at a glance
Data sale to third parties
Many free VPNs log your surfing behavior and sell the data to advertisers and data brokers. One study showed that 72% of free VPNs have built-in trackers.
Weak encryption
Some free VPNs use outdated or insecure encryption methods. In the worst case, your data traffic is barely better protected than without VPN.
Malware & Adware
Researchers found malware, spyware and aggressive adware in numerous free VPN apps. There are many unsafe apps in the Google Play Store in particular.
Bandwidth theft
Some free VPNs use their users' bandwidth for other purposes – for example, to use them as exit nodes for paying customers or even botnets.
Frequently asked questions
Are all free VPNs insecure? +
No. Proton VPN, Windscribe and hide.me offer trustworthy free plans with no-logs policies. However, most unknown free VPNs are risky.
Which free VPN is safe? +
Proton VPN is the most secure free VPN - with Swiss data protection, no-logs policy and no data limit.
Why are free VPNs dangerous? +
Because they need to earn money. Without subscription revenue, many are financed by selling data, advertising or unsafe practices.
Is a cheap VPN subscription worthwhile? +
Yes, from 2-3 euros per month you get strong encryption, no-logs and reliable protection. This is much more secure than a questionable free _BRAND_0__.
How do I recognize a dubious VPN? +
Warning signs: no legal notice, no privacy policy, exaggerated promises, extremely many permissions in the app, and headquarters in a non-transparent country.