5 Best Free VPN for Windows Have you ever been afraid for your online privacy while using public Wi-Fi or reading the internet? A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tool that enables you to access websites that are forbidden and ensures the security of your data. However, it can be challenging to identify a secure and rapid free VPN for Windows. In this article, we will investigate the five most effective free VPNs for Windows in 2025, enabling you to gain unrestricted and secure internet access without incurring any cost.
5 Best Free VPN for Windows
1. ExpressVPN — Best Windows VPN in 2025
ExpressVPN is my preferred Windows VPN in 2025 due to its exceptional security features, its ability to maintain the quickest speeds, and its exceptional capabilities for streaming, torrenting, and gaming. This capacity is the reason it is the top-ranked VPN in 2025. Although it is not technically free, it provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, which provides ample opportunity to evaluate its suitability for your needs.
My connection speeds were consistently lightning-fast while I was connected to ExpressVPN. I did not observe any delay while streaming, and the speeds of gaming and torrenting were comparable to those of my non-VPN connection. Even though Proton VPN offers a free plan with relatively high bandwidth, it is unable to replicate these impressive results.
ExpressVPN also facilitates the streaming, downloading, browsing, and gaming of files on any of its servers in 105 countries. It has the ability to access over 100 streaming services, including multiple international libraries of Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Disney+, as well as Hulu, Max, and BBC iPlayer. However, the free plan of Proton VPN only functions with popular streaming sites approximately 50% of the time, and it hides. Even less than half of the time, I collaborate with a few streaming services.
Bottom Line:
In 2025, ExpressVPN is the optimal VPN for Windows due to its excellent streaming, torrenting, and gaming capabilities, as well as its consistently rapid connection speeds and extensive server network. The Windows application also provides impregnable security and includes practical features such as a password manager, split-tunneling, and an ad blocker. ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its programs, although they are not entirely free.
2. Proton VPN — Great Free Windows VPN With Unlimited Data
Proton VPN offers the quickest speeds and unlimited data for a free plan, while the majority of other VPNs restrict the speeds of their free plans. I encountered no latency while streaming HD content on YouTube while connected to Proton VPN’s free servers, and my browsing speeds were swift. Nevertheless, the downloads were sluggish and the games were laggier than they were with ExpressVPN.
Proton VPN’s free Windows application includes a Quick Connect feature that automatically selects the most suitable free server for your needs. If one fails to connect, the feature will cycle through the rest. Despite the fact that the free plan only allows for one connection, it allows for router installations, which allows for the connection of all Windows computers in the home.
Streaming and torrenting are not supported by the free plan. However, it can occasionally access certain Netflix and Amazon Prime libraries, as well as Hulu. Disney+ is inaccessible. ExpressVPN is my preferred option for streaming.
Proton VPN boasts robust privacy and security capabilities. The source code of all of its applications is open-source, allowing anyone to examine it. Additionally, I appreciate that each application has successfully undergone an external audit.
Nevertheless, Proton’s free plan provides access to servers in only five countries (the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland) and automatically connects you to the fastest server available. You are unable to explicitly select your server location.
The paid version of Proton VPN is priced at $3.59 per month and provides access to all servers, as well as P2P and streaming support, an ad blocker, and other features. A prorated 30-day money-back guarantee is included with all premium programs.
Bottom Line:
The free plan offered by Proton VPN includes excellent security and privacy features, unrestricted data, and fast browsing speeds. The device also supports routers, which allows you to bypass the one-device connection. Nevertheless, the free plan does not permit streaming or torrenting, although certain applications are functional. Additionally, it provides restricted server access. Nevertheless, the paid plans offer a plethora of additional features, such as torrenting and streaming capabilities.
3. Hide.me — Great Free Windows VPN With Plenty of Server Locations
hide.me is an excellent Windows VPN that allows you to connect to one device at a time. It offers unlimited ad-free data and eight free server locations, including Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, US East, and US West.
Hide.me achieved impressive speeds during my speed tests, although they were still slower than those of ExpressVPN. The company’s website indicates that premium users are not subject to speed restrictions; however, the situation implies that the VPN may restrict speeds for free users. However, browsing speeds were excellent, and I noted just a slight lag when streaming HD content on YouTube using Chrome (I did not encounter this issue with Proton VPN).
hide.me’s free plan does not include streaming support, although it has access to over 15 streaming servers. However, it intermittently utilizes Netflix and Amazon Prime. However, it is incompatible with Disney+, Hulu, Max, and numerous other services. In contrast to ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, it also prohibits router configuration and torrenting.
On the free plan, hide.me offers various exceptional Windows features, such as auto-connect options, split-tunneling, and StealthGuard (a customizable kill switch). Additionally, Windows offers the innovative “Lock App” feature, which enables users to establish a PIN code that is necessary to access the application, thereby preventing unauthorized users from accessing it.
Starting at $2.39 per month, hide.me offers various premium programs. The full network of servers across 58 countries is accessible to all paid plans, which also enable 10 simultaneous device connections. A 30-day money-back guarantee is included with the paid programs.
Bottom Line:
The free plan of hide.me offers unlimited data and eight server locations, all without any advertisements. Nevertheless, it is limited to a single connection, and it may be compatible with a limited number of streaming services. Additionally, it lacks router support and P2P support. The premium plans provide access to 58 countries, complete streaming support, and 10 connections.
4. Hotspot Shield — Good Free VPN for Browsing the Web
The gratis plan of Hotspot Shield is an excellent choice for secure web browsing. It includes a public Wi-Fi auto-protect feature and automatic activation settings, ensuring that you are never unprotected while online. The data allowance is also unlimited, ensuring that you will never run out of protected browsing time.
The performance of Hotspot Shield as a free VPN is exceptional in terms of speed. In my tests, websites loaded in a mere 2–3 seconds, and I did not encounter any buffering while viewing standard definition videos. Nevertheless, I experienced far quicker connections when I employed ExpressVPN and Proton VPN, as Hotspot Shield restricts your speeds to 2 Mbps.
Regrettably, the free version does not permit streaming and is limited to the use of servers in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore, as well as the connection of only one device. Additionally, it does not provide P2P functionality on its free servers.
However, I found the mobile and desktop applications of Hotspot Shield to be quite enjoyable. The interface is user-friendly and easy to traverse. It took only two minutes to download them onto my devices, and it is straightforward to identify the free servers you have access to. Split tunneling is also included.
Hotspot Shield’s premium programs commence at $6.66 per month. By upgrading, you will have access to servers in 85 countries and unrestricted speeds. A liberal 45-day money-back guarantee is included with all of its plans.
Bottom Line:
With an array of automatic security features, Hotspot Shield is a reasonable free VPN that enables users to browse the internet securely. It also offers rapid speeds and unlimited data. Nevertheless, it is restricted to servers in three countries, does not support streaming or torrenting, and allows for only one device to be connected at a time. Streaming support and access to additional servers are provided by upgrading to a paid plan. Hotspot Shield provides a 45-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
5. Windscribe — Large Free Server Network & Flexible Ad Blocker
Windscribe boasts an extensive free server network that includes over ten countries, surpassing the majority of free VPNs. The network enables you to achieve faster speeds by connecting to a server that is closest to your location.
It also offers a customizable ad blocker on the free plan called R.O.B.E.R.T., which includes various toggles to enable users to specify the types of sites and hazards it blocks, including malware, ads and trackers, social sites, adult sites, gambling sites, cryptocurrency sites, clickbait, and more. This is an excellent feature, as the majority of free VPN programs restrict access to features such as ad blockers.
Streaming and torrenting are also supported by the free plan, which is uncommon. Nevertheless, the data allotment is limited to 2–10 GB per month, contingent upon whether or not you verify your email. Consequently, you will exhaust your data allowance rapidly. This scenario is the reason I favor Proton VPN’s unlimited data.
The free plan also supports split tunneling (apps and sites), has a kill switch, permits unlimited connections, and provides access to several advanced protocols, including Stealth (an obfuscated protocol) and WireGuard.
Access to all servers in 68 countries is available through Windscribe’s paid programs, which commence at $5.75 per month. A seven-day money-back guarantee is included with paid programs.
Bottom Line:
Windscribe offers a free plan that is bountiful in features for Windows users. It includes with a customizable ad blocker, servers in over 10 countries, support for streaming and torrenting, extras such as split-tunneling, and quick and secure protocols. It offers a seven-day money-back guarantee for its paid programs.
Quick Comparison Table
| Free VPN | Number of Server Locations | Data Limit | Number of Devices | Router Support | Works with Streaming Platforms | Starting Price for Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.🥇ExpressVPN | 105 | Unlimited | 8 | ✅ | ✅ | $4.99 / month |
| 2.🥈Proton VPN | 5 | Unlimited | 1 | ✅ | ✅(but only sometimes) | $3.59 / month |
| 3.🥉 hide.me | 5+ | Unlimited | 1 | ❌ | ✅(only sometimes) | $2.39 / month |
| 4. Hotspot Shield | 3 | Unlimited | 1 | ❌ | ❌ | $6.66 / month |
| 5. Windscribe | 10+ | 10 GB(with verified email) | Unlimited | ❌ | ✅ | $5.75 / month |
Free vs. Paid VPNs for Windows
| Feature | Free VPNs | Premium VPNs |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited data | ❌(only a very few free VPNs offer this) | ✅ |
| Fast speeds | ❌(it’s rare to get good speeds with a free VPN) | ✅ |
| 24/7 customer support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Access to all servers | ❌ | ✅ |
| P2P support | ❌ | ✅ |
| Streaming support | ❌(some may allow streaming, but they usually don’t work with top sites) | ✅ |
| Multiple simultaneousdevice connections | ❌(if they do allow access, it’s likely a limited version.) | ✅ |
| Ad, tracker, and malware blocker (if available) | ❌(some may allow streaming, but they usually don’t work with top sites.) | ✅ |
| Multiple protocol options | ❌ | ✅ |
| Double VPN (if available) | ❌ | ✅ |
Conclusion
A free VPN for Windows is an excellent method for accessing restricted content and maintaining online security without the need to spend money. Nevertheless, not all free VPNs provide robust security and rapid speeds. For everyday use, the items we have included in this article are dependable, secure, and effective. Selecting a suitable VPN can be crucial, regardless of whether you are seeking to circumvent geo-restrictions or guard your data. Try one today and experience a more open and secure internet!
FAQs
What is the most effective free VPN for Windows?
ExpressVPN is the optimal VPN for Windows; however, it is not entirely free. The most effective VPN features and user experience are only accessible through premium Windows VPNs, as all free VPNs are subject to limitations and drawbacks, including daily or monthly data limits, slowed speeds, and restricted server networks.
Proton VPN is the most effective VPN for Windows that is completely free. It is equipped with exceptional security and privacy features, reasonable speeds, free servers in five countries, and unlimited data.
Is there a Windows VPN that is entirely free?
There are numerous VPNs for Windows that are entirely free, including those included in this list. Nevertheless, all free VPNs incur a cost of some sort, whether it be restricted data, a reduced number of servers, the absence of streaming or torrenting support, throttled speeds, weakened security, or advertisements.
Is a VPN integrated into Windows?
Certainly, Microsoft 10 and 11 include a built-in VPN; however, I am not a fan of it because it necessitates specific versions of Windows and technical expertise to configure correctly.
Rather, I suggest that you examine the VPNs on my list, all of which have native applications for the most recent versions of Windows. Additionally, they are effortless to implement and operate.