If you read our 2025 Free VPN Comparison – Secure Your Browsing , you already know which VPNs made our shortlist this year. In this guide, we put the most popular free VPNs through real-world tests: speed & latency, streaming access, and privacy policies — so you can pick the safest option right now.
📚 Series:
Part 1 – Free VPN Comparison (Overview) ·
Part 2 – You’re Here ·
Part 3 – Best Password Managers 2025 ·
Part 4 – Ultimate Online Security Checklist
Free VPNs offer useful features like ad-blocking, IP masking, and bypassing geo-restrictions. But are they really safe? Some services may be slow, have data caps, or log your activity.
📌 Free vs Paid VPN Comparison (Coming Soon)
1) Speed & Performance Test
We tested on a stable 100 Mbps fiber line and measured average download speed, latency, and streaming stability.
| VPN | Avg Download | Latency | Streaming Stability | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProtonVPN Free | ~78 Mbps | ~35 ms | ✅ Stable | Official |
| Windscribe Free | ~65 Mbps | ~42 ms | ✅ Stable | Official |
| TunnelBear Free | ~59 Mbps | ~40 ms | ⚠️ Limited (2GB cap) | Official |
| PrivadoVPN Free | ~70 Mbps | ~38 ms | ✅ Stable | Official |
| Hotspot Shield Free | ~48 Mbps | ~55 ms | ❌ Ads & throttling | Official |
Test bed: 100 Mbps fiber · Values are rounded averages from multiple runs.
Looking for an overview before diving in? Start with the general overview →
2) Streaming Test
- ProtonVPN Free: Unblocked YouTube; Netflix US inconsistent.
- Windscribe Free: Netflix (CA) / Disney+ occasionally worked.
- PrivadoVPN Free: Good for YouTube; Netflix access limited.
- TunnelBear Free: After the 2GB cap, streaming becomes unreliable.
Tip: If consistent Netflix or Prime is a must, upgrade to an affordable paid plan (often $3–$4/month).
3) Security & Privacy
We reviewed each provider’s public documentation and policies.
- No-Logs: ProtonVPN, Windscribe, and PrivadoVPN state strict no-logs policies.
- Encryption: All providers use AES-256 (industry standard).
- Ads: Hotspot Shield Free injects ads — a privacy trade-off to consider.
Best pick for privacy: ProtonVPN & Windscribe.
4) Our Recommendation
- ProtonVPN Free — best overall speed & privacy.
- Windscribe Free — most promising for streaming.
- PrivadoVPN Free — balanced choice with smaller network.
What’s Next: Password Managers
Free VPNs are great for casual use, but for complete online security you should also use a password manager (Part 3 – Coming Soon). In Part 3, we’ll compare 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, and NordPass so you can lock down every account.
Missed Part 1? Read the overview with pros/cons & quick picks: 2025 Free VPN Comparison – Secure Your Browsing . Tools we recommend
- Hardware security key (2FA): YubiKey 5 NFC (Amazon link coming soon)
- VPN official pages: ProtonVPN, Windscribe, PrivadoVPN
Conclusion: Start with Free VPN, Then Level Up Your Security
Free VPNs are a great first step to improving your online privacy. But they are not a complete solution — adding a password manager, enabling 2FA, and tweaking browser security settings will make you much safer.
🔑 Best Password Managers (Coming Soon)
🛡️ Ultimate Online Security Checklist (Coming Soon)
Conclusion: Choose Wisely, Then Secure the Rest
Free VPNs differ widely in speed, data caps, servers, and privacy policies. Use the comparison above to match your priorities, then harden your setup with a password manager and basic browser protections.
Next up: Best Password Managers 2025 – Secure Your Logins
🛡️ Online Security Checklist (Coming Soon)
✅ Choose the Fastest Free VPN and Install Now
➡️ Read Part 3: Best Password Managers 2025