Best Free VPNs with No Credit Card & Which To Avoid in 2024

There are scarcely any arguments about how useful a VPN can be. However, some users are often wary of making use of it because of the costs. This is especially the case for first-time users of VPNs. If you are one such person, having a free trial of the VPN can help allay your fears.

Generally, VPN providers offer two categories of free trials; risk-free and completely free VPNs. Risk-free VPNs offer you a free trial within a stipulated time-frame. However, you will be required to subscribe to a paid plan first. Regardless of this, you can request a refund as long as you are within the money-back window. On the other hand, some providers offer completely free versions or trial periods of their service. The time frame differs depending on the provider. With completely free VPNs, you would not be required to get on a subscription plan. Hence, you will also not be required to input your credit card details.

This guide will provide a review of the best risk-free VPNs as well as free VPNs with no credit card requirements.

Best Risk-Free VPNs

The services risk-free providers make available, in terms of download speed, number of servers, and security, are unmatched by providers of free VPNs. When you make use of these risk-free VPNs within their money-back window, you will access all of these at no cost. You will have to provide your credit card details beforehand, though. However, this should present no challenges as you can cancel your subscription and ask for a refund before the window is up.

Here they are.

Overall Best in Our Tests

ExpressVPN

Overall score: 9.8

• Super-fast servers
• AES 256-bit encryption
• Supports private protocol, Lightway
• Money-back guarantee

Try ExpressVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

ExpressVPN is a pacesetter in the VPN industry. It has some of the best features across board, providing you with real value for your money.

ExpressVPN has over 3000 servers in 94 countries. One advantage of these large numbers of servers is that you can access a wide range of locations. ExpressVPN also comes with high speed. You can stream content from Netflix, or Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO, CBS, etc. at top speed. More so, ExpressVPN gets around the geo-blocks on these platforms easily. You can access content on these platforms regardless of whatever restrictions they have in place.

ExpressVPN also is quite great with security. It comes fitted with military-grade level encryption. This ensures that your online activities are secure. Thus, ExpressVPN is excellent for torrenting both for public and private purposes. The service also operates a strict no-logs policy.

ExpressVPN allows simultaneous connections for up to 5 devices. They offer a 30-day money-back guarantee period, and within this period, you will be allowed to access all the features of the VPN. You will be required to get on a plan at first, but you can always ask for a refund. The refund process is completely risk-free and smooth. Considering the quality of services ExpressVPN provides, this request for this show of faith is worth it.

Cheapest Option

NordVPN

Overall score: 9.6

• Incredibly fast servers
• Great security features
• Verified no-logs policy
• Unblocks streaming platforms

Try NordVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

NordVPN is also another excellent risk-free provider. It ranks highly in terms of speed, security features, and expansive network. NordVPN is perhaps the only provider that comes close to matching/beating the services provided by ExpressVPN.

NordVPN has over 5000 servers in 60+ locations. This wide coverage is almost unbeatable. With NordVPN, you have no need to worry about lags while using the internet. You can download or upload videos, stream content, and generally browse at top speed. Torrenting with it is also safe and reliable. It has a network of servers for P2P file sharing.

NordVPN is equipped with AES 256-bit encryption. It also has an automatic kill switch and leak-proof apps. The automatic kill switch automatically logs you off at any point where the connection is unreliable.

NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee period. You can make use of its premium features within this period. Also, you can ask for your refund at any point. This provider’s customer support is excellent and ready to address any concerns you have. With NordVPN, you can rest assured of fantastic service

Best Free VPNs With No Credit Card

Totally free VPNs are notorious for providing subpar services. However, we carefully curated the ones that offer a fair service. Find them below.

Best VPN with a Free Version

ProtonVPN

Overall score: 9.4

• Free version available
• Strong security features
• Reliable no-logs policy
• Allows Perfect Forward Secrecy

Visit ProtonVPN

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

ProtonVPN is an awesome VPN from the developers of ProtonMail. Its success with ProtonMail should reassure you about its expertise in securing your privacy. ProtonVPN has more than 800 servers in 50 locations. This offers enough coverage to meet your needs.

One area that ProtonVPN excels is in its provision of unlimited bandwidth. Not only is this available for subscribed users, but free users can also access the unlimited bandwidth. Even when making use of this free version, you will still have access to premium services at no cost. What is more, you will not need to input your credit card details prior to using the free trial. What is required is for you to open a free account using your email address.

With the paid version, ProtonVPN’s speed is impeccable. You can stream, download, or surf the internet with the VPN with no hassles. It may happen that with the free version, you may experience some lagging in speed. This is attributable to the fact that ProtonVPN’s unlimited bandwidth attracts a lot of users. However, during the period when we carried out this research, no such lags were experienced.

ProtonVPN allows for only one simultaneous connection. However, the beauty of its free unlimited service means that you can hook on with multiple accounts.

Best VPN with a free version

Trust.Zone

Overall score: 8.2

• Offers dedicated IP addresses
• Allows torrenting and P2P file sharing
• Great pricing
• Free version available

Visit Trust.Zone

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

Trust.Zone offers a completely free VPN service that you can actually trust.  It offers a 3-day trial period within which you have 1GB to browse with. This affords you the opportunity to test the full range of services it offers. The fact that it is completely free means that no payment information will be required from you.

Trust.Zone is domiciled in Seychelles. This puts it outside of the purview of the 14-eyes network. What this means is that Trust.Zone does not have a legal obligation to make your data available to anyone. This is further strengthened by the fact that it has a strict no-logs policy. Trust.Zone also makes use of the highest level of encryption, the AES-256 encryption. This military-grade encryption makes sure that you are impervious to the attacks of hackers.

Trust.Zone also has excellent streaming and downloading speed. You can be sure that your browsing needs will be met with the VPN. Trust.Zone is also ideal for streaming content on platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc. If you also want to access geo-restricted content, Trust.Zone also makes this possible. Trust.Zone’s unbeatable free offer and amazing service make it an enticing VPN to consider.

VPN with Easy User Interface

Hotspot Shield

Overall score:

• Super-fast server speed
• Remarkable unblocking ability
• Intuitive user interface

Visit Hotspot Shield

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

Another totally free VPN you ought to consider is Hotspot Shield. This provider is popular in the VPN market because of the excellence of its free version. To access this VPN, there is no obligation to fill in your card details. It is on record that its free version was mostly used by protesters during the riots that culminated in the Arab Spring. Hotspot Shield can be trusted even in places where there is a total network blackout.

Hotspot Shield is based in the United States. Its free plan makes use of one server located in the United States. However, as seen with the Arab Spring protests, that lone server is sufficient. Nevertheless, if you choose to upgrade to the premium version, you will have access to the full range of servers it offers.

Hotspot Shield has very high speeds. For people who love to stream content using VPNs, Hotspot Shield will be extremely helpful. With Hotspot Shield, you can stream content from Netflix US (and any other location’s too), Hulu, the United Kingdom’s BBC iPlayer, Amazon Firetv, etc. Hotspot Shield offers top-notch security; it uses military-grade encryption for its users, while also ensuring that your data doesn’t leak.

VPN with the Best No-Log Policy

Windscribe

Overall score: 8.3

• Available in 60+ countries
• Unblocks geo-restricted platforms
• Offers a free version
• Blocks ads and malware

Visit Windscribe

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

Windscribe is a Canada-based VPN that is popular for its free version. For this service, you are not required to be on a subscription plan first. More so, it does not require your credit card details. You will have to set up a free account using just your email details and your chosen username.

With this free version, you will be able to access its 9 basic servers. It allows just one connection, however. It also provides you with 2GB of data when you open an account and upgrades it to 10GB when you confirm your email.

Windscribe is easy to use. It has great security features and decent download speeds. One downside to it is that you may be unable to access Netflix in some regions with the unpaid version. However, if unrestricted streaming is not top on your agenda, Windscribe will meet your needs in every other ramification.

Definitely has the best website interface

ZenMate

Overall score: 8.6

• Cheap subscription offers
• Average streaming speed
• Supports OpenVPN, IKEv2 and L2TP

Visit ZenMate

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee!

ZenMate is another completely free VPN provider to add to your list. You are not required to input your credit card details before using the free version. It gives a 7-day period for free trials. Also, it is one of the VPNs that allow you to access even its premium services during the free trial. This is remarkable, considering that ZenMate has over 3000 servers in 74 countries.

ZenMate grants you access to streaming platforms both in the United States, the United Kingdom, and beyond. It has servers that stream content at top speed, without lagging in the slightest. You can stream content from Netflix, BritBox, UK TV Play with minimal restrictions. ZenMate’s torrenting speed is even higher than its streaming speed. It has P2P-optimized servers that allow you to download content with relative ease.

ZenMate’s security fittings are also excellent. For its desktop and mobile app, it makes use of the AES 256-bit encryption. Its browser extensions make use of the lesser 128-bit, which is still great. ZenMate also comes fitted with an automatic kill switch and leak protection. The provider allows you to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. Furthermore, it is compatible with most devices.

Are Free VPN Services Good?

Completely free VPNs are not bad. However, they are not great, either. They sometimes have compromised security features, low streaming speeds, and a limited number of servers. In fact, making use of a completely free VPN can be a frustrating experience. However, a risk-free VPN saves you these hassles. At the same time, you get to have a trial of the VPN at no cost. Granted, you would have to get on a subscription plan first, but the window within which you can ask for a refund is reasonably lengthy. It goes without saying that a risk-free VPN will better serve you.

Features to Look Out for in a Free VPN

Some important features to watch out for in a free VPN is among others:

• Security
  Security is the chief reason for making use of a VPN. Hence, if a VPN’s security is compromised, it is all but worthless. That said, you have to ascertain the strength of the VPN’s security before you start the free trial. Free VPNs typically make use of a protocol known as PPTP VPN. However, paid, risk-free VPNs make use of other protocols such as OpenVPN. You should strongly consider this before beginning the free trial with any VPN.
• Length of the trial
  Be sure to note the length of time you have for the free trial. This varies depending on the provider. Some offer one day, while others offer between 3 to 7 days.  Also, for risk-free VPNs, you need to be particularly careful. This is because once the money-back guarantee period elapses, you will be ineligible for a refund.
• Number of servers
  The higher the number of servers the provider has, the better coverage you get. Hence, it is important to know upfront the number and quality of servers the provider has. Another reason to know the number of servers is to ascertain what services you can have access to. For instance, for you to have access to Netflix Japan, the provider needs to have servers in the country. Bear in mind that you may be unable to access the full range of a provider’s servers in the free version. Additionally, servers you may have access to in the free version may not be up to date. For a totally pleasant experience, you should strongly consider a risk- free VPN instead.
• Privacy Policy
  To make sure you are safe while surfing the internet, a provider is supposed to have ironclad security. In addition to this, a provider has to ensure that it keeps no logs of users’ online activities. This is because if it keeps a log of your online activities, you are still unsafe. Your details can be sold to data-mining companies like advertising companies. This defeats the purpose of using a VPN in the first place. Also, the provider may be pressured to give up your details to the government. You should make sure that the provider you settle for has a strict no-logs policy. Only then can you be truly sure that you are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Free VPNs with No Credit Card

Why do I need a risk-free VPN?

One of the core objectives of a VPN is to protect your data and prevent it from falling into the hands of hackers or snoopers. Some free VPNs fall short of this requirement. To access content on your favorite platforms like Hulu and Netflix, you need a secure VPN. Risk-free VPNs are better than completely free ones because they do not restrict access to features and have the revenue to give you the best service.

Are free VPNs safe for use?

No, free VPNs are not totally safe for use. VPNs are expensive and require adequate expertise to manage and maintain. They also have to keep up to date with recent changes in the internet security space. Some free VPNs can compromise your security because they contain malware, leading to a potential data breach. 

A study on Google play apps revealed that 72% of some free VPNs have a third-party tracker embedded in their software. These trackers collect information about your internet activities so that advertisers can better target you with ads.

Should I always leave my VPN on?

Yes, You should always leave your VPN on. You’re much less likely to experience bandwidth throttling by your internet service provider (ISP) if you don’t disconnect from your VPN. In addition, most VPN services enable you to access geo-blocked content on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu.

Streaming content continuously will require that your VPN remain connected, or the streaming service will detect your location and restrict access. In addition, if your online activities involve sharing sensitive data during an online transaction, we recommend that your VPN remain on to protect your data from hackers or cybercriminals.

How do I choose the best free VPN? 

When choosing the best free VPN services, you need to consider factors like server location, connection speed, kill switch and no-log policy, and security features.

However, we recommend a VPN with an extensive network of servers, advanced features, safe practices, and a record of satisfied customers who can attest to its performance.

Conclusion

It is often necessary to try out a VPN before you get on a subscription plan. Of the providers that offer some semblance of a free trial, some give a money-back guarantee, others request for your credit card details. However, there are others that are completely free and do not require your credit card details. Above, you will find a comprehensive discussion on these latter providers. Happy surfing!