No “free VPN” is ever really 100% free. Most limit your bandwidth and data. Some have even been caught downloading malware to users’ devices and recording their browsing activity. That’s why I strongly recommend a premium option like ExpressVPN. You can unblock most popular streaming services from Europe, including Netflix US. ExpressVPN offers the possibility to test it out for yourself risk-free. If you don’t feel it’s right for you, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee period. Most free VPNs threaten your security, but there are a few that are safe to use. I tested 33+ free VPNs to find you the best services for Europe. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Today!
What’s the Catch With for Free VPNs
Free VPNs can cost you more than a premium VPN subscription. The vendors on my list are safe to use, but most free VPNs don’t provide the same security features. Read on to learn about the risks of using a free VPN.
Security
It’s expensive to develop, build, and maintain a secure VPN, so free services usually cut corners on security features. Many free VPNs pay for operation costs by selling your data to third parties for advertising purposes. Some free VPNs have been caught downloading malicious software to users’ devices to gather information about browsing habits. Privacy policies are hit and miss with free services. Trustworthy free VPNs like the ones on this list offer detailed information about the types of data they collect. Others I found twist the words in their privacy policies to trick you into unknowingly handing over your personal information. If you value your privacy, a premium vendor is the best option. Only well-established, secure VPNs give you the anonymity and security you need.
Limitations
Free VPNs operate fewer servers, and most don’t have servers in Europe at all. Connecting to a server outside your country will slow your connection down and block your access to some local content. Most free servers limit your bandwidth, speed, and data, too. Premium VPNs operate global server networks, and most have multiple European servers. They don’t limit your speed or data, either.
Compatibility
Most free VPNs only offer apps for laptops and desktops. For example, there are plenty of free VPNs for Windows but there aren’t many that are compatible with phones, tablets, or routers. They often limit you to one active connection per account, too. So, if you have multiple devices, you may need to download several different free VPNs to protect them all. Premium services like ExpressVPN offer apps for all popular operating systems, including routers and smart TVs. They also allow multiple simultaneous connections so that you can protect all of your devices with one account.
The Best for Free VPNs for Europe (Updated 2023)
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a premium vendor but it’s backed by a money-back guarantee so you can try it risk-free and claim a refund within 30 days if you’re not happy with it. Military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and DNS leak protection keep your browsing habits private and data safe. ExpressVPN also uses industry-standard OpenVPN and IKEv2/IPSec protocols. ExpressVPN operates 3,000 in 94 countries, including 60 server locations in Europe. Because ExpressVPN refreshes its IP addresses regularly, it can bypass geoblocks to access most streaming services. The MediaStreamer feature allows you to connect any WiFi-enabled device to a VPN, even devices not typically supported by VPNs. I set up the MediaStreamer on my router and connected to a US server to give it a test on my SmartTV. It only took me 3 minutes to unlock Netflix. There are specialty P2P servers. You can configure ExpressVPN to work with Onion over VPN for Tor in the app. ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which is well outside of the 14-Eyes’ range. Not that it matters, though, because ExpressVPN means business when it says it doesn’t keep any logs. You can secure up to 5 of your devices at once with just one ExpressVPN account. This is a budget-friendly option if you have a large family or a collection of different devices in your home. There is even an app for smart TVs. For total anonymity, you can use Bitcoin to pay for your ExpressVPN subscription through BitPay. PayPal is available, but I noticed that you can only use it in certain regions. If you’ve tested ExpressVPN and have decided it’s time to upgrade, you can check out our exclusive coupons to save some money on your subscription. Or, learn more about its features in our in-depth ExpressVPN review. Try ExpressVPN Risk-Free Now!
2. CyberGhost
CyberGhost is not normally free, but it offers a 24-hour free trial so you can try and see if you like it. It uses AES-256 type encryption, which is the strongest available at the moment. This means that no one can access your personal information as you browse. With 9,074+ servers around the world, you’ll be able to access your favorite websites and streaming platforms, even if they’re normally geoblocked. Its NoSpy servers assure that you’re completely anonymous at all times. Every time you disconnect, your footprint is erased — not even the VPN knows you were ever connected to its servers. CyberGhost allows P2P transfers on all its servers, meaning that you’ll be completely safe, even when you’re connected to torrenting clients. It’s located in Romania, which is outside of any intelligence alliance. On top of that, it has a strong no-logs policy, which assures you that none of your personal data is stored. You can connect up to 7 devices to its servers. Besides, it’s compatible with the most popular operating systems, so you can keep all your devices protected with only one subscription. You can check out the full CyberGhost review and see how well it performs. Since it offers a 24-hour free trial, you can take advantage of it and test all its features. You can also try it out with its extended 45-day money-back guarantee and ask for a refund if you’re not happy. Download CyberGhost for Free Today!
3. TunnelBear
TunnelBear provides you with 500MB of free data per month. That’s enough to stream for 30 minutes and catch up with friends regularly on social media, but you can’t watch movies or torrent large files. TunnelBear uses 256-bit military-grade encryption. It keeps a strict no-logs policy and conducts an annual independent audit to identify possible weaknesses so that you have the protection you can trust. You can choose from three security modes in the well-designed app. Its GhostBear mode makes VPN traffic look like regular traffic so that you can bypass deep packet inspection (DPI) undetected. That means you can use TunnelBear to bypass censorship in restrictive areas like Russia and China. Vigilant Mode is TunnelBear’s version of a kill switch. It stops unprotected data leaving your network if your VPN connection drops. The Always On mode connects you to the VPN the instant you start your device, so you’re never without protection. It also offers a separate ad blocker free called TunnelBear Blocker. TunnelBear doesn’t limit your speed, so your connection is always lightning-fast. It unblocks a few streaming services, including HBO GO and YouTube, but not Netflix or Hulu. Want to know more? Read the results of our extensive performance tests in our TunnelBear review. Download TunnelBear for Free Today!
4. PrivateVPN
PrivateVPN’s 7-day free trial gives you a full security suite with unlimited speed and bandwidth. You have access to 200 servers in 63 countries, which is great if you frequently travel because there is always a server nearby. PrivateVPN uses 256-bit encryption and several secure protocols, including OpenVPN, L2TP, IKEv2/IPSec, and PPTP, to prevent data breaches and unauthorized device access. There’s also IPv6 leak protection to protect you from software security flaws that could leak your IP and location. The Connection Guard feature acts as an enhanced kill switch that you can customize to stop specific programs and apps if your VPN connection drops. It is a great failsafe for torrenting, online banking, and messaging apps. Unfortunately, it can’t bypass the Great Wall of China. You can use PrivateVPN to unblock Netflix, YouTube, and BBC iPlayer. Because you can connect up to 10 devices at the same time, you can protect your entire household with just one account. It supports P2P connections, too. I experienced fast connections with PrivateVPN, even when I connected to servers in other countries. Its Burst feature offers speeds of up to 139.62 Mbps. For context, you only need 25 Mbps to stream Netflix in Ultra HD. PrivateVPN is fast. PrivateVPN is headquartered in Sweden, which is part of the 14-Eyes Alliance. You don’t need to worry, though, because PrivateVPN’s strict no-logs policy means that it has no information to surrender even if an allied country subpoenas it. Interested in trying PrivateVPN? Discover more about its security features in our in-depth review. Download PrivateVPN for Free Today!
5. OperaVPN
Opera VPN gives you unlimited data and bandwidth, but it’s only available as an Opera browser extension. It doesn’t protect any of the data you send from apps outside of your browser. It operates servers in Asia, North and South America, and Europe. This limited selection makes it nearly impossible to use Opera VPN to bypass geoblocks because you can’t connect to a server in a specific location. It can’t unblock Netflix, Hulu, or BBC iPlayer. It uses 256-bit encryption and offers public WiFi protection. Opera VPN uses the HTTPS proxy method instead of OpenVPN. It can’t mask itself as regular traffic, so it’s more likely to be detected and blocked by DPI. You can’t use it to bypass censorship in China. It doesn’t log your browsing activity or original network address, so your location and activity can’t be traced. Still, it records anonymous use statistics, crash reports, and some device information like your operating system and platform. When I read its privacy policy, I noticed that Opera VPN is very open and honest about the data it collects. Its privacy policy is straightforward and easy to understand. The browser itself has an Automatic Update feature that checks for and installs updates as soon as they’re released. This way, you always have the latest security patches and features. Opera VPN is compatible with Opera’s ad and tracker blocker, which you can customize to allow pop-ups from specific sites. This is useful for online gaming and some free streaming sites that won’t let you watch without ads. It doesn’t offer any customer support, but there are user forums that can answer basic questions. Download Opera VPN for Free Today!
6. VPNBook
VPNBook offers unlimited bandwidth and data. Its European servers are primarily located in Romania and are protected by its privacy-friendly laws. VPNBook has fast connection speeds and a multilingual interface. You can choose from French, Spanish, English, Russian, Chinese, and more. Your data is encrypted using AES 256-bit encryption. You can also opt for 128-bit encryption. Both methods are powerful enough to keep your data safe from thieves and hackers. Its Cloud-based IP content delivery network (CDN) routes your traffic through the fastest server, which increases its overall performance. VPNBook doesn’t have apps, so you need to configure it manually using OpenVPN or a PPTP client. PPTP is compatible with most operating systems, but VPNBook recommends using the open-source OpenVPN client because it’s harder for websites and surveillance agencies to detect and block. There are installation guides for both PPTP and OpenVPN with step-by-step instructions. VPNBook operates servers in the US, Canada, Germany, Romania, and the UK. It doesn’t block any ports, and you can use it to bypass geoblocks and censorship. Its Romanian servers allow P2P activity. I was able to unblock Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and social media sites during my test. VPNBook doesn’t limit your connection speed, even if you are using a data-intensive program. You get consistently fast upload and download speeds across all its servers. Download VPNBook for Free Today!
7. Windscribe
You can get 10GB free data per month from Windscribe. There’s also an opportunity to earn up to 5GB more per month if you tweet about the service. 10GB is enough to stream SD videos for 10 hours or browse for over 150 hours. There are only ten free server locations. Because so many users connect to so few servers, the network experiences congestion during peak times. This slows your connection significantly. You can unblock YouTube and Kodi add-ons from other regions, but Windscribe’s free servers can’t access Netflix or Hulu. You’ll need to upgrade to a premium account to unblock streaming services. You can use Windscribe’s Stealth Mode to bypass censorship and geoblocks. It also has a built-in firewall that prevents hackers from gaining access to your device and personal information. Download Windscribe for Free Today!
8. Proton VPN
Proton VPN offers unlimited free data and bandwidth. It doesn’t keep any logs and has an easy-to-understand privacy policy. It protects your data with AES 256-bit military-grade encryption so that it can’t fall into the wrong hands. Proton VPN also supports perfect forward secrecy, which provides a new temporary encryption key for each browsing session. Even if a hacker compromises a previous session, they won’t be able to view any other sessions before or after it. Proton VPN can unblock popular services like Hulu and Netflix. It also supports P2P activity and features Tor over VPN. During my test, it was fast enough to stream without buffering. You can connect to three servers, but only one of them is in Europe. Unlike most free VPNs, Proton VPN isn’t ad-supported, so it doesn’t bombard you with disruptive banner ads or pop-ups. Download Proton VPN for Free Today!
9. hide.me
hide.me offers 2GB of free data per month. That’s enough data to check your email, social media, and bank accounts regularly. You can even watch a few short YouTube videos. It provides IP leak protection, an automatic kill switch, and 256-bit encryption. You can use its split-tunneling feature to customize which data you send through your VPN, and which goes through your local IP address. This makes it easy for you to access local services and websites, while still protecting some of your traffic. It also helps you save data because you aren’t using it on apps that don’t need to be protected. hide.me doesn’t throttle your connection speed, which makes it an excellent choice for torrenting. You can also use it to access popular streaming services like Netflix US and HBO Go. But, because you only have access to five server locations, there may not always be a server where you need one. Download hide.me for Free Today!
Why is it so difficult to find a free VPN that works in Europe?
Free VPNs operate limited server networks. They tend to focus their efforts in regions like the US and the UK so that they can market themselves as able to unblock Netflix and BBC iPlayer. Very few free VPNs operate servers in Europe. The farther your data has to travel to your VPN server, the slower your connection will be. Most free VPNs already limit your speed and bandwidth. So, if you’re in Europe and you need to connect to a server in the US or the UK, your internet will be too slow to use. Premium VPNs operate thousands of servers all across the world, including European locations. This makes it easier to find a VPN that’s fast enough to use.
Does a VPN impact speed?
It’s normal for a VPN to decrease your connection speed a little bit. It takes extra time for your data to be encryption and then travel to the VPN server. If you use a premium VPN, you won’t notice this speed loss. Free VPNs often throttle your connection speed to encourage you to upgrade to a premium account.
Do free VPN providers keep logs?
I tested the free VPNs on this list to make sure that they don’t log your data. Still, most other free VPNs collect personally identifiable information, including your original IP address and browsing activity.
Summary
Most free VPNs are extremely limited. They restrict your data, speed, and security features. That’s why I recommend using a premium VPN. They offer the best security features and high-speed connections. Plus, you can use them to unblock streaming sites like Netflix US. Most premium vendors also offer money-back guarantees and free trials, so there’s no need to risk your connection speed and security with a free VPN. You can find out more about these VPNs in my colleague’s investigation into the best VPNs with free trials. Or, get a discounted premium subscription with our deals and coupons.
The Best Premium VPNs for Europe 2023 are…
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