Getting something for free always feels great, especially where your privacy is concerned. VPNs can be a little expensive, too, so it makes sense that a lot of people don’t want to have to pay for an extra subscription. The problem is that, if you’re not careful, you might end up with a “free” service where you pay with your data, which is pretty much the opposite of what you want from a VPN. Hence the paid vs free VPN debate rages on.
Privacy, security, performance, server locations, compatibility, and customer support options also differ hugely between paid and free VPNs. Meanwhile, if you’re planning on using one for gaming, well, a free option just isn’t going to hack it. Here’s a little overview of how these different types of services compare to one another.
Privacy and security
The best VPNs offer strong and reliable encryption for privacy, with AES-256 being the accepted standard. Free VPNs can offer this level of encrypted data too, but they’re less reliable when it comes to personal data and logging policies.
Popular paid VPNs make a big deal out of their no-logs policies, but free VPNs don’t. Where data is collected, money can be made, making free VPNs attractive to advertisers. Some VPNs like TunnelBear, for example, offer a limited trial that they hope will entice full subscriptions, but I recommend reading the policies of any free service carefully.
Performance
Most premium VPNs offer fast server infrastructure, with some being suitable as gaming VPNs. Superior servers, unlimited bandwidth, efficient, custom-built clients, and dedicated protocols all contribute to superior performance.
Free VPNs, on the other hand, typically struggle to perform in the same way as their premium counterparts. If you just want an extra layer of privacy during everyday internet use, this isn’t so much of a problem, but if you’re going to be streaming something or downloading a lot of stuff, then they’re going to struggle (and maybe run out of data).
Server locations
This is one area where there is a vast difference between paid and free VPNs. Premium services usually have connection points in hundreds of countries.
Free VPNs, on the other hand, typically have just a small handful of server locations and often just within the US. These still give you privacy, for sure, but won’t give you access to much geo-restricted content. This won’t be a problem for all VPN users, but it is something to be conscious of. If a free VPN is promising loads of server locations, be suspicious and read up on it carefully.
Gaming and streaming
If you are planning on using a VPN for gaming, or just want to continue to access your home Netflix library while traveling abroad, you’ll be happy to hear that most paid VPNs have no difficulty doing this whatsoever. Many of them even have dedicated servers for an optimised streaming experience.
Free VPN plans, on the other hand, are much less likely to work with popular games and streaming platforms. These platforms often block VPN server IP addresses because they look ‘suspicious,’ and with a smaller server sample on most free plans, you’re less likely to gain access using them. Meanwhile, a premium service will have so many servers that even if one is blocked, you’ll probably be able to get in using another without much trouble.
Platforms
Free VPNs are usually only available on iOS and Android devices. This includes the free plans of bigger services, which, when you pay, can be used on pretty much anything. There are also lots of free VPNs that are exclusive to mobile devices and don’t have a desktop alternative.
This isn’t a hard and fast rule. There are some free VPNs that work on PCs and other non-mobile devices, but they are a minority. You’ll almost never find a worthwhile premium VPN that is mobile-only, though, and chances are that you’ll be able to use them with pretty much anything, including Linux, smart TVs, and more.
Customer support
Customer support is one of the things you’re probably going to have to do without if you want to get a free VPN. It’s not really a huge thing, because without money involved, you’re much less likely to need to speak to the CS team anyway. Though if you find yourself unable to log into your account, or if the VPN seems to be down and you can’t get it working, then the lack of a proper support team can be annoying.
Subscription vs. ads
Ads are the most common method through which free VPNs ‘pay for themselves.’ They’re annoying, but they’re a fairly decent compromise for not having to pay and don’t use up much bandwidth. If a free VPN doesn’t have ads or another obvious way of generating money, be wary, because it might be that it’s selling your data. Others simply give you a limited amount of data each month, similar to the free trials offered by premium VPNs.
Naturally, a regular subscription helps you to avoid all of these hurdles. You pay, then you just enjoy exploring the internet with an extra layer of privacy. It all comes down to whether or not you can justify the expense. Just be conscious that the ‘cost’ of certain free VPNs can be worse than a paid option if you go for a dodgy one.
Paid vs free VPNs – which should you get?
If you:
- Don’t have a huge budget
- Don’t need a VPN for gaming or streaming
- Just want extra privacy on certain web searches
Then a free VPN is the way to go. Something like TunnelBear is probably your safest bet. There are other good options, too, but I can personally vouch for that one being safe and reliable.
If you:
- Want connection points in loads of different countries
- Don’t want to deal with data caps
- Plan on using the VPN for gaming or streaming
Then a paid service like NordVPN is the way to go (check out our NordVPN review for more). You’ll definitely feel the difference with a premium service where, essentially, it’s just like browsing the internet as usual, with all the extra benefits a premium VPN provides.