Best Free VPN for PC in 2026: 9 Free Windows VPNs Ranked

Last verified 4 October 2026. The best free VPN for a Windows PC is Proton VPN: its desktop app has no data cap, no ads and a kill switch on the free plan, and it is paid for by subscribers rather than by your data. The trade-off is one device at a time and no say over which country you connect through. If you need to pick a country, Windscribe is the better free choice, with 10 GB a month, 10 countries and no device limit. Below are 9 free VPNs we checked against each vendor's own site this week, ranked for desktop use: how much data the free plan gives you on a PC, where you can connect, how many devices, whether the Windows app has a kill switch, and what the catch is.

Toolradar data: of the 35 VPN tools in our catalog, 5 are completely free and another 16 are freemium. That catalog also covers business VPNs, not only consumer apps, so the list of genuinely free Windows apps is shorter than it looks.

Quick Comparison

Our picks: the best free VPNs for PC, ranked

1. Proton VPN Free

Proton VPN's free plan is the one to install first on a Windows PC. There is no data cap and no ads, and Proton says the free service is supported by paying users. The core privacy features are on the free tier: the strict no-logs policy, the kill switch and the Stealth protocol, which helps on networks that block VPNs. The Windows app also keeps DNS and IPv6 leak protection and "alternative routing" (reconnecting through other networks when Proton's servers are blocked) as free features. All of Proton's apps are open source and audited by third parties.

The limits: one device at a time, and you do not choose the country. Proton's pricing page says free users connect to servers in 10 countries, randomly selected. Proton rates free-tier speed as "medium" next to its paid plans, and streaming, P2P, split tunneling and the NetShield ad blocker are paid features.

Windows note: Proton publishes a native ARM64 build alongside the x64 app, which matters if you are on a Snapdragon laptop such as a Surface Pro or Surface Laptop.

Pick it if you want one PC protected all day with nothing to ration, and you do not care which country you appear in.

2. Windscribe Free

Windscribe gives 10 GB a month once you confirm an email, or 2 GB without one. Free servers cover 10 countries: the US, Canada, UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway and Romania. One free account works on as many devices as you like, so your desktop, laptop and phone can all share it.

On Windows, the free plan is unusually complete. Windscribe lists AES-256 encryption, all six of its protocols across 20+ ports, the firewall (its leak protection and kill switch) and split tunneling on the free tier, and its R.O.B.E.R.T. blocker removes ads, trackers and malware domains in the desktop and mobile apps. The desktop apps are open source, the apps have been audited, and its no-logs policy was tested in a court case.

You can raise the cap permanently: posting about Windscribe on X adds 5 GB a month (your account needs at least 3 followers), and each friend who signs up adds 1 GB. If you outgrow it, Pro costs $9 a month or $69 a year, and Build-A-Plan charges $1 per location per month with a $3 minimum.

Pick it if you want to choose your country, block ads system-wide and cover every device on one free account.

3. PrivadoVPN Free

PrivadoVPN, based in Switzerland, gives 10 GB every 30 days at full speed with a verified email and no card. Free servers sit in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the UK and the US, on the same infrastructure paying users get. PrivadoVPN says you can watch video on the free plan, which most free tiers block.

The free tier includes a kill switch and a choice of OpenVPN (UDP, TCP, Scramble and DCO), WireGuard and IKEv2. You can install the app on unlimited devices, but a free account connects one at a time.

When the 10 GB runs out, you are not cut off. You move to Lite Mode, which keeps the kill switch but limits your speed and picks an optimized server for you until your allowance renews. Unused data does not roll over.

Pick it if you want Windscribe-sized data with a better shot at video, and one connected device is enough.

4. hide.me Free

hide.me's free VPN has no data cap and needs no registration: download the Windows app and connect. You choose from 8 server locations, one device at a time, with no ads, and free users get the same 24/7 support as paying ones. hide.me describes itself as a certified zero-log provider audited by independent analysts.

The Windows client is the most flexible here for older machines. Version 4.3.2 runs on Windows 10 and 11, and a 3.17.4 build covers Windows 7 or later. The app includes a kill switch, StealthGuard (which limits internet access to the VPN), split tunneling, DNS leak protection and auto-connect on startup.

The catch is speed. hide.me says free accounts do not get unlimited speeds, and its streaming-optimized servers are for Premium users only. For browsing, email and public Wi-Fi it does the job.

Pick it if you want an uncapped desktop VPN without creating an account and can live with variable speed.

5. ZoogVPN Free

ZoogVPN offers a lifetime free plan with 10 GB of traffic that renews every month, no credit card, no ads and no logs. Free users choose from 5 locations, and ZoogVPN names London, Washington and Amsterdam among them. The desktop apps include a kill switch, and IKEv2 and OpenVPN are built in, with PPTP and L2TP/IPSec also supported.

ZoogVPN is upfront that its free plan is a lighter product. Its own comparison lists limited speed with possible network congestion, one device, partial access to streaming services and basic 128-bit encryption on free, against 256-bit encryption, 100+ locations and 10 devices on Premium. The apps include Shadow, an obfuscation mode for heavily censored countries, though ZoogVPN says the free plan may have difficulty getting past restrictions. Premium costs $9.99 for one month or $39.99 for a year, with a 7-day money-back guarantee.

Pick it if you want 10 GB with a choice of location and plan to upgrade if the network feels crowded.

6. AdGuard VPN Free

AdGuard VPN's free plan gives 3 GB a month, 10 server locations and up to 2 devices at once. After the 3 GB your speed drops instead of cutting out, some servers are locked and streaming is unavailable. The Windows app works with any browser or app on the PC.

It runs on AdGuard's open-source TrustTunnel protocol, includes a kill switch, and lets you exclude websites or apps from the tunnel. You can also point it at any DNS server, including AdGuard DNS to block ads and trackers. The paid version adds unlimited data, 70+ locations, 10 devices and streaming.

Pick it if you already use AdGuard's ad blocker and want a light VPN on a laptop and a phone at the same time.

7. Cloudflare WARP (1.1.1.1)

WARP is Cloudflare's free app for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android. You install it and switch it on, with no sign-up step, and it sends your traffic through a WireGuard tunnel to a nearby Cloudflare server. Cloudflare says the basic WARP service is free without bandwidth caps and that it will not sell your data. The Windows client needs .NET Framework 4.7.2 or later.

It is not a location-changing VPN. Cloudflare's FAQ says sites see a Cloudflare IP that represents your approximate location, so you cannot appear in another country, and games or streaming services that check location may not work. Apps that use your camera or microphone bypass WARP, which exposes your real IP to them. On fast home broadband you may also notice lower throughput. The paid WARP+ Unlimited tier is sold only through the App Store and Google Play.

Pick it if you want to hide your browsing from a café network or your ISP on a laptop, not to change your location.

8. Opera Free VPN

Opera's browser has a built-in free VPN on Windows with no data cap, no account, no extension and no ads. You choose between three physical server locations (Ashburn in the US, Amsterdam and Singapore) or let it pick the fastest. Opera says the no-log policy is audited by Deloitte and the software was tested by Cure53, and the service is funded by search partnerships and paid VPN Pro subscriptions.

The big caveat is scope. It protects everything inside the Opera browser and nothing else on your PC: not your mail client, games, Steam or system updates. Opera's VPN Pro covers the whole device on up to six devices with 48 regions.

Pick it if private browsing on public Wi-Fi is all you need and you are happy to use Opera for it.

9. TunnelBear Free

TunnelBear's free plan gives 2 GB of secure browsing a month and keeps VigilantBear (its kill switch) and GhostBear (obfuscation) for free users. TunnelBear has no ads and publishes annual independent security audits, and the app is among the easiest to use.

But TunnelBear moved country selection and SplitBear split tunneling to paid plans, so free users connect without choosing a location. Combined with a 2 GB cap, that makes it a trial more than a daily driver. Unlimited starts at $3.33 a month.

Pick it if you want the gentlest introduction to VPNs and only need protection now and then.

How to choose a free VPN for your PC

Decide whether you need a new location or just encryption. If you only want your ISP or a hotel network out of your traffic, Proton VPN, hide.me and Cloudflare WARP are all uncapped. If you need to appear in a specific country, rule out Proton, WARP and TunnelBear, and look at Windscribe, PrivadoVPN, hide.me or AdGuard.

Match the cap to how you use the PC. A laptop you use mostly for email and documents can live on 10 GB a month. A desktop that stays connected all day, downloads updates and streams video needs an uncapped plan, which narrows the field to Proton VPN and hide.me (or WARP, if location does not matter).

Count your devices. Proton, PrivadoVPN, hide.me and ZoogVPN allow one connection at a time on free. If your laptop and phone need cover at once, Windscribe (unlimited) or AdGuard (2) are the practical options.

Turn on the kill switch. On a desktop, a dropped VPN connection is easy to miss, and your real IP leaks until you notice. Every system-wide pick here except WARP lists a kill switch on the free plan; check it is enabled after install.

Know the Windows details. If you have an ARM laptop, Proton ships a native ARM64 build. If you are on an older machine, hide.me still offers a build for Windows 7 or later. Windows 10 and 11 also have a built-in VPN client under Settings, but it only connects to a server you already have; it is not a free VPN service.

Check who pays. Every pick here is funded by paid subscribers, search deals or a larger business. For mobile-first and ad-supported options too, see our broader guide to the best free VPNs.

FAQ

What is the best free VPN for Windows 11?

Proton VPN is the best all-round free VPN for Windows 11: no data cap, no ads, a kill switch and Stealth protocol on the free plan, plus a native ARM64 app. Its limits are one device and no choice of country. Windscribe is the best free option if you need to pick a country or cover several devices.

Is there a completely free VPN for PC with no data limit?

Yes. Proton VPN and hide.me both run as full Windows apps with no data cap. Cloudflare WARP has no bandwidth cap either but does not change your location, and Opera's VPN is unlimited but only covers the Opera browser.

Does Windows have a free built-in VPN?

Windows 10 and 11 include a VPN client, not a VPN service. It can connect to a server you configure, such as one from your employer, but it does not come with servers of its own. You still need a provider like the ones above.

Which free PC VPN lets me choose my country?

Windscribe (10 countries), PrivadoVPN (10 countries), AdGuard VPN (10 locations), hide.me (8 locations), ZoogVPN (5 locations) and Opera's browser VPN (3 regions). Proton VPN and TunnelBear assign the location on their free plans, and WARP does not change it.

Can I use one free VPN on my PC and my phone at the same time?

With Windscribe, yes: one free account covers unlimited devices. AdGuard VPN allows 2 at once. Proton VPN, PrivadoVPN, hide.me and ZoogVPN limit free accounts to one connection at a time.

Can I stream or game with a free VPN on PC?

Mostly not well. Proton, hide.me and AdGuard keep streaming for paid plans, ZoogVPN offers only partial streaming access on free, and Cloudflare warns that location-checked games and streaming services may break on WARP. PrivadoVPN is the exception that advertises video on its free plan, within the 10 GB of full-speed data.

Bottom line

Install Proton VPN on your PC if you want one free, uncapped connection you never have to think about. Choose Windscribe instead if you need to pick your country or protect more than one device. If neither fits, hide.me is the uncapped, no-account fallback, and Cloudflare WARP is enough when all you want is encryption on public Wi-Fi. For most Windows users, the decision is simple: start with Proton VPN, and switch to Windscribe the day you need a specific country.