Best VPN Trial 2025: Top VPN Services to Try Risk-Free

If you’re searching for the best VPN trial in 2025, you’re likely looking to test a VPN service without paying upfront. The good news is many leading VPNs now offer free trials or generous money-back guarantees, letting you try their features risk-free. In this guide, we’ll cover the VPNs with the best trial offers – including completely free trials and no-hassle refunds – and what each trial entails. You’ll also see how long the trial lasts, any limitations, supported platforms, and key features (privacy, speed, streaming, P2P, server network) for each VPN.

Best VPN Trial – 2025 Comparison Table

VPN Service	Trial Type	Trial Length	Platforms	Refund Policy
NordVPN	Free trial (mobile) + MBG	7 days free (Android/iOS); 30 days risk-free	Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS	30-day money-back guarantee
Surfshark	Free trial (mobile) + MBG	7 days free (Android/iOS); 30 days risk-free	Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS	30-day money-back guarantee
ExpressVPN	Money-back guarantee *	7 days free (Android/iOS); 30 days risk-free	Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, routers	30-day money-back guarantee
CyberGhost	Free trials + MBG	24h (Windows/Mac); 3 days (Android); 7 days (iOS)	Win, Mac, Android, iOS (7 devices)	45-day money-back (14-day on 1-mo plan)
ProtonVPN	Free plan + MBG	Unlimited free (basic plan); 30 days risk-free (paid)	Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS (Free: 1 device)	30-day money-back guarantee
Private Internet Access	Free trial (mobile) + MBG	7 days free (Android/iOS); 30 days risk-free	Win, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS (10 devices)	30-day money-back guarantee

*MBG = Money-Back Guarantee. (*ExpressVPN’s 7-day free trial is available via mobile app sign-up.)

Each of the VPNs above lets you test-drive the service either through a limited-time free trial or a “no questions asked” refund period. Below, we break down the details for each provider, including trial conditions, platform support, and standout features.

NordVPN – 7-Day Free Trial + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

NordVPN is a top-rated VPN that combines a true free trial on mobile with a 30-day refund for all plans. This means you can try NordVPN on your device for a week free of charge, or use its 30-day money-back guarantee as a risk-free trial on any platform.

• Trial Type & Duration: Offers a 7-day free trial for new users on Android and iOS, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. This trial grants full access to premium features during the week.
• Trial Limitations: The 7-day trial must be claimed via the mobile app (Google Play or Apple App Store). No upfront payment is charged until the week ends, but it will auto-renew to a long-term plan if not canceled in time. (The 30-day refund is only available if you purchase directly from NordVPN’s website.)
• Supported Platforms: Native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, plus support for routers and smart TVs. You can use the same trial account on multiple devices (up to 6 simultaneous connections per account).
• Privacy & Security: Strict no-logs policy (based in privacy-friendly Panama) and robust security features. NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption and offers advanced tools like Double VPN, Onion over VPN, and threat protection against malware. It also runs on RAM-only servers for added privacy (no data stored long-term).
• Speed & Performance: Excellent speeds – NordVPN had the fastest download speeds among top VPNs in recent tests (only ~12% drop on a 250 Mbps connection). This makes it ideal for HD streaming and gaming with minimal lag.
• Streaming & P2P: Great for streaming – NordVPN reliably unblocks Netflix (and other platforms like Hulu, BBC iPlayer, etc.) and supports P2P/torrenting on specialty servers. During the trial, you can test these capabilities with no data caps or throttling.
• Server Network: Over 7,300 servers in 118 countries around the world, ensuring plenty of options to find a fast, nearby server. NordVPN’s large network, coupled with features like server obfuscation, helps maintain speed and access even in restricted regions.

Surfshark – 7-Day Free Trial + 30-Day Money-Back (Unlimited Devices)

Surfshark stands out by offering an easy-to-cancel free trial and allowing unlimited simultaneous devices. It’s one of the most affordable VPNs, yet it provides a full-featured 7-day trial and a 30-day refund period, so you can test everything from its speeds to its security features.

• Trial Type & Duration: Provides a 7-day free trial for Android and iOS users (activated via the mobile app), along with a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscription plans.
• Trial Limitations: The free trial requires signing up through the app (App Store/Google Play). Like others, it will auto-charge for a 12- or 24-month plan after 7 days if not canceled. However, you won’t be billed during the trial period. The 30-day refund applies to all platforms if you purchase normally on the website.
• Supported Platforms: Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, plus browser extensions and smart TV support. Surfshark uniquely allows unlimited devices, so you can trial it on as many devices as you own simultaneously.
• Privacy & Security: Strict no-logs policy and strong encryption. Surfshark includes features like Camouflage Mode (to hide VPN usage), NoBorders mode (to bypass network restrictions), and MultiHop double VPN servers for extra security. It also has a built-in kill switch and CleanWeb (ad blocker) for privacy.
• Speed & Performance: Very fast speeds in our trials – Surfshark almost matched NordVPN’s performance, with only minor speed reductions on long-distance connections. Its modern WireGuard protocol ensures low latency, suitable for streaming and gaming.
• Streaming & P2P: Excellent streaming support – Surfshark reliably unblocks services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. Torrenting is allowed on all servers, with no bandwidth limits. Unlimited connections mean you can stream on multiple devices at once without issues.
• Server Network: 3,200+ servers in ~100 countries. While its server count is smaller than some rivals, Surfshark’s network spans a broad range of locations (100 countries) and all servers are P2P-friendly. This wide coverage helps maintain good speeds globally and find less-crowded servers.

ExpressVPN – 30-Day Risk-Free Trial (Easy Refund, 7-Day Free on Mobile)

ExpressVPN is renowned for its ease of use and premium features. It doesn’t advertise a standard free trial on desktop, but it effectively offers a risk-free 30-day trial via its money-back guarantee. Mobile users can also get a 7-day free trial through the app stores. During this period, you get full, unrestricted access to all of ExpressVPN’s features.

• Trial Type & Duration: No traditional free trial on the website, but 7 days free on Android/iOS (via in-app signup) and a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. This means you can use ExpressVPN for up to 30 days and claim a full refund if not satisfied.
• Trial Limitations: The mobile 7-day trial requires a subscription through Google Play or Apple’s App Store (you won’t be charged if you cancel within the week). The 30-day guarantee applies once per customer; it’s hassle-free – simply request a refund via 24/7 live chat if you decide not to continue.
• Supported Platforms: ExpressVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and even routers, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. It’s one of the most widely supported VPNs, with easy-to-use apps and browser extensions. You can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously under one subscription.
• Privacy & Security: Top-notch security with AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy (independently audited), and advanced protocols. ExpressVPN uses its proprietary Lightway protocol for faster, more secure connections. All servers run on RAM (TrustedServer technology) for privacy. Additional features include a kill switch, split tunneling, and even new extras like a password leak monitor and Threat Manager.
• Speed & Performance: Outstanding performance – ExpressVPN is consistently one of the fastest VPNs, often increasing speeds on some servers due to optimized routing. In tests, it delivered high throughput and low latency, making it great for 4K streaming and lag-free gaming.
• Streaming & P2P: Excellent for streaming – ExpressVPN can access Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video and many more services without detection. Its wide server network avoids congestion, and there are no bandwidth caps. P2P is supported on all servers, and its robust speeds make it ideal for torrenting large files securely.
• Server Network: ~3,000 servers in 94–105 countries (locations across 105 countries as of 2025). While ExpressVPN doesn’t publicly list an exact server count, its network is very large and geographically diverse. You’ll find servers in 160 city locations, including many uncommon regions, ensuring you can find a nearby server virtually anywhere for optimal performance.

CyberGhost – Multiple Free Trials on All Platforms + 45-Day Refund

CyberGhost offers the most extensive trial options of any VPN. It has free trials for every major platform (without needing a credit card), and it boasts the longest money-back guarantee in the industry – up to 45 days. This makes CyberGhost extremely flexible for users who want plenty of time to evaluate the service.

• Trial Type & Duration: Free trials on all platforms: 24-hour free trial for Windows and macOS, 3-day free trial for Android, and 7-day free trial for iOS. No payment info is required for these trials – you can simply install the app and use it free for the given period. Additionally, CyberGhost offers a 45-day money-back guarantee on longer subscriptions (and 14 days on a 1-month plan).
• Trial Limitations: Each free trial is short (especially the 24-hour desktop trial), but you get full, unrestricted features during that time. After the trial expires, you would need to purchase a plan (which is then covered by the refund period if you choose a 6-month or 2-year plan). The 45-day refund window is very generous, but note it drops to 14 days if you only buy a monthly plan.
• Supported Platforms: Apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, plus browser extensions and support for routers. You can use up to 7 devices at once. CyberGhost caters to all OS with dedicated trials for each, which is great if you want to test on multiple device types.
• Privacy & Security: Strong privacy with a no-logs policy and AES-256 encryption. CyberGhost includes standard features like an automatic kill switch and split tunneling (selective VPN use). While it may not have as many exotic features as Nord or Express, it covers the essentials well – including ad/malware blocking and dedicated NoSpy servers for extra security (hosted in Romania).
• Speed & Performance: Reliable speeds for everyday use. In independent tests, CyberGhost averaged ~200+ Mbps on a 1 Gbps line, which is competitive. It may not top the speed charts, but it’s fast enough for HD streaming and large downloads without noticeable buffering. The service is also stable, with 24/7 uptime.
• Streaming & P2P: CyberGhost is optimized for streaming with specialized servers labeled for Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and more. It’s able to unblock many popular streaming services. P2P is allowed on many servers, and the client can automatically connect to P2P-optimized servers when you launch a torrent app. During the trial, you can test these specialized servers freely.
• Server Network: 9,200+ servers in 100+ countries (with 125 distinct locations). This is one of the largest networks available, giving you plenty of options to find fast connections. The widespread server distribution also helps maintain performance even during peak times. Plus, more servers mean less overcrowding per server, which benefits speed.

ProtonVPN – Unlimited Free Plan + 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

ProtonVPN takes a unique approach by offering an unlimited free plan instead of a short trial. This free tier (Proton VPN Free) lets you use the VPN indefinitely for free on one device, albeit with some limitations. It’s a great way to test ProtonVPN for as long as you need. If you upgrade to a paid plan, ProtonVPN also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee.

• Trial Type & Duration: Free plan with no time limit – ProtonVPN Free can be used forever at no cost. In addition, all paid plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can get a refund within 30 days if the premium features don’t meet your expectations.
• Free Plan Limitations: ProtonVPN’s free tier has no data cap and no ads, but it restricts you to servers in a few countries (U.S., Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and Romania) and allows only one device connection at a time. Free users also get lower priority on speed, and streaming services cannot be unblocked on the free plan. This means ProtonVPN Free is best for basic privacy and light usage. To fully test streaming or P2P performance, you’d use the paid version (with the option to refund in 30 days).
• Supported Platforms: ProtonVPN has apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. The free plan is available on all these platforms (and even has a feature called “Guest Mode” coming to mobile that allows using the free VPN without an account). Paid plans allow up to 10 simultaneous devices, while the free plan is 1 device.
• Privacy & Security: ProtonVPN is extremely privacy-focused. The company is based in Switzerland (strong privacy laws) and has a strict no-logs policy supported by independent audits. Security features include AES-256 encryption, Secure Core double-hop servers (routing traffic through privacy-safe countries), and support for advanced protocols like WireGuard and the stealth protocol (to evade VPN blocks). ProtonVPN’s applications are open source and regularly audited, giving users extra confidence in its security.
• Speed & Performance: ProtonVPN’s paid plans offer excellent speeds – in fact, the service recently expanded its network and recorded speeds up to 950+ Mbps in testing, placing it among the fastest VPNs. Free users might experience slower speeds when servers are crowded, but still decent performance for browsing. ProtonVPN’s VPN Accelerator technology optimizes connection stability and can boost speeds under poor network conditions.
• Streaming & P2P: Streaming support is only in paid plans. ProtonVPN Plus (paid) reliably unblocks Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, etc., and it’s known as one of the best VPNs for streaming and gaming. P2P file sharing is allowed on specific ProtonVPN servers. If you want to try these features, you can upgrade and use the 30-day refund if needed. (The free plan does not support streaming services, so consider it more for security testing than media streaming.)
• Server Network: 13,600+ servers in 122 countries (as of mid-2025) – the largest server network of any leading VPN. ProtonVPN underwent massive expansion, now covering almost every country. Free users have access to a subset (hundreds of servers in 5 countries), whereas Plus users can use the entire network. This huge server selection means even free users can find an uncongested server, and paid users get excellent global coverage for bypassing geo-blocks and maintaining speed.

Private Internet Access – 7-Day Mobile Trial + 30-Day Refund (Highly Customizable)

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a veteran VPN known for its huge server network and advanced settings. PIA offers a 7-day free trial for mobile users and a standard 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s a great option if you want a VPN trial with deep customization options (encryption levels, ports, etc.) and proven privacy credentials.

• Trial Type & Duration: 7-day free trial available on iOS (and Android) apps, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans (even monthly). The week-long mobile trial is completely free and gives full access; the 30-day refund allows you to test PIA on any platform risk-free for a month.
• Trial Limitations: The free trial must be activated via the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Like others, you won’t be charged if you cancel the subscription before 7 days. Notably, if you purchase PIA on the website instead, you get the 30-day refund even on a one-month plan (most VPNs only give 30-day guarantees on longer plans). There are no usage limits during the trial.
• Supported Platforms: Apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, plus browser extensions. PIA allows up to 10 simultaneous devices, which is great for families or power users. You can use the trial account across all your devices.
• Privacy & Security: PIA has a solid no-logs reputation – its no-logs policy has even been proven in court cases. It uses strong encryption and uniquely lets users adjust encryption strength (e.g., use 128-bit AES for higher speed or 256-bit for maximum security) in its settings. PIA includes a feature called MACE, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware at the VPN level (enhancing privacy). Other features: kill switch, port forwarding, split tunneling, and the ability to choose between VPN protocols (OpenVPN or WireGuard).
• Speed & Performance: In our tests, PIA demonstrated fast and consistent speeds. It averaged about 204 Mbps on a 250 Mbps connection downstream – plenty for HD/4K streaming and large downloads. While not the absolute fastest VPN, it’s within ~20% of top-tier speeds. PIA’s reliability is also excellent for everyday browsing or video calls.
• Streaming & P2P: PIA can unblock popular streaming services, though it’s occasionally a step behind top providers in streaming optimization. It works with US Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, etc., but sometimes requires trying a couple of different servers. P2P is fully supported on all servers, and PIA’s strong upload/download speeds plus port forwarding feature make it a good choice for torrenting securely.
• Server Network: Servers in 91+ countries with tens of thousands of servers in total. PIA has one of the largest networks by server count, which helps balance user load. It covers regions like all 50 U.S. states and many countries not served by other VPNs. This expansive network ensures you can always find a nearby server for better speed, and it provides plenty of IP addresses to avoid overcrowding.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which VPN has the longest free trial?
If we consider risk-free periods, CyberGhost offers the longest trial: up to 45 days with its money-back guarantee (on 6-month+ plans). It also provides short free trials on every platform (1 to 7 days) so you can test it without payment. For a purely free option, ProtonVPN’s free plan lets you use basic VPN service indefinitely (no time limit), albeit with some limitations. In terms of traditional free trials, most premium VPNs cap them at 7 days, so CyberGhost’s 7-day iOS trial (and 24h Windows trial) is among the longest no-credit-card trials, while others like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN also offer 7-day trials on mobile.

What is the best VPN free trial that doesn’t require a credit card?
CyberGhost is a top choice for a no-credit-card trial – you can download and use CyberGhost’s 24-hour (PC) or multi-day mobile trials without entering any payment info. This lets you experience the full service truly free. ProtonVPN’s free plan also requires no credit card (since it’s a free tier). By contrast, providers like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN often require you to go through an app store subscription process (credit card or PayPal on file) to activate their 7-day trials – though you won’t be charged if you cancel in time.

Is a VPN free trial safe to use?
Yes – as long as you stick to reputable VPN providers. All the VPNs listed here are safe to use during their free trial periods. They maintain the same encryption and privacy standards in trial mode as in paid mode, so your data stays protected. For example, services like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, etc., have strict no-log policies and secure apps, meaning they won’t collect sensitive data even if you’re a trial user. Just be cautious of lesser-known “free VPN” apps outside these well-known brands – some free VPNs (not in our list) have been known to log data or serve malware. But the trials and free plans offered by the reputable VPNs above are designed to be safe, secure, and give you a genuine feel of the full product.

How do I cancel a VPN trial to avoid being charged?
Cancellation methods depend on how you signed up:

• For mobile-app free trials (like NordVPN, Surfshark, ExpressVPN on Android/iOS), you cancel via your App Store or Google Play subscriptions settings. Simply find the VPN subscription and select “Cancel” before the trial ends. You will retain access for the remaining trial days even after canceling.
• For VPNs using money-back guarantees (like ExpressVPN’s 30-day trial), you usually need to request a refund from the VPN’s customer support (often via live chat or email) within the allowed period. All top VPN providers honor their refund policy if you’re within the window.
• CyberGhost’s one-day trials expire automatically, so no cancellation is needed for the 24h/3-day trials. If you purchased a subscription and want a refund within 45 days, you can contact support (CyberGhost does not require explaining a reason for refund within the guarantee period).
  Always note the trial duration and set a reminder to cancel in time if you decide not to continue with a paid plan.

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By taking advantage of these free trials and money-back guarantees, you can find the best VPN for your needs without risk. Whether you need a week to test on your phone or a full month to trial the VPN across all your devices, the options above have you covered. Enjoy trying out these VPNs and happy browsing, securely and freely!

Sources: The information above is referenced from reputable 2025 VPN reviews and official details, including Security.org, Tom’s Guide, and provider websites, to ensure accuracy and up-to-date trial terms.