VPNs Ranked By Longest Free Trial [Updated 2024]

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vpn free trial

Looking for the VPN with the longest free trial? You’re in the right place.

Trying out free trial VPNs is a good way to see which one suits you best. But sometimes, what they promise on their website isn’t exactly true. So, we tested over 100 VPNs to find the ones that really offer free trials.

We checked how long the trials are, what features you get, and what info you need to sign up. Our list only includes safe and reliable options, so you know what you’re getting into. If you want to try VPNs without spending any money, take a look at our list below.

Free Trial, Free Version, and Money Back Guarantee: What’s the difference?

VPN services offer three main options: a free trial, a money-back guarantee, and a free version. Here’s what sets them apart:

  • Free trial– lets you try out all features for a limited time without paying upfront. Trial periods typically range from 7 to 30 days, but some may require credit card details. Be cautious, as automatic charges may occur once the trial ends.
  • Money-back guarantee– requires payment upfront but ensures reimbursement if unsatisfied within a specified period, often 30 days. Read terms carefully; some may refund without questions, while others may require justification.
  • Free version– offers limited features compared to paid plans. Typically includes data limits, restricted server access, and fewer server switches. Be aware of data caps and limitations before opting for a free version.

What are the best free trial offers for VPNs?

We found several VPN services offering free trials, some with perpetual free versions and others with temporary trials or money-back guarantees.

Our overview below categorizes these plans and highlights any limitations and user requirements.

VPNs with the longest free trials

We comprised a quick guide with the longest trials you can get. See the type of plan, the offer, limitations (if any), and the data you need to provide.

1. VPNs with free trial, no credit card required

VPN Name Type of offferLimitationsData required
? 1. Proton VPN FreeForever free versionA limited number of servers, unlimited dataEmail and name
? 2. VPN BookForever free versionSmall server networkNo data required
? 3. Windscribe VPNForever free version2GB/month if you register without an email
10GB/month if you register with the email
Limited server locations
Email (optional)
4. TunnelbearForever free version500 MB/dayNo data required
5. Privado VPNForever free version10 GB of data/month, 12 servers, 1 connectionEmail
6. Hotspot ShieldForever free version500 MB daily data limit, SD resolution for streamingNo data required
7. Hide.MeForever free version10 GB of data/month, only 1 connection,5 server locations, No streaming, slow at timesEmail
8. Avira Phantom VPNForever free, included in the Avira Free Security App500 MB/monthNo data required
9. DotVPNForever freeNo streaming support, weaker encryption than premium, only available for mobile (Android+ iOS), and as a browser extension for Firefox, Opera, and ChromeEmail
10. Finch VPNForever freeLimited data, no support for port forwardingEmail
11. Surfshark 7- day free trialOnly for Android, iOS, and macOS, all features includedEmail, name
12. Avast Secureline VPN7-day free trialAll features includedNo data required
13. VPN Unlimited7-day free trialAll features includedEmail
14. Private VPN7-day free trialAll features includedEmail

2. VPNs with 30+ day free trials (card info required)

Below you can check the longest trial options to test out VPNs. Note that alongside services that request card information, we added VPNS with money-back guarantees too.

VPN NameType of offerLimitationsData required
?1. Bullguard VPN 2 year plan90-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card and payment information
?2. Cyberghost Pro longer plans45-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, and card information
?3. Hotspot Shield Premium Money-back guarantee45-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
?4. PureVPN31-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
5. Proton VPN Basic/Plus/Visionary30-day money-back guaranteeA limited number of serversEmail, name, card information
6. ExpressVPN30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, and card information
7. Private Internet Access30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
8. Nord VPN30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
9. Surfshark Subscription Plans30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
10. IP Vanish30-day money-back guaranteeFull-featured, only available for the 1-year planEmail, name, card information
11. Hide.Me Premium Money-back guarantee30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, card information
12. Vypr VPN30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
13. Avast Secureline Premium30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
14. Namecheap FastVPN30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
15. Hide.Me Premium Money-back guarantee30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, card information
16. Bullguard VPN shorter plans30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, name, card information
17. Strong VPN 1-year plan30-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedName, email, card information

3. VPNs with 14-day free trials

VPN NameType of offerLimitationsData required
1. CyberGhost VPN monthly subscription14-day money-back guaranteeAll features includedEmail, card information

CyberGhost is one of the most recommended VPNs for good reason. The 14-day money-back guarantee gives you the possibility to test all the features and access restricted content from anywhere. If you don’t want to pay in advance, this VPN also has a 24-hour free trial.

4. VPNs with 7-day free trials

VPN NameType of offerLimitationsData required
? 1.Express VPN7-day free trialAll features included, mobile onlyEmail, card information
? 2. Nord VPN Android7-day free trialAll features includedName, email, card information
? 3. Private Internet Access7-day free trialAll features includedEmail, card information
4. Private VPN Free trial7-day free trialAll features includedEmail, card information
5. Hotspot Shield Premium Free trial7-day free trialAll features includedEmail, card information

What to look for when choosing a VPN with a free trial

To provide the services listed above, VPN services need to have a good server base, a straightforward logs policy, and multiple security features.

There are other important things that make for a better user experience such as ease of use and customer support availability.

If you browse around for VPN options and don’t know how to pick, we suggest you start with a service that ticks most items on this list:

  • Server locations all over the globe
  • Secure protocols ( IKEV2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, SSTP)
  • Streaming optimized to prevent blocking
  • Responsive customer support
  • Dedicated application for all your devices
  • Easy to set up and connect
  • No-logs policy

How we’ve tested the best VPNs with a free trial

  1. We made sure to look further than the homepage to be 100% that the information we give you is accurate.
  2. We created real accounts and we used our own banking profiles.
  3. We thoroughly tested out the apps.
  4. We checked the terms of use.
  5. We looked into the feature set to see what was included and what was not in the Free vs premium option.

How to get an ExpressVPN free trial

Some VPNs offer 7-day free trials for mobile only, likely due to lower data usage. For example, ExpressVPN provides a mobile-only 7-day trial, while PC users are directed to subscription plans. To access the free trial, sign up via the mobile app.

First, we downloaded and created a free trial account for the ExpressVPN Android app.

You will have to enter your credit card info, but they won’t charge you. Whereas, if you want to use their Windows or Mac app, you’ll have to get a pre-paid plan.vpn free trial

They clearly state when the trial period ends and that you will not be charged until that date. Now, if you want to get an ExpressVPN account for your computer, you’ll be prompted to select a plan:

You can see that in this case the plans are covered under a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you’ll have to pay beforehand.

In both cases, they require your full name, address with zip code, credit card number, and CVV code. For other methods like Bitcoin and Paypal, you will have to connect your respective accounts to ExpressVPN.

vpn free trial

By the time we reached the end of the trial period, we disabled auto-renewal in just a few clicks, with no questions asked.

All the premium features of ExpressVPN mobile can be tested with this trial. You get full access to all servers, can pick your location manually, and activate advanced features like obfuscation.

Are free VPNs as safe as premium ones?

Some free VPNs may keep logs and sell them to third parties, compromising anonymity. However, many VPNs clearly disclose their logging policies, and trustworthy free options exist.

? Privacy Policy: Free VPNs often sell traffic data for demographic purposes, but they typically protect user identities and locations. While they may log data, they still hide IP addresses and prevent ISP throttling.

? Data Limit: Free VPNs commonly impose daily or monthly usage limits. Exceeding these limits may result in disconnection without warning, posing risks for tasks requiring high privacy levels like online payments.

?️ Security Features: Free VPNs may lack advanced security features such as DNS protection, split-tunneling, secure killswitches, and anti-tracking tools. While they offer decent privacy protection, it’s crucial to review Terms of Service to avoid any potential risks.

Can you prolong a free trial for VPN?

You can generally prolong a free trial by request. Software companies, including those that distribute VPN apps, generally mention how this works in their particular case in the Terms of use.

For the most part, however, you have to come up with a pretty solid reason for them to even consider this request.

That being said, there are some other ways to prolong a free trial. Keep in mind that they do not work for all software, especially for those that require registration.

Some users suggest that if you completely remove the VPN app from your PC, you may be able to get a free trial again. Cleaning browsing history and cookies may also work.

Keep in mind that software manufacturers try to stop this type of behavior and use different methods to stop you from re-using their free trials.

How can you get your money back after your free trial has expired?

As soon as your trial ends, services with auto-renewal will start charging you. If you provided your credit card information and forgot to cancel the trial before the expiration date, you can contact the customer support team and explain the situation.

Most VPN services have 24/7 live chat support on their official website. You can talk to an agent about your issue. They should know exactly how to apply their policy to your specific situation.

The bad news is that it is not very likely for a refund to occur. We cannot stress enough the importance of reading the Terms of Service Agreement.

Chances are that the refund policy is mentioned there somewhere. Most software state that they do not give money back. If you agreed to that, there’s probably not much you can do.

For this reason, it’s best you cancel it before the expiration date. Likewise, if you are on a money-back guarantee, it’s recommended you request a refund before you hit the last day.


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Final takeaway

All VPNs on this list are really impressive in terms of features, security, and privacy policies. The best app for you is highly dependent on what exactly you want to use your VPN for.

For the best free VPN app, we have to pick ProtonVPN. It’s your best bet as far as free VPNs go, with unlimited bandwidth, a strict no-logs policy, high-speed rates, and cross-platform apps.

If you want to test out your VPN for a long time, BullGuard VPN is your best option. As for the best premium VPNs with free trials, considering the number of servers, speed rates, and ease of use, we suggest ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, CyberGhost, and Surfshark.

Free trials are a smart marketing strategy that offers great benefits both for companies and customers. They give you the opportunity to test out a product without having to commit right away.

This makes the companies seem more trustworthy and can lead to solid brand loyalty. The great thing about free trials and free versions is that you can try out more than just one product and make an informed decision.

Just make sure to pay attention to every little detail. See what is included in the free trial, what’s the privacy policy and pay attention to the auto-renewal option if you have to enter credit card information.

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