Whether you’re choosing a free VPN or another tool, Reddit is known for its honest and unbiased recommendations. That’s because reviews come from real people who have actually used these VPNs for a while.
However, with so many subreddits and different opinions, it can be difficult to understand which free VPN is actually best for your needs. The top VPN for security may not be the top VPN for bypassing geo-restrictions.
So, to help you make the right decision, I spent weeks reviewing Reddit posts and comments to summarize real user thoughts and opinions. Continue reading to find the best free VPNs according to Reddit users.
Free VPNs recommended by Reddit users:
- 1. NordVPN – best free trial VPN recommended by Reddit in 2025
- 2. Surfshark – great free VPN trial recommended by Reddit
- 3. ExpressVPN – VPN by Reddit that’s free for 7 days
- 4. Private Internet Access – cheap VPN recommendation with a 7-day trial
- 5. ProtonVPN – user-friendly Reddit VPN that has a free version
Should I use a free VPN according to Reddit?
No, Reddit users don’t recommend using free VPNs because they’re unsafe. Many unreliable services come with adware and may steal your data to sell it to advertisers. That’s because they don’t have any other way to make money.
Reddit users recommend premium VPNs with a free trial version or a money-back guarantee, so you can try the service risk free. For example, you can get a VPN like NordVPN with a free 3-day trial on Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
The best free VPNs according to Reddit in 2025
I found over 10 VPNs that Reddit users usually recommend and took the time to test each one of them. I reviewed their security features, streaming capabilities, and ran performance tests. Here are my hand-picked free VPNs that Reddit users recommend most:
1. NordVPN – best free trial VPN according to Reddit users overall
- Free 3-day trial on Android
- Most mentioned VPN by Reddit users
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Servers in 126 countries
- Malicious ad and tracker blocker
- No completely free plan
NordVPN is the best VPN that Reddit users recommend that comes with a free 3-day trial on Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It’s liked mainly for its ease of use, streaming capabilities, and security features.
I found that many users praise NordVPN for streaming, so I tried it myself. During my tests, I found that it effortlessly unblocks multiple streaming platforms. It includes Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and more.
Some Reddit reviews even noted that they experienced no lagging while browsing or streaming when connected to a server. I ran my own speed test and found that it retained an average of 92% initial connection speeds, so slowdowns weren’t visible.
In terms of security, I found no reports of security issues. Many mentioned using Threat Protection, which is a malicious ad and tracker blocker, useful to keep yourself safe from threats.
As for pricing, one Reddit user said “the price is decent if you grab a long plan.” That’s true – when purchasing NordVPN for 2 years, the prices start from $2.91/month only.
|
Free trial |
3 days (Android) |
|
Number of servers |
8,300+ servers in 126 countries |
|
Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
|
Starting price |
from $2.91/month |
2. Surfshark – reliable Reddit VPN with a free 7-day trial
- Free 7-day trial
- Recommended by Reddit for cheap prices
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Prices start from $1.99/month only
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Based in a 14-eyes alliance country
Surfshark is a VPN that Reddit users recommend for its free 7-day trial and as a great choice when upgrading for its price-to-value ratio. It also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you use the service free for 37 days in total.
Reddit users mostly praise that Surfshark offers features that are just as powerful as NordVPN or ExpressVPN for a much cheaper price. You can even get a built-in Surfshark antivirus depending on the plan you get. It has been tested by independent labs and successfully blocks 100% of zero-day threats.
Many of Surfshark mentions speak of its performance. My tests showed an 89% speed retention rate on average, which is ideal even for streaming or torrenting. Speaking of which, the VPN supports P2P, making torrenting secure and speedy.
If you’re into streaming, Surfshark is just as powerful as NordVPN. During my tests, I managed to bypass geo-blocks on Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Max, and more.
Surfshark prices start from from $1.99/month. Plus, you can connect it to unlimited devices with one account.
|
Free trial |
7 days |
|
Number of servers |
4,500+ servers in 100 countries |
|
Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
|
Starting price |
from $1.99/month |
3. ExpressVPN – Reddit VPN that has a free trial version
- Free 7-day trial version on Android and iOS
- Recommended by Reddit for its performance
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Apps have a very intuitive design
- More expensive than other VPNs
Reddit users recommend the free ExpressVPN 7-day version mainly for its minimalistic app design and powerful security features. It’s a great option for beginners that also comes with a free trial on smartphones and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Since the VPN has 3,000+ servers in 105 countries, it’s also great for accessing geo-restricted content. Users reported that they usually use it to watch Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and other streaming platforms. My tests proved that the VPN really bypasses geo-restrictions on these sites.
However, some users compare it to NordVPN, stating that ExpressVPN is slower. During our tests, ExpressVPN retained an average of 88% of connection speeds, while NordVPN – 92%. So, if you need a VPN purely for streaming, NordVPN would be a better option.
ExpressVPN comes with a malicious ad blocker, a kill switch, and split tunneling. You can get it starting from $3.49/month and connect up to 14 devices on one account depending on the plan.
|
Free trial |
7 days (Android and iOS) |
|
Number of servers |
3,000+ servers in 105 countries |
|
Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
|
Starting price |
from $3.49/month |
4. Private Internet Access – torrenting VPN with a free trial version
- Free 7-day trial on smartphones
- Recommended by Reddit users for torrenting
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Has 30,000+ servers in 91 countries
- Located in a 5-eyes surveillance country
Private Internet Access is a free trial VPN that’s recommended by Reddit users mainly for its torrenting capabilities. It comes with a free 7-day trial on Android and iOS, and you can also claim the 30-day money-back guarantee.
PIA VPN has 30,000+ servers in 91 countries, and many of them are excellent for torrenting. One of the reasons is the excellent speeds. The VPN retained an average of 90% speed retention rates during my own tests.
However, some Reddit users don’t recommend PIA VPN for streaming. I managed to access Netflix, Hulu, Max, and other platforms without issues while connected to a server. But, not all platforms were unblocked on the first try, so I’d recommend switching servers before giving up.
You can get Private Internet Access from $2.19/month. It allows connecting Unlimited devices on one account, letting you share it with others.
|
Free trial |
7 days (Android and iOS) |
|
Number of servers |
30,000+ servers in 91 countries |
|
Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
|
Starting price |
from $2.19/month |
5. Proton VPN – Reddit VPN with a completely free version
- Recommended by Reddit users for having a good free version
- Has advanced security features
- Free version has servers in 5 countries
- Free version doesn’t allow choosing servers
Proton VPN is a trustworthy and reliable free VPN, according to users on Reddit. It’s mainly recommended for its strong security features and the free version, which gives you access to 5 server locations.
The free version is completely ad-free and doesn’t have a data limit or log user activity, so Reddit users naturally often mention such perks.
If you decide to upgrade, you’ll get to use 9,778+ servers in 117 countries. While the free version couldn’t unblock streaming services during my tests, the servers on the paid plan let me access Netflix, Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer, and more.
Plus, the performance was decent, retaining an average of 82% initial connection speeds. However, it’s not as fast as other VPNs. So, if streaming or torrenting is a priority, I’d suggest opting for NordVPN or Surfshark.
You can upgrade to the premium version starting from $2.99/month. All packages come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, too.
|
Free trial |
Free version |
|
Number of servers |
9,778+ servers in 117 countries |
|
Money-back guarantee |
30 days |
|
Starting price |
from $2.99/month |
How I tested and picked these Reddit-recommended free VPNs
It took me multiple weeks to find out which VPNs are recommended most by Reddit users. I made an Excel sheet typing down each VPN that was mentioned, the keywords used (like “cheap”), and counted the instances they were mentioned.
Here are the key factors for my selection process:
- Reddit reviews (30%). I gathered thousands of Reddit comments and posts to perform a quantitative content analysis. I counted the total mentions of each specific VPN related to positive keywords, and then counted each positive keyword to find out which qualities are praised most.
- Free version (20%). While Reddit users don’t usually recommend free VPNs due to safety concerns, I took into account the reputable VPNs that offer free trials and money-back guarantees. It ensures you can try out the VPNs for free for a month or longer.
- Performance (20%). I tested each VPN’s performance when connected to a server. I only considered the options that showed a speed retention rate that’s higher than 80% to ensure zero lagging issues.
- Security (15%). I took into account the features that each VPN offers, including malicious ad and tracker protection, a kill switch, and more.
- Streaming (15%). Each VPN was tested to find out which streaming services they unblock. I tested their capabilities myself but also took into account Reddit user experiences and tried to replicate issues.
Best Reddit free VPNs by category
Different VPNs are great for different purposes. Below, you can find the best free VPN recommendations by Reddit users by category.
Free VPN for PC by Reddit
Redditors recommend NordVPN as the best free VPN for your computer. You can leverage a free 3-day trial on Android (that you can use on other devices after setup) and get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
My tests showed that NordVPN has been most praised for its security and streaming capabilities. It unblocks various streaming platforms, including Netflix and Hulu, without issues. Plus, it offers advanced features like Threat Protection Pro, which protects you from malicious ads, websites, and trackers.
Additionally, many users recommend Surfshark for computer users. It comes with a free 7-day trial and a month-long money-back guarantee too. It’s great for torrenting or other data-heavy activities because it doesn’t visibly slow down your device.
Free VPN for mobile by Reddit
Reddit users suggest using Proton VPN for smartphones because of its free version with 5 server locations. Plus, it doesn’t have any ads or data limits.
And if you ever feel like the servers are too slow or want a wider selection, we recommend getting the premium version (which only costs from $2.99/month).
Free VPN for torrenting by Reddit
The best VPN for torrenting according to Reddit is Private Internet Access, which has a free 7-day trial on smartphones and a 30-day money-back guarantee. It uses the WireGuard protocol, which retained an average of 90% initial connection speeds during my tests.
For extra security and better performance during your torrenting activities, you can also get a dedicated IP. However, it comes at an additional price.
Free VPN for streaming by Reddit
Reddit recommends NordVPN and ExpressVPN for streaming. While technically not free VPNs, both VPNs offer free trials (3-day on Android with NordVPN and 7-day on Android and iOS with ExpressVPN) and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
You can use it to unblock all major streaming platforms. During my tests, both VPNs managed to unblock Netflix, Disney+, Max, Hulu, and many other streaming service libraries. They can also successfully bypass NBA League Pass blackouts.
Why should you rely on Reddit user opinion?
Reddit users are real people who usually use VPNs for their everyday activities. This makes them reliable sources for opinion about specific products. Here’s why their views matter:
- They’re honest. Reddit users aren’t paid for reviews, so they tell every pro and con as they are.
- They use the service. Redditors usually use products for a longer time, so they understand better what’s convenient and what could use improvements.
- Sponsored content is blocked. It’s easy to notice which Reddit comments or posts are sponsored by providers. Since ads are usually not allowed, they’re usually blocked pretty quickly.
- Reddit fosters discussions. Sometimes, users may not recommend a product for a specific reason or experience issues. Other users may share solutions to the issue or explain why something works the way it does.
Free VPNs that Reddit users do not recommend
There are many free VPNs that Reddit users recommend avoiding. Mostly because they sell your data to advertisers and thus can’t be trusted. Here are some services you shouldn’t use:
- Hide My Ass – Hide My Ass is terrible with bypassing geo-restrictions and fails to work with many streaming sites. It’s also been known to store personally identifiable information, so it’s best to avoid using it.
- Ivacy VPN – Ivacy VPN is an extremely cheap VPN service, but Reddit doesn’t recommend using it. One user on Reddit said its servers have poor quality and often get disconnected. The speeds are also patchy and the customer support is unhelpful, especially if you want to get a refund.
- OVPN – Reddit users advise against using OVPN because it was proven in court that the service stores its users’ data. The company claims that the VPN uses RAM-only servers, but it’s difficult to trust anything they say considering they’ve lied about keeping logs.
Frequently asked questions
According to Reddit, NordVPN is the best VPN with a free trial version. It has a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-day trial version available on Android. It has a great customer service team and over 8,300 RAM-based servers. Plus, its no-log policy has been externally audited many times.
NordVPN if security is your top priority. It has great security features like split tunneling, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch. Moreover, it's both based in countries that aren’t part of the 14-Eyes group.
Yes, NordVPN is one Reddit VPN that offers a free trial for 3 days. You can avail it on an Android device. Once your trial version is over, we recommend getting a premium subscription because it’s not safe to use a VPN that’s completely free.