Mickel Clark
In the age of information, maintaining privacy and security while browsing the internet is crucial. A VPN can provide an extra layer of security and allow you to access content otherwise unavailable in your region.
While there are countless premium VPN options, some free alternatives are making a name for themselves. This blog post will review the top five free VPNs of 2023 and the best free VPN extensions for Chrome.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a tool that allows you to create a secure connection to another network over the internet. It can provide you with privacy, anonymity, and security by masking your IP address and encrypting your data.
The Top Five Free VPNs in 2023
The best free VPNs balance speed, security, reliability, and privacy. Here are the top five picks for 2023.
1. ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is one of the few free VPNs offering unlimited data, making it stand out. It offers strong encryption, a strict no-logs policy and is based in Switzerland, which has strong privacy laws.
Key Stats:
- Data Limit: Unlimited
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption
- Server Locations: 3
Our test:
We tested ProtonVPN on a 100Mbps connection and got 88Mbps download speed. The upload speed was 78Mbps. The 88Mpbs download speed is perfect for watching movies and tv shows online.
2. Windscribe
Windscribe offers a generous 10GB monthly data limit if you confirm your email address. It has a user-friendly interface and features like ad-blocking and firewall protection.
Key Stats:
- Data Limit: 10GB per month
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption
- Server Locations: 10
Our test:
Our team tested Windscribe on a 100Mbps connection and got an 85Mbps download speed. The upload speed was 80Mbps. The 85Mpbs download speed is best to unblock restricted websites and avoid internet censorship.
3. Hotspot Shield
Hotspot Shield offers a daily data limit of 500MB, which is enough for light browsing. It provides good speed and 256-bit encryption for security.
Key Stats:
- Data Limit: 500MB per day
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption
- Server Locations: 1
Our test:
Hotsopt turns out to be the best free VPN when it comes to speed. It gave us 92Mbps download speed, and 88Mbps upload on a connection of 100Mbps. We have unblocked geo-restricted websites and checked it to access Max (HBO Max) from Canada.
4. TunnelBear
TunnelBear’s friendly design and clear privacy policy make it a great choice for VPN beginners. It offers 500MB of free data per month.
Key Stats:
- Data Limit: 500MB per month
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption
- Server Locations: 23
Our test:
Tunnelbear is also a good option if you only want to surf the internet. The download speed it gave was 89Mpbs on a 100Mbps internet connection. Tunnelbear is perfect for unblocking websites but not a good choice if you want to stream movies and videos.
5. hide.me
hide.me offers 10GB of free data per month and provides robust security with 256-bit encryption. It supports all major protocols and has a strong privacy policy.
Key Stats:
- Data Limit: 10GB per month
- Security: AES 256-bit encryption
- Server Locations: 5
Our test:
hide.me is one of the oldest VPN providers in the industry. It gave us a whopping 92Mpbs download speed with 88Mbps upload. The user interface and the feel of the app are not premium, but it works fine.
Best Free VPN Extensions for Chrome
For a lightweight solution, a VPN Chrome extension can be a good choice. Here are the top two picks for 2023:
- Windscribe Chrome Extension: This extension is user-friendly and comes with features like ad-blocking, tracker blocking, and access to servers in 10 countries.
- Hotspot Shield Chrome Extension: It’s a fast, easy-to-use extension that comes with 256-bit encryption and cookie-blocking functionality. However, it’s limited to one server.
- TunnelBear Chrome Extension: Known for its user-friendly interface and strict no-log policy, TunnelBear’s extension offers the same reliability as its desktop counterpart. It has servers in 23 countries.
Final Thoughts
We have listed the best options you have in the free VPN zone. Our choice would be ProtonVPN due to the feature it offers. If you are a regular VPN user, we would suggest upgrading to its premium package, which will cost you 11.49 €/month or 4.99 €/month if you get the two-year deal.
