Best free trial VPNs in 2023

If you want to try before you buy, then you'll need a VPN provider that offers a generous money-back guarantee. In this article, we take a look at the best VPN free trials. 

The VPN market’s a busy place. Some providers offer free trials to cajole visitors into trying out their services. The best VPN free trials last for up to seven days and are offered alongside a money-back guarantee for subscriptions. Money-back guarantees typically last for 30 days, during which time users are entitled to a full refund if they change their mind. 

A virtual private network (VPN) allows users to easily change their virtual location to anywhere their chosen VPN provider has servers. This opens up the possibility of accessing otherwise restricted online services from around the world. Internet service providers will be none the wiser about users’ online activities thanks to the VPN software encrypting traffic flowing between its servers and the connecting device. 

We’ll examine individual VPN services in more detail later. For now, here’s a summary of the VPNs offering the best free trials.

Best VPN free trials in 2023:

1. NordVPN: Our recommended VPN for free trials. A seven-day free trial is available via the Google Play Store. Subscriptions come with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. Very fast speeds, robust security, and great for streaming. 
2. Surfshark: Best budget VPN for free trials. Offers a seven-day free trial on Android, iOS, and macOS; and a 30-day money-back guarantee for subscriptions. Provides access to RAM-only servers in 100+ countries and unlimited device connections. 
3. ExpressVPN: Seven-day free trial on iOS and Android. Subscriptions include a 30-day money-back guarantee. Has an app for routers, an Onion site on the Tor network, and obfuscation that’s enabled by default. 
4. PrivateVPN: Has a seven-day free trial available, and a 30-day money-back guarantee for subscribers. Enables connections in China and allows port forwarding. Servers in 63+ countries and good access to streaming platforms. 
5. Atlas VPN: Seven-day free trial available on the premium version for mobile devices. Subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and allow unlimited device connections. MultiHop servers and rotating IP addresses available.
6. CyberGhost: Offers a three-day free trial for Android and a seven-day free trial for iOS. Subscriptions come with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. Excellent for streaming, with a vast network of speedy RAM-only servers. 
7. IPVanish: A seven-day free trial is available for iOS and Android when users sign up for a one-year subscription. A 30-day money-back guarantee is also available for one and two-year subscriptions. IPVanish provides fast speeds and secure connections.

Summary Table

With so many VPNs offering free trials, it can be difficult to decide which to try first. To rank VPN providers, we look at the other features needed for a good quality service. The criteria we used are outlined below. You can read more about our testing methodology later in the article. 

• Offers a free trial
• Has a money-back guarantee
• Large server network 
• Fast connection speeds
• Robust security and privacy
• Able to access streaming services
• Easy to use

To be included as one of our top three providers, we additionally require VPNs to have a RAM-only server network, independently audited software and infrastructure, effective obfuscation, and a location beyond the reach of cross-border spying alliances. 

Best VPNs for free trials 

Now let’s explore each of our recommended providers in a little more detail:

Downloading the NordVPN app via the Google Play Store gives you access to a seven-day free trial. Once you’ve set up your account on an Android device, you can use NordVPN on any compatible platform. These include Windows, macOS, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux.

Alternatively, users can sign up for a subscription. These come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and are available for one month, 12 months, or 24 months. Subscribers can get a full refund provided they cancel the service within 30 days of payment. 

NordVPN provides users with access to thousands of RAM-only servers in 60+ countries. The company has its own connection protocol – NordLynx – that doesn’t store user data on its servers, and speeds fast enough for lag-free gaming and buffer-free streaming. 

The service works well with all major streaming platforms, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Peacock, and Hulu. NordVPN can help devices like games consoles and smart TVs bypass geo-restrictions using its SmartPlay feature. Paid subscribers are permitted up to six simultaneous device connections.

NordVPN’s obfuscated servers enable connections in China, and it has other servers optimized for MultiHop connections and easy access to the Tor network. Other features include split tunneling, built-in leak protection, strong encryption, a kill switch, and a threat protection tool.

The company observes a strict no-logs policy that’s been verified through multiple third-party audits of its apps and infrastructure. 

BEST VPN FOR FREE TRIALS: NordVPN is our recommended provider. It has a seven-day free trial on Android and money-back guarantees on all subscriptions. It's excellent for streaming and has speedy RAM-only servers in 60+ countries.

Read our full review of NordVPN.

Surfshark has a seven-day free trial available for the Android, iOS, and macOS platforms. Users can access it by downloading the Surfshark app from either Google Play or the Apple App Store.

Alternatively, users can get a 30-day money-back guarantee by signing up for a one-month, 12-month, or 24-month subscription. Surfshark says that it will provide a full refund to users who cancel their subscriptions within 30 days.

Once set up, users get unlimited device connections, apps with a full GUI, and access to RAM-only servers in 100+ countries. Surfshark is great for streaming, and works with popular platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Disney+, and HBO Max. 

Static IP addresses are available, as is a Camouflage mode that obfuscates traffic so that it bypasses VPN blocks in countries like China, Iran, and Egypt. A range of features include split tunneling for apps and URLs, and a smart DNS service that helps VPN-incompatible devices access geo-restricted content. It won't leak your original IP address, and it's a low-cost service. 

The company’s Nexus technology can rotate users’ IP addresses in-session for additional security, and allows them to choose their own entry and exit servers for MultiHop connections. 

Surfshark’s no-logs policy has been verified via an audit by Deloitte, while its infrastructure has been audited by Cure53. As of 2022, the company is no longer independent, having announced a merger with Nord Security – NordVPN’s parent company. 

GOOD VALUE: Surfshark has seven-day free trials for Android, iOS, and macOS; and 30-day money-back guarantees on all subscriptions. It’s fast, great for streaming and has static IP addresses and no limits on the number of device connections. 

Read our full review of Surfshark.

ExpressVPN offers a seven-day free trial for the iOS and Android platforms. Users just need to download the ExpressVPN app from either Google Play or the Apple App Store and press the “Start 7-day free trial” button. 

Another option is to sign up for a subscription. These come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and are available for one month, six months, or 12 months. ExpressVPN says that it will refund users without them having to give a reason for canceling.

Once users have downloaded the app, they can connect to RAM-only servers in 105+ countries. ExpressVPN’s proprietary Lightway protocol provides impressively fast speeds, helping to ensure smooth gaming, streaming, and torrenting.  

The service is able to access a wide range of streaming platforms, including – but not limited to – Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Its MediaStreamer tool allows devices that don’t natively support VPNs to spoof their location. 

Apps can be navigated intuitively and are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, Nvidia Shield, Amazon Fire TV, and Linux. These come with built-in leak protection, a kill switch, strong encryption, and a tracker and malware blocker. 

Other features include an app for routers that makes it easy to include devices on a home network in the VPN tunnel. ExpressVPN has obfuscation that’s enabled by default and an Onion site on the Tor network. It's perfect for improving digital privacy, and it can be used for P2P activities. 

ExpressVPN was bought by cybersecurity firm Kape Technologies in 2021. Kape has a checkered history, having been involved – under a different name – in the creation of software designed to inject adverts into web browsers. 

ExpressVPN operates independently of other Kape VPN brands and regularly undergoes audits that verify its no-logs policy. In just one year – 2022 – it underwent 12 audits of its software and infrastructure.

TRUSTED SERVERS: ExpressVPN has a seven-day free trial for mobile devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscriptions. It has an app for routers, obfuscation enabled by default, and RAM-only servers in 105+ countries. 

Read our full review of ExpressVPN.

PrivateVPN offers a seven-day free trial via its website for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. The company expressly states that users who take advantage of the free trial and then sign up for a subscription are still entitled to the 30-day money-back guarantee. Subscriptions are available for one month, six months, or 36 months. 

Features of the service include a stealth mode that can bypass Chinese VPN blocks, port forwarding, adjustable encryption, app-specific and system-wide kill switches, and protection against IPv6 and DNS leaks. Servers are available in 63+ countries and subscribers have access to a SOCKS5 and HTTP Proxy.

PrivateVPN may not be the fastest VPN, but it’s good enough for streaming video in HD. Furthermore, it’s able to access a wide range of streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, CBS, and BBC iPlayer.

Subscribers are permitted up to 10 simultaneous device connections. If that’s not enough, PrivateVPN can be configured with home routers – providing protection for every connected device but only using one of the allocated connections. The company’s customer service team can provide remote control assistance with configuration. 

PrivateVPN has a strict no-logs policy – though this has yet to be independently audited. In 2022, the company was acquired by the Miss Group web-hosting business. 

STEALTH MODE: PrivateVPN has a seven-day free trial for all apps and a 30-day money-back guarantee for subscriptions. Its stealth mode works in China and it allows port forwarding for improved torrenting. Good for streaming and works with routers.

Read our full review of PrivateVPN.

Atlas VPN’s premium version is free for seven days on mobile devices. Users can access the trial by downloading the relevant app from Google Play or the Apple App Store. 

Desktop users can get a 30-day money-back guarantee by subscribing to one-month, 12-month, and 36-month plans. They’re entitled to a full refund if they cancel within the first 30 days.  

Note that Atlas VPN also has an always-free, albeit very limited, version of its product. We refer to Atlas VPN’s premium offering in this mini-review.  

The Atlas VPN service is fast and able to access all the top streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, ABC, BBC iPlayer, and NBC. It uses the speedy WireGuard connection protocol by default, though IPSec/IKEv2 is also available.

The company’s SafeSwap servers provide MultiHop connections with randomized exit servers, and boost security by rotating users’ IP addresses in-session. Users are allowed to use as many devices as they want simultaneously and have access to apps for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV. These come with DNS and IPv6 leak protection, a kill switch, a tracker-blocker, and a data breach monitor. It's ideal if you're hoping for premium features, including access to servers in 48+ locations. 

Atlas VPN is no longer independent, having been acquired by Nord Security in 2021. It has undertaken audits of its Windows and iOS apps, but has yet to have its no-logs policy independently verified. 

STRONG ON SECURITY: Atlas VPN offers seven-day free trials for mobile devices and 30-day money-back guarantees on all subscriptions. These include unlimited device connections, robust security, and access to MultiHop servers.

Read our full review of AtlasVPN.

CyberGhost has a three-day free trial on Google Play and a seven-day free trial on the Apple App Store. Alternatively, users can sign up to any of CyberGhost’s subscriptions and take advantage of a money-back guarantee: 14 days for a one-month subscription, and 45 days for six-month and 24-month subscriptions. 

Once signed up, users get access to CyberGhost’s vast network of RAM-only servers in 100+ countries. Note that CyberGhost also has a free browser extension available. This shouldn’t be confused with the company’s main offering as, by comparison, it’s relatively sluggish and only provides access to eight servers. 

CyberGhost’s app-based service is notably fast and great for streaming. It has streaming-optimized servers for individual platforms, making it far easier to quickly access geo-restricted content from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Hulu, Crunchyroll, and BBC iPlayer.

Apps are available for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS, and Linux. These come with protection against DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks; and a built-in ad and malware blocker. CyberGhost is compatible with routers, and its website provides instructions for configuring connections.

CyberGhost is one of the VPN brands owned by Kape Technologies. It has an independently audited no-logs policy, though some non-personally identifiable data is collected via its website. The company issues quarterly transparency reports where it details any external requests for user data.

FAST CONNECTIONS: CyberGhost has free trials available for Android and iOS and generous 45-day money-back guarantees for subscriptions longer than a month. It’s ideal for streaming, with fast speeds and no shortage of RAM-only servers.

Read our full review of CyberGhost VPN.

IPVanish free trials are available via Google Play and the Apple App Store. These last for seven days, though users must first choose a subscription and enter payment details. No payment is taken provided the user cancels the trial before the seven days are out. The company offers 30-day money-back guarantees on 12-month and 24-month subscriptions only. Of course, these can also double up as a 30-day trial period, offering unlimited access to a large selection of servers. 

IPVanish owns the majority of its network hardware and has consistently fast connection speeds. It’s a good option for streaming, with access to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. 

Features include unlimited device connections, access to a SOCKS5 proxy, and compatibility with a range of routers. Apps are available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, ChromeOS, and FireTV. They come with built-in DNS leak protection, split tunneling, and a kill switch. 

IPVanish is based in the US, so it’s reassuring that it has an audited no-logs policy. In 2016 it controversially provided connection logs that identified one of its customers to the US Department of Homeland Security – despite claims that it kept no-logs. The company has changed hands multiple times since then, and is currently owned by Ziff Davis. 

FAST SPEEDS: IPVanish offers seven-day free trials for mobile devices and 30-day money-back guarantees for 12-month and 24-month subscriptions. It has unlimited device connections, impressive connection speeds, and works well for streaming.

Read our full review of IPVanish.

Methodology for choosing the best VPN free trials

There are scores of VPNs with free trials, though relatively few are worth your time. The providers in our list are all good options, though we’d recommend NordVPN as the best of the lot. We tested each provider against a list of criteria, which we’ll look at below. 

• Offers a free trial: Some VPNs are so confident in their ability to convert users into subscribers that they offer free trials. We’ve included providers that allow users to try their service for several days free of charge. You may have to hand over your credit card details, which is the case for many trial VPNs. 
• Has a money-back guarantee: In addition to free trials, we looked for providers that included a money-back guarantee with their subscriptions. These guarantees allow users to cancel subscriptions within a specified number of days and get a full refund. 
• Large server network: While having lots of servers is good for evenly distributing traffic, it’s important that providers spread these over several countries. This enables users to find servers near them for fast connections, while also giving them plenty of options for accessing online services abroad. 
• Fast connection speeds: The fastest VPNs ensure that there’s no discernable drop in speed when connected. This is good news for those who’ve paid a premium for fast home broadband services. We regularly conduct speed tests to find the fastest VPN providers. We only include those that are able to at least stream HD video without buffering.  
• Robust security and privacy: VPNs are first and foremost a privacy and security tool. At a basic level this requires them to have a kill switch, strong encryption, leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. We rate providers more highly if they also have advanced features such as obfuscation, split tunneling, port forwarding, and access to MultiHop servers.
• Able to access streaming services: The big-name streaming platforms can identify and block IP addresses used by the majority of VPNs. Nevertheless, there are still some providers that can access swathes of geo-restricted content from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. We perform comprehensive tests to find out which these are and where their limits lie.
• Easy to use: Many people taking advantage of free trials may have never used VPN software before. For this reason, we look for providers that make it as easy as possible to establish a secure connection. This requires apps to have a well-thought-out GUI and availability on all popular platforms.  

Bonus points

To make it to one of our top three positions, VPN companies must additionally offer the following features:

• Access to China: In an attempt to curb the free flow of information, China dedicates significant resources to blocking VPNs. Its technology has advanced to the point where very few providers can provide connections within its borders. Those that are able to bypass blocks are highly valued – not just by Chinese citizens, but by those in other restrictive countries like Turkey, Iran, Egypt, and Russia.
• Diskless servers: The better VPN providers only use diskless – or RAM-only – servers in their networks. These differ from traditional servers in that data stored on them is lost when they’re turned off or rebooted. Servers with volatile memory are preferable from a security standpoint as they are less likely to be attacked by hackers or seized by authorities seeking to extract user data. 
• Incorporation outside the scope of intelligence alliances: Cross-border intelligence-sharing alliances like Five Eyes, SIGINT Seniors Europe, and Maximator threaten user privacy because they are able to circumvent the domestic laws that restrict governments from spying on their own citizens. They do this by spying on each other’s citizens and sharing the results. To avoid being co-opted by these alliances, some VPN providers choose to incorporate their companies in unaffiliated countries such as Panama or the British Virgin Islands.
• Audited software and infrastructure: VPN services typically require users to trust that they do what they say they do. Unfortunately, not all providers keep to their word – particularly when it comes to their no-logs claims. To help reassure people, better providers undergo rigorous third-party audits that assess their infrastructure and software. These can verify zero logs claims whilst also identifying any vulnerabilities.    

Can I use a VPN that’s always free? 

We don’t recommend using always-free VPNs that rely on advertising revenue to survive. Even if you don’t mind pop-up ads, most people balk at the idea of their data being collected and sold for additional income – which is exactly what many free providers do. They may also leak users’ IP addresses or fail to encrypt internet traffic. 

They’re no good for streaming, as their servers are easily identified and blocked by the major platforms. Even if you can find a working server, it’s likely to be congested and unsuitable for much beyond rudimentary browsing. Although some respected subscription-based VPNs offer pared-down versions of their service as a kind of taster, these are also unsuited to streaming. 

It'll be tough to find a free provider that offers unlimited bandwidth, with many opting for a trial period instead. In any case, we'd advise to stick with a trustworthy VPN that won't leak your IP address, ideally with an audited no-logs policy for peace of mind. 

Best VPN free trials – FAQs

Do I need a credit card to get a free VPN trial?

Not necessarily – though you will need a valid method of payment, such as a PayPal account. To access a free trial, the majority of VPNs require users to effectively sign up for a subscription – but one that doesn’t start until the end of the free trial period. The onus is on the user to cancel the subscription before the end of the trial period.

What is the first 30 days free VPN offer?

Most subscription-based VPNs offer a money-back period once the subscription starts. This normally lasts 30 days, during which time subscribers are entitled to a refund if they cancel the subscription. This period gives users a reasonable length of time to properly test drive a VPN service. Furthermore, it requires no long-term investment. 

Note that some providers – like CyberGhost – reduce the length of their money-back guarantees on rolling monthly subscriptions. Others – like IPVanish – offer no money-back guarantees on monthly subscriptions.

How do I get a refund?

First, double-check that you’re still within the cancellation period. For the majority of providers, this is 30 days. Contact your chosen provider via live chat or email to confirm that you want to cancel your subscription and receive a refund. The agent should be able to tell you when to expect your money back. 

While agents representing the better VPN providers – like those on our list – should accept your request without question and start the refund process, there are others that will try to convince you to continue your subscription. It’s annoying, but calmly repeating your request to cancel is normally enough to stop their questioning.

Subscriptions made through the Apple App Store are a little different. For these, users can start the cancellation process by navigating to the “Subscriptions” area in the device “Settings”, selecting the relevant VPN provider and tapping “Cancel subscriptions”. Having done this, users should contact Apple Support to confirm cancellation and receive a refund.

Can I get a refund for crypto payments?

It depends. Some providers – like NordVPN – will refund payments made in cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. Others – like PrivateVPN – will not refund payments made in cryptocurrency.