How to Select the Best Free VPN For PC

When it comes to selecting the best free VPN for PC, there are many options available. Whether you want to hide your identity, access blocked content, or protect your privacy, you will be able to find the perfect VPN for your specific needs. Below, you'll learn the top options on the market for VPNs, and how to select the one that is right for you.

Hotspot Shield

Hotspot Shield is a free VPN service that works on PC, Android, iOS, and Mac. They offer a seven-day free trial, and they accept PayPal and credit cards.

Besides being an excellent VPN, Hotspot Shield also provides a solid set of privacy features. Some of them include domain-bypass, IP leak prevention, and a kill switch.

As a free user, you have 500MB of data per day. This isn't much if you plan on streaming videos, downloading large files, or playing online games. It may be enough to get you by, but you'll want to use a VPN with more scalability. You can upgrade to a premium account, which allows up to 1 Gbps of connection speed.

While Hotspot Shield's security is strong, the company does not provide ad-blocking or split tunneling. That means you'll still be able to watch ads, but you'll be limited to the 500MB.

In addition, while Hotspot Shield claims to use a proprietary tunneling protocol, it uses OpenSSL. Despite the company's claim, you should be aware that OpenSSL is used by websites to secure their pages, and you should disable this feature in your browser.

Although Hotspot Shield has been around for a long time, it's been in recent years bought by a digital security company, Aura. Now, the company wants to expand its security offerings, and is making changes that aim to keep you safer online.

The company's customer support website has a number of helpful guides and FAQs. There's even a live chat option. But, unlike many other VPN providers, Hotspot Shield doesn't offer phone support.

Another concern is the privacy policies. Hotspot Shield says it's not logging any information, but you should always check the details on the VPN you choose.

Windscribe VPN

Windscribe is a virtual private network (VPN) that offers users access to a vast network of servers in 69 countries. You can also get a SOCKS5 proxy connection for free.

Windscribe VPN provides military-grade security and reliable privacy features. They offer a three-day trial, and they accept payment through PayPal, credit cards, and Bitcoin. There are several advanced features, including a kill switch, a browsing protection system, and split tunneling.

Windscribe's 256-bit AES encryption makes the data virtually unreadable. It's further enhanced by a 4096-bit RSA key. This secure connection is also double-hop, a technique that sends the traffic through multiple servers to add additional layers of anonymity.

The apps look great and include a number of features, such as a customizable ad-blocker and an intelligently chosen auto-connect rule. Plus, you can switch between different cities or dedicated streaming locations with the click of a button.

Other useful features include a kill switch, a browsing protection tool, and a R.O.B.E.R.T. tool that allows you to block ads, spoof IPs, and whitelist any online activity you want.

You can also use the service on several platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. If you're interested in a premium plan, you can sign up for a plan that includes a next-generation tunneling protocol called WireGuard.

For the most part, you'll be safe if you choose Windscribe, although you should keep in mind that their free version has a limited server list and your speeds may drop when you connect to a more distant server. As a general rule, avoid free VPNs.

Windscribe's website gives you real-time information about its server capacity. You can also check out its latest YouTube video tutorials.

Surfshark VPN

Surfshark is a VPN provider that operates around 3200 servers in over 100 countries. It offers free two-year subscriptions, and is also available for Android users.

Its proprietary DNS feature blocks known ad hosts, malware, and online trackers. It is also compatible with uTorrent, BitTorrent, and streaming players. The VPN has no monitoring or logs of your online activities, and keeps only your email address and billing information.

Unlike many other VPNs, Surfshark allows you to choose which apps or websites go through an encrypted tunnel. It is an excellent choice for torrenting, HD streaming, and online gaming.

The Surfshark app has four different views. There is a standard-looking window, a quick connect option, a dark mode, and a speed test. It is also compatible with most operating systems.

The Surfshark VPN also features a kill switch. This feature keeps data secure at all times, and is especially important in the event of an accidental disconnect.

Surfshark also provides the ability to use a double-hop VPN, meaning that it routes your connection through two separate servers. This increases security, making it harder to track your location.

The Surfshark Smart DNS feature is a great way to change your virtual location on compatible devices, including smart TVs and gaming consoles. You can set it up from your account dashboard.

Surfshark also has a dedicated DNS feature that lets you bypass VPN blocking measures. This means that you can access blocked US-based content, and you can even spoof your physical GPS location with your VPN IP.

One of the most popular pieces of information for hackers and snoops is your location. Many Android applications can easily gather this information.

TunnelBear

TunnelBear is a great VPN service, but it can also be expensive. That's because it accepts payments through PayPal and credit card. It has a limited amount of security features, however. And it doesn't have an official money back guarantee.

TunnelBear's free account only offers 500 MB of browsing data per month. That's not enough if you're streaming movies or downloading torrents. You can get an extra 1GB a month with a premium plan.

TunnelBear has several servers in multiple countries. Their TCP Override feature improves connections, but it can also slow your speed down. Plus, the GhostBear feature makes your VPN connection completely invisible, a real boon in countries with heavy online censorship.

It's easy to set up and install, and it has a modern interface. It also has a kill switch, which automatically cuts off your internet connection when your VPN connection fails. If you're looking for a free VPN that's not too shady, TunnelBear is worth checking out.

TunnelBear uses standard AES-256 encryption to protect your connection. The company also obfuscates metadata, so that it's impossible for a firewall to decipher.

The company has a no-logs policy, meaning that it doesn't keep any of your online activity. As a bonus, TunnelBear also has a password manager called RememBear.

TunnelBear also has browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Opera. They're available for both Windows and macOS.

Besides the free plan, TunnelBear has a two-year and three-year subscription option. Each has five simultaneous connections, but the price isn't a major drawback.

While you can use the free plan to try out TunnelBear, the best value is the three-year plan. This comes with an additional 1GB of data, five simultaneous connections, and unlimited browsing.

Atlas VPN

Atlas VPN has a large server fleet and offers good speeds. This service is easy to use and provides strong security. In addition, it protects your privacy with a no-logs policy.

Atlas VPN is an excellent option for anyone looking to get a free VPN. The site is straightforward, easy to navigate, and includes a host of extra features. While the interface isn't as visually appealing as some of its competitors, it does provide a lot of options to help users stay secure.

Its servers are located in the United States, Europe, and Asia. While the network isn't as wide as many of its competitors, it still has enough locations to meet the needs of most users. However, it lacks servers in some regions, such as Russia.

As a result, the service isn't the best choice for downloading large media files. But, it's great for streaming services. For example, users can watch American Netflix on an LA server without having to worry about geoblocking.

Another reason why this service is worth considering is its 30-day money back guarantee. Although it's not a free VPN, the price is quite affordable. You can also choose a two-year plan for $2.05 a month.

In addition to the free version, you can sign up for a premium account. The Premium version offers specialized servers for people who want to stream, P2P file sharing, and download.

Atlas VPN accepts major credit cards, as well as PayPal. Their customer service can be reached via email. They also offer live chat.

Atlas VPN has a no-logs policy, meaning it doesn't record your IP address or device information. However, the service does collect data about your operating system, internet browser, and device identifiers.