After testing several VPN free trials across different devices, I concluded that the best VPN free trial for all devices is offered by ProtonVPN. It offers comprehensive free options for many devices and an indefinite free trial period.
Alternatively, Surfshark and NordVPN follow closely with the best VPN free trials for Apple and Android devices, respectively.
Want to know how I came to these conclusions? Keep reading to find out!
Top 3 VPN Free Trials
Thanks to its free trial for iOS and macOS platforms, Apple users can try out Surfshark’s 3200+ server library in 99 countries, reliable privacy, and streaming features for free for 7 days!
With ProtonVPN, you get a free VPN for unlimited time! You can enjoy its robust security features and fantastic speed on your device for free for as long as you want – even on your router!
Thanks to its 7-day free trial on Android, NordVPN Android users can enjoy its full benefits for free for an entire week with top-level customer support available 24/7!
I signed up for the free trials of these VPN providers and tested them on the relevant Apple, Android, Mac and Windows devices where the free trials are available.
I also checked the Ts and Cs and the scopes of services on offer during the VPN free trials to determine the best offer.
To ensure the providers’ security features were working as promised during the trial, I ran DNS leak tests on my devices. Also, I tested the providers’ speeds to get the fastest VPN.
In addition, I tested the customer service of the VPN providers during the free trial period and researched their money-back guarantee offerings to compare.
Want to know which VPN free trial is the best one? Dive in and find out!
Want to Try Secure Browsing & Streaming for Free? Check Out My Best VPN Free Trials!
If you’re looking to try a VPN before buying it on different devices, try out these five VPNs that offer great free trial options:
- ProtonVPN – Best offer with indefinite free trial that you can enable on your router to keep your entire household safe.
- Surfshark – best VPN free trial for Apple devices with unlimited connections and over 3000 servers in over 90 countries.
- NordVPN – best VPN free trial for Android devices with top-level customer service, covering over 5000 servers in 59 countries.
- CyberGhost – the largest range of device options for VPN free trial with over 9000 servers.
- AtlasVPN – best free trial for US-based users with streaming support.
Check out my insights below for more info!
My Reviews and Comparisons of Best VPN Free Trials
I tested the five VPN providers’ free trials across different devices, concentrating on speed, streaming ability, and security. I also decrypted the legalese of their terms and conditions about refunds, so you know for sure what you’re signing up for.
Here’s how these VPNs compare:
ProtonVPN - Best Overall With Indefinite Free Trial
The Swiss provider, ProtonVPN, boasts verified robust security features, and excellent speeds. Here’s why ProtonVPN offers the best VPN free trial, in my opinion.
ProtonVPN Free Trial Validity & Devices
ProtonVPN is the only VPN on the list that offers a free option for an unlimited period of time with unlimited bandwidth.
That means there’s no limit on how long you can use the free version of the VPN software.
In comparison, AtlasVPN’s free trial is also unlimited but restricts your monthly bandwidth, unlike ProtonVPN.
That’s what makes ProtonVPN the best VPN free trial in terms of duration.
But there’s a catch: you can only use ProtonVPN’s free VPN service on one device at a time.
However, you can install it on as many devices as you want, including iOS, Linux, Windows, Android, Chromebook, and even your router.
So, I recommend ProtonVPN to save money on securing your digital life on several devices, as long as you don’t connect them to the VPN simultaneously.
ProtonVPN Free Trial Scope
ProtonVPN offers three server locations in its free package – Japan, the Netherlands and the USA – with several servers to choose from in each location.
Therefore, users from Asia, Europe, and the Americas can have their pick of servers somewhere in their region. However, this limited range of servers is much smaller than that of Surfshark (3200+), NordVPN (5500+) and CyberGhost (8900+), as they offer their entire server library on their free trials.
Likewise, ProtonVPN’s free version doesn’t allow P2P transfers nor does it unblock Netflix and other streaming services. Instead, you can get those services with ProtonVPN’s premium version.
Alternatively, try the free trials offered by Surfshark or CyberGhost for P2P servers and content unblocking/streaming support.
Furthermore, the ProtonVPN free version lacks an adblocker, which you get on Surfshark, CyberGhost and NordVPN.
ProtonVPN Customer Service
Unlike other providers on the list, ProtonVPN doesn’t offer a Live Chat customer support option. That’s different from NordVPN, Surfshark and CyberGhost, which have the chat on offer.
However, there are a lot of comprehensive guides on all versions, including the free one.
If you have a question about the free option that’s not covered in the guides, you can send a message via the support form or email them at support@protonvpn.zendesk.com.
To test their customer support, I asked email support about router compatibility and was pleased to receive an answer 24 hours later, which offered the necessary technical info and references. Even so, nothing compares to the convenience of a live chat customer support system.
ProtonVPN Free Trial Performance
I tested ProtonVPN’s speed on all three free server locations using the Speedtest website. Here’s what I found:
Baseline speed:
When connected to ProtonVPN:
| Server | Ping, ms | Download speed, Mbps | Upload speed, Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 248 | 41.9 | 9.52 |
| The Netherlands | 27 | 35.2 | 6.12 |
| USA | 115 | 62.4 | 19.6 |
So, the free US ProtonVPN server offers the best speed here.
Since I’m quite far away from the US, the connection speed drop is expected, and it was negligible on my internet experience.
I also tested ProtonVPN’s free package for security by running DNS leak tests on the Dutch server.
The test confirmed that my DNS wasn’t leaking with ProtonVPN as it showed a Dutch IP, and I’m not in the Netherlands. Therefore, I’m satisfied that ProtonVPN’s free version delivers on its security promises.
ProtonVPN Money-Back Guarantee
Since you don’t pay anything to ProtonVPN for the free version, there’s no money-back guarantee on this plan. However, if you go for one of the paid options, there’s a refund of the unused portion of the plan if you apply for it within 30 days after purchasing ProtonVPN.
That’s different from NordVPN or Surfshark that refund your entire subscription within 30 days, or CyberGhost, which offers refunds within 45 days after purchase.
You can save even more on the risk-free trial with our awesome ProtonVPN deal today!
Pros
- Unlimited free trial
- Can be enabled on a router, allowing unlimited connections
- Unlimited bandwidth
- No DNS leaks
- Can sign up for free version on any OS (but one connection at a time)
Cons
- No streaming on free option
- No P2P on free option
- Only 3 server locations on free option
- No Live Chat support
Surfshark - Best Free Trial for Apple Devices
The popular, low-cost Dutch provider, Surfshark, is renowned for its security features, large library of servers, and ease of use. Here’s why I ranked this VPN service the best free trial for Apple devices.
Devices & Duration of Surfshark Free Trial
Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial for Android, iOS, and macOS devices. Although it doesn’t offer a lengthy free trial, it’s longer than CyberGhost’s, and the range of devices is wider than NordVPN’s.
Note that the free trial can be canceled in your App Store/Google Play subscriptions at least 24 hours before expiry.
Surfshark Free Trial Scope
Surfshark offers full access to all its premium features, such as Multihop, ad blocker, kill switch, and 3200+ server library in 99 countries during its free trial.
That means you can stream content fast, encrypt your internet connection and unblock content from anywhere during the trial period.
In addition, you can use Surfshark’s trial subscription on an unlimited number of devices.
I tested BBC iPlayer streaming over Surfshark on my iPhone and unblocked my favorite UK shows like “Shetland.”
Unlike ProtonVPN and AtlasVPN, Surfshark allows P2P sharing on all its servers during the free trial (although it doesn’t allow seeding).
And, as the trial is available on macOS, you can use BitTorrent and other torrenting clients to securely download files whilst connected to Surfshark.
That’s another big reason I recommend Surfshark’s free trial as the best option for Apple devices.
Surfshark Customer Service
Surfshark, like most providers on this list, offers a 24/7 Live Chat option.
The customer support staff answered my query about torrenting and seeding during the free trial very quickly and to the point.
Surfshark Free Trial Functionality
To further test Surfshark’s performance during the free trial, I ran a speed test using the Speedtest app. Here’s what I found.
Baseline:
When connected to Surfshark servers:
| Server | Ping, ms | Download speed, Mbps | Upload speed, Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK (Edinburgh) | 13 | 69.7 | 21.5 |
| USA (Denver) | 136 | 65.9 | 14.9 |
| Malaysia | 260 | 67.5 | 9.33 |
So, there was some reduction in my speed and a significant increase in latency (ping). Since I’m quite far from the USA and Malaysia, however, it wasn’t unexpected.
In either case, though, my browsing experience wasn’t affected with Surfshark’s free version turned on. Likewise, the speed drop with the US server connection was on par with ProtonVPN but slightly higher than NordVPN.
I also ran a DNS leak test on www.ipleak.net via the Surfshark Bulgarian server to verify that the free trial version is just as secure as its paid version.
As you can see, the Bulgarian IP address proves that Surfshark isn’t leaking my DNS during its free trial.
Surfshark Money-Back Guarantee
Surfshark, like NordVPN, offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
A Surfshark representative confirmed to me that buying the 7-day free trial package via App Store also entitles me to this money-back guarantee.
If you want to test Surfshark on other devices and for a longer period, try it risk-free for 30 days by grabbing our amazing discount today!
Pros
- Free trial if you sign up on Android, iOS, and macOS
- Over 3000 servers
- Allows streaming and P2P sharing during free trial
- Access to premium features with free trial
- Unlimited connections
Cons
- Noticeable speed drop compared to other providers
- Can’t sign up for free trial on Windows
NordVPN - Best Free Trial for Android Devices
The Panama-based provider, NordVPN, offers amazing security features, fast speeds, and streaming options. Here’s why it’s one of the best free trial VPNs for Android devices.
Duration & Devices
NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial on Android devices only, limited to one trial per customer. So, I tested it on my Android tablet to see how the service performed during the free trial.
As a nice touch on the service, the VPN provider sent a message on day 5 of the free trial, as promised, reminding me that it was ending soon.
That was an important reason why I rated NordVPN highly in terms of customer service. After all, most other free trial providers usually hope you forget to cancel so they can charge you.
NordVPN Free Trial Features
NordVPN’s free trial promises all the premium/paid features.
Amongst them are the library of 5583 servers in 59 countries, the provider’s ad blocker, encrypted browsing, fast streaming, six simultaneous connections and unlimited bandwidth.
I tested NordVPN with BBC iPlayer by connecting to the UK server on Android to verify that streaming was available during the free trial. Thankfully, it worked just as well on the free trial as on the paid version.
Free Trial Functionality
Same as with ProtonVPN and other providers, I tested NordVPN’s speed when connected to three servers on my Android device. Here are my results.
Baseline speed:
When connected to NordVPN:
| Server | Ping, ms | Download speed, Mbps | Upload speed, Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK (Manchester) | 16 | 69.4 | 20.0 |
| USA (New York) | 82 | 73.5 | 19.7 |
| Hong Kong | 212 | 73.4 | 20.0 |
There were no significant changes in my Internet speed on any NordVPN server, and the US servers were even a little faster than the European ones. Likewise, NordVPN manages a significantly lesser speed drop than ProtonVPN.
So, I can definitely recommend NordVPN’s free trial for great speeds.
Customer Service
NordVPN, like CyberGhost and Surfshark, offers a 24/7 Live Chat during the free trial. You can also email them at support@nordvpn.com.
I was unsure whether split tunneling was offered in the Android free trial, so I sought a representative’s help via Live Chat to test the customer service.
They confirmed after a few minutes that it was indeed available during the trial.
Money-Back Guarantee
NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee with all its plans.
I asked a NordVPN representative to verify whether this guarantee would still be valid if I took advantage of the free trial. They confirmed that it would be valid and even generated a discount for me.
That’s another reason why I rate NordVPN’s customer support very highly.
You can also grab the awesome NordVPN deal and try it out risk-free for 30 days!
Pros
- 7-day free trial if sign up via Android
- Over 5500 servers
- Six simultaneous connections
- 24/7 Live Chat Support
- Streaming allowed during free trial
- Great speeds
Cons
- Can’t sign up for free trial on Windows or Apple devices
CyberGhost - Best Range of Devices for Free Trial
The Romanian provider, CyberGhost, offers many streaming and P2P options, and a huge library of global servers. Keep reading to find out why its free trial is the best option for users with multiple device platforms, and how you can make the most of it.
CyberGhost Free Trial - Duration & Devices
These are the CyberGhost free trial options for different devices.
CyberGhost on Desktop
You can try CyberGhost free for 24 hours on Windows and macOS desktop devices. That’s the only provider on the list, besides ProtonVPN and AtlasVPN, that offers a desktop-focused, free trial option.
CyberGhost on Mobile
CyberGhost also offers a 7-day free trial for iOS devices and a 3-day free trial for Android devices. Thus, this provider has the largest range of free trial devices.
However, the mobile devices’ free trial requires the credit card details stored in your Apple or Google subscriptions. So, if you want to try CyberGhost for free without sharing that info, consider CyberGhost’s free trial for Windows.
CyberGhost Free Trial Scope
However you get your free trial, you can use CyberGhost’s subscription on up to 7 devices simultaneously. Content blocker (the provider’s ad blocker) is available on all of them during the free trial, unlike ProtonVPN’s, which isn’t on offer with the Swiss provider’s free option.
You can also enjoy the entire library of over 9200 CyberGhost servers in over 90 countries with your free trial, including the servers optimized for streaming and torrenting. The provider doesn’t limit the bandwidth during the free trial either, unlike AtlasVPN.
I tested CyberGhost with Netflix to see whether the free trial allowed streaming. Luckily, I was able to enjoy my favorite shows like “Breaking Bad” during CyberGhost’s free trial on Windows.
Regarding P2P file sharing, I didn’t encounter any problems using Bittorrent over a CyberGhost’s UK server optimized for torrenting.
My download speed was even a decent 6 MB per second, which I was very happy with.
However, like Surfshark and NordVPN, CyberGhost didn’t allow seeding – during the free trial or otherwise. Besides that, though, it was smooth sailing for everything else.
CyberGhost Support
CyberGhost, like Surfshark and NordVPN, has a Live Chat feature at your disposal in English (24/7), French and German (during working hours).
I tested the feature by asking about seeding during P2P file sharing in the course of the free trial on Windows. Here’s their response:
It seems that CyberGhost’s support team doesn’t always have answers to difficult questions, unlike NordVPN’s. I got a similar response to this question from another operator as well.
That’s what makes me rate CyberGhost’s customer support lower than NordVPN’s but higher than AtlasVPN’s. After all, AtlasVPN’s Live Chat is only available to premium users!
How Well CyberGhost Performs in Free Trial?
As with other providers, I tested CyberGhost’s speed by using the Speedtest application. Here are my results.
Baseline:
When connected to CyberGhost servers:
| Server | Ping, ms | Download speed, Mbps | Upload speed, Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK (London) | 9 | 65.21 | 19.37 |
| Japan | 560 | 16.13 | 18.51 |
| USA (Chicago) | 310 | 39.82 | 19.10 |
As expected, the speed dropped, and the latency went up as I connected to servers further away from me. However, the drop was more significant compared to other providers. So, in that sense, CyberGhost’s free trial option loses out to Surfshark and NordVPN.
In addition to the speed test, I verified that CyberGhost wasn’t leaking my DNS via IPLeak.net.
Since it was showing an IP address in Italy whilst I was in the UK, I was satisfied that there were no leaks.
CyberGhost Money-Back Guarantee
CyberGhost offers the longest money-back guarantees on this list – 45 days compared to most providers’ 30 days. The exception is its one-month plan which has a 14-day money-back guarantee.
I’ve also received a confirmation that taking advantage of the CyberGhost free trial on mobile devices still makes me eligible for the money-back guarantee.
However, if you want an even better risk-free deal, grab our exclusive CyberGhost discount today!
Pros
- Free trial available on Windows, Android, macOS, iOS
- Over 9000 servers
- Streaming allowed during free trial (special servers)
- Access to P2P servers, allowing torrenting during free trial
- 24/7 Live Chat
- 7 simultaneous connections
Cons
- Free trial on Windows only 24 hours
- Significant drop in speed
AtlasVPN - Best for US Users
US-based provider AtlasVPN offers excellent speeds and secure connections. Here’s why its free version is the best offer for American users.
Devices and Duration
Like ProtonVPN, AtlasVPN offers a free version that lasts indefinitely.
However, AtlasVPN offers unlimited simultaneous connections, unlike ProtonVPN’s free version, which allows one connection at a time.
But it also limits your bandwidth to 5GB per month, whereas ProtonVPN allows for unlimited downloads and browsing. Plus, you can only get AtlasVPN’s free version for Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS devices without router support, like the rest of the free trials offer.
If that isn’t a dealbreaker, AtlasVPN offers a 7-day free trial on iOS and Android devices. You will, however, be charged for the entire subscription after the trial is over via the credit card attached to your App Store/Google Play store.
Free Trial & Free Version Scope
Unlike ProtonVPN, AtlasVPN’s free version allows streaming.
To test this, I connected to its US server and watched “The Blacklist” on Netflix.
I was also able to stream my favorite shows like “Hoops” during AtlasVPN’s paid version’s free trial.
Moving on.
Like ProtonVPN, AtlasVPN only offers three servers to connect to.
Two of these servers are in the USA, and the third one is in the Netherlands. This free server range, combined with the fact that the free servers allow streaming, unlike ProtonVPN, is a big reason AtlasVPN offers the best free option for US-based users.
Still, remember that AtlasVPN’s free option caps your bandwidth at 5GB per month, whereas ProtonVPN allows unlimited data usage.
Free Trial Performance
I tested AtlasVPN’s free version’s speeds on my Android device using the Speedtest app. These are my results.
Baseline:
When connected to AtlasVPN:
| Server | Ping, ms | Download speed, Mbps | Upload speed, Mbps |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 123 | 70.1 | 20.3 |
| Netherlands | 20 | 69.6 | 19.9 |
Even though I’m further away from the US than the Netherlands, the US server speed was better and had only a small drop from my baseline.
That’s a significant reason why I recommend AtlasVPN’s free version to US-based users.
I also ran a DNS leak test using the AtlasVPN US server to check that AtlasVPN wasn’t leaking my IP address.
As I’m not in New York or California, I was satisfied that AtlasVPN wasn’t leaking my IP address.
AtlasVPN Support
AtlasVPN does have a Live Chat, like other providers. However, it’s unavailable for freemium users. In fact, the Live Chat option requires you to log in with your premium account’s email, and you get a login link to access it.
That’s not very convenient.
Alternatively, you can send AtlasVPN an email at support@atlasvpn.com.
I sent them a query regarding the 7-day free trial and the eligibility for the money-back guarantee. Their response followed only two hours later.
Even though I was happy with the response time, I would’ve preferred access to the Live Chat. That’s why I wouldn’t rate AtlasVPN as the best VPN on the list for its customer service.
Money-Back Guarantee
With the AtlasVPN free option, there’s no money-back guarantee as you don’t pay anything in the first place.
However, with the premium VPN services, the refunds are available for 30 days after signing up. The provider also confirmed to me that getting a 7-day free trial still entitles me to the money-back guarantee.
Want to try AtlasVPN’s premium features risk-free? Check out our amazing offer today!
Pros
- Free version for unlimited time
- 7-day free premium trial available if you sign up via iOS or Android
- Great speeds
- Streaming allowed on free version and during 7-day free trial
- No DNS leaks
Cons
- No live chat for users of free option (but available during paid option’s free trial)
- Limited bandwidth on free version
- Only 3 servers on free option
How to Get a VPN Free Trial?
Depending on the VPN provider, there are different ways to get a VPN free trial.
For instance, here’s how you’d get the free ProtonVPN option on Windows:
- Go to the ProtonVPN website and click “Create free account.”
- Click “Get VPN for Free.”
- Complete the fields and create your account.
- Choose your device and click “Download”, and you’re good to go after ProtonVPN is installed on your device!
And here’s how you can get the 7-day NordVPN free trial for Android:
- Download the NordVPN app from Google Play Store and launch it.
- Click “Sign up.”
- Create your account with an email and password and click “Continue.”
- Choose the plan that allows the 7-day free trial and subscribe.
Read Also: How to Get an ExpressVPN Free Trial?
Free Trial vs. Money-Back Guarantee
With some exceptions, you don’t lose your money if you get a VPN free trial or a money-back guarantee. However, they’re not the same thing.
Here’s an overview of the main differences between a free trial and a money-back guarantee for a VPN service.
| Criteria: | VPN Free Trial | VPN Money-Back Guarantee |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card/initial payment required? | Not usually, but can charge mobile subscriptions | Yes |
| Availability for all devices? | Only in some cases (majority is available for mobile devices only) | Yes |
| Duration? | Standard is 24 hours to 7 days | Standard is 30-45 days |
| Premium features available? | Depends on the provider | Yes |
Can You Get Surfshark Free Trial on Firestick?
Surfshark only allows its 7-day free trial on iOS, macOS, and Android devices. Therefore, if you sign up via Firestick, you won’t be eligible for the free trial.
However, if you sign up with Android or Apple for the free trial, you can use Surfshark on any device for free for seven days, including Firestick.
You can also take advantage of Surfshark’s 30-day money-back guarantee to try it risk-free on Firestick. To do that, click here for our amazing discount offer!
Tests to Run On Your VPN During Free Trial
To determine how well a VPN performs during its free trial, here are some tests to run:
- Speed tests. Run speed tests on a VPN by using the Speedtest website or app. Thus, you see how fast a VPN server is and how high/low the latency is on specific server locations.
- DNS leak test. Perform a DNS leak test to see whether it’s leaking your real IP address. If that’s the case, that VPN doesn’t have the best security features, and you’re better off trying another provider’s free trial, like Surfshark’s.
- Streaming test. Use the VPN on your mobile devices or PC with relevant streaming apps. For instance, to test BBC iPlayer with NordVPN, you can connect to one of its UK servers and log in to your iPlayer account.
- P2P test. Test your VPN provider with your torrenting clients like BitTorrent or qTorrent to check the torrenting speed. I’d also recommend checking with the provider directly whether they allow seeding.
- Server reliability. Run the tests listed above on several VPN servers. For instance, you can run a P2P test on CyberGhost’s several P2P servers.
FAQs
Can You Get a Free VPN for iPad?
You can get a free VPN like ProtonVPN’s free VPN software for your iPad.
You can also get Surfshark’s free trial or a money-back guarantee for your iOS devices, including your iPad. The free trial lasts 7 days, but you can’t combine it with the money-back guarantee to enjoy a 37-day test period on the affordable VPN.
Can You Get Unlimited Free Trials With a VPN?
Yes, you can get an unlimited free VPN trial with AtlasVPN or ProtonVPN.
However, free trials are usually limited to 3 or 7 days or even 24 hours, like with CyberGhost’s desktop offering, and one user. The only way to extend those is to sign up with different email addresses each time. That, however, can be viewed by some VPN providers as a violation of their user agreement.
Conclusion
After testing several free trials and other free VPN options, I concluded that the best VPN free trial overall is the one offered by ProtonVPN.
The other fantastic free trials are on offer from NordVPN and Surfshark – but they’re more suitable for Android and Apple users, respectively.
Want to try out our top choice, ProtonVPN? Grab our exclusive discount to enjoy its premium features for a lesser price after the free trial!
