Everyone likes to get a great deal and a free VPN service may seem like the ideal solution to meet your online privacy needs. But, if you avoid paying for a VPN subscription, you may be placing your privacy and security at risk. Is a paid VPN better than a free VPN service and what are you giving up in the process? Let’s take a deeper dive into this topic to help you make a better informed decision.
A Brief VPN Primer
Many people have a vague idea of how a VPN works, but for those that want to delve a little deeper, we have a brief primer to get you up and running quickly.
| Tool | Primary Function | Free Version Available | Privacy Level | Speed Impact | Common Trade-Offs (Free vs. Paid) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VPN (Free) | Hides IP, encrypts traffic | Yes | Medium | Often slow | Ads, limited servers, slower speeds, potential data logging |
| VPN (Paid) | Hides IP, encrypts traffic | Trial only | High | Fast | Requires subscription, but offers top security, speed, and support |
| Proxy Server | Hides IP address only | Yes | Low | Fast | No encryption, vulnerable to tracking |
| Tor Browser | Anonymizes internet activity via relay nodes | Yes | Very high | Very slow | Significantly reduced speed, not ideal for streaming or large downloads |
| Antivirus Software | Detects and removes malware | Yes | Variable | Fast | No traffic encryption or IP protection |
| Ad Blockers | Blocks trackers and ads | Yes | Moderate | Fast | Doesn’t hide IP or encrypt traffic |
| Firewall Software | Controls incoming/outgoing traffic | Yes | Moderate | Fast | Requires setup, does not provide encryption or IP masking |
Everyone that goes online is issued an IP address and all traffic is attributed to that virtual location. This can make it much easier for a hacker or even your own internet service provider to track what you do online. They will have access to your data and they can track your browsing history. The consequences may be dire, it can range from ID theft, to fraud, ransomware attacks and much more. In nations with censorship and laws that are designed to limit free speech, a good VPN service can even keep you out of a jail cell!
A Virtual Private Network or VPN is designed to reroute your ISP address to a remote server that can be located in a different nation. The ISP and any other parties that want to learn more about what you do online will be unable to see or access your data. This makes a good VPN service an ideal addition to your digital security toolkit to protect yourself online.
Let’s take a look at seven reasons why savvy internet users choose to use a VPN.
7. True IP Address Masking
The best VPN providers use strong encryption to mask the location of your IP address and any data that would otherwise be vulnerable. Even if a hacker was using the same network as you, they would not be able to see your IP address, your physical location or any of your data that’s sent or received online.
6. Private Online Browsing
A VPN will disguise your activity with a connection to a remote server using encrypted traffic. Even your ISP cannot see or record what you’re doing online. Some VPNs can even hide a personal IP address from online services and apps that collect your data.
5. Public WiFi Data Protection
Many people want to connect to the internet using a public Wifi network as they enjoy a coffee or travel. But, these are dangerous places to connect to the internet and your data is not secure.
When you are away from your home network, you are more vulnerable to hackers leading to ID theft and more. If you’re a remote worker, you may even find that organizations you want to work for will require that a VPN connection is used. This protects their data and networks from unwanted visitors.
4. Location Locked Services
In recent years, this has become one of the main reasons why people start to use a VPN in their daily lives. Many online streaming services, websites and other content sources are geo-locked to specific nations. This even extends to services that you may already be subscribed to!
Many people are surprised to learn that Netflix and other services offer very different content in other parts of the world. When your IP address is masked with a VPN you can make your traffic look like it’s coming from a different region. This can give you access to content that you may not be able to access at home.
3. Access to Location Locked Savings
Following on from our last point, companies often charge varying prices for their services depending on where their customers reside. So, if you alter your IP address using a VPN to where the best prices are available, you can save money. This is useful for flights, hotels, video games, pay per view events and more.
2. Mitigating Data Throttling Issues
Because your internet traffic is sent to a VPN and then onto where you want to browse online there is a slight delay that most people won’t notice. But, certain ISPs are notorious for data throttling at high-traffic times which can be frustrating. A VPN cannot circumvent public WiFi network congestion or data caps. However, it can bypass any ISP throttling that is based on your data specifics on your own network.
1. Digital Security Features
The best paid VPN providers offer extra security features to further protect your online safety. These could include: antivirus software, dark web monitoring, local area VPN networks and more.
How a VPN Protects Your Data
Now that you have an overview of what a VPN is and what it can do, it’s natural to wonder how it protects your data. The data encryption employed by the best VPN providers is as good as that used by the U.S. military. It’s designed to protect your online activity from hackers and other prying eyes. The IP address is changed and any attempts to identify the personal details or physical location of the user are blocked.
The VPN servers can be used with a public WiFi network safely because your true IP address is changed and your data is encrypted. This is very useful for digital nomads, travelers and others that want to work or browse online when they are away from home. The best VPNs will not keep logs of your browsing history and they will hide this data from your school, employers or others that want to pry into your life. Certain VPNs do keep temporary traffic logs that are anonymous and encrypted to monitor their performance. But, the IP addresses are deleted and the logs are only kept for a short-time to ensure continuity of service.
A good VPN provider will have multiple global services to better manage connection speeds, traffic congestion and to circumvent geo-locked restrictions for customers. Choosing a VPN server in a low-surveillance nation is a way to improve online privacy for users from those nations.
Certain VPNs may include antivirus software to prevent adware, spyware, ransomware and other attacks directed at your devices and data. The VPN may block ad trackers and phishing sites that could contain traps and pop-up ads. The best VPNs may even scan the dark web to find your leaked personal data and alert you if there are potential problems. If the internet connection to your VPN server is interrupted there should be a kill switch that immediately shuts off access. This can be thought of as an additional VPN that prevents you from suddenly appearing in the clear if your VPN goes down.
What is Paid VPN Service?
This is a premium VPN service offered by a VPN provider that’s accessed via a subscription model. There are typically multiple ways to pay with a monthly fee being the most popular, but there are often significant savings if you pay for an entire year up front. There is no getting around the fact that a paid VPN service is far superior to a free VPN and it comes with five significant privacy and security benefits.
5. Improved Data Encryption
At the core of any VPN is the encryption that’s required to make your online traffic private and secure. Certain free VPNs offer no data encryption or very little which makes them useless for privacy and security. The best paid VPN services use high encryption standards used by military organizations and cybersecurity companies. These are virtually impossible to crack for extra peace of mind.
4. Access to an Extensive Server Network
The better paid VPN services offer potential connections to a large number of servers. As an example: NordVPN currently has over 7,500 servers in 118 countries at the time of writing this article. This ensures that the customer has access to the fastest connection speeds to meet their needs. There may be dedicated servers for Onion Over VPN, Double VPN, obfuscated servers, P2P servers for file sharing and dedicated IP servers for those that need them.
3. Improved Privacy
The VPN you choose should not collect and share your user data unlike many free VPNs that have this at the core of their business model. The VPN service you choose should have a no-logs policy in place to keep your browsing history, used bandwidth, connection timestamps and network traffic anonymous and secure. Certain VPNs offer a Double VPN feature that routes your online traffic through a pair of VPN servers for double encryption for the truly paranoid.
2. Overcoming Online Restrictions
Those traveling, living or working in parts of the world with stricter restrictions will need a premium VPN service to circumvent them safely. Three prime examples include: China, Russia and Iran that block access to western media sources, selected apps and certain web pages. This will ensure that you still have online freedom without compromising your privacy and security.
1. Advanced Security Features
A paid VPN service will have the resources to invest into online security. So, you can expect that you will be immune to IP address, WebRTC and DNS leaks. Your data will also be secure against potential hackers and even a breach will only reveal visited websites and not the user that’s actually visiting them.
A professional VPN provider will keep up to date with the latest secure protocols and they may develop new security features. Some recent examples include: split tunneling that marks services and websites that are VPN exempt, kill switch for rapid disconnection and more.
Should I Use a Free VPN Service?
The short answer is no. You may want to try out the free version of a paid VPN that interests you to see how you like it, but beyond that it’s a bad idea to use a free VPN service. The main problem is that the encryption is typically poor or non-existent which defeats the purpose of using a VPN service in the first place. Even if the encryption is OK you may find that the server access is limited to a few locations.
A free VPN service needs to make money and if you’re not paying for it they need to find other sources of revenue. This usually involves tracking your data and selling it to a data brokerage company. Your data is in high demand, advertisers need it to find out more about your tastes, preferences, habits, hobbies and more to sell you things. A data broker can sell your information which may include: the device you use, which websites you visit, what you buy, how long you’re online and more. As a free VPN user don’t be surprised if you are subjected to ads that may contain malware.
A free VPN is likely to have slower connection speeds which make online gaming or extended use a real challenge. The features are limited and restrictive data caps may be in-place to pressure the user to upgrade to a paid version. To stay secure online, it’s recommended to keep a VPN running and most users are likely to exceed their “free data” cap quickly.
How Do I Choose the Right VPN Service to Meet My Needs?
Once you understand that a free VPN is not an alternative to a paid VPN service, there is another challenge to overcome. Even a brief glance at premium VPN companies will reveal that there are a lot to choose from and they all offer different levels of cover and features. There is no one-size-fits-all VPN service that will be the optimal choice for every internet user. That said, there are several key considerations and criteria that you should bear in mind before you make your decision.
- Security: The VPN you choose should have security protocols and high levels of encryption to keep your data secure. At this time the best VPN protocols to look out for are: WireGuard, OpenVPN, SSTP, PPTP, L2TP/IPSec and IKEv2.
- Server Locations: The number of server locations tends to matter more than the actual number of servers when it comes to fast and secure connections. If you have nearby servers to use you should notice that your online traffic is faster. Those that want location locked content should look for servers in nations that meet those needs.
- No-Logs Policy: Don’t choose a VPN that keeps logs of your online activity that can be traced back to you. Look for a service that doesn’t keep logs or that only keeps anonymous logs that contain no identifiable information.
- Devices and Compatibility: Choose a VPN that works well with your chosen operating systems and devices.
- Traffic Speed: All encryption and remote server access will slow online speeds, but the best VPN services are barely noticeable in this regard. Choose a VPN with high-quality local servers and unlimited bandwidth to make your traffic flow smoothly.
- Excellent Customer Support: Even seasoned VPN users can run into the occasional challenge and this is when a dedicated customer support team is needed. Look for a company with 24/7/364 round the clock support to ensure that you’re covered no matter which time-zone you’re in.
- Trial and Payment Options: It’s advisable to try before you buy and some reputable VPN providers offer a 14 day free trial with a 30 day money back guarantee if you’re not happy with their service.
- Extra Security Tools: A good VPN may offer extra value with ad blockers, split funneling, kill switches, dark web monitoring and more. These are not make or break features, but they can add extra protection at no additional cost.
- Company Reputation: The VPN company you choose should have a proven track record, plenty of positive reviews and excellent customer support.
FAQs
Are Paid VPNs More Secure?
Yes, they have stronger security protocols and encryption than free VPN services. This is more likely to keep your data safe and secure when you’re online.
Is a Free VPN a Viable Alternative?
No, the free VPNs are not a good option for internet users that want to protect their privacy online. There may be some basic protection in place, but the free VPN provider may be selling your data to a data broker.
Will a VPN Slow Down My Internet Traffic?
Yes, but if you’re using a paid VPN service it’s unlikely that you would notice any change to your internet traffic speeds. In recent years VPNs have become much faster and there are plenty of servers to meet your needs. Many gamers now play their games over a VPN connection and experience no problems. Always check before you make a final decision because this can vary depending on the specific VPN company and service that you choose.
Are There Any Good Free VPN Services?
Some of the free versions or free trials of the more reputable VPN providers can be pretty good for those looking for a free option. But, even the best free VPNs won’t have the same benefits and features offered by a premium-grade alternative.
