14 Best Free Trial VPNs You Must Try in 2020

Just like the majority of other digital services, VPNs also provide a way to test-drive their services before paying. However, the thing is that not many VPNs offer completely free trials. With this said, it’s clear that you need to dig deep to find VPNs willing to let you join and test-drive their networks without having to pay anything. We fully understand that you want some guarantees before spending your money, which is why we’ll talk about the best free trial VPNs in 2020. So, here’s what you need to know.

You might be surprised to know that only a handful of VPNs offer a trial version. We’re talking about time-limited trials that you can access without paying anything. You see, this wasn’t the case a few years back. However, due to possible misuses of their free offers, today’s VPNs are usually offering another way to prove the quality of their services – by offering money-back guarantees. It technically means that you need to pay for the service, and then ask for your money to be returned if you’re not happy. So, how to test VPNs without paying anything? Are there VPNs that offer completely free trials? The answer is yes, and we’re here to recommend some of the best options right now.

All of the VPN services you’ll find below allow you to test them for a maximum of 7 days and a minimum of 1 day. There are those that only ask for your email. However, some require your payment information (which is a misuse-prevention system). Therefore, be aware of the duration of their trials and cancel your account if you’re not happy. Otherwise, you can be charged once the trial ends. To learn more about this ‘fine print,’ make sure to read our “Frequently Asked Questions” section, found at the bottom of this article.

So, here are the 14 best free trial VPNs in 2020.

1. ExpressVPN

If you need the best VPN service that can be found today, look no further than ExpressVPN. You get the highest possible encryption level, capable VPN protocols, and the ability to protect your personal information seamlessly. Aside from general Web browsing, ExpressVPN is also capable of unblocking media streaming platforms, downloading torrent files, and plenty more. Take a more comprehensive look via our ExpressVPN review.

When it comes to its trial, know that ExpressVPN offers this option only via its mobile apps (on Android and iOS). Once you download any of those, you can pick a subscription plan, and then you’ll get a 7-day trial. However, keep in mind that you’ll be charged once the trial ends unless you cancel your subscription on time. Nonetheless, this could be an excellent way to test-drive what ExpressVPN offers, especially since its mobile apps are on par with what you’ll find on desktop systems.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on iOS & Android / Not available on other platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your Google or Apple ID is required.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

2. CyberGhost VPN

Coming from Romania, CyberGhost VPN has reached massive popularity around the world. It’s being presented as one of the most user-friendly VPNs out there. Bringing a simple interface, it allows you to browse the Web without restrictions, use specialized media streaming servers, and engage in P2P traffic. Also, it has a huge network of servers and doesn’t collect any of your personal information, as talked about in our CyberGhost VPN review.

To test-drive this VPN, you need to download CyberGhost VPN on your computer or smartphone (without having to sign-up on its website first). Install the application, sign-up using its UI, and you’ll get to use it for a limited time. And let’s not forget that its trial applies to iOS and Android (7 days) as well as other platforms (1 day). If you’d like more options, make sure to check out other best 7-day free trial VPN services.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on iOS & Android / 1 day on other platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address and password; Your Google or Apple ID is required for getting the VPN’s trial on mobile devices.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

3. Surfshark

This is one of our favorite VPN services at the moment, bringing a clever combination of advanced yet easy-to-use features. Surfshark is capable of protecting your Web data, unblocking websites, eliminating ads and trackers, and plenty more. As mentioned in our Surfshark review, it can also help secure your email address and help you privately search the Web. Overall, this VPN brings plenty of value for its price.

Keep in mind that Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial, but only via its Android and iOS apps. It means that you need to download the VPN’s app, decide on which plan you want to use, and you’ll be charged once the 7-day trial ends. If you cancel your subscription on time, you’ll avoid getting charged. However, we’re 100% sure that many of you are going to continue using Surfshark for a long time to come.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on iOS & Android / Not available on other platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your Google or Apple ID is required.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

4. NordVPN

NordVPN is known for offering a comprehensive set of VPN-related features, wrapped up in a highly polished package. You get nicely designed (and highly intuitive) apps, the ability to block online trackers, unblock any website out there, and even fight against sophisticated anti-VPN measures. All of this is explained in our NordVPN review.

NordVPN’s trial is currently available on mobile devices only, on Android and iOS. It used to cover desktop platforms as well, but NordVPN was forced to shut down that trial due to widespread abuse. It means you need to download the VPN’s app on your mobile device, pick a subscription plan, and have seven days to try NordVPN. If you don’t cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends, you might be charged – so keep this in mind.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on iOS & Android / Not available on other platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your Google or Apple ID is required.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

5. ProtonVPN

This is one of the top-ranked VPN providers with plenty to offer. It brings the standard set of features, including plenty of servers, top-level encryption, and the power to unblock websites. However, it also comes with a highly secure VPN tunnel to protect you against any leaks, and a feature called ‘Perfect Forward Secrecy.’ It means that even if someone gets to your data, they won’t be able to decrypt it. To learn about this VPNs interface, features, speed, and performance, read our ProtonVPN review.

To test-drive ProtonVPN, you can use the link found below to sign-up for a free-of-charge account. Once you download and activate your account, you’ll get to use a 7-day trial of ProtonVPN’s Plus plan (completely free of charge). Once the trial ends, you’ll automatically switch to the Free plan, which limits you to three countries and one device. Therefore, this is a completely risk-free option, and you can buy a subscription once the trial ends (if you decide to use ProtonVPN in the long-term, that is). For more free options, check this Free VPN list.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address and password.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

6. PrivateVPN

Bringing the highest level of encryption (2048-bit), PrivateVPN stays true to its name. This provider makes your online whereabouts hidden from anyone else and allows you to break through the strongest geo-blocking mechanisms. As noted in our PrivateVPN review, it’s bringing a healthy number of servers, and you will get to use new IPs from a wide range of countries. PrivateVPN has a zero data-logging policy, comes with IPv6 leak protection, and there’s high-rated customer support as well.

Even though PrivateVPN’s trial should be available on a large scale, users from certain countries might see their access restricted. If you see an error message while trying to access PrivateVPN’s website (by using the link provided below), the VPN’s trial account isn’t available in your country. However, we recommend using a different VPN to reach PrivateVPN and resolve this obstacle. Once you obtain your credentials, you’re free to download any of the VPN’s apps and test-drive them.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address.
Limitations of the Trial: Not globally available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

7. ZenMate VPN

ZenMate comes from Germany, and this is a well-known and highly-reputable VPN brand. This is also one of the fastest-evolving VPNs, bringing new features at a rapid pace. You can use ZenMate VPN’s polished applications to connect to over 70+ locations, unblock a range of websites, and avoid online censorship. It is also a no-logs VPN, so it respects your privacy in the best way possible. Check out more info in our detailed ZenMate VPN review.

Further reading: Fastest VPNs in 2020 – Real-World Performance, Hands-On Tested!

You’ll also be happy to know that ZenMate allows you to test-drive its VPN service for up to seven days. All you need to provide is your email address. Once you verify it, you’ll get to use the VPN with no limitations whatsoever. This applies to Zenmate’s mobile and desktop apps, even though there’s a catch to be aware of. If you decide to try ZenMate on your smartphone, you will be charged once the trial is over (which won’t happen if you cancel your subscription on time).

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address; Your Google or Apple ID is required for signing-up for trials on mobile devices.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

8. Avast SecureLine VPN

We are sure that you’ve heard of Avast before, the creator of one of the world’s most popular and best antivirus solutions. Therefore, it’s not surprising to see Avast offering a VPN as well. Called SecureLine VPN, it brings a simple interface, gets you into Netflix, and doesn’t leak your data. However, you’ll only get to use a limited number of servers (plenty of locations though), and there aren’t any advanced features like split tunneling, for example. To get more info, here’s our Avast SecureLine VPN review.

Also, keep in mind that you can try Avast SecureLine VPN on desktop platforms without having to supply any personal information. Download the app, and you’ll use it with no limitations for up to seven days. However, if you decide to try the VPN’s mobile apps, you’ll need to agree to a subscription plan, and you’ll be charged automatically once the trial ends.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address and password (on mobile devices); No information required on desktop platforms.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

9. Astrill VPN

Astrill became hugely popular a while back once getting a VPN in China was close to impossible. Having the ability to cross the Great Firewall of China, it didn’t take long for users to notice this VPN. You can use it on up five devices at the same time without any limitations and rely on the company’s 24/7 support. Astrill also gets you into Netflix and Hulu and brings a highly reliable VPN encryption and protocols. The only downside is that it doesn’t bring the biggest server network out there. To learn more about this service, head to our Astrill VPN review.

One final note – the trial version of Astrill VPN might not be available in every country (and the trial version is officially not available in China). If you’re automatically redirected to this VPN’s pricing page, this means the trial version isn’t available for your location. A possible solution is to use another VPN (or a proxy), which should give you the ability to sign-up for an Astrill trial account.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days.
Personal Information Required: Your name and email address.
Limitations of the Trial: Not available in China.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

10. HMA (HideMyAss)

HideMyAss has managed to attract our attention thanks to the fact that it is present in the entire world. That’s true – you can find servers in almost every country of the world, giving you a chance to get a new IP instantaneously. This provider offers 24/7 support, hundreds of locations, military-grade encryption, easy content streaming, and P2P support. However, as noted in our HideMyAss review, you’ll have a hard time unlocking new streaming services.

There’s also one more thing to know when it comes to HMA’s trial. To access it, you’ll need to supply your payment information. Once the 7-day trial ends, you’ll be charged as per the current price of the VPN’s annual subscription. Therefore, don’t forget to cancel the subscription at least 24 hours before it ends.

And while test-driving this VPN, you’ll get to use all of its apps – including software made for desktop and mobile operating systems.

Duration of the Trial: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address and payment information.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; Keep in mind that you’ll be charged for the VPN’s annual subscription once the trial ends.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

11. AVG Secure VPN

AVG, without any doubt, is known for its security-oriented software. Their Secure VPN solution is a bit different than what you might expect. It does work without any issues, unblocks websites, and even provides access to Netflix. However, this VPN comes with a limited number of servers. Considering that it doesn’t allow you to fine-tune your VPN connection, there are many signs that more advanced users should look elsewhere.

If you’re willing to try out AVG’s Secure VPN, know that the best way to do that is by downloading its desktop application. You don’t have to supply any information in this case. You can also try the VPN on your mobile device, but know that you’ll get access to the trial only after you pick a subscription and agree to be charged automatically.

Trial Duration: 7 days on all platforms.
Personal Information Required: Your email address and password (on mobile devices); No information required on desktop platforms.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

12. SaferVPN

Bringing hundreds of ultra-secure servers, SaferVPN has come a long way during the past several years. Today, this is a highly capable VPN, present on all currently popular devices, Web browsers, and routers as well. It stands out thanks to its polished UI, very fast speeds with minimal throttling, and also provides superior 256-bit AES encryption. You can find more information in our SaferVPN review.

This VPN comes with a 24-hour trial. All you need to sign-up is to supply your email address. Once you obtain your credentials, you’ll have 24 hours to try any of the VPN’s applications – on both desktop and mobile platforms. Since you won’t supply your payment information, you won’t be charged once the trial ends.

Trial Duration: 24 hours.
Personal Information Required: Your email address only.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

13. CactusVPN

This VPN provider caters to those looking for an easy-to-use solution. As noted in our CactusVPN review, you can install this VPN on a whole range of devices and get to use equally simple UIs across all of those. While CactusVPN doesn’t have a huge number of servers, its offer should be enough for average home users. And while it doesn’t work with Netflix, it supports other media streaming services. If you are interested, find out the best VPN service that works with Netflix from here.

CactusVPN comes with a 3-day trial, and keep in mind that you need to sign-up via its official website (use the links provided in this article). This will get you your user credentials, using which you can log-in to any of the VPN’s applications.

Trial Duration: 3 days.
Personal Information Required: Your email address.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

14. TigerVPN

With hundreds of VPNs out there, it’s tough to stand out. Launched in 2011, TigerVPN is giving 2% of its profits to NGOs for animal welfare – which might persuade you into using this VPN. However, there’s plenty that could be said about this VPN in terms of its technical capabilities. It offers plenty of servers and includes tools to keep your passwords safe. To learn more, check out our TigerVPN review.

What’s also important to note is that you’ll need to activate this VPN’s trial by downloading the trial version of TigerVPN – using the link we’ve provided. This provider doesn’t clearly indicate the availability of its trial on the website and instead routes you toward signing up for a paid account. Once you download the file, install it, sign up for an account from within the app, and you’ll get to use it for a limited time.

Trial Duration: 3 days.
Personal Information Required: Your email address.
Limitations of the Trial: No limitations; All functions are fully available.
Try on: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows & other devices.

FAQ

Let’s answer a few important questions about using VPN free trials and what to expect to achieve by doing so. Keep on reading to learn more.

Why Is It Important to Test VPNs via Free Trials?

Before you commit to a particular VPN, you need to know your priorities. Using a trial will allow you to check if your websites work like before, can you unblock new websites, are there any leaks, and so on. Therefore, we highly recommend you to pick a free trial VPN before committing.

What Happens Once the VPN Trial Ends?

There are two possible situations once a VPN trial period ends. This depends on the amount of information you have provided in the beginning:

Some VPNs simply stop working once the trial ends. You’ll get an email saying that the trial is done and that you need to buy a subscription to continue.
Other VPNs might charge you. In case you’ve selected a subscription plan and entered your payment information, the chances are that you’ll be automatically charged. To avoid this situation, you need to cancel your subscription before the trial ends.

How to Cancel a VPN Subscription?

In case you want to cancel a VPN subscription, there are two ways that this can be done. Please remember that you need to cancel your subscription before the trial ends to avoid being charged.

You can log in to your account on the VPN’s official website. From there, find your account details and disable (cancel) your account.
Some VPN providers allow you to review your account status from within the application. However, in many cases, you’ll be taken to the VPN’s website where you can make these kinds of changes.

In case you’re ever in doubt, we highly recommend you contact your chosen VPN’s customer support team. The fastest way this can be done is via live chat. Provide your account information and ask to shut down your account.

Why Do I Need to Provide My Credit Card Information?

Running a VPN service is an expensive endeavor. VPNs require your personal information, including your credit card info, so that they can stop any kind of misuse. In other words, this is a way for VPN services to prevent you from using their trials more than once.

What Should I Know About Money-Back Guarantees?

In this article, we talked about free trial VPNs, and you have 14 options in front of you that don’t require an up-front payment.

When it comes to VPNs that require payment information, they might charge you after the trial period ends. Even if you forget to cancel your subscription, there are still money-back guarantees. In many cases, these last for 30 days and you can have your money returned with no questions asked. This is done by contacting the support team of your chosen VPN.

What Should I Know While Using Free VPN Trials?

Finally, we’re going to tell us what to keep in mind when testing a free trial VPN. Take a look at the following highlights.

First and foremost, you need to check the general usability of a VPN. How easy it is to use it, can you install it on a range of devices, and does it come with a learning curve? After all, you want something that’s easy to use.
Then, you need to check the VPN’s performance. Connect to a nearby server and see if you can browse the Internet like you can with the VPN disabled. Then, connect to a remote server and try to download a file. See if the VPN throttles your Web connection and by how much.
Don’t forget about protecting your private information. The best way to see if there are any leaks and if your real IP address is truly protected is to run an IP leak test.
Finally, you want to see how effective is the VPN’s customer support. Send an email or chat with the company’s representatives via live chat. See how helpful and responsive they are.

Dear readers, this is where we conclude our article on the best free trial VPNs in 2020. We hope that you’ll find a VPN that’s aligned with your needs and that you’ll become a long-term VPN subscriber.

14 Best Free Trial VPNs in 2020