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5 Best Free VPNs for School in 2024

Last updated June 1, 2024
Written by:
Novak Bozovic
Novak Bozovic
Senior VPN Editor
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To protect everyone's safety and security, school Wi-Fi networks employ firewalls that block certain types of content, such as Roblox, Netflix, Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Also, school admins can see everything you do online by collecting your usage activity.

A free VPN can be a solution for unblocking the Web at school and preserving your privacy. However, most free VPNs are heavily limited. They impose bandwidth limitations and are typically quite slow. So, you can use them for a limited time only. That's why you should consider free VPN trials of premium VPNs, giving you access to features found only in the best school VPNs.

We'll discuss the best free VPN for school and include some premium trials. Then, we'll show you how to get one, compare the best options, and pick the best VPN. We'll also explain the limitations of free services, whether they're safe, why schools block sites, and we'll wrap up with some FAQs.

Best Free VPNs for School - Our Shortlist

  1. NordVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN Free Trial for School in 2024
  2. Surfshark - Free Trial VPN for School with Unlimited Simultaneous Connections
  3. ExpressVPN - School VPN Free Trial for Easy Website Unblocking
  4. Proton VPN - Best Free VPN for School with Unlimited Bandwidth
  5. Windscribe - Free VPN for School Wi-Fi with Many Server Locations

How to Get a VPN Free Trial for School Wi-Fi

After you choose a suitable VPN, you need to sign up and then download its app. You'll unblock sites and secure your privacy after you connect to a VPN server - done in the following way:

  1. Get a free trial VPN that works at school (we recommend NordVPN's 30-day risk-free trial).
  2. Download the VPN app and install it on your device(s).
  3. Launch the VPN and use your account info to log in.
  4. Connect to a VPN server of your choice.
  5. That's it! You can now browse the Internet without restrictions.

We recommend NordVPN's trial instead of a free VPN, as you'll get unlimited bandwidth, tons of servers, and the ability to unblock any app or site. On top of that, NordVPN brings ultra-fast speeds unmatched by any free VPN service.

Best Free VPNs That Work at School

To find the best free VPN services for school Wi-Fi, you need to follow certain criteria. That said, your chosen VPN must have the ability to unblock restricted content at school, such as social media apps, games, etc. Then, you'll need unlimited bandwidth or a generous data allowance at least. Next, there should be native apps for the devices you use at school to connect to the Internet.

Try to find a VPN with as many servers as possible in as many locations as possible. Don't forget about security, meaning that your VPN must offer reliable VPN protocols, strong encryption, and a no-logs policy. We also highly recommend using obfuscation and a kill switch, which will keep you protected and hidden from admins even if your VPN connection drops.

We'll also mention fast speeds and smooth performance, as no one likes a slow Web connection. You'll also want a sufficient number of simultaneous connections. We'll finish the list of our criteria with a fair price and generous money-back guarantees if you decide to become a paying subscriber. And make sure there's 24/7 live chat support so that you can solve any issue in no time.

Based on the requirements set above, here are the 5 free VPNs that work at school in 2024:

1. NordVPN - Our #1-Rated VPN Free Trial for School in 2024

Editor's Pick
Servers
Countries
Apps
Windows
Android
Mac
iOS
Linux
Router
Chromebook
Kindle
Chrome
Firefox
PlayStation
Apple TV
Xbox
Amazon Fire TV
Nintendo Switch
All game consoles
All smart TVs
Chromecast
Roku
Parallel Connections
Live Chat

NordVPN offers a highly capable free trial to bypass school Wi-Fi, supporting a long list of features that enhance your Web browsing experience. You can activate this trial on Android and then use it on any device for up to 7 days. During that time, you get unlimited bandwidth and absolutely no restrictions. More importantly, you'll be able to unblock practically any website or app.

This VPN also works on any device. Students can use its native software for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chromebooks, and more. To unblock school Wi-Fi with NordVPN, you can use any of its 6,300+ servers in 111 countries.

NordVPN is powered by protocols like OpenVPN, NordLynx, and IKEv2/IPsec, paired with high-end encryption (AES-256/ChaCha20). There's also support for obfuscation, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. In fact, NordVPN has been audited multiple times in the past.

Another benefit of using NordVPN on your school computer is that you get ultra-fast performance. Based on our tests, it's among the fastest VPNs right now, with ultra-fast speeds across nearby and remote servers. We'll also mention that NordVPN supports 10 simultaneous connections.

All that is available at $3.09/month (2-year plan). NordVPN also offers a 30-day money-back policy if you become a paying customer, and there's 24/7 live chat support as well.

PROS

  • Can unblock school Wi-Fi every time.
  • Amazing speeds and no data caps.
  • Great for streaming and gaming.
  • Advanced security features.
  • 24/7 support via live chat.
  • 30-day money-back policy.

CONS

  • Partially obfuscated network.

2. Surfshark - Free Trial VPN for School with Unlimited Simultaneous Connections

Servers
Countries
Apps
Windows
Android
Mac
iOS
Linux
Router
Chrome
Firefox
Apple TV
Amazon Fire TV
All game consoles
All smart TVs
Parallel Connections
Live Chat

Surfshark is another highly capable VPN trial, a great option if you want to share your subscription with others. You can activate this trial on Android, iOS, and macOS, and it lasts for 7 days. Being a trial of a premium VPN, you won't find bandwidth limitations here. What you'll find is the ability to unblock any app, social media network, game, and more.

Surfshark offers native apps for your computer, phone, tablet, and more. Through those apps, you can connect to 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries. That said, this VPN has an incredibly wide reach, which works amazingly well when it comes to unblocking online content, streaming, and gaming.

In terms of security, Surfshark certainly doesn't disappoint. It offers protocols like OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPsec, paired with AES-256 and ChaCha20 encryption ciphers. There's also obfuscation across the board, a kill switch that prevents leaks, and an audited no-logs policy. Surfshark is among the most private VPNs you can find, as proven by its numerous past audits.

This VPN also performs more than well. It can take a while to connect, but you'll always end up with a speedy connection. You'll also get an unlimited number of simultaneous connections.

You can sign up for $2.19/month (2-year plan), and there's also a 30-day money-back policy. Without any surprise, Surfshark also brings 24/7 live chat support, with many other support channels as well.

PROS

  • Can bypass any Wi-Fi restriction.
  • Great speeds, with no data caps.
  • Works for practically any use.
  • Servers in 100 countries.
  • 24/7 support via live chat.
  • 30-day money-back policy.

CONS

  • Can take a while to connect.

3. ExpressVPN - School VPN Free Trial for Easy Website Unblocking

Servers
Countries
Apps
Windows
Android
Mac
iOS
Linux
Router
Chromebook
Kindle
Nook
Chrome
Firefox
PlayStation
Apple TV
Xbox
Amazon Fire TV
Roku
Parallel Connections
Live Chat

ExpressVPN presents a trial that offers easy content unblocking. You can activate this trial on Android and iOS, which gives you 7 days of unrestricted use. In other words, you get unlimited bandwidth and performance, using which you can bypass school Wi-Fi blocks and gain access to any website, app, or game.

To get everything ExpressVPN offers, you'll need to install its apps, which are available on Windows, macOS, Linux, Chromebooks, Android, iOS, and more. To unblock online content, just pick any of its thousands of servers in 105 countries. All those are all-in-one servers, with obfuscation included, which is why ExpressVPN works so well for bypassing firewalls and geo-blocks.

This VPN comes with OpenVPN, Lightway, and IKEv2/IPsec, more than capable of protecting your sensitive data. Those protocols are paired with AES-256 and WolfSSL encryption, and there's also a kill switch to ensure your original IP doesn't surface on the Web. In terms of privacy, there's nothing to be worried about, as ExpressVPN comes with an audited no-logs policy.

You should also know that ExpressVPN comes with speedy connections, even if you connect to remote servers. This VPN also gives you 8 simultaneous connections.

The lowest you can pay for this VPN is $6.67/month (1-year plan), and there's also a 30-day money-back policy. Lastly, 24/7 live chat support is part of its offer, with helpful agents awaiting your questions round the clock.

PROS

  • Works great for unblocking content.
  • Ultra-fast and zero data caps.
  • Blocks online trackers.
  • 24/7 live chat support.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee.

CONS

  • Not the most affordable pick.

4. Proton VPN - Best Free VPN for School with Unlimited Bandwidth

Servers
Countries
Apps
Windows
Android
Mac
iOS
Linux
Router
Chromebook
Parallel Connections
Live Chat

ProtonVPN imposes no bandwidth limitations, so you can leave it on practically all the time. On top of that, it works well for unblocking websites and apps, and you'll get to unblock social media apps, games, and some streaming sites.

We have more good news - Proton VPN works on computers, phones, and tablets, so you'll get to install it on your school Chromebook or some other device with no issues. However, the free version of Proton VPN will give you access to a handful of servers in 5 countries: the US, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland.

This VPN also delivers in terms of privacy and security, as it's powered by many protocols, led by OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and Stealth (which supports obfuscation), paired with AES-256 and ChaCha20. Proton VPN also has a powerful kill switch, and it brings a recently audited no-logs policy.

That said, you will get medium-fast connection speeds. Another limitation is that you'll get to connect only one device at a time, so there are no simultaneous connections available.

This VPN currently costs $4.49/month (2-year plan). Know that you can count on Proton VPN's 30-day money-back policy if you decide to become a paying user. Lastly, know that 24/7 live chat support is not on offer, but you can ask for help via email or by creating a customer support ticket.

PROS

  • No data allowances.
  • Unblocks many sites/apps.
  • Audited no-logs policy.
  • Reputable VPN brand.
  • Robust security and privacy features.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee.

CONS

  • Only one device is allowed.
  • Covers 5 countries only.
  • No 24/7 live chat support.

5. Windscribe - Free VPN for School with Many Server Locations

Servers
Countries
Apps
Windows
Mac
iOS
Android
Linux
Router
Parallel Connections
Data Limit

Windscribe is a speedy free VPN that gives you access to plenty of blocked sites and apps. Still, it also has some pretty serious limitations. For example, you get 2GB of data per month when you first sign up, and you can increase that to 10GB/month if you supply your email address. You can also publish a post on X (Twitter) to get 5GB more per month.

Windscribe works on all major platforms (including browsers via extension), and that includes Windows, macOS, Linux, Chrome OS, Android, iOS, and more. In terms of its server network, you get dozens of servers in 11 countries: the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Romania, and Turkey.

When it comes to privacy and security, Windscribe offers many protocols, among which are OpenVPN, WireGuard, IKEv2/IPsec, and Stealth (for obfuscation). It also uses encryption ciphers like AES-256 and ChaCha20. Windscribe features its own spin on a kill switch, employing a firewall to prevent data leaks. A no-logs policy is there as well, and even its apps have been open-sourced not too long ago.

Windscribe offers medium-fast speeds, depending on the occupancy of your chosen VPN server. It also offers unlimited simultaneous connections.

This provider's annual plan costs $5.75/month. That said, its money-back policy is questionable, as you have only 3 days to ask for your money back (and you shouldn't spend more than 10GB of data). Also, 24/7 live chat is there, but it's powered by a bot.

PROS

  • 10+ locations on the free plan.
  • Unblocks most apps/sites.
  • Streaming support on the free version.
  • Browser extension with ad-blocking.
  • Respects your privacy.
  • Audited no-logs policy.

CONS

  • Limited data caps.
  • No live chat customer support.
  • Strict money-back policy.

Comparing Free VPNs That Work at School

NordVPN Surfshark ExpressVPN Proton VPN Windscribe
Jurisdiction Panama Netherlands British Virgin Islands Switzerland Canada
Bandwidth Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited Unlimited 2-15GB/month
Server Network Size 6,300+ servers
111 countries
3,200+ servers
100 countries
Thousands of servers
105 countries
Dozens of servers
5 countries
Dozens of servers
11 countries
VPN Protocols OpenVPN
IKEv2/IPsec
NordLynx 
OpenVPN,
WireGuard
IKEv2/IPsec
OpenVPN
Lightway
IKEv2/IPsec
OpenVPN
IKEv2/IPsec
WireGuard
Stealth
OpenVPN
IKEv2/IPsec
WireGuard
Stealth
Wstunnel
No-Logs Policy YES YES YES YES YES
Obfuscated Servers YES YES YES YES YES
Kill Switch YES YES YES YES YES
Performance Ultra-fast Fast Fast Medium Medium
Simultaneous Connections 10 Unlimited 8 1 Unlimited
Supported Platforms Windows
macOS
Linux
Chrome OS
Android
iOS
Routers
Windows
macOS
Linux
Chrome OS
Android
iOS
Routers
Windows
macOS
Linux
Chrome OS
Android
iOS
Routers
Windows
macOS
Linux
Chrome OS
Android
iOS
Windows
macOS
Linux
Chrome OS
Android
iOS
Price $3.09/month
(2-year plan)
$2.19/month
(2-year plan)
$6.67/month
(1-year plan)
$4.49/month
(2-year plan)
$5.75/month
(1-year plan)
Customer Support 24/7 live chat 24/7 live chat 24/7 live chat Email support Email support
Money-Back Guarantees 30 days 30 days 30 days 30 days 3 days
Get NordVPN Get Surfshark Get ExpressVPN Get Proton VPN Get Windscribe

Why Might Free School VPNs Be Risky?

Most free VPNs don't provide proper security measures, as they rely on low-end protocols and data encryption. Also, free VPNs often leak data, collect your Web browsing history, propagate malware, and are more likely to offer outdated and vulnerable software. Here's more info:

Tips on Finding the Best Free School VPN

You need to steer your focus towards finding a VPN that unblocks restricted content, offers a generous data allowance, and brings plenty of servers, in addition to providing optimal performance, a no-logs policy, and other features. Here's what you need to keep in mind:

Drawbacks of Using Free VPNs at School

Free VPNs can't unblock everything, and they also bring relatively slow speeds. They also come with limited features, which will make your Web browsing experience quite restricted. Here's everything you need to know:

Is It Safe to Use a Free VPN for School?

Yes, it's safe to use free VPN providers for school as long as you stick with trusted providers and set your expectations right. Our recommendations keep no user logs (or minimal, anonymized logs). Moreover, they feature strong encryption to keep hackers and other snoopers at bay.

Of course, we recommend against using a free VPN on your school Chromebook or other computer. Your school may have strict rules against installing third-party apps on their devices (as you borrow them instead of owning them). Just install a free VPN on your personal phone, tablet, or laptop and use it while connected to the school Wi-Fi as usual.

That said, we recommend you read the sections found just above, as using a free VPN will increase your chances of experiencing a data leak, slow performance, and other issues. So, even though a free VPN can be safe to use on a school computer, it's never the best option. If you want the best, there's no other way than to use one of the top VPNs, all of which are premium-priced.

Why Do Schools Block Websites and Services?

Limiting access to specific types of content and steering students to focus on learning are the main reasons why schools impose Internet restrictions. Also, to avoid cyberbullying, stop malware, and comply with digital safety laws. Let's take a closer look:

Final Thoughts

A free VPN might look like a good idea at first. However, the truth is that a free VPN won't let you bypass your school Wi-Fi blocks fully. Also, they will track you online, slow you down, and expose you to numerous online threats - like malware. That said, if your goal is to bypass Wi-Fi restrictions in your school while ensuring the safety of your data, a free VPN trial is a better option.

You won't find a better option than NordVPN, which is currently the best free VPN trial for school Wi-Fi networks. NordVPN offers an array of tools to protect and preserve your online privacy while allowing you to easily circumvent Wi-Fi blocks. It's also incredibly fast and suitable for any online activity.

If you need a free option, you can try Proton VPN. You'll get unlimited bandwidth, which makes it the best free VPN for school, but you'll also get restricted speeds and just a handful of servers.

FAQ

What's the Best Free VPN for School Wi-Fi?

The best free VPN for school Wi-Fi is Proton VPN. It comes with unlimited bandwidth, which is a rare thing to see. However, know that your speeds will be limited, and you'll also get a very limited server network.

Is There a Free VPN for Students?

Yes, there are some free VPNs for students, such as Proton VPN. However, they're all limited in some way. For example, Proton VPN has unlimited bandwidth, but it's crippled by relatively slow speeds and a small selection of servers.

Do Free VPNs Work on School Wi-Fi?

Yes, free VPNs work on school Wi-Fi. However, if your school decides to curb VPN usage on its network, free VPNs may be easier to block. Most free VPNs work for a limited time only.

Can I Get a Free VPN on a School Computer?

Yes, you can get a free VPN on a school computer, but we highly recommend against it. Schools usually have various methods of detecting VPNs on school laptops, especially free ones. Rather than using a free VPN, go with a premium one that offers a trial, like NordVPN.

How Do I Get a Free VPN on My School Chromebook?

To get a free VPN on your school Chromebook, you need to subscribe to one and then download its Android app from the Play Store. If you want the smoothest possible experience, we recommend NordVPN, which comes with a free VPN trial.

Does School Wi-Fi Block Free VPNs?

Yes, some school Wi-Fi networks can block free VPNs. Based on its infrastructure, a school Wi-Fi network can analyze data packets to determine if they come from a VPN and block them.

How Do I Unblock My School Wi-Fi With VPN?

To unblock your school Wi-FI with a VPN, simply connect to a VPN server. Your VPN will use encryption to hide your traffic, letting you bypass any firewall. Go with NordVPN, a free VPN trial that can unblock any school Wi-Fi.

That's all for our guide on using a VPN to bypass your school's Internet restrictions. If you have anything to add, please do so via the comments section below. Thanks for reading!



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