Best VPN Free Trials

We picked the best VPN free trials (and one for 99 cents) that offer a 30-day or seven-day trial, including our top VPN overall (NordVPN) which has a clear and professional interface, a high number of VPN servers, and a strict zero-logs policy.

One of the time-tested rituals with any piece of software is the trial version. Dating back to the early days of computer games and graphics software, a 30-day trial allows you to test out features—sometimes without even registering for the product. Once you get hooked, you sign up for the paid account, knowing exactly how the app works.

A VPN (virtual private network) is no different. Several companies offer a trial version that lasts 30 days so you can find out how the encryption works (and if it causes slowdowns). You can find out if you can access the media streaming sites you like best. And you can evaluate the inference and features. Surprisingly, not every VPN offers a trial version. Here are the best VPN services that do.

We’ve consistently picked NordVPN as a top VPN, mostly due to the professional design, the extensive features, a high number of servers (5,760), and fast throughput. Another reason to consider this VPN is that there’s a free 30-day trial with no strings attached. Not every VPN can boast such a professional look and feel, and with the trial, you can experiment with the features and see if the VPN service meets your needs. NordVPN also includes a free malware protection app and competes directly with ExpressVPN for overall value.

• High number of VPN servers (5,760)
• Free malware protection
• Professional interface
• VPN app available

Want to know more? Read our full-length NordVPN review.

One of the things we like so much about VPNSecure is that there’s an app you can use called MetaSearch that protects your privacy. If you sign up for the trial, you can use that app as part of the test. Unlike some of the shorter trials that last just seven days, the VPNSecure trial lasts 30 days with no “gotchas,” like complicated cancellation policies.

• Includes an app for anonymous search
• Longer than usual trial
• Clean and efficient interface
• VPN app available

Want to know more? Read our full-length VPNSecure review.

Norton is a trusted name in security, and the Norton Secure VPN service is one of our top picks overall. (Norton Secure VPN service provider is available as a separate app and also included with the Norton 360 suite.) Another unusual feature with Secure VPN is that, even after the trial period ends and you register for the paid product, you can take advantage of the 60-day money-back guarantee if you decide it doesn’t meet your needs. Norton Secure VPN has one of the best interfaces of any VPN provider we’ve tested—it’s streamlined and clean.

• 60-day money-back guarantee
• Clean interface
• Trusted brand in the security field
• VPN app available

Want to know more? Read our full-length Norton Secure VPN review.

Breaking from convention is Windscribe, a robust and highly capable VPN that we’ve rated higher than most in general and is a bit lower in price than some (at $9 per month). Instead of a 30-day trial, Windscribe lets you try out all features and functions for seven days. One unusual perk is that you can pick an alternative pricing plan and choose which servers you will actually use and pay for them as needed.

• Seven-day trial period
• Pricing plan lets you choose your servers
• VPN app available

Want to know more? Read our full-length Windscribe review.

Rounding out our top picks for a VPN is another highly capable client with plenty of robust features. Unlike the trial versions for other VPN services, PureVPN lets you sign up for a full test for seven days at a cost of 99 cents. The trial is a great way to test the most unusual feature, which has to do with mode settings. PureVPN lets you choose how you want to use the product and configures settings for that function.

• Low-cost seven-day trial
• Modes suited for how you need to use a VPN
• Best VPN for privacy
• VPN app available

Want to know more? Read our full-length PureVPN review.

A free trial version is a time-tested way to evaluate any piece of software. With a VPN service, you can review the features and functions, evaluate the interface, and test the speed of your connection once you are up and running. Yet, you don’t have to commit to a pricing plan (which may last a full year or even three years).

Before the trial ends, you can decide whether the VPN is for you or just walk away—you don’t have to commit to any pricing plans. Yet, if the VPN meets your needs, you might decide to register for a longer-term pricing plan—longer-term plans usually get you a better-priced VPN. You already know it works reliably, you can connect easily, and the interface meets your needs and helps you find all of the features.

Let’s be honest—every software company makes bold claims about its capabilities and features. Once you actually register for the product and start using it, you might discover those claims are not quite what you expected. Ask any gamer and you will find out that a demo version reveals more about the game than any screenshot or review.

The same is true with a VPN service provider. An example of this is with VPNSecure, which includes an app for searching the web anonymously. During the trial period, you can use the search function and see how it works, if you really are anonymous (or start seeing related ads), and if there are any speed issues. Another example of this is with PureVPN, which offers modes that match up with how you like to surf and your primary need for a VPN. During the trial period, you might discover that you don’t really use the private search that often or you stick with the same mode again and again.

A VPN free trial period is a great time to play around and familiarize yourself with the VPN interface.  During the trial, you can test out whether it’s easy to find features, and if you are comfortable using the interface. With a VPN service, there is a wide gamut of interface design parameters. Some are poorly designed and seemed like they were created by the development team—no offense devs. Other VPN services such as NordVPN obviously involved more time and attention to detail. A good example is Norton Secure VPN, which uses a familiar yellow interface that matches their other well-known products, including Norton LifeLock.

One last step in your evaluation process during the trial period is to test for speed.

The easiest way to do this is to install the VPN and enable the encryption (usually, it means clicking a large “connect” button). Pick a server close to you. Download a large movie file from your favorite service and test how long it takes. Now disable the VPN client (click disconnect) and download the same movie file. Find out the difference in speed.

If the download takes 15 minutes with the VPN but only 10 minutes without one, then you know the connection speed is a bit slow once you add the encryption. If you test a VPN service and you don’t notice much of a difference, then you can expect to surf the web, stream movie files, or back up files without any speed issues.

Keep in mind that connection speeds will change if you travel or use a different server. Fortunately, you can experiment with where and how you connect and from multiple devices during any trial period, getting the full picture of the capabilities.

NordVPN is our best VPN service overall. NordVPN offers a high number of VPN servers to connect to (5,760), free malware protection, and yep, a free 30-day trial. If you’re going to test something for free for a month, you might as well test the best.

Being able to test out a VPN is helpful for both new users and those who have been around the computing field for many years. You can evaluate the features and the interface and decide if you want to start paying for the service.

• NordVPN: Overall top VPN pick with a 30-day NordVPN free trial.
• VPNSecure: Includes an app for anonymous search.
• Norton Secure VPN: Unusual 60-day money-back guarantee.
• Windscribe: You can pick the servers you want to add.
• PureVPN: Has modes that match how you use the VPN.

Additional contributors

Chyelle Dvorak