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The Best VPN Free Trials

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Illustration showing a piece of cake labeled 'Free VPN' being cut from a cake labeled 'VPN'
Simon Migliano Head of Research at Top10VPN
Simon Migliano
8 comments

Simon is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times, CNet and more. Read full bio

  1. Top10VPN logo
  2. Best VPN
  3. Free Trials

VPN free trials allow you to enjoy the benefits of top VPN services without paying upfront.

The very best VPN free trials don’t even ask for credit card or payment details.

A VPN free trial allows you to hide your IP address, access restricted web content, and secure your internet connection completely free, for a limited period of time.

Based on trial length, quality of service, and cancellation policy, the best VPN free trials in August 2021 are:

  1. PrivateVPN: The best VPN free trial overall, with no payment details required. Read summary
  2. Astrill: A genuine seven-day VPN free trial with very few restrictions. Read Summary
  3. ExpressVPN: The overall top-rated VPN with a 30-day refund policy. Read Summary
  4. NordVPN: A fast and secure VPN with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Read Summary
  5. CyberGhost: One-day VPN free trial and 45-day money-back guarantee. Read Summary

You can also compare the top 10 VPN free trials using our comparison table.

The VPNs we recommend above offer both genuine free trials and money-back guarantees. We explain the difference further down the page.

If you want to use a lifetime free VPN, then see our list of the best free VPNs. They’re safe to use, but are limited compared to paid VPNs and free trials.

The Top VPN Free Trials: Performance Ratings

Use the following table to compare how the best VPN free trials perform in each key testing category:

The 5 Best VPN Free Trials in 2021

  1. 1. PrivateVPN: 5-Day Free Trial

    A safe, unrestricted five-day free-trial that requires no payment details and expires automatically.

    Ranked #1 VPN Free Trial
    Image of PrivateVPN's app on mobile
     98% 
    (1,736 user reviews)
    Visit PrivateVPN

    Pros

    1. A genuine free trial period
    2. No payment details required
    3. Trial expires automatically
    4. No data caps or server restrictions
    5. Great for streaming and torrenting
    6. Beats Chinese censorship
    Cons
    1. Inconsistent speeds
    2. No browser extensions
    3. Live chat is not 24/7

    PrivateVPN offers the best genuine free trial. The free trial application is easy to download and it requires no payment information. There are also no limitations to the trial service that make it different to the paid PrivateVPN software.

    Moreover, the free trial is available on Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, Fire OS and more. This means you can use the trial to test the VPN on every device, with up to five simultaneous VPN connections.

    Free Trial Duration5 Days
    Money-Back Guarantee 30 days
    Cheapest Price$1.98/mo over 24 months See all plans
    Top Download Speedi

    Based on a 100Mbps test connection

    		94Mbps
    US NetflixYes
    TorrentingUnlimited
    Servers200
    Logging PolicyNo Logs
    SupportLive Chat

    A top free trial for streaming that works with 32 Netflix libraries

    PrivateVPN’s free trial is great if you want to watch streaming services for free. It’s a very reliable VPN for streaming Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, and more.

    The trial version comes with dedicated servers for specific streaming services, and the highest number of dedicated servers for Netflix.

    However, connection speeds on PrivateVPN’s dedicated streaming servers aren’t always as fast as its competitors. The VPN comes with 150 servers across 60 countries, but the streaming servers are extremely popular and therefore often congested.

    It has no SmartDNS feature either, which means it won’t work well with Apple TV and games consoles like the Xbox or PlayStation 5.

    A secure choice for public WiFi connections

    Based on our latest tests, PrivateVPN is as secure as it gets. It uses AES-256 encryption by default and offers a reliable kill switch with DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection.

    PrivateVPN’s free trial login screen.

    There are a limited number of advanced features compared to other top services – there is no split-tunneling or double VPN, for example.

    However, PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN protocol works to bypass censorship in China.

    It’s also a good choice for torrenting: it has dedicated P2P servers, a no-logs privacy policy, and the service handles DNS requests directly rather than using third-party data handlers.

    How to get a PrivateVPN free trial

    To get a PrivateVPN free trial, navigate to its free trial page and click ‘Try PrivateVPN risk-free’. You’ll then be directed to an online form to generate a PrivateVPN account.

    There is no automatic renewal of the trial, and no payment details are required at any point. You can then download the trial software from the website onto your device.

    Visit PrivateVPN

    or read our full PrivateVPN Review.

  2. 2. Astrill VPN: 7-Day Free Trial

    A high-quality free trial that cancels automatically after 7 days.

    Astrill mobile screenshots
     0% 
    No user reviews
    Visit Astrill

    Pros

    1. Free trial cancels automatically
    2. No payment details required
    3. Works with US Netflix
    4. Fast international speeds
    5. Servers optimized for P2P & torrent use
    6. Works in high-censorship countries
    Cons
    1. Restrictions on available servers
    2. No refunds
    3. Trial not available in China
    4. No native Fire Stick TV app

    Overall Free Trial Rating: 9.5/10

    The overall free trial rating is calculated based on the following subcategory ratings. For more details, read how we test VPN free trials.

    • 9.2
    • 9.5
    • 9.9
    • 9.9

    Astrill VPN is available to download completely free of charge for a seven-day free trial on Windows, MacOS, Android and iOS. It’s a simple signup process that requires no upfront payment details and cancels itself on expiry.

    The VPN is a good option for censorship, torrenting, and streaming US Netflix, but there are some restrictions on trial accounts. There are also no refunds if you should choose to purchase a subscription.

    Free Trial Duration7 Days
    Money-Back Guarantee No Refunds
    Cheapest Price$10.00/mo over 12 Months See all plans
    Top Download Speedi

    Based on a 100Mbps test connection

    		80Mbps
    US NetflixYes
    TorrentingUnlimited
    Servers110
    Logging PolicySome User Logs
    Support24/7 Live Chat

    OpenVPN and AES-256 encryption

    Astrill is amongst the most secure VPNs on the market. It has a no-logs privacy policy, is based in Seychelles, and comes equipped with a proprietary stealth protocol that makes it one of the best VPNs for China.

    Unfortunately, Astrill’s free trial isn’t available in China, which is a shame since it’s one of the best anti-censorship tools out there.

    Our tests have never measured any DNS, IPv6, or WebRTC leaks and the service uses its own first-party DNS servers.

    The OpenVPN connection protocol is easily selected via the settings menu, along with the option to use WireGuard and AES-256 encryption.

    Average download speeds of 81Mbps from UK to US

    Astrill’s international speeds are fast across the board, with a high average download speed of 81Mbps connecting to the US from the UK.

    Over the last eight-week period, it has consistently competed with NordVPN – one of the fastest VPNs available.

    The full VPN offers servers in 110 cities across 59 countries, made up of approximately 350 IP addresses. This is less than usual, but hasn’t resulted in congestion so far.

    Astrill’s free trial version restricts the countries you’re allowed to connect to, which is the free trials’ main limitation.

    The Astrill free trial restricts certain servers.

    P2P-optimized servers are available for torrenting, and the VPN works with US Netflix. It’s less reliable with BBC iPlayer, but privacy and security are Astrill’s true strength.

    It’s also a very expensive VPN on its premium subscription – the cheapest price is $10 per month, which is far more expensive than almost any other VPN. The free trial is a good opportunity to check if it’s worth the investment, particularly as Astrill has a no-refund policy.

    How to get an Astrill VPN free trial

    Astrill VPN offers a 7-day free trial with absolutely no data caps or payment details required to sign-up. The trial also automatically cancels after the period is over.

    To get the free trial, head to the Astrill free trial page and create an account to receive an access code.

    Once activated, Astrill gives you daily updates on the remaining days left on your trial. When it’s over, a pop-up window will appear asking if you want to upgrade to a full account.

    Visit Astrill

    or read our full Astrill VPN Review.

  3. 3. ExpressVPN: 30-Day Refund Period

    The overall best VPN with a seven-day free trial on mobile devices.

    ExpressVPN's new app on mobile devices
     96% 
    (1,768 user reviews)
    Visit ExpressVPN

    Pros

    1. Risk-free refund within 30-day period
    2. 7-day free trial on iOS and Android
    3. Best overall VPN service
    4. Impressive international speeds
    5. Audited logging policy
    6. Unblocks 19 Netflix libraries including US
    Cons
    1. Have to insert payment details to sign up
    2. Must cancel within 30 days
    3. No VPN kill switch on iOS
    4. Fire Stick TV app needs updating

    Overall Free Trial Rating: 7.8/10

    Free trials are calculated based on the following four subcategory ratings. To learn more, read about how we test free trials.

    • 9.9
    • 9.7
    • 1
    • 8

    ExpressVPN is available to use on a completely free seven-day trial for iOS and Android devices as well as risk-free 30-day money back guarantee. It’s fast, very private, and highly secure. It unblocks streaming services with ease and even gets around Chinese georestrictions.

    Free Trial Duration7 Days
    Money-Back Guarantee 30 Days
    Cheapest Price$6.67/mo over 15 Months See all plans
    Top Download Speedi

    Based on a 100Mbps test connection

    		88Mbps
    US NetflixYes
    TorrentingUnlimited
    Servers3,000
    Logging PolicyAnonymous Server Usage Data
    Support24/7 Live Chat

    Fast speeds across 3,000 servers

    Using ExpressVPN’s money-back guarantee allows you to use the service without limitations or restrictions, including access to a large network of 3,000 fast servers across 94 countries.

    ExpressVPN also registers good speed test results – we measured a top download speed of 88Mbps in our latest tests.

    You’ll also be able to test the VPN across multiple devices and five simultaneous devices. This means you can install it across your Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS, Fire TV devices, and even your router.

    Works with 19 Netflix libraries

    ExpressVPN is a great VPN for accessing streaming platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.

    It works with 19 global Netflix libraries and easily gets around restrictions on almost all of its US servers. It performs just as well with Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hulu and more.

    ExpressVPN’s free trial sign up window

    The ExpressVPN app for iOS doesn’t have a kill switch, which is a slight security concern. This could expose your true IP address if your internet connection drops, but is a common issue with mobile VPN applications.

    ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPNs around, costing $6.67 per month on its cheapest subscription plan. That’s why a free trial is so helpful – you’ll get to test its fast speeds, user-friendly apps, robust security (encryption is via the AES-256 cipher) and helpful customer support.

    How to get an ExpressVPN free trial

    You can get ExpressVPN’s seven-day free trial for iOS and Android by simply downloading the app from the App Store.

    Once installed, launch the app and you’ll see two options: Start Free Trial and Sign In.

    On Android devices, you won’t need to provide any payment details or credit card information to access the trial. Simply select the free trial option and insert your email address.

    You can see how many days are left on your trial period via the ‘Account’ menu. Once the trial period is over, you’ll be asked by email if you’d like to upgrade to a premium account.

    On iOS devices, you will have to insert payment details and you will be automatically upgraded to a premium account unless you cancel within seven days.

    Installing ExpressVPN through the App Store makes you subject to Apple’s refund policy. If you don’t want to enter into a contract when using the free trial on iOS, cancel your free trial within seven days.

    If you’re not on an iOS or Android device, simply subscribe to the service on the ExpressVPN website and cancel within 30-days for a guaranteed refund.

    Visit ExpressVPN

    or read our full ExpressVPN Review.

  4. 4. NordVPN: 30-Day Risk-Free Refund

    Very fast VPN with a 7-day free trial on mobile.

    NordVPN Mobile App Screenshot
     94% 
    (246 user reviews)
    Visit NordVPN

    Pros

    1. 7-day free trial available for mobile
    2. 30-day hassle-free refund period
    3. Unblocks 9 Netflix libraries including US
    4. Very fast speeds across server network
    5. Torrenting allowed on most servers
    6. Strict zero-logs policy
    Cons
    1. Unreliable in China
    2. Limited protocols on Windows & Android
    3. Not great for Smart TVs

    Overall Free Trial Rating: 7.8/10

    Free trials are calculated based on the following four subcategory ratings. To learn more, read about how we test free trials.

    • 9.9
    • 9.7
    • 1
    • 8

    NordVPN is a verified zero-logs VPN that effectively masks your IP address and hides your browsing activity from snoopers. It can be tested on all devices without restrictions as part of a 30-day refund period or a seven-day free trial for Android.

    Free Trial Duration7 Days
    Money-Back Guarantee 30 Days
    Cheapest Price$3.30/mo over 27 Months See all plans
    Top Download Speedi

    Based on a 100Mbps test connection

    		93Mbps
    US NetflixYes
    TorrentingPermitted
    Servers5,343
    Logging PolicyNo Logs
    Support24/7 Live Chat

    5,000 torrent-friendly servers

    All of NordVPNs apps are easy-to-use and come with robust security features, including a VPN kill switch, AES-256 encryption, WireGuard protocol compatibility and more.

    You can test over 5,000 physical servers in 59 countries that make up NordVPN’s large server network and you can torrent on almost every single one of them safely.

    With DNS leak protection, Double VPN for an added layer of security and a completely log-free privacy policy, NordVPN is great for P2P-activity.

    NordVPN isn’t quite as good as ExpressVPN when it comes to streaming, but thanks to its SmartPlay feature it still works with nine international Netflix libraries. It also works extremely well with BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max.

    Very fast speeds and easy to use

    NordVPN’s top download speeds of 93Mbps are faster than almost every top VPN on the market. This means won’t have any issues streaming in HD or 4K.

    Despite being one of the most advanced VPNs on the market, NordVPN remains one of the most affordable options if you decide to purchase a subscription once the trial period ends.

    NordVPN’s free trial sign up screen.

    It only costs $3.71 per month on its cheapest deal, which is great value for a VPN with so many features.

    You don’t need to be concerned about complexity either – NordVPN is consumer-friendly and incredibly simple to use from the outset. 

    If you do happen to get stuck or want to ask a technical question, NordVPN’s 24/7 live chatbot support is on hand for prompt assistance, or you can send an email. If you don’t like talking to the bot, you can just as easily select an option to quickly get a human support agent. 

    How to get a NordVPN free trial

    NordVPN offers a seven-day free trial for Android devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee on all other devices, including Windows, MacOS, and iOS.

    There are no exceptions to its refund policy as long as you request it within 30-days.

    To get a NordVPN free trial on all devices, subscribe to NordVPN via its website and cancel before 30-days have passed. This can be done by simply contacting customer support.

    NordVPN once offered a genuine free trial on all platforms, but discontinued it after citing “abuse” of the service. It later reintroduced a free trial on Android via the Play Store. To use this, just download and install NordVPN from the Play Store as normal.

    Once installed, you’ll be asked to create an account and insert your payment details. NordVPN will charge you for a subscription after seven days unless you cancel.

    If you forget to cancel or want to continue with a premium subscription, you’re still eligible to claim NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.

    We recommend subscribing to the full VPN and taking advantage of the money-back guarantee, as you’ll need to cancel your subscription no matter what.

    Visit NordVPN

    or read our full NordVPN Review.

  5. 5. CyberGhost: One-Day Free Trial

    Fast VPN with a one-day free trial (and a 45-day refund period).

    CyberGhost app
     94% 
    (312 user reviews)
    Visit CyberGhost

    Pros

    1. One-day free trial & seven-day trial on mobile devices
    2. Generous 45-day money-back guarantee
    3. Works with four Netflix libraries
    4. Specialist streaming & P2P servers
    5. Fast short-distance speeds
    6. Huge server park: 6,000+ servers
    Cons
    1. Free trial could be longer
    2. No streaming servers on free trial
    3. No torrenting on Australian server
    4. Unreliable ad blocker
    5. Doesn't work in China, Turkey & UAE

    Overall Free Trial Rating: 7.6/10

    Free trials are calculated based on the following four subcategory ratings. To learn more, read about how we test free trials.

    • 9.2
    • 9.9
    • 1
    • 8

    CyberGhost is a popular VPN service that offers three free trial periods: a one-day free trial on desktop, a seven-day free trial on mobile devices, and a 45-day money-back guarantee. 

    Free Trial Duration1 Day
    Money-Back Guarantee 45 Days
    Cheapest Price$2.25/mo over 3 years See all plans
    Top Download Speedi

    Based on a 100Mbps test connection

    		89Mbps
    US NetflixYes
    TorrentingPermitted
    Servers6,900
    Logging PolicyAnonymous Server Usage Data
    Support24/7 Live Chat

    Works with Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and more

    CyberGhost doesn’t disappoint for server count of network performance. It comes with fast speeds and over 6,1000 servers in 90 countries.

    On its premium subscription, many of these servers are optimized for streaming and torrenting, meaning CyberGhost works with four global Netflix libraries, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+.

    These optimized streaming servers are not available for those using the free trials. This means you won’t be able to test for yourself whether it suits your streaming needs, even though it’s one of the top-rated VPNs for streaming.

    Fast speeds, AES-256 cipher & OpenVPN protocol

    You’ll still be able to test CyberGhost’s usability and overall performance. Speed-wise, our tests found that CyberGhost can stream in HD and Ultra HD very easily, with an overall average speed loss of 13%.

    Its international speeds take a dip and ping score could see some improvement, but this VPN is quick enough for almost any online activity and will hide your IP address.

    The VPN uses the unbreakable AES-256 cipher and OpenVPN protocol, along with a standard VPN kill switch and DNS leak blocking. These security features – combined with optimized servers for P2P traffic – make CyberGhost a good choice for secure torrenting.

    This is a user-friendly VPN that balances privacy and usability extremely well. VPNs don’t get much easier to install and use, while the $2.75 per month subscription plan makes it a cost-effective solution to protecting your privacy and hiding your IP.

    How to get a CyberGhost free trial

    CyberGhost’s one-day free trial doesn’t require personal information or payment details at sign-up.

    Simply download the software from the website and trial it. However, there are restrictions: you can’t use its optimized streaming servers or manually configure it on routers.

    This is disappointing considering that streaming is one of CyberGhost’s strengths, but you can still test the software and get a good feel for it.

    While the one-day free trial is limited to desktop, you can get a seven-day free trial if you try CyberGhost on mobile. This includes iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets. To do this, download the app from the Google Play Store or AppStore.

    Similarly to NordVPN, you need to select a subscription plan before your trial period can start, and you will be charged for that plan after the seven-day period is over unless you cancel before.

    How to cancel CyberGhost’s 7-day free trial for iOS.

    If you need a longer free trial period, you can sign up to CyberGhost and get a refund within the 45-day money-back period. This risk-free 45-day refund period is uniquely generous, as most VPN services typically offer 30 days or less.

    CyberGhost’s one-month subscription plan is limited to a 14-day money-back guarantee, so choose a longer plan to get the most out of your CyberGhost free trial period.

    Visit CyberGhost

    or read our full CyberGhost VPN Review.

Top 10 VPN Free Trials Compared

In the table below, you’ll find a breakdown of the top VPN free trials offered by major VPN services.

It compares the best VPN free trials based on trial duration, restrictions, and whether they require payment details.

How We Test the Best VPN Free Trials

When it comes to VPN free trials, our experts test for specific features in order to calculate an overall rating.

For VPN free trials specifically, we measure:

  • Do you need to sign up with payment details?
  • Do you have to cancel manually or does it expire automatically?
  • How long is the free trial period?
  • Are there any service restrictions during the free trial?
  • Does the VPN unblock streaming services like Netflix?
  • Is the free trial available on multiple devices?
  • Is the money-back guarantee genuinely risk-free?
  • Does the VPN service log your activity data?
  • How fast is the VPN on nearby and long-distance connections?

For a more detailed look at our rating system, read the following methodology to learn about each testing subcategory and how much it factors into the overall rating.

1. Free Trial Restrictions: 40%

Minimum Requirement: Access to the majority of the VPN’s servers without speed throttling and a comparable security suite.
We Recommend: No restrictions at all. The free trial works the same as the premium version.

We systematically compare and contrast the free trial experience to the premium account and discover what’s been excluded from the trial run.

The fewer restrictions the higher the score.

Many VPN trials exclude certain features to encourage subscriptions. This can include fewer global connections, the removal of streaming-optimized servers, or inferior security.

We recommend VPNs that offer the fullest free trial experience.

2. Free Trial Duration: 30%

Minimum Requirement: One day.
We Recommend: At least five days.

Free trials can be as short as one day but some can last up to seven days.

For money-back guarantees, you can expect around 30-days as an average, but some go as high as 45-days.

The more time you are given to experience the VPN the stronger our score is.

3. Payment Info Needed: 20%

Minimum Requirement: Payment details are taken but you are not charged automatically.
We Recommend: No payment details are required at all.

Some free trials require you to insert payment details to access the service.

But we rate highly those that don’t require any payment information at all.

This way, you don’t have to remember to cancel your account.

If you forget to cancel a free trial that requires payment details, you could be charged.

4. Ease of Cancellation: 10%

Minimum Requirement: Cancellation is easy to find on the account page.
We Recommend: Cancellation is automatic.

Free trials should be easy to cancel. We give the best scores to VPN free trials that stop automatically.

For VPN free trials that require payment details, we rank higher those that make cancellation options easy to find.

After we sign up and test the free trials, we inspect and judge the process of cancellation.

If the cancellation process is difficult, or has any hidden catches, we punish the VPN service with a lower rating.

Free Trials vs. Money-Back Guarantees

There are three ways to use a VPN for free:
  1. Download a free VPN service.
  2. Download a VPN with a free trial period.
  3. Subscribe to a VPN service with a money-back guarantee.

While all three options allow you to test a VPN free of charge for a period of time, there are some important differences that you need to be aware of.

To make sense of it all, here is a quick glossary of VPN free trial terms:
  • Money-Back Guarantee: You’ll have to pay for the VPN service upfront but you’re guaranteed a refund within a certain period, usually 30 days. There may be certain restrictions outlined in the refund policy.
  • Risk-Free: You’ll have to pay for the VPN service but you can claim your money back without restriction – there is no risk of your refund being refused, as long as you claim within the time frame.
  • Free VPN: A VPN service that is completely free to download and use without time restrictions. As explained above, free VPNs often come with several other limitations and risks, such as data caps, excessive data logging, or server restrictions.
  • Genuine Free Trial: Many VPNs advertise a “free trial” when they are in fact referring to risk free money-back guarantees. A true VPN free trial has no strings attached and is separately downloaded. Some genuine free trials do ask for payment details, but won’t take payment until the free trial period ends.

The majority of free VPNs are not safe to use. They often log your browsing data, share your information with third-parties, or contain malware and viruses.

The only free VPNs we recommend are those from reputable services, that offer a free VPN alongside a premium service.

While they are completely free to use, they have significant limitations such as monthly usage data caps, slower speeds, or restrictions on streaming and torrenting.

If you want to try out a premium VPN service for free, your next best option is a genuine free trial. The five VPN services we recommend in this guide all come with genuine free trials.

The final option is to subscribe to a VPN service with a money-back guarantee, and then request your money back within the defined refund period. This can range anywhere from seven to 45 days.

Taking advantage of money-back guarantees lets you test a VPN for much longer than a free trial. However, unlike free trials, you must pay for the full subscription upfront. You must also remember to cancel within the refund period, or you won’t be able to recoup your money.

Most VPN services have no-questions-asked refund policies, however some providers reserve the right to deny a refund under some circumstances.

How to Get a VPN Free Trial

You can find out if a VPN service offers a free trial or a money-back guarantee by checking the VPN service’s website, or by reading our VPN reviews.

When it comes to free trials, each VPN service will work differently.

For example, AirVPN requires you to contact it so that it can send you an activation code for your free trial. Other VPN services have a dedicated free trial page on their official website.

As a general rule, it’s best to get in contact with customer support and ask about available free trials.

If the VPN you’re after doesn’t offer a free trial, you can often take advantage of its money-back guarantee. You will have to pay for a subscription upfront, but cancel within the refund period and you’ll get your money back.

How to Cancel a VPN Free Trial

If you’re using a VPN free trial, you need to know how to cancel your subscription, or whether it will cancel itself automatically.

In many cases, if you don’t cancel your trial you may end up in a contract with the service provider.

In this section, we explain how to cancel your free trial depending on which option you’ve taken.

  1. No Payment Details Required

    If you’re using a VPN free trial and didn’t submit any payment details on sign-up, you won’t need to do anything to cancel your subscription. The service will stop once the trial period has ended.

    There are some VPN free trials that don’t require you do anything to cancel, but are slightly different in sign-up.

    In the case of ProtonVPN, you need to sign up to its lifetime free plan before you can access the premium free trial. Once the trial ends, you’ll return to the free service.

  2. Free Trial with Payment Details Required

    Some free trials require you to submit payment information in order to use the service.

    Most of these VPNs require you to cancel. The VPNs that offer genuine free trials, but also require payment details, include:

    • HideMyAss
    • Hotspot Shield
    • IPVanish
    • Ivacy
    • NordVPN
    • Surfshark

    If you’re using any of the VPN free trials above, you’ll need to contact the VPN service via email or live chat and cancel before the trial period is up.

    Some will also allow you to cancel in-app. In almost all cases, the cancellation process is extremely easy and quick.

  3. VPN Subscription with Money-Back Guarantee

    If a VPN service takes payment from you in order to use its service within a money-back guarantee period, this is usually called a ‘risk free’ trial.

    In this case, remember to contact the VPN service’s support team within the refund period to get your money back.

    The refund process is usually straight-forward with most VPN services, although some have specific rules in place.

    For example, PrivateVPN won’t refund your initial payment if you’ve used over 100GB of data.

    We advise to always check the terms and conditions of a VPN’s refund policy.

    While most VPN services do honor money-back guarantees, some can refuse issuing a refund. However, this is a rare occurrence likely caused by serious misuse of the service.

Can I Get a VPN Free Trial With No Credit Card?

It is entirely possible to get a VPN free trial with no credit card and no payment details.

The major VPN services that offer free trials with no credit card include:
  • Astrill
  • Avast
  • AVG Secure VPN
  • BitDefender VPN
  • Cactus VPN
  • CyberGhost
  • Encrypt.me
  • Freedome VPN
  • KeepSolid VPN Unlimited
  • McAfee Safe Connect
  • PrivateVPN
  • ProtonVPN
  • SurfEasy
  • TorGuard
  • Trust.Zone
  • VPNSecure
  • Windscribe
  • ZenMate

VPN Free Trial FAQs

Can I Use My Free Trial More Than Once?

It’s hypothetically possible to use a free trial more than once, but it would require using new email addresses each time, and potentially deleting your cookies or switching browsers.

In Astrill’s case, all that’s required to use the free trial is an email address. It’s possible to just use another email address and sign-up for the service again. However, Astrill’s website uses cookies to identify whether you’ve already registered for the free trial and you may get a different page that doesn’t include the free trial option. To get around this, you’ll have to delete your cookies or try a different browser.

Using a new email address and deleting cookies may give you access to free trials more than once, but this requires some effort on your part.

More than that, there’s always the risk that the VPN in question is on the lookout for those who repeatedly use the same free trial and ban you, or stop offering free trials all together. NordVPN cancelled its free trial offer following “abuse” of the service.

We recommend saving yourself the time and subscribing to an affordable VPN.

Do VPNs Actually Guarantee Your Money-Back?

Most VPNs offer ‘money-back guarantees’ but many potential customers are concerned that they actually won’t get their money back. Those listed on this page that come with a money-back guarantee have confirmed to us that they absolutely won’t refuse repayment on any condition, as long as it’s within the refund window.

However, some people report buying a VPN through the App Store or iTunes and finding the refund process doesn’t apply. That’s because applications purchased through those marketplaces are subject to Apple’s refund policies and not those of the VPN provider.

For example, NordVPN includes this information in its terms of service:

In other words: VPNs can’t issue refunds through iTunes/App Store. This also applies to resellers such as Amazon and subscriptions purchased via gift card. For this reason, it’s best to buy the service directly from the VPN provider’s website when possible. If you do purchase through another marketplace, be sure to consult its refund policy as it might not be as good as the VPN provider’s.

Some VPNs are stricter than others, too. If they don’t advertise a risk-free money-back guarantee, they might refuse to cancel your subscription depending on your reason for cancellation or initial payment method. McAffee Safe Connect, for example, forces you to telephone its office and give a reason for cancellation.

For the most part, if a popular VPN lists a money-back guarantee then it will be true to its word. Very rarely are users denied a refund within the period of time listed by the service provider.

Which VPN Free Trials Should You Avoid?

While there are many free VPNs that you should avoid, the case isn’t the same when it comes to free trials. Free trials almost always come from reputable VPN companies and are safe to use with no security risks.

Many people want to avoid free trials that require payment details because it reduces the risk of accidentally falling into a long-term VPN contract. HideMyAss, Hotspot Shield, and NordVPN all offer free trials that require you to enter payment details.

If you’re keen to take advantage of a VPNs money-back guarantee policy, we recommend purchasing the service from the provider’s website rather than a shopping platform like iTunes or the Google Play Store. Refund policies are different when you purchase through another service, so it’s best to stick to the VPN website and you can hold the company accountable to its own refund policy.

What's the Best VPN Free Trial for Netflix?

Many people use a VPN to unlock Netflix content from other countries. A VPN free trial is an excellent way to give you temporary access to Netflix libraries across the globe without committing to a full subscription. If you’re looking for a long-term VPN, a free trial allows you to test whether it will work with Netflix in the first place.

Not all VPNs work with Netflix and other streaming services, so it’s important to do your research before making a decision. Our experts have tested dozens of the most popular VPN free trials with Netflix and recommend that you try out:

  • ExpressVPN
  • NordVPN
  • PrivateVPN
  • Surfshark

We also recommend taking advantage of the money-back guarantees that these VPNs offer. This way you get much more time than a typical free trial which is usually limited to between one and seven days.

ExpressVPN, NordVPN, PrivateVPN and Surfshark all work to unblock and stream Netflix. However, CyberGhost’s one-day free trial restricts you from using its streaming servers, so we recommend its 45-day money-back guarantee option for Netflix.

About the Author

  • Simon Migliano Head of Research at Top10VPN

    Simon Migliano

    Simon is a recognized world expert in VPNs. He's tested hundreds of VPN services and his research has featured on the BBC, The New York Times, CNet and more. Read full bio