Best Free VPN for Laptop

You need a VPN on your laptop and you would rather not pay yet. On a laptop you have two choices that a phone does not give you: a full app that covers the whole computer, or a browser extension that covers one browser. This page ranks the free plans with that choice in mind.

This page covers laptops and desktops only. For the full list across every device, read our best free VPN guide. For a phone, see best free VPN for phone. If you would rather pay, the paid-plan guides cover Windows, Mac and Linux.

App or Browser Extension on a Laptop

An app routes the whole laptop’s traffic through the VPN: your browser, your email program, your chat apps and your updates. A browser extension routes only that browser. Both have a place, and the right one depends on what you are trying to protect.

	Full app	Browser extension
What it covers	Every program on the laptop	Only the browser it is installed in
Kill switch	Stated by some providers for Windows and Mac	Not stated by these providers for extensions
Setup	Install a program and sign in	Add from the browser’s extension store and sign in
Best for	Public Wi-Fi, work on the move, all apps	A quick check of how a VPN behaves, or one browser profile

If you want protection on cafe or hotel Wi-Fi, install the app. If you only want to try a provider for ten minutes, the extension is lighter.

The Free Plans Compared

Each row comes from the provider’s own plan data on our site, checked on 2026-10-12. A cap or limit can change, so check the plan page before you install.

VPN	Free data	Devices on the free plan	Free locations	Browser extension	Review
Proton VPN	No data cap	1	Ten countries, assigned for you	Yes	Proton VPN
Windscribe	10 GB a month with a confirmed email, less without	Unlimited	A limited set of servers	Listed for Firefox	Windscribe
Hide.me	10 GB a month	Not stated	5 locations	Yes	Hide.me
TunnelBear	2 GB a month	Not stated	All locations	Yes	TunnelBear

Kill switch and split tunneling by system

This is the part of a free plan that most affects a laptop on public Wi-Fi. The table shows only what each provider says on its own website. “Not stated” does not mean the feature is missing: it means the provider does not say, so we do not claim it either way.

VPN	Kill switch on Windows	Kill switch on Mac	Split tunneling on Windows	Split tunneling on Mac
Proton VPN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Windscribe	Yes, as its Firewall setting	Yes, as its Firewall setting	Yes	Yes
Hide.me	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated
TunnelBear	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated	Not stated

A kill switch blocks your traffic if the VPN drops, so your real connection is not exposed for a moment. Whether a provider gives you that feature on its free plan, rather than only on a paid one, is also worth checking in the app after you install it.

Our Picks

Proton VPN: Best Overall

Proton VPN is the first free plan to try on a laptop. It is the only one here with no data cap, and the free plan has no ads. It states both a kill switch and split tunneling on Windows and Mac, and it also offers a browser extension.

The free plan allows one device and assigns you a server in one of its ten free countries, so you cannot choose where you connect. Proton VPN ranks #3 of 22 on our Trust Score.

• Free data: No cap
• Free devices: 1
• Desktop extras: Kill switch, split tunneling
• Limit to know: No manual server choice

Best for: Anyone who wants one free VPN on a laptop and does not want to watch a data meter.

Windscribe: Best for Control

Windscribe’s free plan covers an unlimited number of devices, so one account can cover a laptop, a phone and a tablet at once. On Windows and Mac it states a Firewall setting that blocks traffic outside the VPN[1], and split tunneling to keep chosen apps outside it. It also includes a built-in ad and tracker blocker.

The cost is the cap: 10 GB a month once you confirm your email. That fits browsing and email and will not last long under video calls or large downloads.

• Free data: 10 GB a month with a confirmed email
• Free devices: Unlimited
• Desktop extras: Firewall setting, split tunneling
• Limit to know: The cap

Best for: Someone who wants desktop controls and several devices on one free account.

Hide.me: Best for Light Use

Hide.me’s free plan gives you 10 GB a month and a choice of five server locations. It supports its full set of protocols on the free plan, WireGuard included. It does not state a kill switch or split tunneling by system, so treat those as unknown until you see them in the app.

• Free data: 10 GB a month
• Free locations: 5
• Limit to know: Free device count and system-level features not stated

Best for: Occasional use where you want to pick a location yourself.

TunnelBear: Best for Beginners

TunnelBear is the easiest of the four to start with, and its Cure53 security audits have been published since 2016. The free plan allows only 2 GB a month[2], with all server locations, which makes it a way to try a VPN app for the first time, not an everyday plan.

• Free data: 2 GB a month
• Free locations: All
• Limit to know: The lowest cap of the four

Best for: A first look at what a VPN app does on a laptop.

How to Set Up a Free VPN on a Laptop Safely

1. Open the provider’s own website, not a search result for “free VPN”, and download the app from there.
2. Install the app and create a free account. A trustworthy free plan should not ask for a card.
3. Turn on the kill switch or Firewall setting if the app has one.
4. Find where the app shows your remaining data, so the cap does not catch you out.
5. Add the browser extension only if you want a separate, lighter option for one browser.

What a Free Plan Will Not Do on a Laptop

A free plan limits data, servers or speed, and a laptop uses more data than a phone in the background: system updates, cloud backups and video calls all count. If the VPN has to stay on all day, a paid plan is the better fit. Our guides for Windows and Mac rank those.

For access to content in other regions, free plans are the weakest choice: the free server pools are small, and the terms of the service you want to reach still apply.

Final Verdict

If you want	Pick
One free VPN with no data meter and a kill switch	Proton VPN
Desktop controls and several devices on one free account	Windscribe
To choose a location yourself on a small cap	Hide.me
The simplest first try	TunnelBear

Start with the Proton VPN app, then move to a paid plan if the free limits get in the way. Whichever you choose, download it from the provider’s own website.

References

1. Windscribe. n.d. Features. Retrieved October 16, 2026 from https://windscribe.com/features/.Archived: Wayback Machine snapshot
2. TunnelBear: Secure VPN Service. n.d. Buy TunnelBear VPN with Credit Card. Retrieved October 16, 2026 from https://www.tunnelbear.com/pricing.Archived: Wayback Machine snapshot
3. Federal Trade Commission. 2018. In the market for a VPN app? Retrieved October 16, 2026 from https://www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/blog/2018/02/market-vpn-app.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Is there a free VPN for Windows and Mac that is actually safe?

Yes, if it is the limited free plan of a paid service. Proton VPN, Windscribe, Hide.me and TunnelBear fit that description, because paying customers fund them. Download from the provider’s own website, and avoid programs whose only income is ads.

Which free VPN has no data limit on a laptop?

Of the four on this page, only Proton VPN has no data cap on its free plan. It allows one device at a time and assigns your server for you. The others cap data between 2 GB and 10 GB a month.

Is a browser extension enough, or do I need the app?

An extension covers only the browser it is installed in, so your email program, chat apps and system updates stay outside the VPN. The app covers the whole laptop. Use the app for public Wi-Fi, and the extension only as a lighter second choice.

Does a free VPN have a kill switch on Windows or Mac?

Only some say so. Proton VPN states a kill switch on both, and Windscribe states a Firewall setting that does the same job. Hide.me and TunnelBear do not state one by system, so check the app settings after you install.

Can a free VPN split traffic so only some apps use it on a laptop?

Proton VPN and Windscribe both state split tunneling on Windows and Mac. Hide.me and TunnelBear do not state it. If you need to keep one program outside the VPN, check the app settings before relying on it.

Can a free VPN program on my laptop sell my data?

An ad-funded free VPN can, because many free VPN apps are free because they sell advertising or share your information with third parties, as the US Federal Trade Commission has warned. A free plan from a provider that earns from paid subscriptions has no need to. Check how the program is funded and read its privacy policy before you sign in.

Can I use one free VPN on my laptop and my phone?

It depends on the plan. Windscribe’s free plan allows unlimited devices, while Proton VPN’s allows one device at a time. Hide.me and TunnelBear do not state a free-plan limit, so check it before you plan to cover two devices.

How do I install a free VPN on my laptop safely?

Open the provider’s website and download the app from there, not from a search result. Install it, create a free account, then turn on any kill switch the app offers and note where it shows your remaining data.

Will a free VPN slow down my laptop’s connection?

Usually yes, a little. Free plans share a smaller set of servers, and a VPN adds some delay to every connection. Choose the closest server you can, and expect video calls and large downloads to be the slowest.

When should I move from a free VPN to a paid one on my laptop?

Move when you hit the data cap in the first half of the month, when you need to choose a server, or when you need more than the free device limit. Most providers here let you upgrade inside the same app.