Best Free VPNs for the UK

Free VPNs are one of the most searched topics in the privacy world, and with good reason. Many people want to protect their online activity or access restricted content without immediately paying for a subscription. The challenge is that most free VPNs come with limitations, such as slow speeds, data caps, or questionable privacy practices. In this guide, I will break down the best free VPNs that are genuinely usable in the UK, explain how they work, and highlight what you should look out for when choosing one. 🇬🇧🔒

Why Free VPNs Are So Popular

VPNs are no longer a tool just for the technically minded. Everyday users want to stream TV shows, keep their browsing private on public WiFi, or protect their identity online. The problem is that not everyone wants to commit to a subscription right away. Free VPNs solve this by offering a way to get started instantly. That said, most free services come with compromises. Understanding those compromises is key to making a good choice.

ProtonVPN Free

ProtonVPN is one of the very few VPN providers that offers a free tier without strict data caps. Based in Switzerland, the service is built around privacy from the ground up. The free version provides access to servers in three countries: the US, the Netherlands, and Japan. While this is limited compared to the full subscription, it is more than enough for basic browsing and protecting yourself on public WiFi. 🌍

Unlike many free VPNs that restrict you to a handful of megabytes per day, ProtonVPN allows unlimited data on the free plan. The catch is that free servers can become congested during peak times, which leads to slower speeds. This makes it less ideal for heavy streaming or large downloads, but for secure everyday browsing it performs reliably. Importantly, ProtonVPN does not log user activity, and the free tier benefits from the same strong encryption as the paid plans. This combination makes it one of the most trustworthy free options available.

Windscribe Free

Windscribe is another VPN that has earned a reputation for offering a genuinely useful free tier. Based in Canada, Windscribe gives free users 2 GB of data per month by default, which increases to 10 GB if you confirm your email address. This data cap means it is not suitable for streaming entire seasons of shows, but it is perfectly fine for lighter use. 📱

Windscribe free users get access to around 10 countries, which is much broader coverage than ProtonVPN’s free plan. Servers include the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, and several others. This wider choice makes it easier to access certain region-restricted sites, although the data cap remains the main limitation. Security is strong, with AES 256-bit encryption, and Windscribe is transparent about its privacy policies. It also has a built-in ad and tracker blocker, which gives you an extra layer of protection while browsing.

Why Some Free VPNs Are Dangerous

Not all free VPNs can be trusted, some pose serious risks. A recent security investigation revealed that a seemingly legitimate free Chrome VPN extension, with over 100,000 users and even Google’s “Featured” badge, was secretly capturing screenshots of every website users visited. This included sensitive content like banking pages, photos, and medical information. The extension transmitted the screenshots and metadata to an external server without user consent.

Though the extension claimed this was part of an “AI Threat Detection” feature, researchers found that full-page screenshotting occurred indiscriminately and silently. Despite the security breaches, the extension remained active in the browser store, highlighting how misleading free VPNs can sometimes be.

If you ever find yourself needing a free option, make sure to choose one that has been independently audited, has a transparent privacy policy, and comes from a reputable provider. ProtonVPN and Windscribe pass these tests; some unknown extensions do not!!

How to Properly Test a Free VPN

Trying out a free VPN should not just be about whether it connects. Here are the key things to check:

• Speed: Run speed tests and see whether everyday browsing feels smooth.
• Streaming: Try Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or YouTube to see if the VPN is blocked or throttled.
• Security: Use a DNS leak test tool to confirm that your IP address is properly hidden.
• Compatibility: Install the app on multiple devices to ensure the interface is intuitive.
• Reliability: Use the VPN at different times of day to see if servers are overloaded.
• Privacy Assurance: Ensure the provider explicitly states a no-logs policy, offers transparency reports or audits, and is upfront about how user data is handled.

Limitations of Free VPNs

Even the best free VPNs come with limits. ProtonVPN restricts you to a few countries and speeds can drop under load. Windscribe caps your monthly data, which means streaming and downloading is heavily restricted. If your goal is to use a VPN daily for everything you do online, a paid subscription is a better choice. Free VPNs are excellent for testing the waters, but they should not be seen as a complete long-term solution for heavy users.

When a Paid VPN Might Be Better

If you want streaming access, torrenting, or consistent high speed performance, upgrading to a paid VPN is the logical step. Paid versions of ProtonVPN and Windscribe remove the restrictions and add premium features like faster servers, more locations, and advanced tools such as double VPN routing. In many cases, these subscriptions cost less than a coffee per month when purchased on an annual plan. Considering the privacy benefits, the cost is very reasonable. ☕