The best VPN free trials in 2026: try before you buy

Don’t forget that you can select the best VPN free trials to test the service without paying. This is a great way to check if a VPN meets your specific needs, such as streaming, private browsing, or gaming. VPN free trials are completely risk-free, and you get all the benefits of a premium service for a limited time.

I tested over 20 established VPN services to find the ones that offer the best free trials. After that, I compiled a list of top 5 best free trial VPNs in 2026. Keep on reading to learn more.

What to consider when choosing the best VPN with a free trial?

There are two types of free trials: true free trials, where most of the time no credit card information is required, and risk-free trials (money-back guarantee). Many VPN service providers offer both, so a free trial can be extended to over a month. You just have to remember to cancel the subscription on time.

During the testing process, I analyzed each VPN’s free trial and the after-trial costs if you decide to subscribe. In addition, I evaluated how easy it is to cancel the VPN subscription if you want to try another provider.

Here are the 5 main criteria to consider when choosing a VPN with a free trial.

• VPN fee trial length, type, and device limits. Most VPNs offer free trials, including popular ones like NordVPN, Surfshark, and CyberGhost. However, not all VPNs provide free trials for every device or have other limitations. Therefore, always check the free trial compatibility with your device. For example, the longest free trial comes with CyberGhost for iOS devices, since it offers a 7-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee. Combined, that is 52 days of free service. On the other hand, a reputable Proton VPN does not offer a free trial but provides a limited free plan that you can use for free for an unlimited time. Also, keep an eye on device limits since the number suggests how many simultaneous connections you can get.

VPN with a free trial:	Free trial:	Money-back guarantee:	Device limit:
1. NordVPN	3-day free trial on Android	30 days	Up to 10 devices
2. Surfshark	7-day free trial on Android and iOS	30 days	Unlimited
3. Proton VPN	No free trial, but it offers a limited free VPN plan	Unlimited	Up to 10 devices
4. CyberGhost	24-hour free trial for Windows and macOS, 3-day free trial for Android, 7-day free trial for iOS	45 days	Up to 7 devices
5. PIA VPN	7-day free trial for Android and iOS	30 day	Unlimited

• Credit card requirements. Some VPN free trials don’t require credit information, while others do. For example, the CyberGhost VPN free trial for Windows and macOS works without adding your payment information. While testing, complete anonymity was important for me. However, not so many VPN service providers have this option. In addition, some VPNs that don’t ask for a credit card were ineffective and unreliable to even make a list. Therefore, although NordVPN, Surfshark, and PIA VPN require credit card details for their free trials, they offer money-back guarantees that allow testing without a long-term commitment.

Important Note: Even if a credit card is required for a free trial, most VPN providers offer a money-back guarantee, allowing you to cancel the subscription within a specific timeframe and get a full refund, effectively using the VPN for free during that period.

• Server availability and performance. Free trials are a great way to test the service. You can pay attention to the servers and their speed. However, a free trial is not the same as a free version, which can be limited. For example, Proton VPN only offers five server locations – the US, the Netherlands, Poland, Japan, and Romania. In addition, you cannot even choose which server you want to connect to. Meanwhile, VPN free trials give access to all premium features, so you can test the service better. NordVPN’s free trial performed the best for its speeds and server network.

Free Trial VPN:	NordVPN	Surfshark	Proton VPN	CyberGhost	PIA VPN
Rating:	9.3⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️	9.0⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️	8.9⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️	8.8⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️	8.6⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Servers:	9300 servers in 137 countries	4500 servers in 100 countries	20300 servers in 148 countries	11500 servers in 100 countries	Servers in 91 countries
Average speed:	468 Mbps	466 Mbps	428 Mbps	427 Mbps	316 Mbps

• Privacy and security features. A reputable VPN must provide a robust security toolkit, and you should look into that during a free trial. While testing, I noticed that not all VPNs have a required level of security. Some would lack modern tunneling protocols, and others had unaudited no-logs policies. Currently, the most secure VPN is NordVPN due to the highest security features, such as military-grade encryption, double Kill Switch, four-times audited no-logs policy, and others. It also has a great free trial that you can check out.
• Pricing after trial ends. After a free trial, you can be charged for a subscription, especially if you have provided your credit card details. A risk-free trial also works with you paying for a subscription, but with the ability to request a refund within a specified period (e.g., 30 days). If you fail to fit into the timeframe, your subscription remains active, and you will not get your money back. However, if after testing the VPN’s features during its free trial, it meets your expectations, you can remain an active subscriber. But with that in mind, you can also choose the best deal. Currently, Surfshark is the cheapest.

Free Trial VPN:	1. NordVPN	2. Surfshark	3. Proton VPN	4. CyberGhost	5. PIA VPN
Starting price:	Starts at $ 3.49/month	Starts at $ 2.49/month	Starts at $ 2.99/month	Starts at $ 1.59/month	Starts at $ 1.33/month
Current deal:	75% off NordVPN!	85% off surfshark!	70% off Proton VPN!	88% off CyberGhost!	89% off PIA!

The best VPN free trials of 2026

Although CyberGhost VPN offers the longest free trial (45-day money-back guarantee plus a free trial depending on your device), there is a reason why I recommend NordVPN as the best free trial VPN. It has a great reputation among VPN service providers, a huge server network, blazing-fast speeds, and reliable security features. Moreover, despite the fact that the free trial is only available for Androids, once activated, the plan can be used across all devices. Plus, it is included in VPNOverview’s top 5 VPN list overall.

During comparison, I aimed to select VPN free trials that meet different needs. For this reason, I included not only VPNs that have the greatest service but also those that offer the longest free trials, are better suited for mobile or multiple devices, and trials that don’t require credit card details for complete anonymity.

Therefore, after thorough testing, I concluded that NordVPN, Surfshark, Proton VPN, CyberGhost, and PIA VPN are the best VPNs offering free trials and meeting a variety of needs.

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Top 1. NordVPN: Best overall VPN with free trial for Android users

NordVPN is the best VPN with a free trial. It currently changed from 7 days to 3 days, and is only available for Android devices. Despite this disadvantage, you still get the best premium service among competitors. Plus, you can take advantage of a 30-day money-back guarantee, which allows you to use NordVPN for a month.

You can test both a three-day NordVPN free trial on Android devices and a 30-day NordVPN guarantee. With it, I was able to test important features like:

• Wide server network, with 9300 VPN servers in over 137 countries
• Lightning-fast connection speeds partnered with 256-bit data encryption
• Unmatched unblocking capabilities, great with streaming sites like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and HBO Max
• Threat protection against malware to keep your device safe

NordVPN is a great VPN overall, but what sets it apart is its consistent, fast, and unlimited speeds. I used Ookla to test NordVPN’s different servers, and the speed lapse was less than 7 to 8% on the servers near us. While testing it over 30 days, we never experienced a connection drop or unusually slow speeds.

To get your refund, contact NordVPN via email or live chat. Its customer support team will guide you through the easy refund process.

NordVPN offers a three-day free trial for Android devices. You can get an extended free trial for all your devices with the 30-day money-back guarantee. Get NordVPN’s limited-time 75% discount now for low-cost online security and amazing speeds.

Choose NordVPN free trial if you:

• Want a 7-day free trial for Android users
• Want a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee
• Want best-in-class security protection
• Need unrivaled speed for streaming or downloading
• Want a reliable and trustworthy VPN service that does not spy on you
• Prefer to use premium products with a high-quality app
• Want the best VPN on the market right now

Choose another free trial if you

• Don’t have an Android device

NordVPN is our #1 Cheapest Monthly VPN because it gives the best quality for your money. Check out our full NordVPN review to check out its security and privacy protection features.

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Top 2. Surfshark: easy-to-cancel VPN with a free trial on all devices

Surfshark’s VPN free trial duration is 7 days, while it also has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can enjoy free, unlimited streaming and gaming for over a month. The trial works for macOS, iOS, and Android devices, and for this reason, it is my second choice as the best free trial VPN.

During Surfshark’s free trial, you’ll get the following features:

• Unblock Netflix in different countries using 4500 VPN servers in 100 countries
• Unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can share your subscription with the whole family
• High-speed servers for gaming and streaming
• Bypass government censorship with Surfshark’s NoBorders mode

Pro Tip:

Go for Surfshark One and its 30-day money-back guarantee. With Surfshark One, your VPN comes with an antivirus, data breach alerts, and more.

During my free trial, combined with a money-back guarantee, I was able to test all Surfshark has to offer. It is one of the most intuitive VPNs, with a sleek design and useful features. I used Surfshark to unblock different Netflix libraries and stream movies unavailable in my region. In addition, Surfshark’s speeds are one of the best in the market, falling just behind NordVPN.

If you decide a Surfshark subscription isn’t worth it, then you can get your money back easily by contacting customer support.

Get your Surfshark free trial today, with an additional 85% discount and two months free! Combined with the 7-day free trial, you can test Surfshark for an extended period.

Choose Surfshark free trial if you:

• Want a 7-day free trial for any device
• Want a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Would like a longer period to test the service
• Live in a country with heavy internet restrictions
• Want one of the lowest-cost premium VPNs
• Want unlimited bandwidth and simultaneous connections

Choose another free trial if you

• Need a broader choice of VPN servers

To learn more about this VPN and what it offers, you can check out our full Surfshark VPN review.

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Top 3. Proton VPN: free VPN with a 30-day premium plan trial

Proton VPN is undoubtedly one of the best free trial VPNs since it offers an entirely free version. While it is limited compared to Proton VPN’s premium version, it is a great way to see if the service aligns with your needs. In addition, you can get a premium service, since a 30-day money-back guarantee also covers it.
Premium Proton VPN service lets you enjoy:

• Over 20300 servers in 148 countries
• 256-bit AES encryption, automatic kill switch
• Obfuscated servers (hide VPN usage)
• Utmost privacy with a no-logs policy

The free Proton VPN version only has servers in five locations – the United States, the Netherlands, Japan, Romania, and Poland. This version doesn’t allow you to select a server you want to connect to, as it automatically connects to the closest and fastest one. Nevertheless, Proton VPN doesn’t throttle speeds, so even with a free version, I was able to have a smooth and reliable connection. 

To test premium service, I opted for a subscription, covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I was pleasantly surprised by a premium quality, a great selection of servers, fast speeds, lag-free connection, and most importantly, iron-strong privacy and security features.

Getting a refund within a 30-day money-back guarantee window was extremely easy. All I had to do was fill out a refund form, and I received my money back in a few days.

If you like the VPN, save money by subscribing to Proton VPN with a 70% discount.

Choose ProtonVPN if you

• Want a completely free VPN version
• Want a 30-day money-back guarantee coverage
• Want a long-standing VPN whose quality has been tested
• Prefer sleek user interfaces
• Want lightning-fast connection speeds

Choose another free trial if you

• Want to test premium features without paying

To learn more about Proton VPN and what it offers, you can check out our full Proton VPN review.

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Top 4. CyberGhost: best VPN with No Credit Card Required

CyberGhost is one of the best true free trial VPN since it doesn’t require your credit card details. You can try it for 24 hours for free on Windows and macOS, 3 days for free on Android, and 7 days for free on iOS. Combined with a 45-day money-back guarantee, it delivers one of the longest free trials among the competitors.

The free trial includes premium CyberGhost features like:

• Advanced security and protection, thanks to the built-in kill switch and robust 256-bit data encryption
• Fast and reliable streaming-optimized servers, perfect for unblocking Netflix
• Wide range of IP addresses, covered by 11500 servers in 100 countries
• User-friendly interface ideal for beginners

When you have 11500 servers to test, a few days won’t do you much good. That’s why I also opted for the 45-day money-back guarantee. While testing CyberGhost’s free period, I used the VPN with different gaming and streaming sites. I watched the Premier League on a sports channel and enjoyed revisiting Avengers: Infinity War on Disney+. The performance was perfectly balanced, as all things should be.

To get my money back, I used the 24/7 live chat feature on CyberGhost’s website to ask for a refund. They will only ask why you want to quit, and you’ll have your money back within 5 days, regardless of your answer. At the end of the free trial, for Windows and macOS free trials, you won’t have to do anything. The application will simply stop working for you if you don’t subscribe. However, Android and iOS free trials require credit card information, so you will be subscribed to the service if you don’t cancel the plan manually. To cancel, you must go to your Google Play Store or App Store, find the Subscriptions tab, and cancel it from there.

Ready to try CyberGhost for yourself? Subscribe using the button below to get a 88% discount!

Choose the CyberGhost free trial if you

• Want the longest risk-free trial – 45 days
• Want a 7-day true free trial VPN for iOS
• Need a streaming VPN that can unblock anything
• Love easy-to-use, unintrusive applications

Choose another free trial if you

• Want a longer free trial for Windows, macOS, and Android

You can check out why CyberGhost secured an excellent overall score of 8.8 out of 10 in our full CyberGhost VPN review.

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Top 5. PIA: Best VPN free trial with access to the largest server network

PIA is a great option for a free trial VPN since it offers a 7-day free trial for Android and iOS devices and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Testing PIA can take some time, since it has over 35000 servers, with different servers dedicated to streaming, torrenting, gaming, and surfing.

Both the 7- and 30-day trials allow you to enjoy amazing PIA VPN features like:

• A built-in kill switch
• Robust and advanced security protocols
• 35000 VPN servers across 91 countries
• Stable connection speeds for streaming, gaming, and even torrenting
• PIA MACE to block ads, malware, and trackers

Choose PIA if you want access to the biggest VPN server network in the VPN industry. You can use the PIA’s server network to unblock your favorite content on streaming platforms from around the world. There’s also a wealth of advanced security settings and features nested in the sleek user interface. During my tests, I noticed that PIA is slightly slower than other competitors on this list. However, that didn’t overshadow my overall experience.

To get your money back, you must cancel PIA within the refund period. Contact customer support through email or live chat on the Private Internet Access website.

Hit the button below to start surfing securely and accessing niche streams worldwide!

Choose the PIA free trial if you

• Want a 7-day free trial for Android or iOS devices
• Want a 30-day risk-free trial
• Want the biggest server network in the industry
• Want to use the VPN on iOS or Android mobile devices

Choose another free trial if you

• Need a greater selection of countries
• Want a VPN free trial for desktop devices

To learn more about Private Internet Access and what it offers, you can check out our full Private Internet Access review.

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VPN free trial vs money-back guarantee

Genuine VPN free trials do exist. However, some VPN providers tend to mask their money-back guarantees as free trials. Here’s the difference between the two:

• A free VPN trial requires no upfront payment or commitment. In most cases, you will need to provide credit card details or sign in with your Google Play Store or Apple App Store account, but you won’t be charged. You still need to cancel before the trial period is up.
• A money-back guarantee is a promise that, barring extreme circumstances, you can get a refund on your payment within the allotted time (usually 30 days). It does entail an initial payment for the VPN service.

Note:

Don’t let the initial payment scare you away. I have never had a problem getting a full refund from any of my recommended VPN providers.

Money-back guarantees are common for VPNs, and in 99% of cases, you’ll get your money back, no questions asked. So, for this roundup, I considered both the actual trials and the money-back guarantees. Both can help you try an app for free with full access to the VPN’s features, like unlimited bandwidth, quick connections, and a huge server network.

How to get a free VPN trial

To get a free VPN trial, look for reputable VPN service providers like NordVPN and Surfshark. Many VPNs offer free trials, often with a money-back guarantee or a specific trial period (e.g., 7 days, 24 hours, etc.). Here’s a general outline on how to get a free trial.

Step 1: Choose a VPN service provider. My recommendation is NordVPN, which offers a 3-day free trial for Android devices.

Step 2: Sign up for the app. Most VPNs offer free trials through their website or app store. You may need to enter a payment method, but you can cancel your subscription within a trial period to avoid charges.

Step 3: Download the VPN app on your device.

Step 4: Configure and use a VPN on your device. Connect to a server and enjoy your free trial.

Step 5: Don’t forget to cancel the subscription within the trial period. Avoid being charged if you don’t plan to continue using the service.

How to cancel VPN free trial

Some free trials require payment information. If you only want to try the service for free, you must cancel the subscription within the free trial period. Depending on your device, the cancellation option will be available with all your other subscriptions, e.g., in Google Play Store, Apple Store, Settings, or within the VPN app. However, if you forget to cancel, don’t worry, as most VPNs offer a money-back guarantee. You will be charged, but you can ask for a refund. Here is how to do that:

1. Pay the first installment for your subscription. NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for all subscriptions. You can use credit cards, PayPal, and even Bitcoin.
2. Ask for a refund during the 30-day money-back guarantee period. NordVPN now has an automated refund system. Reach customer support to receive a link.
3. After you open a link, you will see which payments are eligible for a refund. Click the Refund button.
4. In a following window, select a reason for a refund and click Submit and continue.
5. Confirm the refund summary by clicking the Refund button again.
6. Then you will receive a confirmation email. Now, all you have to wait for is a refund.

Even if you cancel the subscription early, you can still use NordVPN for the full 30 days. To cancel a subscription with other service providers, you must also reach customer support.

Other free trial VPNs I tested

I tested a whole range of VPNs to find the best VPN trials. Here’s our quick snapshot of a few other providers that didn’t quite make the cut:

• Bitdefender VPN: Bitdefender’s 7-day free trial for any device is appealing, as are the 30 days to get your money back. But in our Bitdefender VPN review, we weren’t impressed by their customer support.
• FastestVPN: With an incredible 9.5 out of 10 for security, our FastestVPN tests showed that this provider has robust security features. Unfortunately, the money-back guarantee period is just 15 days. It fell short of the typical 30 to 45 days offered by the best VPNs.
• Intego Privacy Protection: This provider scored a reasonable 8.1 out of 10 overall in our Intego VPN review and has a 14-day free trial. This Mac-first application is designed with Apple users in mind, and it’s currently offering special Black Friday deals, making it a great time to try it out.
• Windscribe: Windscribe isn’t a bad VPN, but it’s far from being an industry leader. While it has a 24-hour free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee, there’s no live chat feature, as we discovered during our Windscribe testing circuit. This could make it trickier to get your refund.

Is your money safe with a VPN free trial?

Yes, your money is safe with a VPN free trial. A good VPN free trial requires no upfront payment. Although you might have to provide your payment details for subsequent payments. Nevertheless, you can get your money back easily with a free trial.

The same applies to money-back guarantees. You can get your money back by canceling your refund within the money-back guarantee period. However, please remember that if you are found violating the terms of service of a VPN, you will be excluded from the refund policy.

So as long as you don’t violate the rules and do something illegal, your money is safe with a VPN free trial. We even prefer it over a free service, as free VPNs often have speed and data caps.

Final thoughts: best VPN free trials worth trying in 2026

Free trials are the best way to test the VPN service without committing long-term. Even though some VPNs are very cheap, after using them for a while, they may not meet all your needs. So, for this reason, I recommend combining free trials with money-back guarantees for the best user experience without taking any risks.

After testing dozens of VPN apps over the years through free trials and money-back guarantees, we can reliably recommend the VPNs below for free:

1. NordVPN: The best VPN on the market with a 30-day money-back guarantee
2. Surfshark: Reasonably-priced VPN with a long trial period
3. Proton VPN: Best VPN with a completely free version
4. CyberGhost: Best free trial VPN that doesn’t require a credit card
5. Private Internet Access: Best VPN free trial with access to 30,000 servers

Here’s a sweet tip: you can get six months of VPN free trials by trying all six of the providers above. Try out each server and unblock your favorite streaming sites and gaming servers, all for free.

The best part is you can get started right now by getting a free VPN service trial. Here are detailed guides to help you get completely free trials of the best VPN providers listed above:

• How to Get a Free Trial With Surfshark
• How to Get a Free Trial With NordVPN
• How to Get a Free Trial With CyberGhost

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions about the best VPN free trials available? Check out our FAQ section below.

How can I get a free trial for a VPN without a credit card?

Most VPNs require adding a credit card to get a free trial. Before your free trial ends, a VPN service provider will notify you, so you can avoid being charged. CyberGhost is one of the exceptions where you can test the service without credit card details.

Which VPN has the longest free trial?

Most VPNs offer a 7-day free trial, which is enough to test the service and see if it meets your needs. If you want to count money-back guarantees, CyberGhost has the longest free VPN trial period, with a 7-day free trial and a 45-day money-back guarantee.

Can you get unlimited free trials with a VPN?

Yes, you can, but it would take some work, because you have to create new accounts with new emails. With so many VPNs offering free trials and 30-day money-back guarantees, you could also hop around different providers as well.

How long is the NordVPN free trial?

NordVPN offers a 3-day free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you fit the terms, you can use the service for free for over a month without paying. Just remember that you will need to provide credit card details to acquire the trial period. Once the period ends, you can then decide whether to keep it going or get a full refund.

Can I watch Netflix using a free VPN trial?

Yes, it is possible to use free trials from VPNs to access Netflix libraries worldwide. All of the best VPN free trials on my list work with Netflix, but you might have to use the money-back guarantee to access this feature. That way, you can test the premium service without limitations for a longer time than a standard free trial.

Are free trial VPNs secure?

Free trials for VPNs are as secure as the full premium VPN service. That means that you get all the same bells and whistles as if you had paid for the service. All of the VPNs mentioned in this article are secure and provide airtight digital privacy.

Theodor Porutiu Author

Senior Journalist

Theodor is a content writer passionate about the newest tech developments and content marketing strategies. He likes privacy-friendly software, SEO tools, and when he’s not writing, he’s trying to convince people they should uninstall TikTok.

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