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Best VPNs with Free Trial

Getting a VPN free trial is one of the most brilliant things you can do for your digital privacy. Most VPNs want you to commit to longer subscriptions. They provide huge discounts if you sign on for a year or longer. But what happens if you pay for a year and don't like the service? 

Thankfully, many reputable VPN brands are willing to offer a free trial. Sometimes, though, the free trial isn't as straightforward as taking one out for a spin cost-free. To help you save some time, here are some of the best VPN free trials currently available;

Compare VPN Free Trial

FeaturesSurfsharkNordVPNExpressVPNCyberGhostAtlasVPN
Free Trial Duration7 days7 days7 days1 day7 days
Trial (Android)YesYesYesYesYes
Trial (iOS)YesNoYesYesYes
Money-back Guarantee30 days30 days30 days45 days30 days
Credit Card NeededNoNoNoNoNo
Secure Servers3,200+5,000+3,000+7,900+750+
Server Locations10059949030
WebsiteSurfshark.comNordvpn.comExpressvpn.comCyberghostvpn.comAtlasvpn.com

Our top choices for the best VPN offering a free trial are well-known in the industry. They offer excellent all-around privacy and security but have unique quirks that give consumers some food for thought.

1. Surfshark

Surfshark - Best Feature-rich VPN with a 7-day Free Trial

https://surfshark.com/

Surfshark offers a 7-day free trial for all new customers. Once the trial is active, you can use Surfshark on any device. The experience is precisely the same as you would get on their subscription plan. 

The catch is that there are some signup conditions. You need to sign up for the Surfshark free trial using a device that can access the Google Play Store or Android App store. While that typically means Android or iOS, it somehow allows mac users onboard.

Surfshark – Best Feature-rich VPN with a 7-day Free Trial

Surfshark sits at a lovely spot in the VPN industry. The brand provides an excellent service that's fast, secure, and private. Even better is that you can use an unlimited number of devices with a single Surfshark account – all at the same time.

Despite these advantages, Surfshark manages to control prices well. It offers some of the best value among premium VPN brands. If that isn't enough to convince you, try them out for yourself with their 7-day free trial.

Read our Surfshark review to learn more.

Pros

  • 7-day free trial
  • 30-day refunds
  • Easy trial cancellation via app
  • Excellent speeds on WireGuard

Cons

  • Must signup using Play Store or App Store

2. NordVPN

NordVPN - Industry Veterans with a 30-Day Trial

https://nordvpn.com/

The NordVPN free trial is similar to the one Surfshark offers. You can access it if you've got a device that can connect to the Play Store or App Store. Beyond that, you also have a 30-day money-back guarantee once you've subscribed. Still, the first seven days are free for new users.

You can cancel the free trial can be canceled via your app if you don't intend to subscribe. However, once you've subscribed, getting a refund involves speaking to their customer service. Don't worry, though; the process is simple and pain-free.

NordVPN – Industry Veterans with a 30-Day Trial

NordVPN can be considered one of the most influential VPN brands. That's not just because of their privacy and security. They are one of the most innovative when it comes to technology development in this space.

One good example is the NordLynx protocol, a supercharged VPN protocol that takes the best of WireGuard and improves it for your benefit. I'm confident you'll see the advantages of NordVPN once you've signed up for their free trial.

Read our NordVPN review to find out more.

Pros

  • 7-day free trial for mobile devices
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Pain-free refund process
  • Unique NordLynx protocol

Cons

  • Slightly laggy app

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN - Risk-free VPN Trial for 30 Days

https://www.expressvpn.com/

ExpressVPN makes up the third of what I see as the top trio of VPN service providers offering a free trial. You can grab their 7-day free trial via the App Store or Play Store at any time. Cancellations are also via the respective stores.

If you want to try ExpressVPN out beyond seven days, you must subscribe to one of their plans. Don't worry, though; refunds are available within 30 days. The only quirk to remember is that refunds via the App store are at Apple's discretion.

ExpressVPN – Risk-free VPN Trial for 30 Days

ExpressVPN sits alongside other top VPN brands that I love. It's an industry veteran dedicated to offering customers a more stable and safe Internet experience. The most notable trait of ExpressVPN is its use of RAM-only TrustedServer technology.

While ExpressVPN isn't the fastest (especially compared to Surfshark and NordVPN), it does provide a remarkably consistent experience. Regardless of the server you choose, expect decent speeds and connections that don't drop.

Check out our ExpressVPN review for more.

Pros

  • 7-day free trial on mobile platforms
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Easy refund process
  • Lightway protocol based on wolfSSL

Cons

  • Slightly pricier than most

4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost - VPN with Extra Long Money-back Guarantee

https://www.cyberghostvpn.com/

CyberGhost VPN offers a free trial that you can use to test out the service before you commit. The trial lasts seven days, enough time to get a feel for how well the service works. If you decide it's not right for you, you can cancel before the trial ends.

The “free” version of CyberGhost VPN offers a great way to get acquainted with the most popular VPN service. It has all the features you may need to surf anonymously, protecting your privacy and keeping your identity hidden from prying eyes.

CyberGhost – VPN with Extra Long Money-back Guarantee

CyberGhost is a great option to protect your privacy while you surf the internet. The service provides a high degree of anonymity and is an affordable way to stay safe online. Advanced security features like Kill Switch and Auto-IP Changer protect your identity if the connection drops unexpectedly.

It offers access to over 9,000 servers in 115 locations worldwide. However, take this with a pinch of salt since speeds among the servers can vary significantly. Still, it's more than enough to access a broad range of localized content.

Read our CyberGhost review to learn more.

Pros

  • 24hr unlimited free trial
  • 45-day money-back guarantee
  • No credit card needed
  • Complete access to all features

Cons

  • Short trial duration

5. AtlasVPN

AtlasVPN - Fremium VPN with Limited Features

https://atlasvpn.com/

AtlasVPN is the only freemium VPN brand on this list. Most of the time, these brands offer a crippled free trial that leads to an expensive subscription. AltlasVPN does limit some “free” features, but this is a gateway toward an excellent product with great pricing.

Since it's freemium, no free trial is required, and you can use it from the get-go. Those who want to test the full feature suite can sign up for a plan. You can get a refund within 30-days if you aren't satisfied. 

AtlasVPN – Fremium VPN with Limited Features

AtlasVPN is green as grass. It's so new in the VPN industry that the fresh coat of paint is still glossy. However, it combines a formidable mixture of Surfshark low prices with NordVPN performance.

Still, there are a couple of bugs here and there with AtlasVPN. Think of it as teething problems. They offer a fantastic discount for you to live with them temporarily. I have no doubt they'll improve. After all, they did well enough to get acquired by Nord Security.

Check out our review on AtlasVPN.

Pros

  • No payment needed
  • 30-day refunds on subscriptions
  • Decent performance
  • Growing server count

Cons

  • Slightly buggy new service

Free Trial vs. Free VPN

FeaturesFree TrialFree VPN
Advance PaymentYesYes
Feature LimitationNoYes
Limited PeriodYes (typically 30 days)No
Data RiskLowMedium to high

Getting a VPN free trial isn't the same as using a free VPN. The latter is an often-sought commodity. After all, lots of people love free stuff; so do I. However, free VPNs often pose many inherent risks.

Running a VPN business costs a lot of money. Servers, applications, technical expertise, customer support, and more is incredibly expensive. No company on earth can provide that for free. Because of that, free VPNs often resort to underhanded tactics to earn a buck.

Some may steal your data and sell it to data brokers; others may make money from advertising (which often compromises your privacy). The most common tactic is to get you frustrated enough to sign up for their “premium” plans.

Unfortunately, these plans inevitably cost way more than most top-tier VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark would cost. Free trials may offer you shorter glimpses into a VPN brand, but you get the whole experience. 

Final Thoughts: Should I Get a VPN Free Trial?

There's no harm in signing up for a free VPN trial. It allows you to fully experience what you can look forward to with a VPN brand. I would worry if you didn't take advantage of the free trial that these great VPN providers offer.

The only thing to remember is that you must cancel your subscription before the end of the free trial if you don't intend to continue the subscription. Forgetting to cancel may result in unintended charges on your account.

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Article by Timothy Shim

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