Wanting to try a VPN before paying for it makes perfect sense. No advertisement can replace actually using a VPN and seeing how well it performs for your needs. The catch is that many VPN free trials still require a credit card or another payment method, which can somewhat defeat the purpose of a “free” trial. Below, we discuss why using a VPN’s free trial is worth it and which free trial VPNs do not require credit cards.
Free Trial vs. Free VPN: What is the Difference?
Free trial VPNs are VPNs with a paid subscription that offer a free trial. These are legitimate businesses with a transparent, sustainable business model. Meanwhile, free VPNs are VPNs that are supposedly “permanently free” and have no paid tier at all which usually means they make money by harvesting and selling your data.
A study found that more than 80% of the most popular free Android VPNs had contact with advertising and tracking entities. If you want to try a VPN before spending money, it is far safer to choose a free trial from a reputable paid VPN than an always-free app with a questionable business model.
VPN Free Trials Without a Credit Card
Below are some VPNs that offer trials without requiring a credit card.
1. Surfshark — 7-Day Free Trial
Surfshark’s free VPN trial is one of the most complete options on the market. For 7 days, you are granted access to all the features and servers included in their paid plans at full speeds – not a stripped-down version. Surfshark can also be used across multiple device types, whether that be desktop, mobile, or smart TV, on an unlimited number of devices.
This means you will experience exactly what you will experience with the paid plan. It is a completely transparent look at what using their VPN will be like should you proceed to subscribe. While you do need to provide payment details before starting the trial, you can easily cancel it with just a few clicks. Simply go to your Surfshark account, open Subscription, and turn off auto-renewal. If you are past the 7 days, you can contact them for their 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. CyberGhost — 24-Hour Free Trial on Desktop
CyberGhost’s free trial also provides full access to all servers and premium features like split tunneling. You can use it on a maximum of 7 devices. However, the free VPN trial differs in key ways depending on what platform you are on.
On Windows and macOS: you only get 24 hours with the free trial, which may not be enough time to use it across multiple devices or in different situations. The good news is that this desktop free trial does not require any payment details.
The mobile free trial lasts longer.
- On Android: The trial runs for 3 days.
- On iOS: The trial lasts 7 days.
In both mobile versions, you will need to provide a payment method since Apple’s App Store and Google Play require it, not CyberGhost itself. At the very least, CyberGhost also backs paid plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee should you change your mind after subscribing.
3. Proton VPN — Free Plan With No Time Limit
Proton VPN comes from Proton, the Swiss company behind Proton Mail. Instead of a traditional trial, they have a fully free tier. You can use the free tier of their VPN indefinitely – no time limits or data caps, and no payment details required either.
The limitations are that you can use it on only one device at a time, and you are restricted to a few servers in a handful of countries. However, while Proton does not impose speed throttling on free users, speeds can be slower at peak hours due to congestion on these few servers. If you want the full package, you can pay and take advantage of their 30-day money-back guarantee.
4. NordVPN — 3-Day Free Trial on Android
NordVPN offers a 3-day free trial, but only on Android via Google Play. No credit card is required, but you will have to provide a payment method due to Google Play’s policies. You would not be charged until after the 3-day trial.
Once you sign up, however, you can use your account on other devices and device types (Windows, Mac, and iOS) aside from the one you used to sign up. You also get full access to their VPN service: all servers, all features, and full speeds. Another option is to pay first and use their 30-day money-back guarantee.
What to Check Before Starting a VPN Free Trial?
The options above demonstrate that VPN free trials can differ considerably in terms of duration, payment requirements, platform availability, and features. If you decide to explore another VPN provider, check the following details before starting a trial:
- Confirm if their trial requires any payment method aside from a credit card.
- Check whether the trial gives full feature access or a limited version, since a stripped-down trial would not tell you much about the paid product.
- Note the exact end date and how to cancel, ideally with a personal reminder a day or two before it expires.
- Look at device limits during the trial versus after subscribing, since some services quietly restrict trials to a single device.
With this information, you can enter a VPN’s free trial with confidence and decide whether the product is right for you.
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