To save you time, I tested 54 VPNs to find the best VPNs with free trials and money-back guarantees. Based on my results, I was most impressed by ExpressVPN. I got instant access to 3000+ servers worldwide. You can buy ExpressVPN with confidence as it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a refund with no questions asked. I tested the refund policy myself, and it was approved in minutes over 24/7 live chat — and the money was back in my account in 5 days.
Quick Guide: Best VPNs With Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees in 2023
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The Best VPN Free Trials and Money-Back Guarantees (Tested January 2023)
1. ExpressVPN — #1 VPN in 2023 for Speed and Security With a 7-Day Free Trial on Mobile
ExpressVPN offers a 7-day free trial exclusively for Android and iOS devices — one of the two ways you can try this VPN out. While it’s a nice way to quickly take a peek at the interface, I found 7 days to be too short to test ExpressVPN’s speeds and security features. The free trial also disqualifies you from the 30-day money-back guarantee if you decide to keep ExpressVPN, and using the trial on iOS requires a credit card. The app automatically charges you full price if you forget to cancel at least 24 hours before the trial expires. For a hassle-free experience, try ExpressVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee instead. It’s a “no questions asked” guarantee, so getting a full refund is easy. I tested the legitimacy of this guarantee by asking for a refund over 24/7 live chat 24 days into my subscription. The customer support representative approved my request immediately, and the money was back in my account in less than a week. Unfortunately, the 30-day money-back guarantee isn’t automatically applied by Google Play or the App Store. For this reason, I recommend that you get a subscription to ExpressVPN from its website. That way, you know you’re safe if you change your mind for any reason. Testing showed how reliably ExpressVPN worked with most streaming platforms. You’ll have no issues accessing most major streaming platforms, including the following: I never had to waste time switching between servers to find a working connection. Better still, ExpressVPN’s speeds were consistently fast no matter which server I connected to. I could stream videos in HD, download torrents, and play games online without buffering or lag. I often find myself having to connect to public wifi, so I appreciate ExpressVPN’s comprehensive list of security features. Whenever you connect to an ExpressVPN server, your personal data is protected by:
256-bit military-grade encryption — the same standard used by militaries worldwide Network lock — an automatic kill switch that secures your internet traffic in the event your VPN connection drops DNS, WebRTC, and IPv4 leak protection — that passed several rounds of tests, verifying that ExpressVPN won’t leak your data A third-party audited no-logs policy — that proves all your data stays safe and anonymous.
You can choose from multiple VPN protocols, including Lightway (the company’s proprietary version of the latest WireGuard protocol), OpenVPN, and IKEv2. While ExpressVPN doesn’t offer an unlimited free trial, its money-back guarantee is reliable. It’s the best VPN in 2023 in terms of speed, security, and reliability. You don’t have to take my word for it, though — you can test all its features risk-free for 30 days. If you’re not satisfied, you can get a full refund.
2. CyberGhost — Great for Streaming and Torrenting (FREE for Up to 45 Days)
CyberGhost has a couple of free options you can use to test its features before committing. The best option is to go for the generous 45-day money-back guarantee. This makes CyberGhost a great option if you only need a VPN for short-term use. It’s a much better deal than signing up for the 24-hour desktop-only trial or the 7-day free trial for iOS or Android. One of my favorite CyberGhost features is the dedicated streaming, torrenting, and gaming servers. The company pre-configures and regularly tests a range of servers for you, so you’re guaranteed smooth connections. CyberGhost worked reliably with the following platforms after just a few clicks: Every video loaded within seconds in HD quality, and I only experienced very minimally buffering at the start of each stream. It’s one of the best VPNs to access Netflix US from anywhere. CyberGhost also has a formidable set of security features to keep your online data private, including:
An automatic kill switch — blocks the connection if the VPN disconnects A malware and tracker blocker — (not available on the iOS app) Military-grade encryption — that protects your data from third-party surveillance A strict no-logs policy — protects the privacy of users
Aside from its security features, CyberGhost is located in privacy-friendly Romania and regularly releases transparency reports. You can rest assured that there isn’t any data to be given to anyone who might request it. CyberGhost has an easy-to-use native app for a wide variety of devices. I tested the Windows, Android, iOS, and macOS apps, and I was impressed by how easy it was to connect to the best servers for my needs. CyberGhost servers are organized according to lists: All Servers, NoSpy servers, For torrenting, For gaming, and For streaming. Thanks to a reliable money-back guarantee, you can access all of CyberGhost’s features for free for 45 days. I tried the refund process myself and filed a refund request over live chat, which was approved in less than 5 mins. I had the money back in my account within the same week.
3. Private Internet Access — Largest VPN Server Network (Free Trial + Money-Back Guarantee Available)
Private Internet Access (PIA) is another high-quality VPN that you can try for free. PIA’s money-back guarantee allows you to use it for 30 days at no risk to you. If you don’t want to continue your subscription, all you have to do is ask for a refund via live chat. PIA offers a free trial, but it’s only accessible through Android (Google Play) or iOS (App Store) and lasts only 7 days. The 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to enjoy every premium feature on any device, including unlimited bandwidth and data for streaming. PIA worked reliably with the following platforms: Even with multiple devices connected simultaneously (one subscription will allow you to connect 10 devices at the same time), repeated testing revealed that nearby PIA servers offer speeds fast enough for streaming, browsing, and gaming. PIA’s upload and ping rates made it a really good VPN to play Call of Duty: Warzone. However, connecting to faraway servers caused a significant decrease in upload speeds. This can definitely affect your experience, especially if your wifi is slow. So, I recommend connecting to a nearby server or using a faster VPN (like ExpressVPN). PIA protects your data with the following security features:
Military-grade encryption — with a choice between AES 128- and 256-bit encryption Split tunneling — allows you to choose which apps pass through the VPN MACE — a reliable ad, malware, and tracker blocker.
You can try PIA for free for 30 days. When I requested a refund via live chat, the agent offered help with any issues I might be having with PIA. I declined and explained I was canceling because I didn’t need the service anymore. After giving the agent my invoice number, my request was approved. The money was back in my account in 5 days.
4. PrivateVPN — Best for Short Trips Abroad With 7-Day Free Trial and 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
PrivateVPN has a 7-day free trial for Android and a 30-day money-back guarantee, but both require you to enter your billing information. The money-back guarantee gives you more time to use PrivateVPN for free on all devices, making it an ideal option if you’re traveling abroad and are looking to use a VPN while you’re there. As soon as you don’t need it anymore, you can easily claim a refund. Most VPNs on this list have extensive networks with thousands of servers, so I was really impressed by the number of streaming platforms PrivateVPN managed to unblock. PrivateVPN had zero issues accessing the following platforms: Speeds remained consistently fast, and I didn’t experience much buffering or lag while on PrivateVPN servers. PrivateVPN utilizes high-quality bandwidth bought directly from IP transit providers, which translates to higher-quality, stable connections. PrivateVPN protects your data with the following security features:
Military-grade encryption — the same standard used by governments A kill switch — protects your traffic in case the VPN disconnects, and Stealth VPN — makes your VPN traffic look like normal HTTPS traffic.
PrivateVPN is headquartered in Sweden, a member of the 14-Eyes Alliance, which is an intelligence sharing between Sweden and other governments. The good news is that PrivateVPN’s no-logs policy is clear — it doesn’t collect or log any traffic or use of the VPN. This means that users stay anonymous even in case of government requests. You can try PrivateVPN for free for 30 days, thanks to its reliable money-back guarantee. When I requested a refund via live chat, the agent asked me for a reason. I simply said I had changed my mind. My request was confirmed in less than 10 minutes, and the money was returned to my account in 5 days.
5. IPVanish — Easy Refunds Through 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
IPVanish’s 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to test all its features without risk. I was able to purchase a 1-year plan, and use it on an unlimited number of devices. Before the 30 day period ended, I was able to cancel the subscription through the account dashboard. I liked that I didn’t have to speak to customer service. IPVanish has great and intuitive apps for various devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. IPVanish’s native app displays key information such as connection speed and server load, which helped me quickly choose the best server relative to my location. During tests, IPVanish was able to access the following platforms: IPVanish secures your data with the following security features:
Military-grade encryption — AES 256-bit DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leak protection — ensures your data stays secure Kill switch — protects your data if you lose your server connection
You can test IPVanish’s features yourself. Its 30-day money-back guarantee is one of the easiest ones to use on this list. All I had to do to get my money back was to log into my account and click a couple of buttons to confirm I wanted to cancel my subscription. The refund was processed immediately, and the money was back in my account in an hour.
6. Proton VPN — Free Plan Offers Unlimited Bandwidth on One Device
Proton VPN’s free plan allows you to access 3 Proton VPN server locations, the US, Japan, and the Netherlands, on a single device. Because many free users share these servers, the speeds can be really slow — barely enough to browse sites, let alone stream videos or play games. Proton VPN’s free plan is the only way to check out its features risk-free. I paid for Proton VPN’s Plus Plan and got impressive speeds during testing. My speeds never fell too far from my baseline, so you’ll have zero issues streaming videos in the best quality possible, even while connected to distant servers. The Plus Plan was also able to unblock the following platforms with ease: The Free plan occasionally worked with Netflix, but the speeds were so slow that the frames froze every 5 minutes or so. Security is where Proton VPN really shines. The following features ensure your data stays private:
Perfect forward secrecy — generates a unique set of keys for every session, ensuring no one can connect internet activities to a particular user NetShield — an ad, tracker, and malware blocker Secure Core — routes your traffic through 2 servers (available to Plus plan subscribers only)
Proton VPN has a 30-day refund policy. But keep in mind that you will only get refunded for the portion of the service you haven’t used yet. I recommend you sign up for Proton VPN’s free service and upgrade to the paid plan if you like the features. Try Proton VPN risk-free
7. PureVPN — 31 and 7-Day Free Trial Available on All Devices
Both the 7-day free trial and 31-day money-back guarantee allow you to test all of PureVPN’s features on up to 10 devices simultaneously. To sign up for either, you’ll have to enter a payment method. So, you might be better off going for the money-back guarantee instead of the short 7-day trial period. Once you’re done with the service, you can request a refund. PureVPN worked well with the following streaming platforms: Some PureVPN servers worked with HBO Max, but most didn’t. For guaranteed access to HBO, try CyberGhost’s dedicated streaming servers for HBO Max. PureVPN protects your data with the following security features:
Split tunneling — (available on Android and iOS) AES 256-bit encryption — reliably protects your data from even advanced threats No-logs policy — independently audited and verified
In 2016, PureVPN shared user data with the FBI during a cyberstalking case. This cast some doubt on the provider’s commitment to protecting user privacy. However, PureVPN underwent an independent audit in 2019 to show that its policies correspond with that of a zero-logs VPN. I recommend PureVPN’s 5-year plan as it brings the monthly rates down to $1.33 per month. Once you decide you don’t need a VPN anymore, you can request a refund via live chat. My request was approved (after being checked by their billing department), and the money was back in my account after 5 days.
8. ZenMate — Free Trial for Browser Extension (Plus 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee)
ZenMate only has a 7-day free trial for its browser extension, available on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. After the free trial expires, you can continue using the extension for free, but you will only have access to servers in 4 countries. In contrast, you can access ZenMate’s full range of features for 30 days with the money-back guarantee. Your entire internet will be encrypted with military-grade standards and further secured with a kill switch and leak protection. You’ll also have access to servers in 81 countries, which work with the following platforms: Security-wise, ZenMate Pro has the following features that ensure your personal data stays private:
AES 256-bit encryption — with perfect forward secrecy Automatic kill switch — secures your connection in case of an outage DNS, IP, and WebRTC leak protection — keeps your actual location private
At $1.51 a month, ZenMate is the most cost-effective VPN on this list. You can enjoy all of ZenMate’s features on unlimited devices for free by purchasing a 3-year plan and canceling your subscription within the money-back guarantee period. I requested a refund via email and got a reply within the same day. The money was back in my PayPal account in 3 days.
9. VyprVPN — 3-Day Free Trial and 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Available
A reliable 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try VyprVPN for nearly a month without any risk. You can enjoy all its features on 30 devices at the same time. There’s a 3-day free trial available on Android and iOS, but you’re going to need to provide payment details. I suggest going for the longer money-back guarantee instead. VyprVPN was able to access content from the following platforms: VyprVPN’s proprietary Chameleon protocol scrambles OpenVPN data, disguising it as non-VPN traffic. This makes it particularly good at getting around VPN blocks — it’s one of the few VPNs that reliably works in China. Aside from the security benefits of the Chameleon protocol, VyprVPN protects user data with the following security features:
Military-grade encryption — secured with perfect forward secrecy Automated kill switch — reliably detects any disruption to your VPN connection Split tunneling option — (available on Android and macOS)
Unfortunately, VyprVPN’s download speeds are really inconsistent. I tested VyprVPN by connecting to a nearby server and could stream in HD. However, connecting to a server over 17,000km away dropped my speed by almost 90%. Try VyprVPN for free on your own device for 30 days. Getting a full refund is easy. I requested my money back by email and got a response in just 7 minutes. The representative asked me to provide a reason for canceling and fully refunded me within 3 days. VyprVPN subscriptions purchased through Apple are not eligible for a refund.
10. Ivacy — Low-Cost VPN With a 7-Day Trial and 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Ivacy’s free trial is interesting in the sense that it isn’t really free — Ivacy’s 1-week free trial period is available for $0.99. You’ll need to key in your payment details anyway, so you might as well test Ivacy VPNusing its 30-day money-back guarantee (applicable to the 1-year and 5-year plans). Ivacy’s servers were able to unblock the following platforms: Ivacy has a great list of security features, which is impressive considering it’s a low-cost VPN:
Secure downloading — this includes a malware scanner and blocker Military-grade encryption — AES 256-bit No-log policy — accompanied by a privacy-oriented headquarters (Singapore)
However, Ivacy’s upload speeds dropped significantly while connected to remote servers. I had some issues, especially during gaming. If you’re an avid gamer, I suggest you get CyberGhost instead as it has dedicated gaming servers with fantastic upload speeds and ping rates. The 30-day money-back guarantee allows you to try all Ivacy’s features for free on 10 devices. If you don’t need it anymore, it’s easy to claim a refund. I emailed Ivacy’s customer support on day 25 and requested a refund. The next day, I got a reply approving my request, and the money was back in my PayPal account after 2 days.
Comparison Table: 2023’s Best VPN Free Trials
The Differences Between Money-Back Guarantees and Free Trials
The most common ways you can test a VPN risk-free are through:
Money-back guarantees: VPNs with money-back guarantees require you to pay for a long-term plan upfront but come with a “warranty” period. If you cancel within this period, you’ll get fully refunded. Remember, purchasing a VPN through Android or Google Play Store makes your subscription subject to these app stores’ refund policies. To prevent any problems, purchasing your VPN subscription from the VPNs’ official websites is best. Free trials: Free trial VPNs allow users to enjoy the VPN on a limited number of devices for around 3-7 days. While some free trials don’t require a payment method, some do. Either way, these VPNs won’t start charging you for the service until after the free trial period. Free VPNs: These VPNs are completely free to use but often come with limitations (e.g., data caps, a small number of server choices, and device limits). While there are some high-quality free VPNs out there, many free VPNs pose significant privacy issues (e.g., data logging, selling user data to third parties) and security threats (e.g., malware).
The best way to test a VPN is through money-back guarantees. It gives you enough time to see for yourself how consistently a VPN unblocks streaming services or whether connecting to distant servers affects the speeds.
Warning! Avoid These VPN Free Trials (Updated List)
Some vendors claim you can test VPNs for free but still charge you as soon as you sign up. Worse still, I found services that didn’t provide me with appropriate protection during the free trial. Here are some VPNs you should never sign up for:
SiteLock — Doesn’t offer a free trial and only issues refunds if you can prove the VPN underperformed during the first 30 days of use. My request wasn’t approved even though I complained about slow speeds and inconsistent unblocking features. Speedify — Let me sign up for its free account, but it heavily restricts which features you can access and only gives you 1GB of data to use per month. This let me stream only a couple of hours of Netflix content every 4 weeks. Opera Free VPN — While OperaVPN claims not to store your data, the Opera browser does keep your user data — including your IP address, DNS requests, phone number, and even your IMEI.
How I Tested and Ranked the Best Free Trial VPNs in 2023
Finding a free VPN trial that isn’t excessively limited and frustrating to use is tricky. I researched and tested the best VPNs in 2023 to find safe and secure services that offer free trials and money-back guarantees. Here are the criteria I used to rank the VPNs on this list:
No hidden catches — I tested every service to ensure I could get my money back easily and quickly. Some VPNs ask for credit card information upfront, so I personally tested each VPN’s refund policy to see how easy it was to get my money back. Limitations or restrictions — I checked if a VPN trial placed any limitations on their users. If a free trial is only available on mobile or a browser, I indicated so on the list. Ability to unblock content — I determined which VPNs work with the top streaming sites. This is especially useful if you regularly travel abroad and want access to your home country’s local content. Powerful security and privacy features — I researched and tested each VPN’s security features and carefully reviewed each privacy policy. Fast speeds — I ensured each VPN had uncapped speeds and ran tests to ensure it provided fast speeds for streaming and downloading. Anonymous payment — I also indicated which VPNs offer payments via cryptocurrency.
To save you unnecessary hassle, I test and recommend only the best VPNs that offer legitimate free trials or money-back guarantees. ExpressVPN is my top choice as it gave me access to all of its premium features risk-free for 30 days and approved my refund when I asked for it after 3 weeks of using it. That’s why I suggest you try ExpressVPN for yourself. If you’re unsatisfied, you can get a full refund within the 30-day money-back guarantee. Test ExpressVPN for free
How to Use a VPN Free Trial on Different Devices
How to Use ExpressVPN’s Free Trial on Mobile Devices
How to Use CyberGhost’s Money-Back Guarantee
Use CyberGhost for free
How to Use IPVanish’s Money-Back Guarantee on Fire TV Stick
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Can I get a VPN free trial with no credit card?
Yes, there are VPN free trials that don’t require any payment information. However, most only let you sign up if you provide your payment details. This way, you can be charged for a subscription if you forget to cancel the free trial before it expires. This is a trick that many VPN services use to get you to pay for the service. Instead of a short free trial (often lasting between 24 hours to 7 days), I suggest you download a VPN with a long money-back guarantee period instead. For instance, CyberGhost has a 45-day money-back guarantee, so you’ve got plenty of time to test it out before you cancel your subscription and ask for a refund. You can continue to use CyberGhost and all its features for the remaining money-back guarantee period. I’ve tested the refund policy myself, and it was quick and easy to get my money back over 24/7 live chat.
Do VPN free trials work with Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services?
What are the limitations of a VPN free trial?
Most VPNs with free trial offers only allow users to test the VPN on a limited number of devices for around 3-7 days. While some VPN free trials don’t require a payment method, some do. That makes using a reliable money-back guarantee a better option — it gives you more time to test a VPN, essentially for free.
How do I cancel my VPN free trial or money-back guarantee?
If you signed up for a VPN directly from its website, then it’ll be easy. Based on my tests, the best VPNs all have smooth cancellation policies — some are even explicitly “no questions asked” policies, so you don’t get hassled to stay. For example, I tested ExpressVPN, and all I had to do was speak to a representative over 24/7 live chat. The entire process was over within minutes, and the money was in my bank account in 5 days. Unfortunately, if you subscribed through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you’ll have to cancel through the store. The refund policy can vary in complexity depending on the app store. You won’t be able to contact the VPN company directly to process your refund request.
Can I use my VPN free trial more than once?
Unfortunately not. In fact, people constantly abusing the free trials resulted in many VPNs canceling their free trials completely. It’s not all over, though — you can always check out the best VPNs with free trials and money-back guarantees and see if there’s a new VPN you haven’t discovered yet.
Are there any good free VPNs?
Yes, there are free VPNs that are safe to use — but just like free trials, you should expect some restrictions. For example, you might only have 500MB of free data per month or a couple of server locations to choose from. If you only need a VPN for casual online searches or checking your emails, a free VPN might completely meet your needs.
Will a VPN track my online activity during a free trial?
It depends on the VPN. One of the criteria I used to find the best VPN trials for January 2023 is the privacy policy. I made sure that all the VPNs have no-log clauses, military-grade encryption, and leak protection so that no identifying information is tracked, stored, or shared at any point. For peace of mind, I strongly recommend choosing a VPN with an audited or proven privacy policy. For example, ExpressVPN’s no-logs policy has been proven in a real-world scenario when the Turkish government physically seized its servers. In addition, its privacy policy has successfully passed 2 independent audits from third-party companies.
Can I use VPN free trials in high-censorship countries?
Yes, but you need to sign up for a free trial and download the app on your device before you arrive. While VPN use is not really encouraged in high-censorship countries, there have been no public cases of tourists being penalized by said governments. That said, make sure you read up on the laws regarding VPN use in the country you’re planning to visit, and if you decide to use a VPN, choose a secure VPN with an audited no-logs policy and obfuscation technology, like ExpressVPN.
Use a Free Trial VPN to Find the Best VPN
Reviews are great, but nothing beats trying a VPN for yourself. By signing up for a free trial or using a money-back guarantee, there’s no risk in downloading a VPN to see if it’s right for you. Personally, I prefer to use a money-back guarantee as I can test a VPN for at least 30 days and see how well it works. Out of all the VPNs on the market, I’m most impressed by ExpressVPN’s fast speeds, powerful security, and hassle-free money-back guarantee. When you download ExpressVPN onto your device, you have 30 days to test every feature. It’s quick and easy to get a full refund if you’re not satisfied. Just speak to a customer support agent over 24/7 live chat. I’ve tested the refund process myself, and the money was returned to my account in less than 5 days.
