Choosing from the Best VPN Trials of 2024: Which One is Best?

Whether you are shopping for a VPN for the first time or you are ready to make a switch to a new platform, your best option is to take advantage of this year’s free VPN trials. It’s a great opportunity to “try before you buy.” After all, each VPN has its own features, which may or may not be what you are looking for. 

Paid VPNs are almost always better than free VPNs, although

 there are some good free VPNs out there. Choosing a paid VPN with a free trial is the best way to access and try out paid features without any financial risk. 

If you are unsatisfied, you just have to cancel your subscription before the free trial ends. Then you can try another platform instead! 

We’ve evaluated the best free VPN trials of 2024 to help you decide which one is your best option. 

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the most well-known and established VPN platforms available in 2024. Founded in 2012, it has an excellent reputation for providing high levels of security via a user-friendly interface. 

Free trial details: 

• 7-day free trial on Android and iOS
• 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
• Sign up at NordVPN

Benefits of NordVPN: 

• Great results in speed tests
• Strong security features
• Great for streaming

Drawbacks of NordVPN:

• Some complain that the mobile app is a bit cluttered
• More expensive than some of the other competitors 
• If you make a purchase and want a refund, you have to contact support 

CyberGhost

CyberGhost is well known for its popular server-picking feature, where you choose what streaming service you want to access and CyberGhost finds the right server for you to use. Keep in mind that you may only have 24 hours to try out this feature and others, because its free trial is very short-term.

Free trial details: 

• 24 hours for Windows/macOS
• 3 days for Android
• 7 days for iOS
•  Up to 45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans
• Sign up at CyberGhost

Benefits of CyberGhost VPN: 

• Known for user-friendly apps
• Ideal for streaming
• Strong performance for torrenting
• Large server network (9,000+ servers in over 100 locations) 

Drawbacks of CyberGhost VPN:

• The standard monthly plan only has a 14-day money-back guarantee
• You have to contact support for any refunds of purchases
• Support website is not as thorough as other competitors 

Surfshark

Surfshark is among the fastest VPN servers on the market, ranking with NordVPN and IPVanish. It offers a lot of benefits, and with your free trial, you will have 7 days to test those out. 

Free trial details: 

• 7-day free trial on Android, iOS, and MacOS
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Sign up at SurfShark

Benefits of Surfshark: 

• Unlimited simultaneous connections allowed
• Tons of features
• Provides access to CleanWeb
• Strong split tunneling 
• Budget-friendly long-term plans

Drawbacks of Surfshark: 

• Based in Nine Eyes jurisdiction (Netherlands), which raises red flags for some users
• Some IP address logging (deleted after 15 minutes)
• Minor issues with the kill switch feature were detected in testing scenarios 

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is popular around the world for reliability and consistency, plus a great support network. They don’t offer a true “free trial,” but they do make it very easy to get a refund. If you don’t like the product, you have 30 days to get your money back, almost no questions asked. 

Free trial details: 

• No free trial, but a very easy refund process with a 30-day money-back guarantee
• Sign up at ExpressVPN

Benefits of ExpressVPN: 

• User-friendly apps
• Great for multiple platforms (Android, iOS, PC, and Mac)
• Great reputation for streaming and security
• Lightweight protocol (makes everything faster) 

Drawbacks of ExpressVPN:

• One of the most expensive VPN options, making it outside of many users’ budgets
• No real free trial
• You’re limited to only 8 simultaneous connections 

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access (PIA) is considered the best VPN for Linux users, although it works on any operating system. One of the reasons it is popular is that you can lower the encryption level if you need to increase your download speeds. 

Free trial details: 

• 7-day free trial on both iOS and Android
• 30-day money-back guarantee on all plans
• Sign up here 

Benefits of Private Internet Access: 

• Super customizable
• User-friendly apps
• Unlimited simultaneous connections
• Good reputation for fast download speeds

Drawbacks of Private Internet Access: 

• Slower upload speeds when compared to competitors
• Iffy customer support history
• In-app purchases and website deals don’t always line up

Should I get a paid or free VPN? 

In general, we recommend paid VPNs over free ones. Paid VPNs have superior features over their free counterparts, with better performance security. However, it ultimately comes down to your budget. 

Benefits of paid VPNs include: 

• Better security and privacy protections
• Faster speeds and more reliable connections
• Larger server networks with more location options
• Ability to unblock streaming services
• No data caps or bandwidth limits
• Dedicated customer support

The drawbacks of paid VPNs are minimal. The monthly or annual subscription fee may be a deterrent, and you may not need to use all of the features. 

Meanwhile, the benefits of paid VPNs include:

• No monetary cost
• Sufficient for basic browsing needs
• Good for testing VPN functionality

The drawbacks of a free VPN include: 

• Limited server options and slower speeds
• Data caps and bandwidth restrictions
• May log user data or show ads
• Often can’t unblock streaming services
• Limited security features
• No customer support

For most users seeking comprehensive online protection, a paid VPN is best. However, if you only need occasional, basic VPN usage, a reputable free option may suffice. Consider starting with a free trial of a paid VPN to experience the full benefits before committing to a subscription.

A free VPN offers better security than no VPN, so if the best you can do is to get a free account, check out our reviews of the best ones.