The biggest difference between free VPNs and paid VPNs is that free VPNs don’t cost anything while paid ones need a prepaid subscription. But why do users buy a paid service if they can get it for free? Is there a difference between what a free and paid VPN offers?

Like all other services, both free and paid VPN providers need to make money, whether as profits or for paying the expenses of data centers, employees, and developers. While the source of the paid VPN service is clear, there are many ways for free VPN providers to get revenue. So, before getting into the main topic, we should know how free VPNs make money.

How do free VPNs make money?

As we mentioned, the free VPN service is FREE. No subscriptions, and no upfront costs! This is what many are looking for, but why do they offer a service for free? How they can make money? Well, free VPN providers typically make money through various methods to cover their operational costs and generate revenue, and some of these methods can be harmful to users. Here are some common ways free VPN services make money:

• Ads: Free VPN providers often display advertisements within their applications or websites. These ads can be in the form of banners, pop-ups, or sponsored content. By serving ads to their users, VPN companies generate income from advertisers.
• Affiliate Programs: Free VPN services may participate in affiliate programs and earn a commission by referring users to other products or services. They may recommend specific apps, software, or online services and receive a commission for every user who makes a purchase or signs up through their referral links.
• Data Selling: Some free VPNs collect user data, such as browsing habits, IP addresses, and demographic information. They may then sell this data to third-party companies for marketing or analytics purposes. This practice can compromise user privacy and potentially expose personal information.
• Freemium Model: Many free VPN services offer a basic version of their VPN for free and provide a premium or paid version with additional features and functionalities. They rely on the free users to upgrade to the premium version to access advanced features and services. This model acts as a marketing strategy to attract users and convert them into paying customers.

Are Free VPNs Safe?

Why do you use a VPN while browsing the Internet? Most likely, your primary concern is ensuring privacy and security. The essential aspect of safeguarding yourself online with a VPN is to opt for a reputable service provider. While it might involve paying for the service, it guarantees reliability, as opposed to free alternatives that could be profiting from your data.

It’s important to be cautious when using free VPN services, as their revenue models may raise concerns about privacy, data security, and the integrity of their services. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has warned users of VPNs that they may not be as secure as the name suggests, they looked at 283 Android VPN apps, investigating a wide range of security and privacy features to compile a PDF report, the result was very scary:

• 84% leak user data
• 18% don’t encrypt data at all
• 38% contain malware or malvertising
• 2/3rds use third-party tracking libraries
• 80% ask for access to sensitive data

Other differences between free and paid VPN services

The disparity between free and paid VPN services predominantly centers around pricing and security. However, beyond these aspects, variations in features, performance, and overall service quality further set them apart. Here are most of the differences between the free and paid VPN applications:

• Price: Free VPN services, as the name suggests, are provided at no cost, while paid VPN services require a subscription or fee.
• Security and Privacy: Paid VPNs generally provide stronger security features and better privacy protections. They typically use robust encryption protocols, have stricter no-logs policies, and offer additional security features like kill switches and DNS leak protection. Free VPNs may have weaker encryption, collect and sell user data, or display ads to generate revenue.
• Server Network: Paid VPNs typically have a larger and more diverse server network, with servers located in multiple countries and regions. This allows users to access a wider range of content and enjoy better performance. Free VPNs, on the other hand, usually have a limited number of servers and may restrict access to certain locations.
• Speed and Bandwidth: Paid VPNs often offer faster connection speeds and more generous bandwidth allowances compared to free VPNs. Free VPNs may throttle speeds or impose data caps, which can result in slower and less reliable connections.
• Simultaneous Connections: Paid VPNs allow more simultaneous connections, making it easier for users to protect multiple devices under the same subscription.
• Customer Support: Paid VPN services often offer dedicated customer support, including live chat, email support, or phone assistance. Free VPNs generally lack this level of support and may only provide limited troubleshooting resources or community forums.
• Availability and Reliability: Paid VPN services are more likely to have reliable and stable connections, as they invest in infrastructure and maintenance. Free VPNs may suffer from occasional outages or overcrowded servers due to high demand.
• Advanced Features: Paid VPNs often offer advanced features like split tunneling, multiple device connections, dedicated IP addresses, and access to streaming services. Free VPNs typically have limited functionality and may restrict or charge extra for these additional features.
• Trustworthiness: Paid VPNs are more likely to be trustworthy and adhere to privacy standards, as they have a reputation to uphold and a revenue stream from their customers. Free VPNs, especially those that are unknown or lack transparent business models, may pose privacy risks or engage in unethical practices.

Final thoughts | Free VPN vs. Paid VPN

While free VPNs can be a viable option for occasional or basic usage, they may not provide the same level of security, performance, and overall user experience as paid VPN services. It’s important to research and choose a reputable VPN provider that aligns with your specific needs and priorities.

It has come to light that numerous free VPNs do not encrypt users’ network activities and may even sell their users’ data to third parties. It’s crucial to bear in mind that nothing truly comes for free, and the hidden costs of using a free VPN are likely to outweigh the advantages you’d get with a paid service. Prioritizing your privacy and security should lead you to select a trustworthy and well-regarded VPN provider.