The VPN offer is absolutely plethoric. An obvious question emerges when we start to take an interest in this type of tool: why pay when many virtual private networks are accessible for free?
It’s obvious to say it, but it’s better to say it: the main difference between a free VPN and a paid VPN is obviously economic. In one case, you don’t pay. In the other, you pay a fixed amount, which varies depending on the terms of the subscription. This is generally a few euros, rarely more.
That said, we will spare you the antiphon “ if it’s free, you’re the product. » This phrase, constantly repeated to criticize the economic model of this or that company – like Google – is also sometimes used against certain VPN providers. In this case, those which are free, because monetization is done differently.
But beyond these aspects, what differentiates free VPNs from their paid rivals? To give you an initial answer, everything will essentially depend on why you are using this type of service. The technical characteristics and functions also vary depending on the profile of the chosen offer.
Does a free VPN protect my data as well?
This is an element that is sufficiently well illustrated in our comparison of the best VPNs on the market: the subscription is not very expensive. Typically, a two-year subscription will only cost you a few euros per month, which is bearable for most households. However, it remains to find a reason to pay.
We have to get back to the purpose of a VPN. A virtual private network is a tool that is built on top of your Internet connection to improve your online privacy or grant you access to places on the web that are unavailable in your country. It is thanks to this ability, for example, that we can access streaming catalogs reserved for abroad.
Here, two visions oppose each other. On the one hand, a VPN allows you to better hide your tracks (and not become completely invisible). On the other, it allows you to have fun without restriction.
Therefore, the issues and the relationship of trust which binds the user to the service are absolutely not identical. Internet users concerned about their personal data are particularly sensitive to the guarantees that the company can provide on the reliability of the VPN and, above all, the clarity and solidity of its confidentiality policy – a much less obvious certainty to obtain in the case free services.
This reality obviously has its exceptions, and in this matter, it must be done on a case by case basis. For example, ProtonVPN, published by Proton, a Swiss company very serious about confidentiality and data sovereignty, distributes a free version of its virtual private network. The platform enjoys an excellent reputation and shows its credentials by publishing the source codes of its tools.
There is one thing to keep in mind: with a VPN, outgoing data from the internet connection passes through the service provider’s infrastructure. If a paid VPN already has its business model in place, via subscriptions, a free VPN must find its own. However, he can opt for monetization consisting of collecting and reselling this data. This is to pay for bandwidth, teams, servers, and so on.
In other words: if you’re looking for a VPN for your online privacy, a free VPN isn’t a really suitable option.
Is using a free VPN safe?
The benefit of a VPN lies partly in the encryption of data passing through the servers. Inevitably, paid services most of the time offer more advanced technologies than their free equivalents. You might as well write it: your data, again, may be less well protected with this type of service.
Going further, we also notice that certain functions such as the kill switch (which cuts Internet connections if you are not connected to a VPN), protection tools against DNS leaks or other joys aimed at to further strengthen security are absent from free solutions.
There is less uncertainty with a paid VPN than a free VPN, except in very special cases. But again, it depends on what you plan to do with it! The risks are moderate if you want to watch series with a low-end VPN. Above all, you risk being banned from the streaming platform if you are spotted.
On the other hand, if you use it for more sensitive activities, you have another risk profile.
We think of whistleblowers, journalists, lawyers, activists, among others. That being said, be careful not to place too much trust in a VPN, even a paid one. If a state is really after you, this type of tool might not be enough. But for the vast majority of individuals, it is suitable for day-to-day use.
Is a free VPN as fast as a paid VPN?
A VPN consists of adding a layer of protection to your Internet connection and, when dealing with a serious service, encryption of our data.
Therefore, browsing with a VPN has an impact when exploring the web. For most of the paid services that we tested at Numerama, the impact on performance is almost zero. The big names in the sector have in fact particularly optimized their algorithms and protocols so that these overlays do not hinder surfing.
It’s not the same lemonade with free solutions. This is partly due to features and optimizations missing from these services, but also to smaller servers, which reach saturation more quickly depending on their popularity. A congested server is a server that has difficulty responding to requests submitted to it. There may therefore be a degraded browsing experience, even if you have a good Internet connection.
Also, even if a free VPN may be suitable for enjoying foreign catalogs from streaming platforms, you must also take into account the speed of said service. Do you really want to watch your favorite series in standard quality (480p) because of a difficult connection, when you have everything you need at home to enjoy high definition (1080p) or even video? ultra high definition (4K)?
Customer support for free VPNs
Finally, there is the subject of customer support. Few free services have the means to have a team dedicated to this pole, or even which can afford to subcontract the task to a specialized company. In other words: if you have a problem with a free VPN, in most cases you will have to make do.
The vast majority of paid VPN services have at least one dedicated email address guaranteeing responses within a few days at most. The most affluent even offer online chat which further speeds up processing times.
A comfort which may seem unnecessary, but which, added to the other advantages detailed previously, reinforces the idea that it is better to consider a paid VPN, if finances permit.
Most virtual private network publishers have a trial offer allowing you to try out the service. A good opportunity to check that the list of servers meets our expectations, that navigation is fast enough and that the service’s privacy policy aligns with our values.
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