Using a VPN (virtual private network) when connecting to the internet has proven to be one of the most effective ways to keep your private data secure. However, it wasn’t until recently that VPN services gained so much popularity. And when the media is roaming with news about cyberattacks and security breaches, it’s easy to see why VPNs have become the talk of the town.
When demand for certain services increase, so does the supply, meaning more VPN options to choose from. Some VPN providers offer free services as well, but are they as reliable as paid ones? We are here to settle that once and for all by comparing free and paid VPN services based on 4 criteria.
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Security
The main reason you are using a VPN is to make sure your internet connection is secure. Most free VPN services only offer Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol connections, which are no longer considered secure. If you don’t care for strong encryption and just want to use a VPN to watch exclusive Netflix content from another country, then you should be fine with a free VPN.
However, if you are looking to protect your passwords and all sensitive data, then you may want to pay for a high-quality VPN. Some providers offer lifetime VPN deals as well, meaning you only need to pay once for the product and use it forever.
Service quality
I’m not the one to say that you can’t get high-quality free services, but more often than not, you get exactly what you pay for. Free VPN providers need to make money as well, and oftentimes their revenue comes from selling valuable information about your browsing activity or by displaying ads.
Some free VPNs are simply the basic package offered by reputable providers, meaning your data will still be kept safe, but you will have some other limitations such as bandwidth speed or the number of servers you can connect to.
Paid VPN services can also be sketchy, but this happens much less often. Usually, fully paid VPN services are more reliable and provide a better quality of service because the providers have the revenue to do so.
User Privacy
You get a VPN so that you can browse the internet anonymously and safely, meaning the last thing you need is a service that logs your activity. Look for the provider’s logging policy to see if they log user activity or not. If they do so, check to see exactly how and what they do with it. If you can’t seem to find their logging policy, you may want to look for another provider. This applies to paid and free services alike.
Also, check to see where the provider is legally based. This will help you get a better idea about the regulations they must comply with.
Overall user experience
Is the VPN easy to set up? How customizable is it? Most free VPN services are limited or can’t be customized at all. Look for one that fulfills your needs the most.
Last, but not least, customer service. Do they provide a phone number or email address you can contact them in case of an issue? Send them an email asking for more information about the services they provide and see how quick and helpful their answer is.
