You’ll need a VPN if you are traveling to the US and want to browse privately, or you need a US IP address to access US-specific services. Fortunately, there are VPNs you can use without paying a dime.
After extensive research and testing we found the best free VPNs for the USA:
- PrivadoVPN: The best free VPN service for the US
- Windscribe: Feature-rich free USAVPN ideal for Linux users
- Proton VPN: Best free USA VPN with unlimited data
- hide.me: A handy free US VPN for torrenting
- Atlas VPN: An excellent free VPN for mobile devices
- TunnelBear: Free USA VPN with obfuscation features
- ZoogVPN: A decent free VPN for casual browsing
- Hotspot Shield: A free USA VPN with a generous data limit
Although a free VPN for the USA can help you access US content, you’re better off with a paid VPN service that offers unlimited data.
We recommend NordVPN, the overall best VPN service. It has more than 1,970 secure, fast and reliable servers in the US that can unblock any website or streaming provider.
Keep reading to learn about PrivadoVPN and the other best free VPN services for the USA.
Are you looking for a free VPN for the USA but don’t know which one to choose? If you opt for the wrong free VPN, you might compromise your privacy, download a malware-ridden app, or suffer malfunctioning servers. Plus, many free VPNs can’t unblock websites and streaming services.
Our VPN experts have tested several free VPNs for the USA over the years. In this article, we’ll show you the best free US VPNs that work well. To give you a headstart, PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for the USA. Read our article to learn about PrivadoVPN and seven other free VPNs that will allow you to access US content.
However, if you want to try a top VPN immediately without any commitments, we recommend NordVPN. Even though NordVPN is a premium provider, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee that lets you try all of its enhanced features, including its unparalleled unblocking ability, and get a full refund if you decide to opt out.
Which Free VPN is Best for the USA?
PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for the US because it has a reliable server location in the US, excellent privacy credentials, and top-notch streaming ability. However, aside from PrivadoVPN, there are several other good free VPNs out there.
We’ve summarized the key features of our best free VPNs for the USA in the table below so you can compare each free service.
| Feature |  1. PrivadoVPN |  2. Windscribe |  3. Proton VPN |  4. hide.me |  5. Atlas VPN |  6. TunnelBear |  7. ZoogVPN |  8. Hotspot Shield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US servers | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Free data/ month | 10 GB | 10 GB | Unlimited | 10 GB | 10 GB | 500 MB | 10-50 GB | 15 GB (500 MB per day) |
| P2P traffic allowed | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VPN protocols | IKEv2, WireGuard, and OpenVPN | IKEv2, OpenVPN, WireGuard, WStunnel, and Stealth | IKEv2, WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Stealth | IKEv2, OpenVPN, SoftEtherVPN, WireGuard, and SSTP | WireGuard and IPSec/IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 (depending on the device) | IKEv2, OpenVPN | Hydra, IKEv2/IPSec, WireGuard |
| Operating system and devices | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Android TV, Linux, and Chromebook | Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Fire TV | Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Amazon Fire TV | Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, smart TVs | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux |
| Extra security features | Kill switch | Kill switch, split tunneling, and ad blocker | Kill switch | Kill switch and split tunneling | Kill switch and split tunneling | VigilantBear (kill switch) and advanced encryption for countries with a lot of censorship | Kill switch | IP and DNS leak protection, traffic obfuscation, DNS filtering |
| 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes, 14 Eyes member | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ |
| Website | Download PrivadoVPN | Download Windscribe | Download Proton VPN | Download hide.me | Download Atlas VPN | Download TunnelBear | Download ZoogVPN | Download Hotspot Shield |
Keep reading as we taker a deep dive into each of these VPNs, highlighting what makes them good options as free USA VPNs.
1. PrivadoVPN: The best free VPN for the USA
PrivadoVPN’s free US IP address can unblock websites and many streaming sites. We have used it with HBO Max, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and Netflix. It also ensures that you browse the internet securely and privately, thanks to its zero-logs policy, automatic kill switch, and multiple VPN protocols. These features make it the best free VPN for the USA on our list.
Why we picked PrivadoVPN as the best free USA VPN:
- Get a free US IP address thanks to its free US server location.
- Download torrents and share P2P files without any throttling issues.
- Browse without worrying about where your data might end up, thanks to its no-logs policy and base in privacy-friendly Switzerland.
- Enjoy top-notch security while browsing, thanks to the kill switch, which ensures your data never leaks.
- Unblock and watch your favorite shows on streaming platforms, including HBO Max, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, and non-US Netflix libraries.
- Access 10GB of browsing data without paying a dime.
We recommend PrivadoVPN’s free version for anyone living or traveling in the US who wants to unblock websites, download torrents, and browse the internet privately. Most free VPNs don’t let users do these easily, so PrivadoVPN’s free version is a steal.
However, you can purchase a PrivadoVPN subscription, starting at $1.99 monthly for the two-year plan, if you want access to all of its server network and unlimited data.
Are you still curious about PrivadoVPN? Learn more in our PrivadoVPN review.
2. Windscribe: Feature-rich free USA VPN ideal for Linux users
If you need multiple US IP address options, Windscribe is a good choice. While testing the VPN, we had access to 10 free US server locations, including Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Washington DC, and Seattle. Having access to multiple servers reduces the chances of server congestion and increases your chances of getting an IP address to unblock a streaming service.
Why we picked Windscribe:
- Choose from over 10 free US IP addresses to access US-specific content.
- Use it on all major operating systems and devices like Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Linux, and Fire TV Sticks.
- Enjoy fast download and upload speeds for streaming, browsing, and uploading content.
- Share one subscription with as many people as possible because of its unlimited simultaneous connections.
- Choose which websites go through the VPN tunnel with its split tunneling feature.
- Block ads and malware using the free ad and malware blocker.
We recommend Windscribe to Linux users in particular. It’s one of the few free VPNs to offer a Linux app. It’s also a good choice for anyone who wants a free, fast VPN for streaming, uploading content, and gaming.
You can upgrade to Windscribe’s paid subscription starting at $3 per month. If you subscribe to its paid version, you do not have any data limits and can gain access to Windscribe’s entire server network.
There’s more information about Windscribe’s free and paid versions in our Windscribe review.
3. Proton VPN: Best free USA VPN with unlimited data
Most VPNs place a monthly cap on your data. However, when testing Proton VPN, we were pleased to see that it offered us free unlimited data, meaning you can browse for as long as you want without worrying about running out of data.
Moreover, there weren’t any speed limits. This would have made Proton VPN ideal for streaming, but we found its free servers struggling to unblock streaming services.
However, you can purchase a Proton VPN Plus plan to unblock streaming platforms, but it’s still not guaranteed. That said, opt for NordVPN for streaming. It’s the overall best VPN for streaming, being able to unblock all the major providers and has lightning-fast speeds to boot.
Why we picked Proton VPN:
- Get a US IP address when you connect to its US server location.
- Use Proton VPN’s unlimited data for browsing without limits.
- Enjoy fast internet connections since it doesn’t have any speed limits.
- Use the internet without compromising privacy thanks to its strict no-logs policy and headquarters in privacy-friendly Switzerland.
- Access the complete Proton VPN security suite, including Proton Mail, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive (1GB of storage).
We recommend Proton VPN if you need a privacy-friendly free VPN to browse without any data limits. It’s also a good choice if you already use Proton’s suite of apps like Proton Mail.
Read our full Proton VPN review to discover more about Proton VPN’s free version.
4. hide.me: A handy free USA VPN for torrenting
Hide.me allows you to safely download torrent files in the US. Some free VPNs don’t allow torrenting, while others struggle with it. Thankfully, with hide.me, we were able to download many torrent files from popular torrent sites easily, which is one of the reasons hide.me is a worthy contender in our best free VPN for the USA list.
Why we picked hide.me:
- Connect to free US server locations in the United States East and West.
- Download and share torrent files quickly and safely with hide.me’s servers.
- Get help quickly, thanks to its fast and responsive customer support.
We recommend hide.me VPN for those looking for a free provider that will safeguard their privacy while torrenting.
You can also upgrade to hide.me’s paid plan (starting from $2.22 per month) to enjoy all the VPN’s features, including 10 simultaneous connections.
We have more information about hide.me in our hide.me review.
5. Atlas VPN: An excellent free VPN for mobile devices
VPN software can be tricky to use, especially if you’re a beginner. Atlas VPN’s free version is exceptionally easy to use, especially on Android and iOS devices. We could easily find free servers and connect without hassle. So, Atlas VPN is definitely worth considering if you are looking for the best free VPN for the USA.
Why we picked Atlas VPN:
- It’s easy to download, install, and use; you don’t even have to create an account to use the free version.
- Atlas VPN is optimized for smartphone users, thanks to its easy-to-use Android and iOS apps.
- You can download torrents easily since it allows torrenting on its free servers.
- It offers fast speeds for all your activities, whether streaming or torrenting.
Go for Atlas VPN if you intend to use your free US VPN on your smartphone. In our tests, we were particularly impressed with the usability of the mobile apps. For instance, the apps have split tunneling, which lets you determine which apps are covered by the VPN.
Atlas VPN’s premium version costs $1.70 per month for three years, which actually makes it quite affordable. Moreover, with the paid version, you have access to 24/7 customer support, streaming-optimized servers, and unlimited connections.
If you still have a few questions about Atlas VPN, we’ve put together a comprehensive Atlas VPN review for you.
6. TunnelBear: Free USA VPN with obfuscation features
One of the biggest problems with free VPNs is that they usually don’t offer any obfuscation features. This makes them a risky option if you want to get a US IP address in restrictive countries. Fortunately, when testing TunnelBear, we were offered GhostBear on its free servers, which hid our VPN use so we could overcome restrictions in censorship-heavy regions.
However, TunnelBear only offers 500MB of data per month. But you can get unlimited data by purchasing a TunnelBear plan at $3.33 monthly. At this point, it is worth considering a top VPN provider, like NordVPN, that has a similar cost and more advanced features.
Why we chose TunnelBear:
- Choose from multiple US server locations for a US IP address.
- Unblock many streaming providers, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and YouTube.
- Share your subscription with up to five devices simultaneously.
- Hide your VPN use from censorship-riddled countries using TunnelBear’s GhostBear.
- Easily install and navigate the apps since they are exceptionally user-friendly.
We recommend TunnelBear if you want to access US websites from restrictive regimes like China and Russia. The GhostBear feature works excellently, hiding your VPN traffic from any deep packet inspection.
We’ve broken down all of TunnelBear’s free features in our TunnelBear review.
7. ZoogVPN: A decent free USA VPN for casual browsing
ZoogVPN is a decent free VPN for the USA with a free server location in the US and offers up to 50 GB of data each month. We were happy to see that it also has apps for the most popular operating systems and devices, including Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and smart TVs.
However, it offers 128-bit encryption, a lower standard than the commonly used AES-256-bit encryption. It is not ideal for streaming and can suffer lag. But you can upgrade to ZoogVPN premium at $1.99 monthly for two years and use the more enhanced AES-256 encryption protocol.
Why we chose ZoogVPN:
- Access a free server location in the US.
- Use it on many platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
- Ensure your data never leaks thanks to its kill switch.
- Browse casually with up to 10 GB of data each month.
We recommend ZoogVPN if you need a VPN to unblock US-specific websites. In our tests, we were able to access various US geo-blocked websites. However, you’re only limited to 10 GB of data per month, but you can get an additional 5 GB for each paying customer you refer.
You can explore ZoogVPN’s features in our ZoogVPN review.
8. Hotspot Shield: A free USA VPN with generous data
Hotspot Shield is another useful free VPN for the US, thanks in large part to its 15 GB of data each month. This is more than most free VPNs offer. We also like that it has obfuscation to help you browse in restrictive regimes.
However, we found Hotspot Shield’s free version riddled with ads, and it has been reported to log and share user data. Even if you purchase the Hotspot Shield plan starting at $5.99 monthly, your privacy is at risk. Instead, opt for NordVPN, which doesn’t log or share user data and has been independently audited several times.
Why we chose Hotspot Shield:
- Use its free US server location to get a US IP.
- Browse with 500 MB of data free daily, which works out to 15 GB monthly.
- Stream without any lag, especially on the ultra-fast Hydra protocol.
- Hide your traffic from snoopers thanks to its obfuscation features.
Hotspot Shield is the wildcard option on this list, but it can help you browse the internet with a US IP address.
Learn more about the VPN provider in our Hotspot Shield review.
How We Chose the Best Free VPNs for the USA
If you want to access US content from anywhere, a VPN for the USA is essential. However, there are several factors you should consider, like the number of servers and unblocking capability, if you want to opt for a free USA VPN instead of a premium provider.
Below, we outline the key considerations in choosing the best free VPN for the USA. These points can help you if you want to do your own research to choose a free US VPN.
- Does it have servers in the US? We looked for free VPNs with US server locations. The more the servers, the lesser the chances of server overcrowding.
- Does it work with the major operating systems? We chose VPNs that work with multiple devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Linux.
- What security features does it have? Whether you opt for a paid or free service, you must ensure a provider offers a secure VPN connection. We looked for vital security features like AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection to ensure users can enjoy tip-top security.
- Can it unblock streaming services? We checked if the free VPNs’ US servers can unblock streaming services, especially US-specific platforms like Netflix US and Tubi TV.
- Is it privacy-friendly? Many free VPNs log and sell user data, so we chose VPNs with strict no-logs policies that are based in privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
However, if you are considering an affordable VPN provider with a wide range of security features and hundreds of US servers that can unblock popular streaming platforms and websites within seconds, we recommend NordVPN.
USA VPNs to Avoid
While a free VPN sounds tempting, not all free services are worth your time. Moreover, some VPNs can even infect your device with malware and compromise your online privacy and security. We have listed some of them below.
| VPN Provider | Why You Should Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Hola VPN | Hola VPN is known to sell the bandwidth of free users to paying users. As a result, your IP address could be used for suspicious activities. |
| Betternet VPN | Betternet shares your data with advertisers and third parties. |
| Tuxler VPN | It shares your information with third parties, and it’s very slow. |
Get the Best Free USA VPN to Access US Content
The best free VPNs can help you access the internet in the US safely without paying a cent. Based on our testing of several free VPNs, PrivadoVPN stands out as the best free VPN for the USA that can give you a reliable US IP address and enable you to browse safely and anonymously. Other useful alternatives include Windscribe, Proton VPN, and hide.me.
But, however good a free VPN may be, it might have limitations such as speed limits, data caps, and an inability to unblock popular US streaming platforms. With a premium VPN service like NordVPN, you won’t have any such issues. We have tested NordVPN extensively and are always impressed with its robust security and unblocking capabilities.
Want to find out more about the best free VPNs for a specific country or purpose? Check out our articles below:
- The Best Free Europe VPNs: Get a Free European IP Address
- Best Free VPNs for Kenya: Unblock Streaming Services
- The Best Free VPNs for Netflix
Are there niggling questions on your mind about the best free VPNs for the US? We’ve got you covered. Here are the most commonly asked questions and answers about free USA VPNs.
There are many good free VPNs with servers in the US, such as PrivadoVPN, Windscribe and Proton VPN. If you must choose, we recommend PrivadoVPN over all others. It has excellent privacy and security credentials and can unblock websites and streaming services.
Yes, there are many VPNs that are completely free. The most notable among them is PrivadoVPN, which has servers in many locations, including the US, Canada, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and Brazil.
PrivadoVPN is the best free VPN for the USA, with a reliable US server location and reasonably fast speeds. It also has excellent security and privacy features like a kill switch, multiple VPN protocols, and a strict no-logs policy to keep you safe online.
