There are a lot of VPN free trials on the market today, and picking out the perfect provider can be a daunting task – especially if you want to get hands-on with each service to check out its features and unblocking power for yourself.
Luckily, we’ve done the research for you. A handful of today’s best VPNs offer true free trials that don’t require you to fork over any credit card details upfront. The majority of services, however, offer risk-free money-back guarantees instead. This means you’ll need to select and pay for a subscription, but the guarantee allows you to cancel it within a set timeframe (usually around 30 days) and receive a full refund. No quibble. No questions. In our rankings, we’ve included a selection of both free trial types.
Keep reading, and we’ll walk through the best free trial VPNs available, comparing the length of the trial, which platforms are eligible for the trial, and any major drawbacks to keep in mind.
5 best VPN free trials: quick overview
We’ve given our free trial VPN page a top-to-bottom rewrite, introducing Private Internet Access and Norton VPN into the rankings, and ensuring that all speed, security, and unblocking statistics reflect our most recent round of test results.
The 5 best VPN free trials in 2025
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
The best VPN free trial
Surfshark proves that a cheap VPN service can go toe-to-toe with big dogs and not miss a step. In addition to its rock-bottom prices, Surfshark serves up a whopping 7-day free trial on all devices, the first of the best VPNs to offer such a period. Often, services only offer 30-day money-back guarantees instead.
Read more about Surfshark ▼
Like NordVPN, you’ll be able to install Surfshark on just about any device you have – and the VPN also gives users unlimited simultaneous connections. This means you’ll be able to secure a whole household of gadgets with just one subscription (or trial).
We don't have many nitpicks when it comes to Surfshark's UI. It's clean and simple, with no clutter to overwhelm new users or folks on mobile devices. Still, in terms of overall flair, it falls a step behind ExpressVPN, which is slightly more interesting to look at – though minimalists might prefer Surfshark's straightforward approach more.
During our testing, the CleanWeb tool leapt out as an unsung hero. It works similarly to NordVPN's Threat Protection suite, blocking ads, trackers, malware, and other digital nasties before they can cause havoc on your device. Combined with CleanWeb 2.0 for browsers, you can rest assured that your browsing sessions won’t be derailed by a rogue threat or eerily targeted ads.
Surfshark currently sits at the top of our fastest VPN rankings, scorching our performance tests with results of 950+ Mbps when using the WireGuard protocol. Considering that you only need 25 Mbps to stream Netflix in HD, Surfshark is more than quick enough to handle any 4K movie marathon or online gaming sessions you have planned.
On the topic of streaming, Surfshark is a stellar streaming VPN, too, and we have never encountered any issues with the service when checking out Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and more. It’s your streaming skeleton key.
The best VPN for most people
NordVPN often claims the top spot in our overall rankings because, quite frankly, it ticks all the boxes – and it also offers an industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee. A lot of today’s best services throw this same risk-free safety net into their offering, but NordVPN’s overall value and full roster of security tools mean that you’re getting a more fleshed-out trial of a premium product, even if it's not a true trial.
Of course, you’ll need to hand over your payment details and pick a plan to enjoy the money-back guarantee. If you’d rather not commit to a subscription right off the bat, you’ll be glad to know that NordVPN also has a 7-day free trial for Android users. This trial needs to be downloaded from the Google Play Store and, as a result, is bound by the Google Play terms of service, which limits the trial to one per customer and means that you’ll need to cancel the trial via the Google Play Store, too.
Read more about NordVPN ▼
If you do decide to check out the Android free trial, you’ll still be able to take advantage of NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee if you pick up a subscription once it’s expired.
NordVPN is available for all platforms out there – Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux, although there is no free trial available on the App Store for iPhone or iPad. You’ll also get 10 simultaneous connections to play with, which is fairly generous.
We found that NordVPN is nice and easy to use, regardless of what device you install it on, even if you’re new to the world of VPNs. All of NordVPN’s features are housed in its side panel, which keeps things organized and easy to read if you’ve invested in some of NordVPN’s add-on tools.
The standout here is NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro suite, available on all Plus plans and above. It makes short work of invasive ads and trackers, malicious links, and phishing domains, making your overall online experience far more secure.
The best secure VPNs go the extra mile to reassure users that their personal data is in safe hands – usually with a third-party audit of the provider's logging policy. NordVPN is no exception and, earlier this month, it invited West Coast Labs to comb through its speed and security. The results were outstanding, with West Coast Labs validating the overall quality of the service, and we're glad to see NordVPN take such a transparent approach to privacy.
When it comes to streaming, NordVPN is one of the most reliable Netflix VPNs in the business, able to access any library during our testing. We had no trouble with sluggish load times or endless buffering, either, making it a stellar option for avid streamers who want to enjoy content in HD.
This is largely thanks to its NordLynx performance, NordVPN’s WireGuard-based VPN protocol, which clocked in at a whopping 950+ Mbps during our testing – way more than you need for 4K streaming.
The best VPN money-back guarantee
CyberGhost is another major player in the VPN sphere and a decorated veteran. In fact, the service has more than 20 years under its belt, which is pretty impressive. While CyberGhost isn't in our shortlist of the best VPNs overall, it's still a solid pick with a whole heap of free trials on offer, and well worth investigating. A 24-hour free trial is available for Windows, a 3-day free trial is available for Android, and a 7-day free trial is available for iOS.
As a cherry on top, CyberGhost’s money-back guarantee is longer than most, at 45 days, giving you well over a month to put the provider through its paces on your devices. There’s even a nifty 14-day free trial for anyone who invests in the monthly CyberGhost subscription (though this isn’t the most cost-effective option).
Read more about CyberGhost ▼
That’s a lot of trials to choose from, and it ensures that no matter which platform you use, you have access to the service. Best of all, CyberGhost won’t demand that you fork over any credit card details in the process, which is a massive plus for folks who don’t want to expose their payment info.
It is worth noting that some of these free trials are pretty short. 24 hours is not a lot of time to see how CyberGhost performs as a Windows VPN or check out its tools, but it could be handy if you need access to a premium VPN in a pinch.
CyberGhost is compatible with all modern platforms and, during our testing, we found that the apps are relatively straightforward and easy to use. We find the overall interface similar to Surfshark – light, clean, and well-organized. We had no trouble switching between protocols or checking out CyberGhost’s roster of servers, so it’s worth investigating if you’re on the hunt for a solid VPN for beginners.
In terms of streaming, CyberGhost excels thanks to its dedicated streaming servers. You’ll find servers for most major platforms – Netflix, Prime Video, and Disney+ included. During our testing, we didn’t run into any major problems when accessing these sites, though we did have some trouble using 10Play – which may be a deal breaker if you’re based in Australia.
However, CyberGhost clocked in at a blistering 950+ Mbps during our speed tests, using the WireGuard protocol, which will ensure a buttery smooth experience whether you’re streaming in HD, gaming online, or simply going about your day-to-day browsing.
The best privacy-focused VPN free trial
Private Internet Access (PIA) is a power user's dream, boasting levels of customization that you just won't find elsewhere. So, if you like digging into those settings and tailoring every inch of your VPN service, you'll want to give PIA a try. However, PIA’s VPN basics are all in order, too, so you don’t have to be a veteran to enjoy it or make the most of its standard 30-day money-back guarantee.
More impressive, however, is the 7-day free trial PIA makes available for Android and iOS via the Google Play Store and App Store. There’s no way to access the trial via your desktop, however, so you’ll need to activate and cancel the trial through the respective store. It’s also worth noting that you will need to input your payment details during the process.
Read more about PIA ▼
We were pleasantly surprised to see that, if you invest in a 7-day trial, you’ll still be eligible for the 30-day money-back guarantee when it expires. This is especially handy if you want to extend your coverage to your PC or Mac and check out what PIA has to offer desktops.
PIA does VPN basics right – you’ll have access to a kill switch, which ensures you don’t leak personal information in the event of a VPN dropout, and a handy MACE feature. This built-in ad, tracker, and malware blocker works in the background to keep threats at bay, but our testing showed that it’s not effective enough to be your only method of antivirus protection.
Unfortunately, PIA didn’t blow us away when we put its performance to the test, clocking in at 436 Mbps using the WireGuard protocol. This puts it way below the likes of Surfshark and NordVPN, but it should be noted that PIA is still quick enough to keep up with HD streaming and your general day-to-day activities. If you really want to optimize your streaming, gaming, or torrenting setup, however, you may want to look elsewhere.
On a more positive note, PIA is a reliable VPN for streaming and accessing all sorts of platforms – big global titans and smaller regional sites included. In fact, during testing, PIA achieved a clean sweep, which is a testament to its unblocking power.
The best basic VPN free trial
You may not be familiar with Norton VPN, but it’s a solid choice for folks who have already invested in Norton’s other cybersecurity products. It earns a place in our free trial rankings thanks to its 7-day trial, available via the provider site, that gives you a week to put it to the test on your raft of devices.
The biggest downside here is that, like NordVPN and PIA, you'll need to hand over payment details before accessing the trial. That's not ideal – even though you won't be charged up front – as you'll need to remember to cancel the trial before it expires and you're charged.
Read more about Norton VPN ▼
Alternatively, you can check out the full-fat version of Norton VPN and enjoy an absolutely whopping 60-day money-back guarantee. That’s two whole months worth of risk-free coverage, which is more than enough time to determine whether the VPN can keep up with your streaming, gaming, torrenting, and browsing habits.
In terms of features, Norton VPN doesn’t match up to our other recommendations. A standard plan only gives you one connection, for example, and our testing found that the kill switch failed to prevent leaks, proving totally redundant. We also noted that Norton VPN only provides one protocol, WireGuard, which is rather disappointing – but WireGuard is a secure and speedy choice, so it could be worse.
Norton VPN isn’t a stellar streaming VPN, either, though it did manage to access US and Australia Netflix in addition to Prime Video and BBC iPlayer. However, during our testing, we couldn’t check out other Netflix locations or Disney+.
In more encouraging news, however, Norton VPN surprised us when we put its speeds to the test. It came in at 950+ Mbps, which is on par with the quickest services out there – NordVPN and Surfshark. So, if you’re looking for a speedy VPN that can manage HD streaming (with some caveats) and don’t need the security bells and whistles, Norton VPN could be worth a look.
FAQs
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
Yes, NordVPN offers a 7-day free trial for Android, accessible via the Google Play Store. This trial is limited to one per customer and can be cancelled through the Google Play Store – though you’ll still be eligible for NordVPN’s 30-day money-back guarantee.
Which VPNs have free trials?
Most of today’s top VPNs offer risk-free money-back guarantees that last around 30 days. While you’ll need to provide payment details and purchase a plan to enjoy the guarantee, you’ll be able to request a refund at any time within 30 days to claim your money back, no questions asked.
Currently, Surfshark and CyberGhost are the only top-rated VPN that offers a free trial that does not require any financial details upfront.
How to cancel a VPN free trial
Ultimately, it depends on where you acquired your free trial. Any trials picked up from the App Store or Google Play Store will need to be cancelled through their respective stores, whereas trials acquired through provider sites will need to be cancelled via that same site.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
