5 Best Free Trial VPN Services in 2023

Trying to find the best VPN can be a daunting task, especially when there are so many to choose from. While free VPNs might seem like an easy way to dive into better security and bypass content locks, many of them are also likely to steal information and leave users in worse spots than they already were. Not every free VPN does this, but those wishing to truly be secure online will be much more comfortable with a paid service. Luckily, some of the best VPN services come with a free trial, and users would do very well to take advantage of them.

Disclaimer: This article includes affiliate links to NordVPN and ExpressVPN. You won’t be charged anything extra for clicking on links to these services, but purchases made through these links will support the writer.

ExpressVPN is fairly generous with its “free trial” offering. Whether you decide on the 1-year plan or the 1-month plan, you’ll get a 30-day money-back guarantee. Additionally, no matter which plan you pick, ExpressVPN will provide the same features it would provide other users. This includes a built-in password manager, 24/7 support, and some of the fastest servers you’ll find from any VPN out there.

Like with other services, the money-back guarantee only applies until users pass the first 30 days of owning their VPN. If you’re particularly skeptical and/or prone to forgetting about cancellations, you might want to choose the 1-month plan to avoid any major losses if you aren’t satisfied with the service. Unlike with other services, you don’t get less or more time if you choose a monthly plan compared to a yearly one, so pick the option you’re most comfortable with!

NordVPN is another service that offers 30-day money-back guarantees. However, it comes with a couple of differences that aren’t found in ExpressVPN. Most notably, it includes different versions of its plans, with users able to choose between “Standard” and “Complete” options. These options all offer the same 30-day guarantee, so choosing one of the pricier options can help you decide on whether that’s what you want to use later down the line.

If you decide to check out NordVPN’s free trial, then — unlike ExpressVPN — you might want to go with larger commitments. Even if you forget about the subscription and miss out on renewing it, you’re still getting a top-notch VPN at a relatively cheap price. Additionally, getting the Complete package will let you try out every feature NordVPN offers, including its cloud storage and file encryption. If you like the VPN but find little use for those extra features, you can take advantage of the money-back guarantee and simply go for a cheaper package.

For the especially forgetful ones, Mullvad is a very attractive option. It offers its own 30-day guarantee, but letting it slip your mind won’t be the end of the world. This is because of its pricing, which stays the same no matter how long you decide to stay with the service for. There are no extra commitments or alternative plans necessary to get the money-back guarantee; simply purchase and use the VPN for as long as you like.

Mullvad is especially helpful for those looking for privacy and security, as it doesn’t require personal information outside of a payment method. Chances are, if you’re one to forget about taking advantage of a service’s money-back offering before it’s too late, you’ll benefit from the extra security anyway. Even so, Mullvad is a fantastic choice for a free trial VPN thanks to its lack of commitments and out-of-the-box completeness.

In the context of free trials, Cyberghost is one of the best VPN services out there. It offers one of the largest money-back guarantees of any service at 45 days. This applies to its 2-year and 6-month plans, though users on a single-month plan can still refund before 14 days pass. Beyond this, Cyberghost also rewards users willing to make the greatest commitments, as the 2-year plan also includes a general discount and 2 months on top of its first two years of use.

There are no alternate “packages” for users to get, though it’s possible to add features like an antivirus and a dedicated IP address. Outside of these features, you’ll get everything CyberGhost offers regardless of which plan you choose. Diligent users can be comfortable in checking out the one-month plan with its shorter “trial” period while others can enjoy the VPN risk-free for a much longer period.

Norton Secure VPN might offer the best free trial of any service on this list. This is mostly due to its money-back guarantee being the longest of pretty much any service at a whopping 60 days. This only applies to its annual plan, but its monthly plan also offers a 14-day guarantee. When judging these services purely on their free trial offerings, Norton’s VPN is the best of them all.

Unfortunately, Norton’s offering of a VPN is a bit more restrictive than most. It’s not exactly the most secure service out there despite its claims of no logs and anonymous browsing. It also lacks features that are practically universal for other VPNs, including Linux support and easy access to torrent downloads. If all you want is a way to dip your toes into the world of VPNs, Norton might be your best bet thanks to its massive money-back guarantee. If you want to test something you’ll stick with for years to come, you’re better off choosing something else.

A great money-back guarantee is essential if you want to purchase a VPN without regrets. Getting a good idea of features and pricing will help you determine if a service is right for you. Using money-back guarantees as free trials is one of the smartest ways you can go about purchasing a VPN. If you turn out to be satisfied, you won’t even need the free trial. Just let the months pass and enjoy the full service for as long as you like!

If you want to continue your search, try checking out our list of the best VPNs for School.