I Tested 10 Free VPNs — Here's Why They're Worse Than the Problem

TL;DR: We tested 10 popular free VPNs. Most were terrible — DNS leaks, data harvesting, ad injection, and in two cases, actual malware. The only free VPN worth using is Proton VPN's free tier (Swiss-based, open source, no ads, genuinely no-logs). But for serious daily use, a paid VPN at $3.49 AUD/month (Surfshark) is the smarter move.

The Free VPN Gold Rush

Since Australia's age verification laws hit on March 9, 2026, searches for "free VPN" have exploded. Makes sense — nobody wants to pay for something they didn't need two weeks ago. But here's the problem: most free VPNs don't just fail to protect your privacy. They actively make it worse.

We downloaded and tested 10 of the most popular free VPN apps to find out what's really going on under the hood. The results were not great.

How We Tested

For each VPN, we checked:

• DNS leak tests — Does the VPN actually hide your browsing from your ISP?
• Speed tests — Is it usable for anything beyond loading a text page?
• Privacy policy analysis — What does the fine print say about your data?
• Network traffic analysis — Is the app sending data where it shouldn't?
• Ad injection — Does the VPN insert its own ads into websites?
• Malware scans — Is the app itself dangerous?

The Results

1. Hola VPN — Disastrous

Hola isn't really a VPN at all. It's a peer-to-peer network that routes other users' traffic through YOUR device. That means someone else's browsing activity passes through your internet connection. You're effectively an unpaid exit node.

Their privacy policy allows them to collect browsing data, and they've been caught selling user bandwidth to third parties. This is genuinely one of the worst things you can install on your device.

DNS leaks: Yes. Data selling: Yes. Verdict: Avoid at all costs.

2. SuperVPN Free — Malware Alert

SuperVPN has been flagged by multiple security researchers as containing malware. The app requests excessive permissions (camera, microphone, phone state, contacts) that no VPN needs. Network analysis showed it connecting to servers in mainland China.

In 2023, a database of 360 million SuperVPN user records was found exposed online — including email addresses, device data, and visited websites. For a "privacy" tool, that's beyond parody.

DNS leaks: Yes. Malware detected: Yes. Verdict: Delete immediately if installed.

3. Turbo VPN — Data Harvester

Turbo VPN's privacy policy is a masterclass in vague language. They claim to collect "anonymised" usage data, but their definition of anonymised is generous. The policy permits sharing data with "business partners" and "affiliates" for "service improvement."

Speeds were terrible — around 15 Mbps on a 500 Mbps connection. DNS leak tests showed Australian DNS servers being used even when connected to an overseas server, meaning your ISP could still see your browsing activity.

DNS leaks: Yes. Speed: Unusable for streaming. Verdict: Skip.

4. Thunder VPN — Privacy Policy Red Flags

Thunder VPN is developed by a company called Signal Lab (no relation to the Signal messaging app). Their privacy policy explicitly states they collect your IP address, connection timestamps, and data transfer amounts. They also reserve the right to share data with law enforcement "upon request" — not even requiring a warrant.

The VPN connection itself worked, but what's the point of a privacy tool that logs your activity?

DNS leaks: No (surprisingly). Logging: Yes. Verdict: Defeats the purpose.

5. Snap VPN — Ad Injection Machine

Snap VPN is technically functional but bombards you with full-screen ads between every session. More concerning, we detected modified HTTP responses suggesting the app injects tracking elements into unencrypted web pages.

Their privacy policy admits to collecting device information, ad interaction data, and "approximate location." The business model is clear: you're the product.

DNS leaks: Intermittent. Ad injection: Yes. Verdict: Skip.

6. Betternet — The Data Broker's Friend

Betternet has been studied by academic researchers who found it contained 14 tracking libraries — more than almost any other VPN app. Their free tier is essentially an ad-delivery and data-collection platform with a VPN feature bolted on.

A 2016 CSIRO study ranked Betternet among the worst VPN apps for privacy. Nothing has materially changed since then. The company is now owned by Aura, which operates multiple VPN brands with varying levels of trustworthiness.

DNS leaks: Intermittent. Tracking libraries: 14. Verdict: Hard no.

7. VPN Proxy Master — Suspicious Connections

Network analysis showed VPN Proxy Master making connections to servers in mainland China that weren't part of the VPN tunnel. The app's ownership structure is opaque, routing through multiple shell companies. Privacy policy is only partially translated from Chinese and contains contradictory statements.

Speeds were actually decent (120 Mbps), but speed means nothing if your data is being siphoned off to unknown parties.

DNS leaks: Yes. Suspicious connections: Yes. Verdict: Avoid.

8. Windscribe Free — Decent but Limited

A pleasant surprise. Windscribe is a legitimate VPN company with a free tier that provides 10 GB/month of data. No DNS leaks detected. No suspicious connections. Privacy policy is clear and reasonable. Based in Canada (Five Eyes country, which is a minor concern).

The limitation is the 10 GB monthly cap — that's roughly 3-4 hours of HD streaming. Enough for occasional use, not for daily browsing. But it's genuinely safe.

DNS leaks: No. Monthly cap: 10 GB. Verdict: Safe but very limited.

9. Atlas VPN Free — Now Defunct

Atlas VPN was acquired by Nord Security (NordVPN's parent company) and the free tier was discontinued in 2024. It now redirects to NordVPN. Including it here because it still shows up in "best free VPN" lists that haven't been updated.

Verdict: No longer exists as a free option.

10. Proton VPN Free — The One Exception

Proton VPN's free tier is the only free VPN we can genuinely recommend without caveats.

No DNS leaks. Every test came back clean. No ads. Not one. No data selling. Their privacy policy is clear and backed by Swiss law. Open source. Every app is publicly auditable. Independently audited. Third-party security audits have confirmed their no-logs claims.

The limitations are real: you're restricted to servers in the US, Netherlands, and Japan (no NZ servers). Speeds are lower than paid plans — we got around 50-80 Mbps. No streaming optimisation. But it works, it's safe, and it won't sell you out.

DNS leaks: No. Speed: Moderate. Verdict: The only free VPN worth using.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Free VPNs

Running a VPN service costs real money. Servers, bandwidth, development, security infrastructure — it adds up. When a VPN is free, the money has to come from somewhere.

For most free VPNs, it comes from:

• Selling your browsing data to advertisers and data brokers
• Injecting ads into your browsing sessions
• Selling your bandwidth (like Hola)
• Bundling malware or adware with the app

The irony of using a free VPN to avoid Australia's age verification is brutal: you're trying to protect your privacy by installing an app that's specifically designed to harvest your data. You've gone from one surveillance system to another — except this one you volunteered for.

What to Use Instead

If you can afford $3.49 AUD per month — and let's be honest, that's less than a small coffee — get a paid VPN.

| VPN | Cost (AUD, 2-year plan) | Why It's Worth It | |---|---|---| | Surfshark | ~$3.49/mo | Cheapest legitimate option, unlimited devices | | NordVPN | ~$4.59/mo | Fastest speeds, best for streaming | | Proton VPN | ~$5.49/mo | Best privacy credentials, Swiss-based |

All three have no-logs policies verified by independent audits. All three have NZ servers for optimal speeds from Australia. All three have 30-day money-back guarantees.

Check our full best VPN for Australia guide for detailed comparisons, or our head-to-head NordVPN vs Proton VPN breakdown.

Get Surfshark — $3.49 AUD/mo →

Get NordVPN — 75% Off →

FAQ

Is Proton VPN Free really safe?

Yes. Proton VPN is made by the same Swiss company behind ProtonMail, which has a strong track record in privacy. Their free tier is funded by paid subscribers — it's a loss leader designed to convert free users to paying customers, not a data harvesting operation. All apps are open source and independently audited. It's the real deal.

Can a free VPN give me a virus?

Yes. SuperVPN and several others have been confirmed to contain malware. Always check independent reviews and security research before installing any VPN app. Stick to well-known, audited providers. If a VPN requests permissions it shouldn't need (camera, contacts, phone access), that's a massive red flag.

What if I only need a VPN for a few days?

Most paid VPNs offer 30-day money-back guarantees. You can sign up for NordVPN, use it for a week, and request a full refund if you decide you don't need it anymore. It's effectively a free trial without the privacy risks of an actual free VPN. Just set a reminder to cancel if you don't want to keep it.