Best Free VPN for Europe: Six Secure and Reliable Options

Whether in Europe or abroad, the best free VPN for Europe is an undeniable advantage. For one, it offers thousands of IP addresses from European countries. This enables people in the USA or Asia to access Europe-exclusive sites and content. Additionally, people in Europe can also enjoy the VPN, as it provides benefits like privacy, security, and anonymous P2P.

Finding a safe and secure free European VPN is a trick for many. Hundreds of free VPNs for Europe pose as great, when they’re the opposite in reality. To save you time and money, we tested over fifty complimentary VPNs to discover their advantages and shortcomings.

Scroll down to find our reviews and insights gathered during our exhaustive testing procedure. Oh, and if you’re in a rush, the shortlist below contains the best picks, so click the one you want and start right away!

Best Free European VPNs: Comprehensive List

Are you interested in more information? We hoped so. Here’s what we found about each VPN on the list.

1. NordVPN (Free For 30 Days)

NordVPN is a famous free European VPN for 30 days. By default, it’s a premium option with flexible plans starting at roughly $3.5 monthly. However, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to enjoy the VPN for a month and get a full refund for any reason.

NordVPN is our #1 free VPN for Europe for many reasons. First, it’s not really free, so it’s way better than non-paid options. Second, it offers an array of servers in Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and Australia. In total, you can change your IP to over 125 locations.

The provider offers everything, from security and privacy to streaming and P2P. NordVPN’s no-log policy underwent multiple audits, while its security, consisting of at least 256-bit GCM encryption, IP leak protection, and a kill switch, is one of the best currently available.

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NordVPN features a Double VPN, which routes your connection through two servers and encrypts it twice. If you spend more on the Plus plan, you’ll get Threat Protection Pro, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware on all devices. NordVPN is among the fastest VPNs.

It employs the NordLynx protocol based on WireGuard, which works well with its 10 Gbps servers. We also think it’s a great VPN for travellers, as it uses obfuscation to overcome censorship and NordWhisper, a protocol designed to combat network filtering globally.

Having tested NordVPN in Europe, we can confirm it performs well on all fronts. Whether you’re after safe torrenting, streaming on Netflix, or shrouding your online activities, NordVPN offers no restrictions, making it the overall best free VPN for Europe for a month.

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2. ExpressVPN (Free For 30 Days)

We wanted to discuss ExpressVPN as well. It’s another best free European VPN for 30 days, which can be used without losing a penny. The initial 61% discount, thanks to four free months, is an excellent chance to test it, although the monthly plan can do the trick.

ExpressVPN is similar to NordVPN quality-wise.

There is unlimited bandwidth, apps for all devices, and eight simultaneous connections. ExpressVPN’s minimalist apps are a joy to use. The Lightway Turbo protocol is ideal for bandwidth-hungry activities, while its handy kill switch will deter IP and DNS leaks.

ExpressVPN also has a certified no-log policy to reach the highest trustworthiness levels. Better yet, it’s been audited over twenty times—more than any other VPN! In our tests, ExpressVPN was easily among the top risk-free European VPNs for streaming on Hulu and Netflix.

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It’s competent, with a browser extension that adds location spoofing. Do you want to download torrents privately? No worries! All 3,000+ servers in 160+ locations are compatible. Speaking of them, their server fleet is cleverly distributed across Europe, North America, Asia, South America, and Australia.

This gives you ample freedom when it comes to IP selection. ExpressVPN doesn’t have many advanced features, but things like ad-blocking, dark web monitoring, and ID theft protection exist. Additionally, it supports Onion over VPN if you ever wanted to combine it with Tor.

ExpressVPN is risk-free for 30 days, so it’s a phenomenal choice if you want the best complimentary VPN for Europe that’ll work equally well in all parts of the world.

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3. Proton VPN

Moving down the list, we have the best-in-class 100% free VPN in Europe or abroad.

Proton VPN is based in Switzerland, one of the best jurisdictions for privacy. While it’s a premium EU VPN by default, Proton VPN has a nifty little free plan with unlimited bandwidth, excellent security, and applications for all devices. Let’s start with its highlight: security.

Proton VPN offers features that resemble ExpressVPN. WireGuard, a kill switch, split tunnelling, a VPN Accelerator, and RAM-based servers. On top of that, the VPN doesn’t display ads in its apps, refraining from storing a single bit of user-related information.

The no-log policy perfectly complements its Swiss origins, which many appreciate privacy-wise. Interestingly, Proton offers five locations. Three free European VPN locations exist, including the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. The rest of them are the USA and Japan.

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We dislike that Proton doesn’t allow you to choose the location, so you’ll be assigned the one closest to you. Speaking of negative stuff, Proton VPN isn’t P2P-friendly, and all torrenting attempts will be blocked. Streaming is a similar story, as it doesn’t work with Netflix.

Proton VPN’s premium version features some of the best security options on the market. Sadly, the free version is cut down and stripped of an ad-blocker, Secure Core servers, port forwarding, and simultaneous connections, leaving you with a shell of its former self.

If it sits right with you and you’d do everything to avoid paying, this is the best-rated really free VPN in Europe.

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4. Hide.me

Hide.me raises many eyebrows with its ambitious promises for a free VPN popular in Europe and abroad. Similarly to Proton VPN, Hide.me removes the bandwidth cap, offers respectable performance thanks to WireGuard, and even manages to unblock a few streaming services.

What’s even more impressive is security. Privacy, as well. Hide.me uses modern 256-bit encryption and a responsive kill switch to prevent data leaks. Its apps allow for a full array of VPN protocols, including OpenVPN, SoftEther, and others, which is pretty impressive.

The free version doesn’t store any logs, either. The VPN is based in Malaysia, which has blooming privacy laws, so the government won’t poke its fingers around it. More impressively, Hide.me boasts several third-party audits confirming the company’s ambitious claims.

As hinted at before, Hide.me is similar to Proton VPN, so they share virtually the same shortcomings. Hide.me is not a free VPN you can use for torrenting. Streaming works okay, but Netflix US will be inaccessible for the most part. Server locations are cleverly distributed.

You get a few free European VPN locations, like the Netherlands and Germany. However, with only seven of them in total, Hide.me will have a tough time impressing anyone. Other annoying things include the lack of simultaneous connections and advanced security features.

Additionally, Hide.me isn’t as fast as premium options due to being frequently overcrowded. If you need a free VPN with European servers for light browsing and occasional streaming, Hide.me won’t disappoint you. Put it under more pressure, and it’ll crumble like stale bread.

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5. PrivadoVPN

PrivadoVPN is a proper European VPN that you can use for free forever, for exactly $0.00 monthly.

It’s based in Switzerland, sharing this excellent land with Proton VPN. PrivadoVPN is a great example of how free VPNs can be impressive and somewhat terrible simultaneously. First, the good stuff. It’s blazing-fast for a free service, and offers 10 Gbps servers in over ten locations.

Many are in Europe, so you’ll have no trouble accessing Europe-exclusive content. However, it offers free US VPN servers to access Netflix US in Europe. PrivadoVPN is the only free EU VPN on the list that you can use for streaming on popular streaming services globally.

Its servers also allow torrenting, so P2P is part of this complimentary bundle. Being a Swiss-based company, you can expect modern security tools, a no-log policy, and PrivadoVPN’s transparency to shine. Unfortunately, we now switch from asphalt to gravel, so the ride is getting bumpier.

PrivadoVPN offers only 10 GB of monthly traffic, which sounds great for a few days of light browsing or a few hours of Full HD streaming. However, the lack of advanced security features—some of which are antivirus and Control Tower for blocking ads, malware, and tracking—exacerbates this issue.

PrivadoVPN doesn’t have third-party audits, which may raise some concerns among privacy-conscious users. However, we think that the lack of concurrent connections and its annoying bandwidth cap—which makes the experience incredibly constrained—are a bigger cause for alarm.

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6. TunnelBear

TunnelBear is one of Europe’s most audited free VPNs in 2026. Each year, the provider undergoes at least one third-party audit to ensure its security and privacy meet the highest standards. Each subsequent audit makes TunnelBear increasingly trustworthy, which is why it made it on our list.

TunnelBear’s free plan offers plenty of exciting features. GhostBear, which enables obfuscation, is excellent for overcoming censorship. VigilantBear, a kill switch, prevents IP leaks. In the background, TunnelBear relies on 256-bit AES encryption and leak protection to keep things clean.

Like other providers on the list, TunnelBear uses WireGuard to deliver excellent performance. It simultaneously offers over 8,000 servers in 46+ countries. However, if you read our full TunnelBear review, you’ll see a glaring problem: the 2 GB monthly bandwidth cap.

Its premium version removes all restrictions, but the free version can be annoying. Moreover, torrenting is completely blocked, and despite the vast free European VPN server fleet, streaming services won’t work reliably. TunnelBear’s customer support is also subpar.

Let’s not forget the expected lack of simultaneous connections. If that’s not enough, TunnelBear’s device support is limited to the four basic platforms (Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS). It’s a safe, secure, free VPN for Europe that does many things right.

However, its shortcomings nearly compensate for its good deeds. TunnelBear rectifies some of the issues in the premium version, albeit at a price that matches the much better NordVPN, our #1 option.

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Our Methodology

Assembling this list was no easy task, considering the diverse needs of people in Europe and abroad. However, to ensure this list was possible in the first place, we had to follow a particular list of criteria, which included:

• Security and privacy. Two vital parameters in each VPN. None of them store logs or infringe on your privacy in any way. They also provide stable and leak-free connections for the highest level of security.
• Servers in Europe. A logical criterion was European presence. We wanted all VPNs, whether really free or free for 30 days, to have at least a few server locations on European soil. Other worldwide servers were also welcome to join the party.
• Reliable performance and speed. None of them are slouches, and all free VPNs for Europe on this list perform respectably or extraordinarily, depending on the choice. As you saw, most of them also feature unlimited bandwidth, except for PrivadoVPN and TunnelBear.
• User-friendly apps. We wanted beginners to enjoy VPNs as much as experienced users do. Things like an easy setup, one-click connections, and apps for all devices were our top priority. Luckily, all providers tick these boxes.
• Streaming & torrenting. This was impossible to find in all providers, but some free VPNs on this list will work for both purposes. NordVPN and ExpressVPN, risk-free options, take the lead, while PrivadoVPN takes the reins as a widely adopted free European VPN for light torrenting and streaming.

Free vs Paid VPNs for Europe: Ins & Outs

You should opt for paid options over free, but both have pros and cons.

If you’re interested, we have a whole free vs paid VPN comparison that you can examine.

Free providers are considered inferior because they suffer from data limitations, slower speeds, small server networks, streaming issues, P2P blocking, and poor compatibility. Not all free European VPNs suffer from these issues, but they all have at least two.

For example, Proton VPN offers restricted bandwidth and is safe to use, but forbids P2P and doesn’t work for streaming. PrivadoVPN is the opposite, limiting your bandwidth and preventing simultaneous connections. You always have to watch out for compromises with free providers.

On the other hand, premium choices like NordVPN and ExpressVPN iron out these things.

Since they’re paid services, you’ll get five-star treatment. Take everything we said about free providers and invert it; that’s how it’ll be. While those on a budget will freeze in fear at a single thought of investing in a VPN, there’s always a 30-day money-back guarantee, making the investment reversible.

Which Free VPNs to Avoid in Europe?

Believe it or not, countless free VPNs for Europe barely meet the lowest, let alone the highest, quality standards. During our in-depth assessment, we had to test some of the worst providers in addition to some great options. We found that these should be avoided:

• Hola VPN ❌. An incredibly popular option because of unlimited bandwidth and many free European servers. It’s based on P2P, which allows others to hijack your IP and endanger your privacy. The VPN also keeps plenty of track records, so it’s not like it respects its users in the first place.
• Turbo VPN ❌. It’s all but ‘turbo’. Slow, unreliable, and malware-ridden, Turbo VPN is a prime example of a pointless product. Masochists and time-wasters should use Turbo VPN. Since you’re not one of them (we believe), look the other way.
• Betternet VPN ❌. It looks nice and works smoothly, but it’s not the safest VPN. We’ll remind you of its data logging and tracking, which makes you an easy prey for advertising agencies and brokers. You won’t pay for it with your money, but with your privacy, which sounds terrifying.
• Urban VPN ❌. Another Hola-like VPN with plenty of free European VPN servers, stellar performance, and no security or privacy to speak of. This is a data-collection machine made to steal your data and provide subpar service that (seemingly) costs nothing.

The Bottom Line

To recap, the best free VPNs for Europe are Proton VPN, Hide.me, PrivadoVPN, and TunnelBear.

These 100% free options don’t require a credit card; you can use them with a free account. However, they have limitations that set them apart from premium providers. This brings us to NordVPN and ExpressVPN, which, while paid options, offer an entirely different experience.

They excel in everything from unlimited bandwidth and speed to streaming, torrenting, bypassing censorship, and customer support. You came here for reliable free VPNs for Europe, and if you want to avoid upfront payments, you know which ones to aim for.

Conversely, if you need a VPN temporarily for less than thirty days, NordVPN and ExpressVPN will suit you better. You’ll pay at the start, but you can get a full refund and lose nothing while simultaneously enjoying a superior experience for a month or so.

Try NordVPN Risk-Free for 30 Days

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FAQ

Are free VPNs for Europe safe?

Most of them aren’t, but our select few are. Safety depends on two aspects: security and privacy.

If the chosen provider ticks both boxes, it’s considered safe. Free providers rarely do this, but Proton VPN, Hide.me, PrivadoVPN, and TunnelBear are pretty good. Apart from safety, they offer very little to latch on to.

Can I watch European Netflix catalogs with a free VPN?

You can, if you choose a risk-free option like NordVPN or ExpressVPN.

100% free VPNs rarely work with Netflix and are better for watching foreign TV channels. We tested dozens and managed to access Netflix France with PrivadoVPN. Other European Netflix catalogs didn’t work.

Are free VPNs based in Europe good?

Yes, they’re amazing. This list contains two of them: Proton VPN and PrivadoVPN. Both are based in Europe, but outside the European Union jurisdiction, giving them an edge regarding privacy and safety.