When you buy through our links, Business Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn moreJuSun/Getty ImagesIn an increasingly complicated digital world, virtual private networks (VPNs) have never been so important. But often, they don't come cheap. Luckily, that's where the vast market of free VPNs can help.The best VPN services can help boost your online privacy by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address from the sites or apps you use from your ISP (internet service provider), both at home/mobile, or on public WiFi. It can make some forms of tracking and interception more difficult for bad actors looking to exploit you or your data.While your real-world location is masked on a VPN, it's important to remember that it doesn't prevent websites or apps from identifying you through logins, cookies, or browser fingerprinting. Your ISP can usually tell that you are using a VPN, too.But when you're talking about your security, is it best to pay? Not necessarily. Free VPNs have come a long way, and some offer surprisingly strong packages.Obviously, they come with limits. They often limit the number of server countries, put some features behind a paywall, and offer lower speeds. But there is a clear benefit to using a reputable free provider: you can still get the core privacy and security benefits of a VPN without paying a penny.In this article, we'll talk you through how a free VPN works, the risks and the benefits, as well as which ones are worth your time.What is a free VPN?A VPN reroutes your traffic through one of its servers, so the websites and services you visit usually see the VPN server's IP address instead of your own. For example, you could be in Washington while a site sees you as connecting from Jamaica.This has a few benefits, including added privacy on untrusted networks and, in some cases, access to services or content that depend on your apparent location, such as streaming movies, live TV, and sports while abroad.While there are plenty of free VPNs, they differ notably from the more feature-rich paid versions. These differences are usually:Speeds: Free VPNs often cap speeds, so while you're using the VPN, your ping, download, and upload speeds can drop.Limited options: Paid VPNs can offer digital access to thousands of cities across hundreds of countries. Free VPNs, on the other hand, can sometimes offer as few as 10 pre-selected options, and you can't manually choose which one to join.Fewer features: Many advanced features are locked, leaving you mostly with the ability to quickly connect to a random country and hide your IP address.VPNs can be free for various reasons, but they still need to make money. They could be doing this by serving you ads, trying to upsell you to a paid plan, or, most concerning, selling your data or filling your device with malware.The hidden risks of free VPNsUnsurprisingly, free VPN companies aren't exactly in the business of highlighting the risks of free VPNs. While the most reliable and verified ones can be safe, there are some important notes to keep in mind.The most notable risk is data logging. Many good VPN services have no-log policies. In other words, they don't track or save any of your data or history while using a VPN.This can't be said of every service, especially of some free VPNs, which make money by selling your data. When researching, look for a provider with a no-logs policy.Some free VPNs may also use outdated protocols, lack safeguards such as a kill switch, or provide little transparency about how they handle your data. That's different from the free tier of a reputable paid VPN, which may use the same encryption and protocols as its premium plans but instead restricts features, speeds, or server access. Check what protocols a VPN supports, read its privacy policy, and look for independent audits of its security or no-logs claims.Many free VPNs can throttle your connection speeds due to overburdened servers, making browsing feel sluggish and more intensive tasks, such as large downloads, streaming, or video calls, more difficult. In some cases, you'll only get a limited amount of data before your speeds are heavily capped or cut off.In some cases, it's not only data selling that is used to make money. Some free VPNs include ads to offset costs. Ads aren't necessarily a security problem on their own, but you should be particularly cautious of unfamiliar free VPN apps with unclear business models. Poorly designed or malicious VPN apps can introduce security risks (like malware) of their own, while an unreliable VPN connection may expose your real IP address or other traffic you expected the VPN to protect.Finally, while legitimate providers are often well-reviewed and well-backed, there are plenty of options that don't disclose much important information, leaving you in the dark about what you might be giving up by using their service.The best way to avoid these risks? Stick with big-name providers that are well-reviewed by various
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