Want to cut right to the case? The best free VPN for Linux right now is Proton VPN
Over the past ten years, Linux has been growing in popularity in all its various forms. One of the biggest reasons many people have moved to Linux distros like Ubuntu or Fedora is Windows’ perceived vulnerability to data theft. Of course, with an 80% market share of desktop users, Microsoft will always be a juicy target for hackers and data thieves, but does that mean your data is safe on Linux?
Sadly not. Although the average Linux user is likely more tech-savvy than a Mac or Windows user, that doesn’t mean that Linux can’t be exploited. In 2020, researchers at Blackberry discovered hacking campaigns stretching back almost a decade that exploited vulnerabilities in Linux servers. You can read the details in this report—scary stuff.
So how can you protect yourself online?
The easiest way is with a VPN.
Why do I need a VPN for Linux?
A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. Typically, you would connect to the internet via your Internet Service Provider, your ISP. All your online activities and data pass through their servers, and that data may be shared with your government, law enforcement, advertisers, etc. Even if it is not shared, the very fact that that data is collected and stored could be considered a security risk in and of itself.
Typically, most IPSs don’t encrypt your connection, so you may be vulnerable as you surf the internet, particularly in public. Man in the Middle attacks are at an all-time high, and using public Wifi is a minefield.
By connecting to the internet via a VPN, your data is encrypted before being sent onwards, and any reputable VPN company will not keep logs. Data logging policies can be found on VPN companies’ websites, so be sure to take a read before you sign up.
Other features of VPNs for Linux include
- Multiple server locations
- Kill switches
- Split tunneling
- IP masking
- IP leak protection
- Censorship circumvention
- Geo-blocking circumvention
- P2P and torrents
- Avoid ISP data throttling
There are, of course, some downsides to using a VPN. Internet speeds can be drastically reduced due to the extra encryption layer. Some VPN companies have very high-speed servers, but you are unlikely to find them on free VPNs.
Some of the more significant streaming sites, like Amazon Prime, spend a fortune on geo-blockers to prevent VPNs from connecting, and in some countries, the use of VPNs is illegal altogether.
Isn’t Linux secure, though?
While Linux is indeed considered the most secure operating system, often the OS of choice for servers, this can come at a cost. Distributions like ParrotOS, which have more security features, tend to be geared more towards power users and can be challenging to configure. More popular distributions like Ubuntu or Fedora are geared towards user-friendliness rather than security.
You can never be too secure. Installing a VPN on any Linux distribution is still good practice, especially if you are dealing with sensitive data. The good news is that there are several fantastic options when it comes to finding a VPN for Linux.
Free vs. Paid VPNs
There’s no way to sugarcoat this; if you want the most comprehensive protection on offer, you’re going to have to shell out. While there are plenty of companies offering free coverage on their VPN networks, it’s not always what it’s cracked up to be.
Many less reputable firms will promise that they don’t log your data; they’re lying. Data farming is big business. Advertising firms will pay a great deal of money for your browsing habits; just take a look at Facebook or Google’s terms and conditions!
Some VPN companies will offer free VPNs that display adverts to generate revenue. While there is nothing wrong with this practice, it can quickly become annoying and distracting and looks highly unprofessional. If you can live with ads, then these VPNs could be a great option for you.
Many of the top VPNs offer free trials and 30-day money-back guarantees. Although we won’t be including these offers in our run-down, they are definitely worth a look. NordVPN and SharkVPN are both excellent VPN providers who offer 30-day money guarantees; both are well worth a look.
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With that said, there are some VPN companies that offer limited free options. Some offer capped monthly data or provide lower speeds, while others may only have limited server availability. Whether or not this will suit your needs, only you can determine, so let’s take a look at what’s on offer.
Top 6 Best Free VPNs For Linux
| Brand | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Proton VPN | $10.99/month | Terms of Security |
| 3. Windscribe | $4.08/month | Blocking Ads and Trackers |
| 4. Tunnelbear | $3.33/month | Keeping Online Activity Private |
| 7. Hide.Me | $8.32/month | Unblocking any Website |
| 5. VPNBook | Free | Good customer support |
| 6. ZoogVPN | Free | Encryption |
1. Proton VPN
- Unlimited monthly data
- 3 Free servers
- 256-bit Encryption
- OpenVPN installation guide
- No log policy
- CLI tool
- Dedicated Linux app
ProtonVPN provides an outstanding free VPN service for Linux, one that feels like Linux users have been properly considered rather than just tacked on. A dedicated app, a CLI for those users who prefer using Terminal, and this manual guide to installing OpenVPN truly make Linux users feel appreciated.
Even more remarkably, ProtonVPN offers unlimited data each month. While limited free servers do make connecting to streaming services more difficult, once connected, it means you can binge your heart out in HD. Sadly, a lack of P2P support on the free version means you can’t use that data to torrent, but you can’t have everything.
While not every security feature is available on the free plan, such as ProtonVPNs Secure Core protection, their data policy is robust. 256-bit AES encryption and DNS leak technology make ProtonVPN a highly secure option.
2. Windscribe
- 2GB Monthly free data (10GB if email address provided)
- 60 Free servers
- P2P available
- 256-bit Encryption
- No data logging
- Free command line for Linux distros
- Ad and Malware blocker
Windscribe’s free VPN offering is an excellent choice for Linux users, with native support for Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, and CentOS. That covers the vast majority of Linux users, and the app can be configured on just about any remaining distribution. However, it’s not as slick as its windows and Mac counterpart.
The 10GB data allowance is enough for a few hours of HD streaming each month, and the number of locations means there’s a good chance you’ll be able to access your favorite streaming site. P2P sharing means you’ll be able to visit torrent sites, and we found Windscribe to offer reasonable good speeds.
Windscribe has a fantastic security record and supports IKEv2 and OpenVPN, so there are tons of data protection options. 256-bit AES encryption and a solid data logging policy make Windscribe one of the best options if security is your primary concern.
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3. Hide.me
- 10GB Monthly free data
- 4 Free servers
- P2P available
- 256-bit Encryption
- Ad and Pop-up blocker
- 30-day Money-back guarantee
- Detailed Linux set up guide
- 24/7 Customer support
Hide.me has a dedicated Ubuntu app and a solid installation guide you can find here, perfect for users who prefer a smoother installation and setup. It’s important to remember that Ubuntu natively uses the PPTP protocol, which has some severe flaws; however, Hide.me’s guide will help you switch to a more secure protocol like OpenVPN or IKEv2.
Hide.me’s mission statement says that internet security and privacy should be considered a right. In line with that statement, Hide.me does not have ads or log any kind of data; they also provide the complete security features of the paid app, such as their ad and pop-up blocker. They also offer full support, something which very few free VPNs provide. If you aren’t too familiar with the Linux ecosystem, this could be a godsend.
Limited servers mean that it can be challenging to use Hide.me for connecting to streaming sites, with many of their free servers already blocked. They do offer P2P sharing, although the 10GB data cap means you won’t be able to torrent too many large files.
4. Tunnelbear
- 500MB Monthly free data (Increases to 1GB if you tweet them)
- 26 Free servers
- 256-bit Encryption
- Ubuntu Support
- Independent Security audits
- Malware Blocker
Tunnelbear is a well-known name in the VPN market, making their Linux app all the more disappointing. Other versions of the Tunnelbear app include the Ghostbear feature, which makes sidestepping geo-restrictions a breeze, but sadly it is not included in the Linux app. Without it, connecting to streaming services using Tunnelbear on Linux is a disappointing experience.
Tunnelbear does offer use on multiple devices simultaneously, but the measly 500MB monthly data cap means that you will not be able to do much more than browse the web or check emails. If that’s all you plan on doing, Tunnelbear’s no-logging policy and excellent data encryption make it a good choice.
Customer support for Tunnelbear is limited, with priority being given to paying customers first. They do provide a decent installation guide for Linux here.
5. VPNBook
- 11 Free servers
- Unlimited monthly free data
- Dedicated Linux setup
- 128-bit Encryption
- Great Customer Support
Similar to ProtonVPN, VPNBook offers unlimited monthly data. Rather than hoping you sign up for a full-paid version like most free VPNs, VPNBook generates revenue from ads and pop-ups. This model works pretty well and allows VPNBook to offer high speeds without data-throttling.
VPNBook provides a detailed guide to setting up in Ubunto, although the 128-bit security provided is somewhat lacking compared to the other VPNs in this roundup. Some connection logs are kept for one week, so if privacy is an issue for you, you might need to look elsewhere.
The free servers on offer are surprisingly good at connecting to streaming sites like Netflix and Hulu, with reasonable speeds giving a good viewing experience. Not quite on par with what you would expect from a paid VPN, but that is to be expected.
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6. ZoogVPN
- 10GB Monthly free data (plus 5GB for each paying referral, capped at 50GB)
- 3 Free servers
- P2P available
- 128-bit Encryption
- Kill Switch
- Zero logs
ZoogVPN is limited to use on one device and only has servers in the UK, US, and Australia available. The 10GB data allowance can be raised to 50GB if you can convince a few friends to sign up, which adds up to a pretty generous allowance. The paid version is extremely cheap and has 256-bit AES encryption, oddly missing from the free app, so getting people to join may not be as hard as it seems.
Connecting to streaming sites was all but impossible using the three servers provided, but ZoogVPN does allow P2P sharing, so torrenting shouldn’t be a problem. ZoogVPNs servers are relatively fast, but during peak hours, slow down is noticeable.
ZoogVPN has a kill switch included with its free plan, which is a welcome feature that most free plans lack. The decision to use 128-bit encryption on its free plan seems strange, but ZoogVPN has a solid zero-log policy, so no data will be stored.
Support for Linux is available, with a guide to installing OpenVPN provided on their website.
The best free VPN for Linux is…
We’ve looked at some great options for free VPNs for Linux above, but we’d be remiss not to reiterate that there really is no comparison between paid and free VPNs. Keeping your connection secure and your data safe is crucial in this day and age, and a good VPN is one of the best ways to do that.
Using a 30-day money-back guarantee from NordVPN or Surfshark is still the best way to gauge if their service is what you need.
However, some of the free Linux VPNs we’ve looked at are excellent. VPNs like ProtonVPN or Hide.me offer serious protection and perfect if you plan to use your VPN in a professional capacity.
Overall, there can only be one winner. Our recommendation for a free Linux VPN is ProtonVPN. Their security is almost as good as others we’ve mentioned, and the unlimited data is a game-changer. The biggest plus for Linux users is that ProtonVPN has treated the Linux userbase as more than just an afterthought and provided several apps and configurations that can be used easily on any Linux distribution.