VPNs are a great tool for security and they are extremely versatile with many uses. There are many paid for VPNs and free to use ones out there to choose from. However, the question here is are free VPNs safe to use or should you pay a monthly subscription?
So, is this a case of you only get what you pay for? Let us look at the evidence by looking at the main differences between what you get for your money and what you get free. We are going to take into account the following:
- The security offered
- Speed of the servers
- Functions and benefits
- Customer support
- The amount of countries supported
- Bandwidth available
So, let’s check out each of the above to find out the main differences of going with a paid VPN provider versus a free one.
Source : https://the-bestvpn.com/best-free-vpn/
1. How secure is the provider’s service?
One of the many reasons people use a VPN is to provide security when browsing online. However, is the security the same with a paid for and free VPN provider? The answer is no.
With a paid VPN provider, you get military grade encryption to protect you online. A paid VPN provides AES 256-bit key encryption, which is the same as security experts around the world and the government uses for protection of classified information. Along with this, paid VPNs offer various protocols that you can switch easily.
As you can imagine offering all of the above requires resources and money and VPN providers sell their service to recoup the money they spend to offer you enhanced security. Free VPNs do not have the money to set up extensive security and high-end encryption.
2. Speed of the servers
Speed of the servers is something to take into account when choosing a VPN. This applies more so if you want to use the VPN to stream in HD.
Paid for VPN providers offer hundreds of blazing-fast servers to choose from so there are plenty to go around. Free VPN providers offer access to a limited number of servers with little or no optimisation and the more people using those free servers the slower the connection.
3. Functions offered
A paid for VPN will offer numerous different functions along with providing security. For example, they are great at overcoming geo-restrictions allowing people to gain access to content that would otherwise be blocked. They are also used by people who torrent to remain anonymous.
Paid for VPNs offer the technology needed to overcome these blocks but free ones are lacking in that technology so cannot overcome geo-restrictions.
4. Customer support
You really do get what you pay for when it comes to customer support with a paid for VPN provider. They offer support 24/7 through a variety of ways so help is never far away. This level of attention is something that free VPN providers cannot offer, as they do not have the money or resources to do so.
5. Countries supported
VPNs that you pay for are able to offer thousands of servers in hundreds of countries around the world. Again, this is something that free VPNs cannot offer.
6. Amount of bandwidth available
Most free VPN providers out there will put a restriction on the amount of bandwidth that is used. With a paid for VPN, this is not generally the case as they offer unlimited bandwidth and speed so there are no slow-downs.
As you can see from the above it really is a case of you only get what you pay for. There is a reason there are paid for services and this is so they can offer an exceptional service along with customer service.
