Top 5 Free VPNs for Linux in 2023 | Tried and Tested

Last Updated:Feb 15, 2024

In today’s demographics, using a VPN has become a necessity to stay safe and secure on the internet. With lots of advanced viruses and malicious programs on the web, your security has become more vulnerable than ever.

online security

For any operating system, a VPN is needed for all of them in order to stay away from any potential risk present over the web. Even on Linux computers, you are never completely safe from such risks. 

Therefore, this write-up will focus on the list that will help you choose the best free VPN for Linux so that you can evade as many privacy issues and safeguard your personal information as possible. The top 5 VPNs covered would be completely free, with zero fees and no trial period.

Consider reading this if you are short on time:

ProtonVPNHide.meWindscribePrivadoVPNAtlasVPNExpressVPNNordVPNSurfshark
Official WebsiteProtonVPNHide.meWindscribePrivadoVPNAtlasVPNExpressVPNNordVPNSurfshark
Number of Servers200+5 server locations11 server locations45 server locations750+3000+5000+3200+
Customer Support24*724*724*724*724*724*724*724*7
Maximum Connections11110Unlimited56Unlimited
Free TrialsCompletely freeCompletely freeCompletely freeCompletely freeAvailable in both Free and Paid30-days30-days30-days
Our Rating54.5554.5554.5

Top 5 Truly Free Linux VPNs

As mentioned, having a VPN is now more than an advanced feature but a basic necessity in today’s risky world. Even though Linux is renowned for its advanced security and hacking abilities, it is still prone to various online threats and potential risks.

Therefore, if you also own a Linux computer, go through this list of best free Linux VPNs and find the right one for you:

ProtonVPN – Same Swiss Privacy Features for Linux As Well

protonVPNs

ProtonVPN works on a freemium model, which means you can enjoy its reliable and fast services for free, but if you want additional features and some exclusive permissions for server locations, you may upgrade to their premium plans.

This private network has already claimed to be the best for free Android and Windows VPNs. Nevertheless, it is also considered one of the best choices for a free VPN for Linux. 

Here is the list of its features which you might be interested in:

  • Simultaneous Connections: 1 at a time
  • No-Log Policy: Yes
  • Download Speed: 90+ Mbps
  • Data Cap: No data cap
  • Server Locations: 64 free servers across 3 countries

After giving a glance at its features, consider reading the pros and cons that ProtonVPN comes with:

Positives
  • Follows Swiss privacy policies
  • Optimized for Linux devices as well
  • The free version works just fine
Negatives
  • Might work slowly in some situations

Based on these pros and cons, you can make a viable decision about whether to choose it for your device or not.

Hide.me – Underrated Even for Linux Computers

hideme

Hide.me provides brilliant service quality and is among the best free VPNs for Linux. This Malaysian VPN remains low-key, but those who use it know the real potential that it holds. 

Also considered one of the best VPNs for Firestick, it is available for almost every platform. Speaking of Linux devices, Hide.me can effectively maintain your anonymity over the internet thanks to its advanced security features.

That said, here are some of them that you might be interested in knowing:

  • Simultaneous Connections: 1 at a time
  • No-Log Policy: Yes
  • Download Speed: NA
  • Data Cap: 10 GB
  • Server Locations: 5 server locations

Now, it’s time to discuss the advantages and disadvantages that you might experience when you use it:

Positives
  • 10 GB monthly data cap
  • No-log Policy
  • High-tech encryption
Negatives
  • Not good for streaming

One of the strongest points of Hide.me is its encryption. Thanks to its high-tech encryption, your data will stay protected from security breaches and online thefts.

Windscribe — King of Free VPNs

windsribe

Windscribe is known as the king of free VPNs for a reason. When it comes to free VPN for Android or Windows, this program stays on top. For Linux, however, there are always mixed reviews from users.

One of its biggest disadvantages is that its jurisdiction lies in Toronto, Canada, which is not a privacy-friendly country compared to Switzerland or Panama. This often makes users confused about whether to go for this program or not. 

However, leaving all these points aside, here are some features of Windscribe that are worth taking a look at:

  • Simultaneous Connections: 1 at a time
  • No-Log Policy: Yes
  • Download Speed: 90 Mbps
  • Data Cap: 10 Gigabytes (with email login)
  • Server Locations: 11 server locations

Apart from its No-log policy, there are more pros associated with this program. Take a look at them, along with some cons.

Positives
  • High-speed connectivity
  • A free VPN option for Linux
  • 10 GB data cap
Negatives
  • Follows Canadian privacy rules

If you are okay with its jurisdiction being in Canada, Windscribe could be one of the best VPN options for you.

PrivadoVPN — Another Swiss Entry for Free Linux VPN

privadoVPNc

Another VPN entry straight from Switzerland, Privado VPN is surely the best alternative for free VPN Ubuntu or Linux. Be it a no-log Policy, encryption, or IP leaks, this program is best at taking care of all these points single-handedly.

Also, for data speeds, this VPN is renowned across all devices. In the free version, it offers servers from multiple different locations around the world. This means you can switch to several destinations without paying any money.

That said, here are its features that might interest you a bit:

  • Simultaneous Connections: Up to 10 connections
  • No-Log Policy: Yes
  • Download Speed: 90+ Mbps
  • Data Cap: NA
  • Server Locations: 45 server locations

After features, it’s time to analyze some of its pros and cons for making the right decision:

Positives
  • Good for torrenting
  • 256-bit data encryption
  • Supports 10 simultaneous connections
Negatives
  • Not a good option for streaming
  • Cheap premium plans

Analyze these pros and cons, and conclude whether it is a good option for you or not.

AtlasVPN — Most Stable VPN Program for Linux

atlasVPNc

As mentioned, AtlasVPN is one of the safest VPN options. Why so? It neither offers fancy and exclusive features for its free users nor cuts up any essential data protection services in return for some money.

Considering it as one of the best free VPNs for Linux is not at all a bad idea. However, one thing associated with this program that often faces backlash is its data cap. For free users, AtlasVPN allows a data cap of only 5 GB. 

Take a glance at its features:

  • Simultaneous Connections: 2 connections 
  • No-Log Policy: Yes
  • Download Speed: NA
  • Data Cap: 5 Gigabytes
  • Server Locations: 49+ locations with 1000+ servers
Positives
  • No-log policy
  • Support P2P traffic
  • High-tech data encryption
Negatives
  • 5 GB monthly data cap

If you can pay for its membership, or you are okay with its 5 GB monthly data cap, then you should surely go for it.

However, apart from these free VPN Ubuntu and Linux, you can also consider taking a free trial of some premium VPNs.

Top Premium VPN Services for Linux Devices

Owning a premium membership is a much better option, but since not everyone can afford one, they settle for free programs.

However, you can also take their trial period for 30 days or 7 days, and based on your experience, you can decide whether to go for a premium membership or keep going with a free VPN.

ExpressVPN — Best in the Business

expressvpn4

ExpressVPN always rules every list whenever the subject is data protection. This VPN is based in the British Virgin Islands, which means your data and privacy are in safe hands. 

Besides, ExpressVPN can also breach various OTT libraries like Netflix and Amazon Prime or other platforms. Taking the policy into account, it can be your best free VPN for Linux, but only for 7 days.

Here is the list of its features that might excite you:

  • Price: $6.67/month
  • Support: 24*7 Live Chat
  • Servers: 3000+ Servers in 94 Countries
  • Logging Policy: No-Log Policy

It is true that its services are a bit on the expensive side, but it all becomes worth it once you try using it.

Surfshark — Cheapest Premium VPN for Linux

surfshark3

Surfshark offers some of the most affordable and attractive plans for its users. Therefore, if you can afford a premium VPN service at a low cost, Surfshark is the one for you.

Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark can also unlock almost all Netflix libraries for you to enjoy. Once its 30-day trial period is over, you have to pay $3.22/month to continue enjoying its services.

Take a look at some of its features and make a wise decision:

  • Price: $3.22/month
  • Support: 24*7 Live Chat
  • Servers: Around 3200 Servers in 100 Countries
  • Logging Policy: No-Log Policy

After Surfshark, the last premium VPN on the list is NordVPN.

NordVPN — Classic Choice for Any VPN Need

Nord VPNc

Calling NordVPN a classy option for data protection will not be wrong. Since the software makes its place in almost every list, it has become the go-to choice for anyone seeking premium VPN software.

NordVPN can be your free VPN for Linux for 30 days, after that, you have to pay a total amount of $3.49/month to enjoy its services. Take a look at its features:

  • Price: $3.49/month
  • Support: 24*7 Live Chat
  • Servers: 5700+ across 60 countries
  • Logging Policy: No-Log Policy

Whether it is using NordVPN with Netflix or for torrenting, you can do it without an issue as NordVPN is a versatile product that benefits whoever uses it. 

That said, these were some of the best free Linux VPNs along with some premium services. You can try any of them based on your budget or needs.

Why You Should Buy a Premium Subscription Instead?

It is true that there might be some people who are unable to afford a VPN subscription, even for their daily usage. However, there are some serious concerns related to using a free Linux VPN. Free VPNs are not a completely bad option, but if you can afford a premium VPN, you should definitely go for it. Here are the reasons why:

  1. Data log: Since free VPNs have no source of revenue by providing their services for free, these companies usually log or store the data of their users and sell them to ad agencies or big company giants. This is obviously not the case with every free VPN, but you still need to remain cautious.
  2. Feature cuts: A free VPN offers very limited and low features for its users. If you use a premium VPN instead, you will easily feel the difference. To justify the 0 cost, these programs barely provide any feature that adds value, except for a bit of privacy.
  3. Slow speed: Slow speed is the most annoying point about free VPNs. In case you want a high-speed connection from your service provider, you are forced to buy their premium plan. Of course, not all free VPNs are the same, but there is still a point in using them.

So, these are the major reasons why you should avoid using a free VPN as much as possible. It is always recommended to buy a premium subscription if you can afford it so that you get served with the best technology.

How Did We Make the List?

Choosing a free VPN for your device does not imply that you will have to give up some features. As a result, the following eligibility requirements must be taken into account when choosing the best free VPN service for your PC:

  • Connection Speed: Only the programs with reliable connection speed were taken into account for the best free VPN for Linux.
  • Completely Free: All the VPNs should be completely free. VPNs with a time-period limit or free trials were not accepted.
  • No-log Policy: The best free Linux VPN should follow the strict No-log policy rule for better online privacy.
  • Zero IP Leaks: VPNs with IP Leaks are not at all tolerated. All programs were DNS tested to track if there was any IP leak.
  • Jurisdiction: The programs from countries like Switzerland or regions like Central America were appreciated for their jurisdictional area.

So, these were the criteria or bullet points that were considered while making the decision for the best free VPN Ubuntu or Linux.

How to Set up a Free VPN for Linux?

Linux computer

Setting up a VPN program on a Linux device is a whole different process than setting it up on Windows or mobile phones. The reason is, Linux uses a more complicated and lengthy process. Therefore, here are the series of steps through which you can install the best free VPN for Linux:

  1. Visit the official website of the VPN you are going to download.
  2. Login or create your account on their official website.
  3. Go to the VPN configuration files.
  4. From there, download & Open the VPN Configuration file of any location you want to use.
  5. Now, go to Settings.
  6. In the Network window, click on the (+) sign next to the VPN option.
    click on the plus button
  7. Now click on the import from files option and import the file from the Downloads menu.
    import from file
  8. Enter the same login details you used while making the account on the official VPN site.
    enter username and password
  9. Click on the Add button in the top-right corner of the window.
    add button
  10. Turn the VPN toggle on.
    turn on the toggle

By following all these steps, you can easily connect to any server location or VPN of your choice.

Why Do You Need a VPN for Linux?

Well, there is no doubt that people worldwide use the internet to connect with each other. From sharing our thoughts to daily routines, people love to spend most of their time on phones.

However, this sharing can be a cause of your privacy breach and make you prone to cyber risks. Therefore, using a VPN is a primary need. That said, here are some more reasons why you should use a VPN, especially for Linux:

  1. In case of using a public network: Public networks can be a serious risk to your online privacy. They are undoubtedly installed to facilitate people in case of emergencies, but the same public network can cause some serious issues.
    Your important data and details can easily be hacked, or your messages and crucial details can be breached due to zero security on these connections.
  2. Accessing blocked websites: There are various situations in which the government or your ISP might block certain websites for your network. With the help of a VPN, you can gain access to all those websites and platforms without any issue and use them for however long.
  3. Accessing geo-blocked content: For entertainment, there are several shows and movies that are available on OTT platforms. However, you cannot gain access to all that content due to geolocation boundaries. With the help of a VPN, you can gain access to the content too, and enjoy whatever show or movie you want to.

These are the major reasons why you should consider using a VPN on your Linux device. However, if you are a bit short on money, there’s nothing wrong with going for a free VPN. But make sure that the free service you are going to choose provides quality and has good reviews on the internet.

Endnote 

Picking a VPN for your device is a basic yet necessary task. Even devices like Linux, which are renowned for their security, are prone to potential cyber risks. Therefore, this write-up suggested some best free Linux VPNs so that you can keep your private data safe from any breach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which VPN is free for Linux?

You can download Windscribe for the best private network services offered for your Linux device.

Is there a free VPN for Kali Linux?

ProtonVPN would be the best free VPN option for devices using Kali Linux.

Does Linux have an in-built VPN?

Unfortunately, Linux does not provide any built-in VPN like Windows does. Therefore, you need to install VPN software on your Linux device.

Sources

Any free VPNs for Linux?, Linux.org

Deepanshu Chauhan

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