Linux is a very security and privacy friendly operating system. Unfortunately, it still comes out on top when it comes to VPNs. Linux users often struggle to find a VPN that is easy to use, bug-free, and works out of the box.
Unfortunately, not all VPNs offer services for Linux. Additionally, Linux users are accustomed to open source solutions and are often afraid of VPN subscriptions. Therefore, this article will focus on easy-to-use free VPNs for Linux that meet the security, speed, and privacy standards that Linux users value. We also know that our customers support free and open source software. That’s why we’ve narrowed our list down to the best free VPNs for Linux based on open source security protocols. Let’s jump in!
Top 5 Best Free VPNs for Linux in 2023
Below, we’ve rounded up the top 5 free VPNs for Linux that are safe to use, lightning fast, and have the latest security protocols.
ProtonVPN: Unlimited Data and Dedicated GUI
Summary of features:
- Unlimited data: use as much as you want
- Easy to install: Comes with a dedicated Linux GUI app
- Supported protocols: OpenVPN, Wireguard, IKEv2
- Server Locations: US, Japan, Netherlands
- Supported Distributions: Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, MX Linux, Kali Linux, Elementary OS, Fedora, Arch Linux / Manjaro
ProtonVPN is a free VPN for Linux that offers unlimited bandwidth. This means you can stream, play video games, and download torrents as much as you want for free while protected by the strongest security measures available today.
Unlimited data is free for as long as you want, no need to switch to premium version. It also offers decent speeds for streaming and torrenting, though speeds can slow down during peak times (since premium users are prioritized).
ProtonVPN routes all connections through the open source OpenVPN protocol with robust AES 256-bit encryption. We follow a strict no-logs policy (audited and verified) and publish regular transparency reports. Its headquarters are in Switzerland, which keeps it out of the 5/9/14 Eyes alliance countries, ensuring your privacy. It also features DNS leaks protection and a kill switch to protect your data if your connection is unexpectedly disconnected.
If you prefer a graphical user interface (GUI) over a command line, ProtonVPN is your best bet. It has an elegant look and feel that appeals to most Linux users. More importantly, the GUI eliminates the additional steps of connecting to servers and configuring settings that would be typical with a command line.
2. WindscribeVPN: VPN that blocks malware, tracking and ads
Summary of features:
- Browser extensions: for advertising. malware blocking
- Server Locations: Servers in 10 countries (including US and Canada)
- Supported protocols: OpenVPN, Wireguard, IKEv2
- Supported Distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch Linux, CentOS
WindscribeVPN offers 10 GB per month if you provide a verified email address. Otherwise, you will only get 2 GB. This includes access to 10 servers. At no point will you be compelled to upgrade to a premium version if you’re comfortable working with the data limit.
Besides the CLI application, you can add an additional layer of security by installing Windscribe’s browser extension. The extension is jam-packed with features that protect your online anonymity and privacy and provides an overall pleasurable browsing experience. Windscribe’s browser extension includes free Linux browsing utilities such as:
- Blockers (adblocker, malware blocker, social networks tracking blocker, cookies blocker)
- Privacy enhancers (auto-deletes cookies, limits WebRTC requests to prevent leaks, randomly rotates your user agent)
- uBlock Origin intergration
You should note that these features are strictly for the browser and don’t apply otherwise. Windscribe is excellent for peer-to-peer torrent downloads mostly due to its dedicated torrenting servers. However, the monthly data limit is 10 GB. If you prefer a manual setup, the VPN website has a detailed Ubuntu installation guide with screenshots.
3. TunnelBear VPN: Fast speeds with lots of servers
Summary of features:
- Server Network: Extensive global network of free servers
- Bypass Censorship: Ability to bypass censorship
- Linux Documentation: Ubuntu Step-by-Step Installation Guide
- Supported Distributions: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora
- Reliable speed: fast and stable spee
The free version of TunnelBear gives you access to a global network of 49+ servers. This is useful for Linux users who want to bypass censorship, get discounts on their favorite shopping sites, and bypass geo-restrictions on streaming services. The downside of TunnelBear is that it only offers 500MB per month. This is not sufficient for heavy Internet usage such as streaming or downloading large files. However, tweeting about TunnelBear will earn you an extra 1GB of data. On the other hand, 500MB is enough to run command line utilities like apt and mail
TunnelBear’s DNS leak protection prevents your DNS requests from being exposed to your ISP. It goes even further by incorporating a kill switch called VigilantBear that terminates the VPN connection if it drops, preventing your online actions from being exposed. TunnelBear free includes an obfuscation tool, Ghostbear, designed to circumvent censorship and VPN restrictions. It should be noted, however, that TunnelBear is based in one of the 5 Eyes nations (Canada), which is not ideal for privacy.
The VPN’s website provides detailed instructions for installing it on Linux, specifically Ubuntu-based distributions. You can get TunnelBear working on other distros with a bit of tweaking.
4. PrivadoVPN: Unblocks streaming sites
Features at a glance:
- Access blocked content: Unblocks content on streaming sites such as Netflix
- Server security: Owns and operates its servers
- Server locations: Servers in 12 different countries
- Linux support: Step-by-step instructions to install in a Linux system
PrivadoVPN is an excellent free VPN for Linux because of its fast speeds and ability to unblock streaming sites. It unblocks streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and Amazon Prime. Its unblocking capabilities are mostly attributed to the fact that PrivadoVPN owns and operates its own servers.
PrivadoVPN has a monthly data limit of 10 GB and there is no need to upgrade to a premium account if your data limit is suitable. The free version gives you access to 9 servers in 12 different locations, which is great for a free version. Thanks to its huge server network and its unique unblocking capabilities, it can unblock a wide range of online services such as streaming, online shopping and live sports.
As far as privacy is concerned, the VPN is based in Switzerland, so you are not compelled to share your data with the authorities. Additionally, the company follows a strict zero-logs policy and strongly believes that no user data is stored. It offers strong DNS leak protection and a kill switch to protect your data when the connection is terminated.
Hide.me: Lightweight and Strong
Summary of features:
- Multiple distribution support: Supports all Debian, Ubuntu, and Fedora based distributions.
- Various protocols: OpenVPN, IPsec (IKEv1 and IKEv2), SoftEther, SSTP, PPTP, L2TP/IPsec
- Lightweight: easy to install, flexible and strong
- Linux Support: A step-by-step guide to installing on Linux
Hide.me supports various Linux distributions as its CLI app is written in Golang (a cross-platform programming language). Therefore, Hide.me can be installed on Debian, Ubuntu, or Fedora-based distributions. The VPN offers its free users his 24/7 customer support, which is very responsive. If you have any problems, do not hesitate to contact us. The Hide.me CLI Linux app is open source and available on GitHub, where users can review and contribute to development. Monthly data limit is 10 GB and provides access to 5 server locations (Canada, Germany, Netherlands, US East, US West). Please note that an email address is required to register an account.
The VPN is lightweight, powerful, and has decent download and streaming speeds. Its servers support torrent downloads and offer a wide range of modern security protocols. It features state-of-the-art AES-256 encryption to protect your data on the internet. It also features a kill switch to prevent data from being exposed when the connection ends. Unfortunately, Hide.me’s free version lacks Wireguard, which improves performance and security.
Hide.me is an independent organization, not owned by a large corporation, so the focus is on satisfying users, not shareholders. VPN does not store user data. This is mainly due to being based in Malaysia, a country that champions privacy. This allowed VPNs to design their systems with a strict no-logs policy. Hide.me is also attractive because it is a member of the VPN Trust Initiative (VTI) and has been independently verified to guarantee a zero-logs policy.
Linux users should avoid free VPNs
In the list above, we’ve taken the time to thoroughly review the best free Linux VPNs that are secure and put your best interests at heart. However, it’s important to note that with his free VPN this is not always the case. It’s difficult to make a VPN completely free, as it takes a lot of resources and skilled workers to run the service.
For the free Linux VPNs on our list, the only reason the VPN is free is because premium his users are paying for the service. This allows VPN providers to include free users, but this is limited.
His free VPNs that Linux users should avoid include:
- Hotspot Shield: Hotspot Shield is no stranger to its flimsy privacy policy. For example, the VPN clearly states in its privacy policy that “Aura does not ‘sell’ your personal information except in connection with some free versions of our VPN products.” Free or not, it defeats the very purpose of a VPN. Private
- Internet Access (PIA): Until recently, PIA was arguably one of the best VPNs for Linux. why? It offers a complete app and GUI for Linux, open source and transparent, support for multiple distributions, and more. However, the servers are blocked across the board, giving users a terrible browsing experience. Technically, this VPN is also not a free option, but a free his VPN trial is offered.
- SecurityKISS: SecurityKISS is a very popular VPN, but I strongly warn readers about it. Your VPN’s anti-logging policy is inadequate and uses an outdated protocol. For example, it implements the notoriously insecure PPTP protocol.
- VPNBook: VPNBook has a terrible no-logs policy and we advise readers not to use it. Your IP address and timestamp are recorded and can be used to track your online activity. Also, the speed is so slow that it doesn’t give you a pleasant browsing experience.
With this in mind, you should be careful using VPNs that claim to be completely free. In most cases, services are paid for in other ways that you may not be aware of.
How we picked the best free VPN for Linux
How to choose the best free VPN icon We thoroughly tested each VPN on our list to provide you with the best free Linux VPN. Below are the specific KPIs we used to create the list.
- Truly Free: We have focused on truly free VPNs that are safe and secure. The VPNs in the list above do not require credit card information. Even better, you won’t be forced to upgrade to the premium version if you’re satisfied with the features and monthly data limits of the free plan.
- Linux support: Linux is notoriously poorly supported for VPNs. This list features vendors with strong support for Linux by providing an easy-to-use CLI or Linux GUI, ease of installation, Linux documentation, and Linux-aligned privacy and security features.
- Strict no-logs policy: A strict no-logs policy was one of the top priorities a free VPN had to meet to be included on this list. Apart from TunnelBear, the providers listed here are based in privacy-friendly countries. None of the VPNs on our list log any information about you.
- Speed: Linux users are tech savvy and don’t like slow speeds. We freely tested each VPN to make sure they offer fast and consistent speeds on all or most servers. But keep in mind that most free Linux VPNs have data, so usage is limited.
- Security Features: Our goal was to find a vendor with best-in-class security features. In addition to OpenVPN, I looked for protocols like IKEv2/IPSec and features like kill switch and leak protection to prevent DNS, WebRTC or IPv6 leaks.
Check The 5 Best Free VPNs for Android in 2023 (15+ Tested!)
Disadvantages of using a free VPN on Linux
A free VPN can provide all the benefits listed in the previous section, but it’s still not enough. Find out how a free VPN for Linux can prevent you from enjoying the latest top-notch online security and privacy.
- A limited number of server options
- Data limits to restrict usage
- Advanced security features exclusive to premium accounts
- Slow speeds due to premium users being prioritized
Free VPNs are very restrictive, especially for the vast majority of Linux users who are savvy and concerned about online security and privacy. For this reason, we recommend a good premium VPN focused on Linux.