The Hidden Costs of "Free" VPNs
🔴 Data Harvesting
A 2020 CSIRO study analysed 283 Android VPN apps and found that 72% contained third-party trackers and 38% contained malware. The most common revenue model for free VPNs is selling your browsing data to advertising networks — the exact thing a VPN is supposed to prevent.
Notable offenders include Hola VPN (caught selling users' bandwidth as a botnet), SuperVPN (leaked 360 million user records in 2023), and Betternet (found to contain 14 tracking libraries).
🔴 Speed Throttling
Free VPNs deliberately throttle your speed to encourage upgrades. Our tests show typical free VPN speeds of <50 Mbps — compared to 820+ Mbps on NordVPN. This makes streaming, video calls, and even basic browsing frustratingly slow.
🔴 Data Caps
Most free VPNs limit you to 500MB-2GB per month. For context, one hour of Netflix in HD uses about 3GB. You'd burn through your monthly allowance in 40 minutes. This isn't a VPN — it's a demo.
🔴 IP and DNS Leaks
An alarming 84% of free VPNs leak users' IPv6 addresses or DNS queries, according to the CSIRO study. This means even when connected, your ISP and websites can still see who you are. The VPN is literally not doing its job.
The One Exception: Proton VPN Free
✅ Proton VPN Free — Genuinely Safe
Proton VPN's free tier is the one exception we recommend. It's run by the Proton Mail team (Swiss company, privacy-focused), offers unlimited data, no ads, no tracking, and has been independently audited by Securitum.
The trade-offs are real though: 5 server locations (vs. 111+ on paid), 1 device connection, ~300 Mbps speeds, and no streaming unblocking. It's a proper VPN for basic privacy — but if you want streaming, multiple devices, or faster speeds, you'll need paid.
The Math: Is £1.89/mo Worth It?
Let's put it in perspective:
- ☕ Costa flat white: £3.35
- 🎵 Spotify Premium: £11.99/mo
- 📺 Netflix Standard: £10.99/mo
- 🛡️ CyberGhost VPN: £1.89/mo
- 🛡️ NordVPN: £2.99/mo (76% off)
A VPN costs less than a single coffee and protects every device you own, 24/7. The free VPN "saving" of £1.89/mo comes at the cost of your privacy, your data, and your browsing speed. It's not a saving — it's a false economy.