ExpressVPN alternatives · VPNs
Free alternatives to ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has no free plan. 6 of the 16 other VPNs in this directory are free or have a free plan.
ExpressVPN is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85. All of them pair the free plan with paid ones.
6 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
How each one differs from ExpressVPN
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
What is free: Proton Free: 1 device, servers in 10 countries chosen at random, medium speed and no data limit. No credit card needed.
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Proton VPN has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $95.99/yr
Hotspot Shield
VPN with a free Basic tier and its own Hydra protocol
What is free: Basic covers one device and one virtual location, with help from the support center only. The page calls its data unlimited but also notes a daily limit that iOS and Android users can extend by watching ads.
- Hotspot Shield starts at $95.99 per year at renewal (Premium), after a first year for $29. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpressVPN lists a Linux app.
- Hotspot Shield also covers malware protection.
- Free plan · from $3/mo
Windscribe
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing
What is free: 10GB of data a month once you confirm an email address, with servers in 10 countries including the US, Canada, the UK and Germany.
- Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan). ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- Windscribe has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
What is free: 2GB of secure browsing for testing and light use. The pricing page does not say how often the allowance resets.
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- TunnelBear has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ExpressVPN lists a Linux app.
- Free plan · from $2.69/mo
hide.me
Malaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices
What is free: No sign-up needed: one device, 8 locations and restricted speeds. The pricing page lists unlimited data, though the site's FAQ still says 10GB a month.
- hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- hide.me has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
- Free plan · from $1.11/mo
PrivadoVPN
VPN with a 10GB free plan and ad blocking on paid plans
What is free: 10GB of data every 30 days on one device, with access to a subset of servers.
- PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated. ExpressVPN starts at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
- PrivadoVPN has a free plan. ExpressVPN does not, though it has a free trial.
Common questions
Is there a free alternative to ExpressVPN?
Yes. Proton VPN, Hotspot Shield, Windscribe, TunnelBear, hide.me and PrivadoVPN are free or have a free plan.
Does ExpressVPN have a free plan?
ExpressVPN has no free plan. ExpressVPN is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $99.95 per year at renewal (Basic), after a first 15 months for $74.85.
When was this checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to ExpressVPN: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.