Alternatives · VPNs
PrivadoVPN alternatives
PrivadoVPN compared with 5 alternatives: Windscribe, Proton VPN, hide.me, Surfshark and TunnelBear.
PrivadoVPN has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated. 4 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. One more offers a free trial.
5 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| PrivadoVPNThis tool | Free plan · from $1.11/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Windscribe | Free plan · from $3/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Proton VPN | Free plan · from $83.88/yr | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| hide.me | Free plan · from $2.69/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Surfshark | Free trial · from $79/yr | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| TunnelBear | Free plan · from $3.33/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
Price against what you get
PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 a month and scores 2.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 5 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.
Windscribe, Proton VPN, hide.me and Surfshark score higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from PrivadoVPN
- Free plan · from $3/mo
Windscribe
VPN with a 10GB free plan and pay-per-location pricing
- Windscribe starts at $3 per month for 3 locations (Build A Plan). PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated.
- Windscribe is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Light users who can live within 10GB a month for free
- Free plan · from $83.88/yr
Proton VPN
Open-source Swiss VPN with a free plan that has no data cap
- Proton VPN starts at $83.88 per year at renewal (VPN Plus), after a first year for $53.88. PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated.
- Proton VPN is open source, according to its own site.
Suits: Trying a VPN for free without a data cap
- Free plan · from $2.69/mo
hide.me
Malaysia-based VPN with a no-signup free plan and flat renewal prices
- hide.me starts at $2.69 per month, billed $69.99 every 26 months at the same price on renewal. PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated.
Suits: People who want a free VPN without creating an account
- Free trial · from $79/yr
Surfshark
VPN with no device limit, sold alone or in security bundles
- Surfshark starts at $79 per year at renewal (Starter), after a first 27 months for $67.23. PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated.
- PrivadoVPN has a free plan. Surfshark does not, though it has a free trial.
Suits: Households with more devices than a capped VPN allows
- Free plan · from $3.33/mo
TunnelBear
McAfee-owned VPN with a 2GB free plan and pay-once multi-year plans
- TunnelBear starts at $3.33 per month on the 3-year Unlimited plan ($120 paid once). PrivadoVPN starts at $1.11 per month for a first 27 months (24-month plan); renewal price not stated.
- Only PrivadoVPN lists a Linux app.
Suits: Occasional users who need a VPN for a few gigabytes
Limits worth knowing in PrivadoVPN
- The pricing page gives the 24- and 12-month plans only as a monthly rate and does not say what they renew at; the terms say renewals use the then-current price.
- Antivirus costs $1.99 a month extra on the 12- and 24-month plans.
- The pricing page calls PrivadoVPN Switzerland-based, but its terms name Privado Networks ehf of Iceland as the provider since May 1, 2026.
- The terms allow personal, non-commercial use only, and there is no free trial of paid features.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to PrivadoVPN?
The alternatives to PrivadoVPN in this directory are Windscribe, Proton VPN, hide.me, Surfshark and TunnelBear. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with PrivadoVPN.
Is there a free alternative to PrivadoVPN?
Yes. Windscribe, Proton VPN, hide.me and TunnelBear have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to PrivadoVPN?
Windscribe and Proton VPN are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.