Private Internet Access alternatives · VPNs
Free alternatives to Private Internet Access
Private Internet Access has no free plan. 6 of the 16 other VPNs in this directory are free or have a free plan.
Private Internet Access is a paid product, starting at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal). 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 Private Internet Access
- 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. Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- Proton VPN has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- 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. Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- hide.me has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
- 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). Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- Windscribe has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- 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). Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- TunnelBear has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- Only Private Internet Access lists a Linux app.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
- 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. Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- PrivadoVPN has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- Private Internet Access 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. Private Internet Access starts at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
- Hotspot Shield has a free plan. Private Internet Access does not.
- Only Private Internet Access lists a Linux app.
- Private Internet Access is open source, according to its own site.
Common questions
Is there a free alternative to Private Internet Access?
Yes. Proton VPN, hide.me, Windscribe, TunnelBear, PrivadoVPN and Hotspot Shield are free or have a free plan.
Does Private Internet Access have a free plan?
Private Internet Access has no free plan. Private Internet Access is a paid product, starting at $47.88 per year (1 Year plan, the same price at renewal).
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 Private Internet Access: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.